Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

The Geographic Value Of Patient-Carried Medical Records In Improving Healthcare In The Us, Lauren Edmundson

The Macalester Review

American medical records have typically been maintained in a single location. However, patient-carried medical records (PCMRs) present an opportunity to alter the space in which health records and information operate. While past research has evaluated PCMRs from a largely economic perspective, this research examines potential benefits of PCMRs through a geographic framework. In total, while further work is needed to perfect the PCMR system, they can ultimately serve as a tool to alleviate four specific complaints made by American patients: lack of communication between provider and patient, lack of communication between providers, medical error, and high costs.