Electronic medical records (EMR) can increase clinical efficiencies while improving overall patient care and outcomes. Despite these benefits, dentists and their practices should be mindful of the potential litigation pitfalls arising from EMR use due to technological limitations, implementation constraints, and other factors. In many jurisdictions, attorneys for patients may request a forensic EMR examination in search of clinical inaccuracies. These inaccuracies may later be used during the course of litigation to challenge a provider’s credibility.
This article outlines a few of the common litigation challenges and risks arising from clinical documentation in the EMR and suggests some risk mitigation strategies for dentists and their practices to consider.
