Background
Electronic health records are basically the digital versions of patients’ paper chart. They are the actual patient centered records which avail information securely and instantly to the designated and authorized users, meaning the information cannot be availed to everybody. In most cases the electronic health records do not contain treatment or medical histories of the patients but they are designed to contain more standard clinical data collected to include the broader view of the patient’s care program. The electronic health records can;
· Streamline and automate the workflow of a healthcare provider
· Enable healthcare providers access to evidence-based tools they can use to make decisions about the care program to outline for a given patient
· They outline the patients’ immunization dates, medications, medical histories, test results, allergies, treatment plans and even radiology images.
The most significant feature of the electronic health records is the essence that it can be created and managed by the designated and authorized users in a digital form that can be shared by other health care providers within the health care organization (Palma, 2013). The electronic health records are designed to share critical patient information with other health care providers and organizations such as specialists, pharmacies, school and workplace clinics, laboratories and emergency facilities. Essentially, electronic health records contain information from all health care providers involved in the care of a patient.
Problem statement
The health care globally is transitioning to an era of technological advancements through the adoption and implementation of electronic health records. All levels of health care organizations have so far embraced the electronic health records systems with the main aim of improving on efficiency and effectiveness in the health care system. Such transitions in technology as well are characterized by incorporation of health care informatics in the essence that health care facilities set up a link between communications, information technology and medical services with the ultimate goal of quality patient care.
Thesis statement
This research paper aims at analyzing how the electronic health records has impacted the health care industry.
Discussion
So far technology has infiltrated the globe in that communication has been made easy through the use of tools such as tablets, smart phones and web enabled devices. Medicine as well is an information rich field which requires to advance with the advancements in communication technologies. The information flow in form of a digital health care infrastructure is enable by the implementation of electronic health records to bring forth progress in the digital platform to ultimately transform the manner in which care provisions are compensated and delivered. The electronic health records are advantageous because they avail information wherever and whenever needed.
Improved diagnostics and patient outcomes
The core of the medical field is information flow. This means that if health care providers are able to access accurate and complete information about a designated patient then it is a guarantee that the patient will receive better medical care. Electronic health records work miles in aiding the ability of a care provider to diagnose, reduce or even prevent medical errors thus improving overall patient outcomes.
Electronic health record systems help in reducing medical errors in the essence that they not only avail the necessary information but they are able to compute the same. This means that electronic health records can manipulate the available information in a manner that a difference can be deduced for the patients. Say for example;
A certified electronic health record does not only keep the patient’s records about allergies and medications but is able to detect errors in case a new form of medication is prescribed and alerts the responsible care provider about the potential conflicts of the same (Kohli & Tan, 2016).
Electronic health records are able to systematically point out and give corrections in situations where operational problems arise. In the traditional paper settings, operational problems are difficult to detect and make corrections about the same can take years to complete.
Electronic health records come in handy in that after the primary care provider gathers information and records the same, the information can be transmitted through the electronic health record to the clinician in the emergency department to alert him about a life-threatening allergy to the patient. The emergency staff then can act swiftly and appropriately to care for the patient even if he or she is unconscious.
Electronic health records can detect potential problems I safety provisions before they occur and thus help providers avoid the serious consequences for patients thus improving patient outcome.
Improved public health outcomes
In groups and communities, electronic health records can pose beneficial effects to the health outcomes. This come in play when a health care provider has access to electronic information about a population of patients, they are able to look out for meaningful demands of patients who are;
· Currently under specified medications
· Suffering from specific conditions
· Entitled to specified preventive measures
This means that electronic health records provide a situation where health care providers can identify and work together with the patients under their care to control specific risk factors or a variety of risk factors which ultimately improve the patient outcomes. Some of the risk factors can be avoided when the care provider would wish to know for example;
· The number of patients who have diabetes and their blood sugar levels have been screened appropriately.
· The number of patients suffering from hypertension and have their blood pressure under complete control.
This means that the electronic health records are able to detect patterns which potentially are related to adverse results thus notifying quickly the care provider those patients who are at risk.
In as much as the implementation of the electronic health records is a plus to the health industry, there are some challenges which are associated with the same. In the essence that electronic health records are able to provide sensitive information easily, the risk presents where if not monitored there could be risks of privacy violations. These could include matters such intentional or accidental snooping if the security measures are not proper. In advanced systems, there have been adopted forensics in that the data access can be tracked to know when accessed and by whom.
Other shortcomings which might be associated with the electronic health records include; interoperability breakdown between information technologies, set up and maintenance costs, productivity, documentation delays, continuous needs for updates and there could be less accountability in doing so. The advantages of electronic health records are considerable and they have impacted positive in the health industry by improving the overall care and safety of patients. This means that the advancement of technologies if embraced in the medical fields, the quality and safety care provisions will as well be improved.
Conclusion
The implementation of electronic health records has impacts on the health care provisions. This paper has sought to outline some of the advantages which have been associated with the electronic health records so far. For each and every clinician it is always advisable that they self-evaluate by asking two questions;
· What did I do today that I wasn’t supposed to do?
· Was there something I was supposed to do but I didn’t do?
The implementation of the electronic health records makes such questions simpler to weigh lighter in the minds of the care providers. Physicians have reported the help of electronic health records in alerting them of the most important laboratory tests or the most important medications. About seventy percent of physicians have reported improved safety and quality of care assisted by the electronic health records.
A national survey conducted of doctors who have embraced and are ready to meaningfully outline the use of electronic health records have evidenced that;
· 88% have reported that electronic health records have clinical benefits for their care provision day to day activities.
· 94% of doctors have reported that the electronic health records make the information required easily available during care.
· 75% of health care providers have reported that electronic health records have enabled them in delivering better, safer and quality care.
In light of the varied advantages associated with the electronic health records, I would strongly recommend that any health care organization should have a comprehensive electronic health record. This is as well in line with the increasing demand for quality, effective and efficient care. Technological advancements should be embraced and as such electronic health records is the way to go.
Annotations
Kohli, R., & Tan, S. S. (2016). ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORDS: HOW CAN IS RESEARCHERS CONTRIBUTE TO TRANSFORMING HEALTHCARE? MIS Quarterly, 40(3), 553-574.
This article documents how the information science relates to the electronic health records. Some of the topics included in this article are the system interoperability to implement the electronic health records. Again, it critically analyses some of the associated advantages linked to the use electronic health records. The application of data analysis in relation to the electronic health records are discussed in this article. This makes the article more resourceful in explaining figures as evidence for the advantages associated with the adoption of electronic health records system. This article essentially addresses the need for developing standards when it comes to the use of electronic health records with an aim of reducing costs maintenance and interoperability breakdowns.
Palma, G. (2013). Electronic health records: the good, the bad and the ugly. Becker’s health IT &CIO review. Retrieved from; http://www.beckershospitalreview.com/healthcare-information-technology/electronic-health-records-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly.html
This article reviews the electronic health records system critically explaining what it means, some of the advantages and the disadvantages it posits. It is quite resourceful when analyzing the electronic health records topic critically because it provides both sides of the approach. In a careful way, the article provides insights on the need to take time in evaluating the technology to adopt which in turn would be beneficial to the workflow and be able to eliminate elements of wastages. This essentially means that before implementing electronic health records approach it is advisable not to overlook factors like if it is able to foster communication and ultimately increase non-value-added work.