What can be a consequence of not transitioning to the Electronic Health Record?

Transitioning to Electronic Health Records (EHR) is crucial for modern healthcare practices for several reasons, one of which pertains directly to the quality and clarity of patient documentation. Handwritten entries often lead to issues with legibility, which can result in misunderstandings or errors in patient care. When practitioners are unable to clearly read notes, it could impair their ability to make informed decisions, ultimately affecting patient safety.

While increased costs might arise from maintaining an older system, and fines could potentially be a consequence of not meeting certain regulatory standards, the primary issue indicated in this option highlights the fundamental problem of communication in healthcare. Denial of patient care could result from a number of issues, but it is not as directly connected to the format of record-keeping as the potential for illegible handwritten notes. Therefore, the emphasis on the clarity and accuracy of medical documentation underscores why the issue of illegibility stands out significantly in the context of not transitioning to electronic records.