An experimental system for comparing speed, accuracy, and completeness of physician data entry using electronic and paper methods.

Electronic medical record (EMR) systems have important potential advantages over traditional paper-based systems, but they require that physicians assume responsibility for data entry. However, little is known about the quality of physician data entry in electronic systems. This study describes a system for comparing the speed, accuracy, and completeness of examination data entry using electronic and paper methods. Data will be shown to demonstrate that this may be a simple, reproducible, and useful technique.