Electronic Medical Records and Their Role in Developing Health Services: A Narrative Review

Abstract

Background: The adoption of electronic medical records (EMRs) has been positioned as a cornerstone of health service development, promising improvements in care quality, patient safety, and operational efficiency. However, evidence on their actual impact remains mixed, with implementation challenges and unintended consequences emerging alongside benefits. Aim: This narrative review synthesizes evidence from 2015–2025 on the role of EMRs in developing health services, examining their effects on clinical outcomes, workflow efficiency, data interoperability, and patient engagement. Methods: A systematic search of PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, and grey literature (2015–2025) identified 40 peer-reviewed articles, technical reports, and policy documents for narrative synthesis. Results: Key findings indicate that EMRs improve medication safety, guideline adherence, and care coordination when optimally implemented. However, benefits are contingent on interoperability, usability, and organizational readiness. Challenges include documentation burden, clinician burnout, fragmented data exchange, and implementation costs. Innovations such as artificial intelligence integration and patient portals show promise. Conclusion: EMRs are powerful enablers of health service development, but realizing their potential requires addressing interoperability gaps, reducing documentation burden, and supporting clinicians through implementation.