In the article written in this journal by Makela et al., it was mentioned that renewal initiatives in primary healthcare are highly dependent on the use of information management tools such as electronic medical records (EMRs). This technology has the potential to support information-sharing among team members, improve quality and continuity of care (especially chronic disease management), support planning and accountability activities, and offer decision-making support. However, uptake in developing countries like Iran has been relatively slow. Implementation of EMRs requires change management and guidance in practice settings, and this support has not traditionally been provided. In this initiative, the Ministry of Health disseminated some guidelines for applying EMRs in different levels of healthcare delivery. There is a long way forward in order to reach international standards in EMRs. Some pilot studies are being carried out in teaching hospitals, and findings and outcomes of these studies will be assessed so that future policy-making can use these data.
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