Electronic Medical Records Annotated Bibliography

The federal government has mandated that all medical records need to be converted to electronic form by 2014. Providers also have to prove their meaningful use of electronic medical records. Starting in 2015, Medicare and Medicaid payments will be reduced, starting at 1% for not complying with this mandate. Federal grants and funding were made available by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to assist health care providers to adopt electronic medical record format.
As a result of the mandate there have been numerous articles that have been published by medical and trade journals. The articles cover a wide range of topics as they relate to electronic medical records covering topics such as cost, benefits, cons, patient safety, human error, and federal requirements. This is brief summary of some of the available articles as they relate to health care delivery and electronic medical records.
Annotated Bibliography
Amatayakul, Margret. (2010, December) Healthcare financial management : journal of the Healthcare Financial Management Association, ISSN 0735-0732, 12/2010, Volume 64, Issue 12, p. 104, 106. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy. apollolibrary.com/docview/1019985327
This article provides six steps of implementation for electronic health record. The model mirrors the steps of implementation developed by James Prochaska; however, the model was specifically tailored for electronic health record implementation. The process could be used by any facility that has not yet launched adoption. The six steps are preparation, planning, installation, action, maintenance, and termination. The last step, termination, might be confused and thought of electronic health record termination; however, termination describes the end of paper recording, and the full conversion to electronic records. The model is simple, and easy to follow as each step is described in detail. It is important to mention that this model of implementation calls for patience, and active planning prior to the “last minute” because the process takes time, and careful evaluation.
Brooks, R, ,& Grotz, C. (2010). Implementation of electronic medical record: How healthcare providers are managing challenges of going digital. Journal of Business & Economics Research,8(6), 73-84. Retrieved from Proquest.
The article was a study conducted to explore the use of modern technology in the current healthcare setting. The study provided background information on what the current impacts of the electronic medical record has created and explained reasons many health care facilities are still using the paper method of record keeping. There are varies challenges that healthcare facilities encounter with implementing the electronic medical system. The study poses two relevant questions in conducting the research to understand the current distress that many facilities will face. What is the Electronic Medical System? How will the system impact patient care under the Obama Administration? The viewpoints of several outside sources were used to conducted the study. The data was collected from two separate healthcare locations. This study gave insight into where the electronic medical record is going to impact patient care, record keeping, privacy, and funding the project.
Colpas, P. (2013, January) Integration, analytics key to next-generation EMRs. Health Management Technology (34) 1, p. 6-11. Retrieved from the EBSCO Host Database. The article provides a good overview of future strategies that health care organizations can use to respond to electronic medical records. The article provides information of different analysis’s used to identify efficiencies and inefficiencies, helping evaluate care delivery steps at limited levels, process examinations and tests from operational perspectives, and targeting improvement efforts. The article covers the involvement and expansion of future technologies involving emergency medical records. Health care organizations can improve patient input, patient safety, and quality of care with future strategies.
Dunn, M. J. (2007, May). Benefits of electronic medical records outweigh every challenge. State Medical Society of Wisconsin, 106 (3), 159.
This is an interesting article on the benefits of implementing electronic medical record (EMR). The article is about the sharing of files between physicians, medical facilities, and outpatient clinics can improve patient care. This would allow easy access to patient’s medical information from one facility to another. This would decrease duplication of many tests, medical errors, and adverse drug events.
Fairley, C. K., Vodstrcil, L. A., Huffam, S., Cummings, R., Chen, M. Y., Sze, J. K., Hocking, J. S. (2013). Evaluation of electronic medical record (EMR) at large urban primary care sexual health centre. PLoS One, 8(4) doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1371.journal.pone.0060636
This article is an evaluation of electronic medical records. The evaluation took place nine months before and after the implementation of an electronic medical record system. Patient records were examined from both periods as well as surveys of staff and patients. They were evaluated for efficiency, quality, and patient satisfaction.
HealthIT.gov. (2013). Meaningful Use. Retrieved from http://www.healthit.gov
This government sponsored website is a resource for patients, professionals, and physicians to understand the effects of health information technology. The resources available range from successful implementation to patient education and the data presented includes news articles, research, even links to social media. Information provided can be used to clarify complex laws concerning electronic health care records as applied to specific circumstances. Hillestad, R., Bigelow, J., Bower, A., Girosi, F., & al, e. (2005). Can electronic medical record systems transform health care? Potential health benefits, savings, and costs. Health Affairs, 24(5), 1103-17. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/ 204645298?accountid=35812 This article compares the use of electronic medical records with the use of information technology in other industries. It attempts to measure the cost and savings of widespread adoption of electronic medical records. It also addresses the health and safety benefits of switching to electronic medical records.
Jesitus, John. (2012, March). Dermatology Times, ISSN 0196-6197, 03/2012, Volume 33, Issue 3, p. 109. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy.apollolibrary. com/docview/1019985327
The article provides personal observations on electronic health record from professionals in the field. Doctors share their experience with the system, what they think of it, and if it has made a difference in their work flow. The article is full of positive comments about electronic health record and how it has made a difference for the health care professionals. The article could be used as a supporting evidence for the benefits of electronic health record because it is full of positive narratives and quotes.
Ludwick, D. & Doucette, J. (2009, January) Adopting electronic medical records in primary care: lessons learned from health information systems implementation experience in seven countries. International Journal of Medical Informatics (78) 1, p. 22-31. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed. The article provides an overview of implementation of electronic medical records in health care organizations throughout seven countries. The implementer’s of electronic records systems most important concerns include provider and patient relationships, patient privacy, patient safety, factors of time, quality of care, financing, liability, efficiency, and staff anxieties. The article explains other factors that could affect outcomes of adopting electronic record systems including project management, feature functionality, design quality, and previous user’s experience. The article provides good information and an in-depth analysis about recommendations for organizational improvements regarding electronic medical records.
Shi, L., & Singh, D. (2012). Delivering health care in America: A systems approach. (5th ed). Boston, MA: Jones and Bartlett
This college level textbook provides an overview of information pertaining to health care systems and delivery. Information is presented in an unbiased, educational format providing a base of knowledge. This textbook is a resource for definitions, statistics, and theories that can provide the support necessary to understand or explain real applications and research.
Smith, J. (2011, September). On the EMR adoption journey with GP physicians in solo and small practices. British Columbia Medical Journal, 53(7), 326-369. EBSCOhost
This article follows five general practitioners through their experiences as they conform to new electronic medical records systems implanted in their practices. The examples given are relatable, applicable to ideas concerning any practice ranging from financial impacts to efficiency in patient care. The importance of embracing technology in medicine is noted throughout the text
Vishwanath, A., Singh, S. R., Winkelstein, P., (2010, November). The impact of electronic medical systems on outpatient workflows: A longitudinal evaluation of its workflow effects. International Journal of Medical Informatics. 79 (11) p. 778 – 791 Retrieved from University of Phoenix, SciVerse database
This is an interesting article studying the impact of electronic medical record in outpatient clinics. The study addresses the issues of tracking workflow and how physicians use electronic medical records in his or her workflow. The study tracked physician’s perspective at three months and again at 20 months. It was interesting to read that physician’s perspective of electronic medical records was from earlier beliefs and did not change when trying to incorporate electronic medical records into his or her workflow.
Walker, J.M.(2005). Electronic medical records and health care transformation. Health Affairs, 24(5), 1118-20. Retrieved from Proquest.
In this article the electronic medical record is examined in the terms of cost. The costs that are related to implementing the new Information Technology software, training employees, support, and up-grades. The cost is measured is a desirable outcome in terms of preventing medical errors, patient privacy, and workflow impact. The article explains that the implementation of the electronic medical record will provide the support to achieve high patient care standards; however, but what are the true costs associated with using this method. The argument was presented that the true benefits of this system are still unknown, yet the government now requires that all healthcare organizations must implement some form of the electronic medical record system. The transformation will require additional funding that many healthcare organizations may lack. Who will pay for the changes that must be made and how will the organizations sustain the use of this modern technology that has direct connections to patient care?
Conclusion
Federal mandates have created an increase in the use of electronic medical records. The impact that this will have on the health care industry cannot be disputed. For this reason medical and trade journals have been full of articles anticipating their impact, cost, and implementation. Studies and surveys have also been done to evaluate the effectiveness of their use the impact on patient care. This represents only a small fraction of the articles and references that are available.

Bibliography: Brooks, R, ,& Grotz, C. (2010). Implementation of electronic medical record: How healthcare providers are managing challenges of going digital. Journal of Business & Economics Research,8(6), 73-84. Retrieved from Proquest. Colpas, P. (2013, January) Integration, analytics key to next-generation EMRs. Health Management Technology (34) 1, p. 6-11. Retrieved from the EBSCO Host Database. Dunn, M. J. (2007, May). Benefits of electronic medical records outweigh every challenge. State Medical Society of Wisconsin, 106 (3), 159. HealthIT.gov. (2013). Meaningful Use. Retrieved from http://www.healthit.gov This government sponsored website is a resource for patients, professionals, and physicians to understand the effects of health information technology Shi, L., & Singh, D. (2012). Delivering health care in America: A systems approach. (5th ed). Boston, MA: Jones and Bartlett This college level textbook provides an overview of information pertaining to health care systems and delivery Walker, J.M.(2005). Electronic medical records and health care transformation. Health Affairs, 24(5), 1118-20. Retrieved from Proquest.