Benefits And Barriers Of Electronic Health Records

741 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Advantages Of Implementing Electronic Medical Records

Benefits and Barriers of Electronic Health Records
“There are two concepts in electronic patient records that are used interchangeably but are different-the electronic medical record (EMR/EHR) and the electronic health record. The National Alliance for Health Information Technology (NAHIT) defines the EHR as the electronic record of health-related information on an individual that is accumulated from one health system and is utilized by the health organization that is providing patient care while the EMR accumulates more patient medical information from many health organizations that have been involved in the patient care. The Institute of Medicine (IOM) has been urging the healthcare industry to adopt the electronic patient record but initially …show more content…

It enables healthcare organizations to monitor patient safely and care. According to IOM essential elements for an EHR are: the collection of longitudinal data on a person’s health, immediate electronic access to this information, establishment of a system that provides decision support to ensure the quality, safety, and efficiency of patient care. The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act, until 2015, offers incentives for physicians and other healthcare professions to adopt health IT. After that, the apt spells out penalties for noncompliance of health IT. The Office of Nation Coordinator (ONC) for Health Information Technology (HIT) is responsible for implementing the incentives and penalties program. The ONC has been working to create ‘meaningful use’ guidelines for physicians and others that will help them receive incentive payments and avoid penalties in the future” (Niles, 2015, page 261).
Three benefits of EHR is improved patient care, improved interdepartmental …show more content…

The company would need to purchase software, hardware, networks, upgrades, training, and computer personnel. “The average cost of installation for a practice is $50,000” (Niles, 2015, page 262). Going from a hard copy system to an electronic system requires several components, including a physician order communications/results retrieval, electronic document/control management, point of care charting, electronic physician order entry and prescribing, clinical decision support system, provider patient portals, personal health records, and population health (Niles, 2015, page 262). Converting to an electronic system affects the workflow because it changes the process for the professional. The training and learning of the system takes time to learn and to completely understand and is not as easy as just writing it down on paper. “Training is required for both healthcare professionals and staff to fully utilize the system” (Niles, 2015, page

Show More
Related

  • Current Status of the Electronic Health Records in the United States

    921 Words  | 2 Pages

    Jha, A. K., Burke, M. F., DesRoches, C., Joshi M. S., Kralovec P. D., Campbell E. G., & Buntin M. B. (2011). Progress Toward Meaningful Use: Hospitals’ Adoption of Electronic Health Records. The American Journal of Managed Care, 17, 117-123

    Read More

  • Health Information Network (NHIN), National Health Information Network, Community Health Information Network (HITECH Act?

    1004 Words  | 3 Pages

    The health information networks factor into the enhancement of the patient-centered management system, in that they help with the implementation of the Electronic health record. The HITECH Act for example allocated “18 billion through the Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement systems as incentives for hospitals and physicians who are meaningful users of EHR systems”(About the HITECH, n.d.). This is a beneficial way to promote the use of electronic health records and have them become universally utilized across the nation. NHIN is also an excellent network that is more widespread and contains policies as well as standards that help with the safe trade of data. NHIN is the biggest network that all other health information networks hope to achieve. The NHIN is a contributor to the expansion of the EHR and it also further improves the patient-centered management system by having the policies they have. These policies assist with keeping the information in the system safe and also helping many different entities to become a part of its use. Some of the entities involved are the Center for Disease Control and prevention, Social Security Administration, Department of Defense and Kaiser Permanente among others. Both CHIN and RHINO implement the use of electronic health record, which makes it more widespread,

    Read More

  • Electronic Health Records Pros And Cons Essay

    1024 Words  | 3 Pages

    Historically, physicians and nurses documented patients’ health information using paper and pencil. This documentation created numerous errors in patients’ medical records. Patient information became lost or destroyed, medication errors occur daily because of illegible handwriting, and patients had to wait long periods to have access to their medical records. Since then technology has changed the way nurses and health care providers care for their patients. Documentation of patient care has moved to an electronic heath care system in which facilities around the world implement electronic health care systems. Electronic health records (EHR) is defined as a longitudinal electronic record of

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Meaningful Use And The EHR

    1629 Words  | 4 Pages

    Meaningful Use and the EHR Many new technologies are being used in health organizations across the nation, which are being utilized to help improve the quality of health care. Electronic Health Records (EHRs) play a critical role in improving access, quality and efficiency of healthcare ("Electronic health records," 2014). In order to assist in expanding the use of EHR’s, in 2011 the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS), instituted an EHR incentive program called the Meaningful Use Program. This program was instituted to encourage and expand the use of the HER, by providing health professionals and health organizations yearly incentive payments when they demonstrate meaningful use of the EHR ("Medicare and Medicaid," 2014).

    Read More

  • The Pros and Cons of an Electronic Health Record (EHR) System

    1659 Words  | 4 Pages

    Did you ever think about how much time is spent on computers and the internet? It is estimated that the average adult will spend over five hours per day online or with digital media according to Emarketer.com. This is a significant amount; taking into consideration the internet has not always been this easily accessible. The world that we live in is slowly or quickly however you look at it: becoming technology based and it is shifting the way we live. With each day more and more people use social media, shop online, run businesses, take online classes, play games, the list is endless. The internet serves billions of people daily and it doesn’t stop there. Without technology and the internet, there would be no electronic health record. Therefore, is it important for hospitals and other institutions to adopt the electronic health record (EHR) system? Whichever happens, there are many debates about EHR’s and their purpose, and this paper is going to explain both the benefits and disadvantages of the EHR. Global users of the internet can then decide whether the EHR is beneficial or detrimental to our ever changing healthcare system and technology based living.

    Read More

  • The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH)

    1179 Words  | 3 Pages

    Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act consists of several subtitles. The subtitle D of the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act deals with the privacy and security issues that are associated with the electronic transmission of health information. The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act requires that as of 2011 all healthcare providers are going to be presented with the opportunity of financial incentives for showing meaningful use of electronic health records (EHRs). The proposed incentives will be offered up until 2015 and after that, penalties may occur for the failure of representing the use of EHR. The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act even started grants for the training centers for all staff members that are required to support a health information technology infrastructure. (www.healthcareitnews.com).

    Read More

  • Pros And Cons Of Ehr

    268 Words  | 1 Pages

    The main purpose of EHRs is to mainly exchange health information electronically to help improve quality and safety for patients. Four pros of EHRs is to provide accurate and recent information of the patients, allow for quick access to the patient records, share the health information securely, and make patient records and notes legible. These four points are important and necessary because the goal overall is to improve public health. Patient information should always be updated and current. Health professionals need to easily have access to patient records to either update them or verify the information. Also, health professionals can now avoid any discrepancies with electronic records verses when records were completely on paper.

    Read More

  • The Switch to Electronic Health Records

    1046 Words  | 3 Pages

    In this paper you will find that the transition from paper health records to electronic medical record is a transition that requires a lot of time and precise preparation and planning. Looking through the paper you will see that there are factors that need to be implemented. You first definitely have to have your medical records. Next you have to know the role that HIPPA will play in your transition because of regulation and violations. Then, you have to prepare for potential problems that you could possibly face. Next, you will see there are several things to evaluate from how long it will take to cost. You will see prices for workstation and the number of staff that you need to carry out your plan of action.

    Read More

  • EHR: Electronic Health Records

    281 Words  | 1 Pages

    EHR, Electronic Health Records are electronic version of a patient’s medical history (Zeng 2016). Electronic Medical Records includes vital clinical information of a patient’s care. This information is maintained by the health care provider and it includes the patient’s demographic information, problems, progress notes, medications, vital signs, past medical history, immunizations, laboratory test results and radiology reports. Electronic Health Records has been very beneficial to health care providers. It has improved the coordination of care and streamline the workflow of health care professionals. According to an article written in North Caroline Medical Journal, Electronic Health Records are more beneficial than paper records because

    Read More

  • Electronic Health Records: Annotated Bibliography

    1502 Words  | 4 Pages

    This paper will identify the use of Electronic Health Records and how nursing plays an important role. Emerging in the early 2000’s, utilizing Electronic Health Records have quickly become a part of normal practice. An EHR could help prevent dangerous medical mistakes, decrease in medical costs, and an overall improvement in medical care. Patients are often taking multiple medications, forget to mention important procedures/diagnoses to providers, and at times fail to follow up with providers. Maintaining an EHR could help tack data, identify patients who are due for preventative screenings and visits, monitor VS, & improve overall quality of care in a practice. Nurse informaticists play an important role in the adaptation, utilization, and functionality of an EHR. The impact the EHR could have on a general population is invaluable; therefore, it needs special attention from a trained professional.

    Read More

  • Electronic Health Records: The Future Of Electronic Medical Records

    540 Words  | 2 Pages

    Over the years, healthcare facilities have acted like a storehouse for patients’ medical records, uninterested and unable to distribute clinical data to anyone beyond their organization. The EHR, started in the 1960s under the name of "computerized-based patient record" (CPR), became known as "electronic medical records" (EMR) in the 1990s and today it is known as electronic health record (EHR).The target of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is to incorporate the EHR and use it in a "meaningful" way to improve the quality, efficiency, and safety of patient care delivery; to engage patients in their personal health record; and to improve care coordination. Equally important, the "meaningful use" of the EHR system intends to build a bridge to other systems by creating an interoperability of health information while implementing quality care throughout. However, this interoperability can only be accomplished when the receiving system and the user fully understand how to apply these exchanges.

    Read More

  • Electronic Health Record Implementation Essay

    1021 Words  | 3 Pages

    The EHR is a computerized health record that will take place of the paper chart. The health care information will be available to all health care providers at anytime, anywhere. The record will contain medical history, diagnosis, medications, immunization, allergies, diagnostics and lab results; from past doctors, emergency department visits, school, pharmacies, and out patient laboratories and facilities (Department of health and human services, 2014). Health care providers will be able to access evidence-based tools to aid in decision-making. EHR will also streamline workflow, and support changes in payer requirements and consumer expectations. In 2004, “the HHS secretary, Tommy Thompson appointed David Brailer as the national health information coordinator to provide: leadership for the development and nationwide implementation of a interoperable HIT infrastructure, with the goal of establishing electronic health records...

    Read More

  • The Benefits Of Electronic Medical Records

    962 Words  | 2 Pages

    Over the last several years, electronic medical records are becoming more prominent in health care facilities, replacing traditional written records. As many electronics are becoming more prevalent with the invention of numerous smartphones and tablet devices, it seems that making medical records available electronically would be appropriate for the evolving times. Even though they have been in use to some extent for many years, the “Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health section of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has brought paperless documentation into the spotlight” (Eisenberg, 2010, p. 8). The systems of electronic medical records mainly consist of clinical note taking, prescription and medication documentation,

    Read More

  • EHR Implementation and Effects on Nursing

    2310 Words  | 5 Pages

    The implementation of electronic health records (EHR) continues to make an impact on nursing and patient care throughout the country. As a part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, all public and private healthcare providers were required to implement electronic health records in their facilities by January 1, 2014. By demonstrating “meaningful use” of the electronic medical record, facilities are able to maintain Medicaid and Medicare reimbursement levels. Providers who show that they are meeting the “meaningful use” criteria during EHR use will receive an incentive payment from Medicare and Medicaid. “Meaningful use” is “using certified technology in EHR implementation to improve quality, safety, efficiency, and reduce health disparities; engage patients and families; improve care coordination; and maintain privacy and security of patient health information” (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 2013).

    Read More

  • Health Information Research Paper

    546 Words  | 2 Pages

    Information technology is a more and more used term today in healthcare. Technology in general is advancing rather quickly and it is important for the field of health to also keep up with the changes. Electronic Health Records was the first big step in introducing information technology. Throughout this paper you will learn about the importance, the uses, the quality, and the future of Electronic Health Records or EHR.

    Read More

More about Benefits And Barriers Of Electronic Health Records

Open Document