Northwestern University Health Service will begin using electronic health records next academic year, said Dr. Donald Misch, executive director of health services.

Misch said he hopes the transformation from paper records to electronic records will take place by fall 2007 at the earliest.

“We might have all the software before then, but we wouldn’t try to go electronic,” he said. “It’s a tremendous change, so we want to get up to speed (over the summer).”

The new system will make it easier to access medical records from different on-campus locations, Misch said. The greater access especially would help athletes because the Health Service now has to share paper records with the athletic department, he said.

“The records have to go back and forth,” Misch said. “Our goal is to make it easier to share them electronically while still protecting privacy.”

Misch said the Health Service also will start using digital radiography to take X-rays. The technology will allow physicians to manipulate the X-rays to make them lighter or darker as needed.

“Within certain limits, you can do it with a mouse,” Misch said. “We will probably save money because we don’t have to develop film.”

Digital radiography will also make it easier for Searle to get consultations from experts because physicians can send the X-rays electronically, Misch said.

William Banis, vice president for student affairs, said these developments will also help the Health Service conduct better research to tailor programs fitting the needs of NU students. Most research now available to the administration tracks college health trends nationwide.

“It just allows the staff greater degree of efficiency to track information,” he said.

Misch said students will be able to keep track of their health records and schedule certain types of appointments online. The Health Service also will implement an electronic check-in system, he said.

Searle is also looking into helping students receive their lab results online, Misch said.

– Ketul Patel