Advantages Of Electronic Health Records

Electronic Health Record
Savannah Tapp-Crump RN
Oklahoma Wesleyan University

Electronic Health Record

The electronic health record also known as the EHR, has transformed the world of health care and documentation as we know it. An electronic health record is a “ computer-based data warehouse or repository of information regarding the health status of a client, which is replacing the former paper-based medical record; it is the systematic documentation of a client’s health status and health care in a secured digital format , meaning that is can be processed, stored, transmitted, and accessed by authorized interdisciplinary professionals for the purpose of supporting efficient, high-quality health care across the client’s
healthcare continuum” (McGonigle & Mastrian, 2015). Electronic health records has been an idea since the 1980’s but there was not a big push for use until President Bush made his union address in January 2004. He pushed for most Americans to have access to their electronic health records by 2014 (McGonigle & Mastrian, 2015). There are many benefits to the EHR that helps the patients, nurses, and other medical staff. There are also some concerns that have arisen as well. Overall the EHR, has been a positive change for the healthcare system as a whole. There are several advantages of the EHR not only for the healthcare worker but also for the patient.
With EHR there is an increased quality of care due to the amount of information at hand from every available medical source. With this patients have more faster and efficient medical diagnosis and treatments (Spring, 2008). There is also more convenient data history that includes labs, medications, vaccination records, and medical tests that can be shared between physicians the patient is seeing (Electronic Health Record, 2014). This gives an overall better picture of the patient’s health as a whole. As with any advantages there is always some disadvantages. The financial part of starting to use EHR is high at first. Having to get software and then creating all electronic charts for existing patients can be costly at first. Training staff on electronic health documentation can be challenging, costly, and time consuming at first (Spring, 2008). Security measures can also be a disadvantage. EHR’s have to be overseen and make sure they stay safe. If data is breached and the patient’s privacy and confidentiality of their records has been compromised then that could bring about legal actions (McGonigle & Mastrian, 2015). Any health care giver has to constantly be aware of the patient and maintain all confidentiality at all times. The benefits of EHR’s clearly out weight the
disadvantages. The future of EHR’s is inevitable.
High majority of health institutions are currently already using EHR’s but the ones that are not using will be required to do so soon. With the signing of the HiTECH and the patient protection and affordable care act these intuitions are required to use EHR’s by 2014 or will face certain consequences (McGonigle & Mastrian, 2015). They can have significant reimbursements from the government or not get paid at all. It is hopeful that by 2016 all health care professionals and institutions will be using EHR’s (Electronic Health Record, 2014). This will hopefully decrease medical costs, errors, and overall give a better quality of care to the patient. The patient will become an active role in their care team by having access to his electronic health record. EHR’s are the present and the future and is a great asset to the health care
community.

References

Electronic Health Record. (2014, December 31). Retrieved from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_health_record
McGonigle, D., & Mastrian, K. G. (2015). Nursing Informatics and the Foundation of Knowledge. Burlington: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Spring, M. (2008, Decemeber 16). Retrieved from EMR Advantages and Disadvantages: http://www.healthguideinfo.com/health-informatics/p7402/