Electronic medical records and their impact on resident and medical student education

Electronic medical records (EMRs) are becoming prevalent and integral tools for residents and medical students. EMRs can integrate point-of-service information delivery within the context of patient care. Though it may be an educational tool, little is known about how EMR technology is currently used for medical learners.

The authors reviewed the available published literature about the impact of EMRs on learners, including learners' attitudes about EMRs, educational uses of EMRs, and the potential effects of EMRs on learners' daily work.

Research on EMRs for education is in its infancy. The authors found fewer than 50 articles with evidence on their use in medical education. The applications to education included point-of-care knowledge delivery, computerized clinical decision support systems, profiling of learner experiences, and daily workflow management. The evidence was mainly derived from single institution studies and occasionally across disciplines.

EMRs have great potential as an educational tool, but thus far, strong data to support their use for this are lacking. As the usage of EMRs rises, educators must continue to study how best to use technology as an educational tool and as a tool to improve the daily work of residents and medical students.