Electronic Health Record Essay Example for Free

Electronic wellness Record EssayAn Electronic Health Record (EHR) is a frame of records that are electronically managed, providing longitudinal culture of the patients health. The information is generated during wizard or more encounters with the patient. Information fucking be recorded and stored under several sections including demographics, encounters, interventions, treatments, immunizations, prescriptions, laboratory and imaging data, etc. The EHR is not only a preserve system of rules, but also helps in clinical decision-making. It has several features incorporated such as providing reminders, precautionary measures to be taken, alerts, evidence-based information, tips in improving prognosis and the quality of care provided. An EHR system understructure function within one department of the enterprise, in the entire enterprise, or even between several enterprises within a ground or region. EHRs digest be customized depending on the type of department requiring th em and the purpose for its use (NIH NICRR, 2006 Gurley, 2004).Advantages of the EHR system- Patient information evict be stored for longer periods and would occupy lesser space Patient information can be accessed from any point in the hospital and also from one hospital to another, if inevitable Patient information can be secured and confidentiality can be maintained (as a particular drug user would be accessing the system with a username/password, and would get information only about his/her patient) Information can be updated from any of the user points Several features such as alerts, reminders, etc, which are very useful to the user can be enabled in an EHR system Built-in intelligence of the EHR would provide several benefits to the physicians such as providing evidence-based information, effectiveness drug reactions, etc The quality of care can be improved The requirements and standards set by accreditation organizations, legislations and insurance companies can be more e asily met using an EHR system Potential life-threatening situations and hazardous drug reactions can be better prevented and managed using an EHR system The patient workflow can be effectively managed if an EHR system is present Communication between several structures of the healthcare organization can be improved (faster and more effective) Depending on the needs of the hospital, a customized EHR can be enabled Risk assessment, management processes and error identification can be better enabled using an EHR system (NIH NICRR, 2006 Gurley, 2004).Disadvantages of the EHR system- Initiating and maintaining an EHR system whitethorn be very dearly-won for the organization (however, the improvements in quality need to be considered) Training healthcare professionals in EHR use may be difficult (as it requires some amount of technical knowledge) Getting competent with the EHR system requires a shrewdly learning curve The EHR systems incorporated from one hospital may be different from another, which may stop the flow of information Lacks standard architecture and terminologies (effective interconnecting links need to be considered) Staff members may key out it difficult to adopt to the clinical changes brought about through incorporation of an EHR system Slow systems may come to the workflow Risk of the system being hacked and data misused (certain standards should be compiled with and protocols need to be followed) (NIH NICRR, 2006 Gurley, 2004).