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Are electronic medical records a cure for health care
Electronic medical records and nursing
Are electronic medical records a cure for health care
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Introduction Health information technology, commonly abbreviated as HIT, refers to all computer hardware and software that is used to store, analyze, retrieve, and share data related to human health. This includes not only computers, but also a variety of diagnostic tools that includes electronic data recording components. (Isaiah) The term "HIT" (Health Information Technology) is a broad concept encompassing a range of technologies such as EHR, EMR and PHR serving to store, share and analyze health information. The objective of electronic health records (EHR) and health information technology (HIT) is to make health care more efficient and safer by providing both patients and health professionals alike with information to reduce duplication and promote preventive care, and inform decision-making. But many challenges arise for the adoption of these technologies, particularly in the medical community, traditionally reluctant to organizational and technological change. Also …show more content…
Without it, physicians can remain slow to adopt these technologies. Yet the HIT have the potential to improve safety and outcomes, as well as to improve the accuracy of medical diagnosis and reduce administrative costs, that 's why every day more and more doctors are turning to them. The tendency seems to lean in favor of HIT remains to be seen how long will put the refractory physicians to adopt …show more content…
Clinicians need to adopt the potential long-term benefits that EHRs offer for the overall improvement of healthcare quality. Governments should take action with regard to the health industry and consider a wide range of strategic
The federal government has taken a stance to standardized care by creating incentive programs that are mandated under the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH) of 2009. This act encourages healthcare providers and healthcare institutions to adopt Meaningful use in order to receive incentives from Medicare and Medicaid. Meaningful use is the adoption of a certified health record system that acquires or obtains specified objectives about a patient. The objectives or measures are considered gold standard practices with the EHR system. Examples of the measures include data entry of vital signs, demographics, allergies, entering medical orders, providing patients with electronic copies of their records, and many more pertinent information regarding the patient (Friedman et al, 2013, p.1560).
With continuous use of the networks, more and more institutions will be able to follow their example. Each of these have become a positive impact to the way health information technology is being used. The patients that are being helped are tremendous. Sooner than later both the CHIN and RHINO records will be able to be made better and be transformed into a NHIN that will be widespread nationwide and not just to a certain area. The HITECH Act will also continue to be helpful in increase use of health information technology and resolve the problems associated with the privacy and security of the vital information contained in the system. As years go by more and more new systems will be created and health information exchange will become advanced, in a way that it will change the way people view health care
When you take the socialistic perspective towards implementing this system in Canada, you can see the advantages it brings to improving health care. If the government plays a larger role in funding the development of electronic health records for private and smaller organizations the benefits will immediately result in better quality of health care. As shown in a study done by the University of California in San Francisco that focused on expensive costs that make it difficult for smaller practices to incorporate electronic health records, “need policies designed to provide incentives and support services to help practices improve the quality of their care by using EHRs.” (Miller, West, Brown, Sim & Ganchoff, 2005) In this article they explain that electronic health records improve quality of health care, but the costs are too expensive for small practices to incorporate them.
The U. S government passed the American Recovery Act in 2009 that established incentives and penalties to promote EHR use. From this legislation the Meaningful Use Program for EHR’s s was created. Through The Meaningful Use Program the U.S. government is able to support the adoption and use of EHR technology to enhance and revolutionize health care. The goal of the program is to increase EHR adoption, improve quality, safety, reduce disparities, and improve public health (hmsa , 2012).
The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH) was put into place as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, and was signed and made a part of law in February 2009. It sponsors the adoption and meaningful use of health information technology. (www.healthcareitnews.com). There was $22 billion and of this $19.2 billion was supposed to be used as a method to increase the use or the Electronic Health Records by the doctors and healthcare facilities. (www.hitechanswers.net).
Portability can improve patient care. Patients no longer have to “tote” their cumbersome medical records around anymore. EHR’s give physicians and clinicians access to critical healthcare information in the palm of their hand, which ultimately leads to improved patient care outcomes. EHR’s also provide security to vital medical and personal healthcare information. Organizations like HIPPA defines policies, procedures and guidelines for preserving the privacy and security of discrete distinguishable health information (HHS.gov,
Unfortunately, the quality of health care in America is flawed. Information technology (IT) offers the potential to address the industry’s most pressing dilemmas: care fragmentation, medical errors, and rising costs. The leading example of this is the electronic health record (EHR). An EHR, as explained by HealthIT.gov (n.d.), is a digital version of a patient’s paper chart. It includes, but is not limited to, medical history, diagnoses, medications, and treatment plans. The EHR, then, serves as a resource that aids clinicians in decision-making by providing comprehensive patient information.
“An electronic health record (EHR) is a digital version of a patient’s paper chart. EHRs are real-time, patient-centered records that make information available instantly and securely to authorized users.” (healthit.gov) The EHR mandate was created “to share information with other health care providers and organizations – such as laboratories, specialists, medical imaging facilities, pharmacies, emergency facilities, and school and workplace clinics – so they contain information from all clinicians involved in a patient’s care.” ("Providers & Professionals | HealthIT.gov", n.d., p. 1) The process has proved to be quite challenging for providers. As an incentive, the government began issuing payments to those providers who “meaningfully use certified electronic health record (EHR) technology.” (hhs.gov) There are three stages that providers must progress through in order to receive theses financial incentives. Stage one is the initial stage and is met with the creation and implementation of the HER in the business. Stage two “increases health information exchange between providers.” ("United States Department of Health and Human Services | HHS.gov", n.d., p. 1) Stage three will be the continuation and expansion of the “meaningful use objectives.” ("United States Department of Health and Human Services | HHS.gov", n.d., p. 1) The hospital, where I work, initiated the HER mandate many years ago. In this paper, I will discuss the progression and the challenges that my hospital encountered while implementing the EHR mandate.
Administrative Mandates, including the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act, ICD-10 and HIPAA 5010, are all part of administrative simplification and the need for systems optimiza...
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.
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...
In 2009 President Obama, through the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act, pledged to provide incentives to the nation’s physicians and hospitals to convert to an electronic healthcare system in attempt to improve the quality of care and reduce cost (Freudenheim, 2010). By converting to an electronic system, we have the opportunity for improved communication between all healthcare providers and decreased cost to our healthcare system. The goal is to improve communication across all aspects of the service chain (Horan, Botts & Burkhard, 2010). Almost two years later, the conversion progress continues to be slow. Only one in four physician’s offices, mostly large groups, have implemented the electronic record system (Freudenheim, 2010).
The HIT professionals have to consider the purpose for which the data is collected, which includes its application and use in the hospital. Secondly, they have to consider the process through which the data essentials are gathered or the method used to collect the data elements. In addition, these professionals have to consider the processes and systems that they will use to document and store the data. They also need to consider the methods they will use to translate the data into information that can be applied in various situations.
Studies have implied that, healthcare professionals who practice clinical features through EHR were far more likely provide better preventive care than were healthcare professionals who did not. (page 116). From 2004, EHR has initiated, even the major priority of President Obama’s agenda is EHR (Madison & Stagger, 2011). Health care administration considers EHR as the introduction of advanced technology which can improve patient satisfaction are can increase the financial incentives of the healthcare organization. Studies have pointed out that the federal policy is proposed to transform all medical records into EHR (Hebda & Calderone, 2010).
In other words, ICT basically promotes professionalism and reduce human effort as well as reducing the chances of erring. Healthcare simply means preventing, diagnosing and curing ailments that terminate life and reduce lifespan of human and all living things. In other words, the prevention, treatment, and management of illness and the preservation of mental and physical well-being through the services offered by the medical and allied health professions. Information and Communications Technology (ICT) play a vital role in improving health care for humanity. It is efficient in providing, communicating and storing certain information about users and uses. ICT helps in bridging the gap created in health sector and may be used to enhance efficient relationships between the healthcare providers and health researchers. In other words, through the development of databases and other applications, ICT enhances health research and; this provides the capacity to improve health system efficiencies and prevent medical errors. The use of ICT can never be evaluated without