The paper-based patient record: is it really so bad?

In a recent review of literature, a committee of the American Institute of Medicine found much support of the weakness of the paper-based patient record. Inspired by these results, a local survey was held among practicing clinicians to test, whether they could subscribe the Committee's conclusions. The clinicians turned out to be far more positive about the quality of the paper-based patient record. Possible explanations for this discrepancy are discussed, as well as the question, whether the results of the Committee's review may be used as a basis for the implementation of computer-based patient records.