Electronic Health Records Essay

The electronic health record (EHR) is a digital record of a patient’s health history that may be made up of records from many locations and/or sources, such as hospitals, providers, clinics, and public health agencies. The EHR is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and has built-in safeguards to assure patient health information confidentiality and security. (Huston, 2013)

Electronic health records were a technological advancement in the healthcare industry in which paper patient record’s became digital. The transition from paper to digital charting allowed easier, quicker access to patient information for those who were authorized to do so. EHRs are secure and protected with username and password access only. It contains information such as patient medical history, procedures, diagnoses, medications, labs, tests, and treatments. Healthcare professionals and organizations who are authorized to access a patient’s electronic health record can do so at ease via a secure network or online database (HealthIT, 2013).

A lengthy list of EHR benefits supports the evolution from paper to electronic medical record keeping. One such benefit, the significant reduction of needed storage space. Bulky paper charts require a lot of space and misplaced charts waste time and effort to locate. Since EHR data remains on the computer, medical practices no longer require secure on-site storage, and electronic files eliminate misplacing files. Another benefit to data remaining on the computer rather than a medical chart, electronic records allow immediate access from several locations. EHRs provide emergency room personnel access to allergies and other pertinent information of unconscious patients. The on-call physician accesses patient information from their home computer, rather than driving to the medical

Electronic Health Records (EHRs) is another version of a patient’s medical history, that is maintained by the healthcare facilities or provider over time, and may include all of the key administrative clinical data relevant to that persons care under particular healthcare facilities, including demographics, progress notes, medication, x-rays, surgical history, and etc.(CMS,2012). While the adoption of the electronic health record system seems promising for the healthcare community and having a positive impact on the HIM field with better care and decreased in healthcare cost, and other promising aspects. However, poor EHR system design and improper use can cause EHR-related errors put at risk to honesty of the information in the EHR; causing or leading healthcare facilities and hospital to break that confidential bond they have with the patient. This will cause EHRS to have errors that endanger patient safety or decrease the quality of care that the patients expect from the hospital or healthcare facility (Bowman, 2013). In the paper I will discussed the topics along the lines like managing the Transition from Paper to EHRs, EHRs to redefine the role of doctors, and other ways how EHRs impact will have on the HIM community.

Electronic health records (EHRs): Medical records are now kept in an electronic versus a paper chart. All health information regarding past and current medical history, treatment plans, and medications are kept in the EHR. The system also allows sharing of medical information from provider to provider as needed. Many HER systems have a feature to allow patients to log into a patient portal to review lab results, diagnostic tests, plans of care, and email access to the provider

Even if they haven 't converted their paper-based records system to an electronic health record (EHR), every physician who is aware of any medical acronyms has heard of EHR. The EHR technology helps practices maintain digital files detailing patient histories, chart notes, treatment records, past and current medications – including adverse events and allergies – and images and lab results. People also associate the term “EHR” with capabilities such as rapid file sharing, robust security and 24/7 access to files from any where because a practice can establish authorized access to files with external partners, such as hospitals, out-patient clinics, specialists and other healthcare networks.

Electronic health record is defined “ as an electronic version of a patient’s medical history, that is maintained by the provider over time, and may include all of the key administrative clinical data relevant to that persons care under a particular provider, including demographics, progress notes, problems, medications, vital signs, past medical history, immunizations, laboratory data and radiology reports The EHR automates access to information and has the potential to streamline the clinician 's workflow. The EHR also has the ability to support other care-related activities directly or indirectly through various interfaces, including evidence-based decision support, quality management, and outcomes reporting. “(Center for Medicaid, 2012)

The utilization of electronic health records (EHR) has become increasingly common in the inpatient hospital setting and outpatient care. EHRs benefit the physician, patient, and healthcare facility. Historically, electronic records were not in place for healthcare organizations, and currently, it helps the organization in several ways instead of using paper. Patients have access to their medical records and history, which gives them readily available information about their health. Proper implementation of an EHR system results in higher patient satisfaction. The benefits of EHRs significantly improve the care experience for patients physically and mentally. Additionally, patient care is improved because the patient can leave their doctor’s office with a complete copy of their medical record. While inpatient and outpatient care has several similarities, there are also many differences, as well as challenges with both healthcare setting with implementing the EHR.

After stating the goals of EHR, and the benefits it serves, this student will now discuss how EHR is being utilized at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation. One could say that the Cleveland Clinic were innovators in EHR, being one of the first institutions to adopt EHR more than eleven years ago. According to Cleveland Clinic (2012), EHR is “enabling physicians to actively collaborate and exchange information to ensure appropriate coordination of care throughout a patient’s life”. MyChart has also been a large milestone in development as part of Cleveland Clinics adoption of EHR. MyChart gives patients access to medical records, test results, and physician notes through a portal on the internet that can be accessed at home online. “MyChart, Cleveland Clinic’s secure, online patient-centered recording tool, connects patients to personalized health information at any time” (Cleveland Clinic, 2010). One benefit MyChart gives to patients is the ability for them to participate in decisions and their care.

EHR’s to date, are effective enough to ensure a patient has records that are up to date and those different clinicians or physicians, who need to access the patient’s data, can do so with ease, but improvements can still be made to make these systems more effective.

Have you noticed recently most every time you go to the doctor, the nurse and or doctor come in with a laptop or tablet and are typing away as you answer their questions? As your nurse or doctor are asking you questions they are updating your EHR, or Electronic Health Records. The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health enacted under The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, led to financial incentives for those who could demonstrate meaningful use of the EHR technology. Now more than 80 percent of physicians keep some version of an electronic health record for their patients. What is an Electronic Health Record you ask? An EHR is a technology that allows a health-care provider to record, access, as well as

The National Alliance of Health Information Technology defines the EHR as “an electronic health record of health-related information on an individual that conforms to nationally recognized interoperability standards and that can be created, managed an consulted by authorized clinicians and staff across more than one health care organization” (Hebda & Czar, 2013). The goal is to create a health record that is capable of following an individual throughout their life. The availability of the record would aide to continuity of patient information along the health

“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

The way in which facilities access patient’s health records have changed from paper charts to electronic health records (EHR). Healthcare facilities have been mandated by the federal government to start using EHR for access and storage of health information (Department of Health and Human Services, 2008). There are six steps that assist facilities in order to prepare them to start utilizing EHR (Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, 2014). EHR privacy is maintained through the Health Insurance Probability Accountability Act (HIPAA) (Burkhart and Nathaniel, 2014). This allows coordination of care among healthcare professionals in order to deliver quality, safe, cost effective care to patients.

As of 2011, approximately 54% of physicians had adopted an electronic health record system (Jamoom, Beatty, Bercovitz, et al., 2012). Electronic health records are a digital version of a patient’s medical chart that are protected and quick to access. They often contain important patient information such as medical history, allergies, diagnoses, medications, test results, and treatment histories. Electronic health records can affect the quality and efficiency of patient care, the timeliness of accessing patient information, and the likelihood of errors.