Electronic Health Record
ELECTRONIC RECORD
The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act also known as the HITECH Act is part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of
2009 (ARRA) which contains incentives related to health care information technology in general and contains specific incentives designed to accelerate the adoption of electronic health record (EHR) systems among providers. Because this legislation anticipates a massive expansion in the exchange of electronic protected health information, the HITECH Act also widens the scope of privacy and security protections available under HIPAA. It increases the potential legal liability for non-compliance and it provides for more enforcement. EHR provide a variety number of advantages to the health care system today.
One of them being the improvement of the delivery of health care is improvement in your health across health care settings by having access to all of our health information. Having a comprehensive record that includes all of a patient's medical information that is up-to-date, complete, accurate and in the hands of your doctor or your family when it's needed will reduce unnecessary test ordering, reduce costs, improve safety and will improve the flow of information from one doctor to another. Another is if all of your providers are more knowledgeable about you and the changes to your care plan in various doctors' offices and hospitals, those providers will be better able to work with you to make more informed decisions about your health. You are at the center of the health care team. Having your medical records computerized and stored electronically rather than in paper files, promises to reduce medical errors including prescribing the wrong medications. For example, the National Academy of Sciences' Institute of Medicine estimates between 44,000 and
The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act also known as the HITECH Act is part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of
2009 (ARRA) which contains incentives related to health care information technology in general and contains specific incentives designed to accelerate the adoption of electronic health record (EHR) systems among providers. Because this legislation anticipates a massive expansion in the exchange of electronic protected health information, the HITECH Act also widens the scope of privacy and security protections available under HIPAA. It increases the potential legal liability for non-compliance and it provides for more enforcement. EHR provide a variety number of advantages to the health care system today.
One of them being the improvement of the delivery of health care is improvement in your health across health care settings by having access to all of our health information. Having a comprehensive record that includes all of a patient's medical information that is up-to-date, complete, accurate and in the hands of your doctor or your family when it's needed will reduce unnecessary test ordering, reduce costs, improve safety and will improve the flow of information from one doctor to another. Another is if all of your providers are more knowledgeable about you and the changes to your care plan in various doctors' offices and hospitals, those providers will be better able to work with you to make more informed decisions about your health. You are at the center of the health care team. Having your medical records computerized and stored electronically rather than in paper files, promises to reduce medical errors including prescribing the wrong medications. For example, the National Academy of Sciences' Institute of Medicine estimates between 44,000 and