Table 1.

Potential advantages of electronic records

1	More reliable collection, selection and distribution of data
2	Faster transmission of electronic version of traditional letters and reports
3	Potential for the reduction of medical errors through cross-checking, warnings and suggestions
4	Potential access anywhere, at any time, to individual patient data
5	Legible records
6	Better data-sharing with reduced duplication in the recording of data
7	Potentially electronically translatable into other languages
8	Better quality and quantity of collective data
9	Potential for instant off-site backup