Abstract
The purpose of this literature review is to compare the benefits and risks of electronic health records (EHRs). This literature review has provided different journal articles to compare the risks and the benefits of having electronic health records in a hospital. Some of the articles believe that the use of EHRs in a hospital will be more effective and helpful while others suggest that the use of EHRs in a hospital will not be beneficial due to the complications that may arise with it. The methods used will be comparing different journal articles and comparing them with each other. In conclusion, the use of electronic health records in hospitals will be beneficial for both patients and doctors because it allows the doctors to
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The research problem is whether or not EHRs are beneficial for hospitals.
Methods
In order to be able to depict if EHRs would be beneficial or risky to use in hospital, there were several different journal article that were evaluated. There were different articles that used EHRs in hospitals and found it to be beneficial and there were hospitals that used EHRs and found that it caused several problems. The different articles talked about how the EHRs are going to benefit the hospitals so that they can get things done in a timely and effective manner. The articles that discussed the risks talked about the different problems that could arise when using EHRs in the hospital. The date limitations that were used is no older articles than 10 years old. The language limitations were a little difficult because there were many studies done in different locations other than the United States. Other limitations included many articles talked about the benefits and risks of having EHRs, but they did not give clear and concise examples.
Findings
In Aragon, Cortelyou-Ward, Noblin, Bullard, Talbert, Wilson, and Briscoe study, they discussed how the EHRs can be accessed easily and it is easily viewed by both the nurses and doctors (2014). Another article discusses the benefits of the HER systems. It allows for labs and healthcare professionals to easily communicate their information to each other. (Gluskin, 2014).
Meyerhoefer, Deily, Sherer, Chou, Peng, Sheinberg, & Levick
Electronic health records (EHR) are health records that are generated by health care professionals when a patient is seen at a medical facility such as a hospital, mental health clinic, or pharmacy. The EHR contains the same information as paper based medical records like demographics, medical complaints and prescriptions. There are so many more benefits to the EHR than paper based medical records. Accuracy of diagnosis, quality and convenience of patient care, and patient participation are a few examples of the
EHR was created to have a technical way to securely exchange private and personal medical health information in hopes to improve the quality of care, decrease medical errors, limiting paper use, reduction of health care cost, and increasing a person access to affordable health care. A mandate was created for EHR stating that health records can be accessible to all facilities with patients having the capability to access their own health records at any time. Ameliorating the quality and convenience of care given to a patient, allow for cost saving measures, engage the patient and family to participate in their care, improve accuracy of medical diagnosis, and enhance the efficiency of the overall outcome of the patients’ health.
The purpose of this paper is to review and summarize the literature on the pros and cons of electronic health record systems. This paper describes the many benefits of electronic health record systems, which include but are not limited to, less paperwork, increased quality of care, financial incentives, and increased efficiency and productivity. Organizational outcomes and societal benefits are also addressed. Despite the tremendous amount of benefits, studies in the literature highlight potential disadvantages of electronic health record systems. These disadvantages include privacy and security concerns, identity theft, data loss, financial issues, and changes in workflow, involving a temporary loss of productivity. Preventative measures that can be taken are addressed as well. Overall, people believe that the benefits of electronic health records can be realized when they are used correctly, and proper measures are taken to reduce any potential drawbacks.
EHRs can positively influence workplace efficiency and communication and improve productivity with better access to and organization of patient data (McGinn, et al., 2011). EHRs can improve operational efficiency by providing the capability of sharing of information within the practice. Additionally, health information can be shared with external health care organizations provided the proper interoperability infrastructure is in place. Physicians can access patient information anytime and anywhere the system is enabled, enhancing patient safety as well as quality and continuity of care, particularly for physicians on call or working at multiple sites. They also can have access to drug recalls or other alerts provided through the EHR.
Muhammed H. (2015) conducted a study to determine the relationship between EHRs and patient safety. According to the researcher, EHRs are healthcare applications that digitize patient information and clinical workflows. It may be considered as a data repository that stores patient data, and assists providers by providing reference information and recommendations for care. Furthermore it enables providers to electronically place orders and consolidate clinical notes across hospital departments. The results showed that about 70% of hospitals in PA adopted advanced EHRs since 2012 and there has been a 27% decline in patient safety events
“… longitudinal electronic record of patient health information generated by one or more encounters in any care delivery setting”. Included in this information are patient demographics… reports. The EHR automates and streamlines the clinician 's workflow. The EHR has the ability to generate a complete record of a clinical patient encounter, and related activities directly or indirectly via interface—including evidence-based decision support, quality management, and outcomes reporting.”(GAO, 2010)
EHRs have potential in recuperating patient safety. EHRs are efficient as they do not require doctors to use paper records, which in turn result in healthier individuals (Staggers, Weir and Phansalkar, 2008). Furthermore, Canada and many other countries around the globe have invested in EHRs due to the advantages for patient safety. Moreover, EHRs have its advantages, but there are also evident disadvantages, such as financial costs, patient safety, and medical errors (Sparnon and Marella,
In 2004 president George Busch announced the goal to mandate electronic health records for every American by 2014. This would require every paper chart to be converted to electronic chart so that health care providers and the patient themselves can access their information through the internet (Simborg, 2011). The purpose of developing the EHR is to provide appropriate patient information from any location. Also to improve health care quality and the coordination of care among hospital staff. To reduce medical error, cost and advance medical care. Last to ensure patient health information is secure (DeSalvo, 2014) The Department of Health and Human Services appointed the Office of the National Coordinator for Health
The use EHR systems has both positive and negative impact on individual health information because of the risk exposures such as hacking, privacy violations, etc. associated with EHR systems. On a positive note, the use of EHR has increase coordination of care, patient-provider relationships through patient portals. creating and monitoring quality
Providers will have an explanation and a glimpse into outlook of future performance. As EHR is befitting to every provider’s practice, providers should have an understanding that EHR implementation will objectively promote their practice through considerable, and reasonable designs. In consideration of the status, providers quality of care, systems employed would be scrutinized, and evaluation of desirability to stay in touch with patients or potentially change in system processes. In addition, appraisal of current systems such as quality of documentation, work flow, and staff’s ability to fully utilize the systems would happen. Given the opportunity to swiftly access patient information from a central place, patient history, instant check of drug interactions and allergies and e-prescription would occur. Provider’s determination towards favorable choices and patient safety will continue because, instant communication of patient information, and alerts will occur. Furthermore, promotion of diagnostic and beneficial choices for patients will exist. Ideally, providers should have a grasp of how EHR will promote practice, resources available to manipulate through the entire
There are many different healthcare settings, which Electronic Health Records (EHR) have been implemented. One may think EHR’s are the same for all settings; however, based on the needs and application to each area, there are similarities and differences. This paper will delve into the Perioperative setting and Ambulatory setting in primary care. Information provided will highlight the value of Electronic Health Information (EHI), its impact at the warehouse and regional level as it improves patient care among the respective practitioners in these settings and its impact to Public Health Information Networks (PHIN) and National Health Information Networks (NHIN).
I still remember the days before EHR were started. I was working as a Health Unit Coordinator, and was responsible for getting the patient’s charts together and all the required forms that will be used for the patient doing there admission. The charts were broken down upon patient discharge, and sent to medical records. The charts would have to be requested again from medical records in the event that the patient was admitted again at a later date, and the physicians and nurses would have to go through the charts to review the patient’s history. Health Care has come a long way since then. In this paper there will a discussion and examination on the current use of electronic health records and its relationship to health care. All of the providers and nurses that are responsible for the patient’s care, are able to review and share information on the patient. Any nursing care information that is beyond the basic compliance data, is not often included in the data that is being stored though EHR Today, nursing care data, beyond basic compliance data, is very seldom included in this data which is being stored electronically, even though there are studies that showing that including nursing problems will improve the accuracy of healthcare cost and patient outcomes. Welton, Halloran, and Zone-Smith (2006). By
This paper will identify the use of Electronic Health Records and how nursing plays an important role. Emerging in the early 2000’s, utilizing Electronic Health Records have quickly become a part of normal practice. An EHR could help prevent dangerous medical mistakes, decrease in medical costs, and an overall improvement in medical care. Patients are often taking multiple medications, forget to mention important procedures/diagnoses to providers, and at times fail to follow up with providers. Maintaining an EHR could help tack data, identify patients who are due for preventative screenings and visits, monitor VS, & improve overall quality of care in a practice. Nurse informaticists play an important role in the
Electronic health records (EHR’s) have many advantages, but there are plenty of disadvantages. EHR’s were created to manage the many aspects of healthcare information. Medical professionals use them daily and most would feel lost without it. Healthcare organizations were encouraged to adopt EHR’s in 2009 due to the fact that a bill passed known as The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH Act). “The HITECH Act outlines criteria to achieve “meaningful use” of certified electronic records. These criteria must be met in order for providers to receive financial incentives to promote adoption of EHRs as an integral part of their daily practice”, (Conrad, Hanson, Hasenau & Stocker-Schneider, 2012).
Another big plus of the EHRs is that studies have shown that it has helped providers improve accuracy of diagnoses and health outcomes (Couch, 2008). For example, nurses could have reliable access to patients complete health information and have pictures which would help with whatever problem they might encounter. EHR doesn’t just keep patients medications and allergies, it also check for problems whenever a new medication is prescribed and it also alerts the nurse of potential problems (Couch, 2008). EHRs can also tell the nurse if potential safety problems occur, which helps them avoid more serious consequences for patients, which can lead to better outcomes. The EHRs can also help nurses quickly identify and correct operational problems, which compared to the paper-based setting, those kinds of problems would be more difficult to correct. It can also help