How Technology Is The Future

This case analysis of Stanford’s Hospital and Clinics (SHC) electronic medical record (EMR) system implementation will focus on how the healthcare organization focused on resolving a problem to meet regulatory pressures and responded to an opportunity to create operational efficiency, by capitalizing on the use of information technology to help reduce costs. We will discuss the organization’s IT problems, opportunities, and the alternatives available to address each. We will summarize an analysis of potential alternatives including the organization’s EMR system of choice and conclude with a recommendation to the Board on how to rollout the new system.

Possible benefits included positive patient outcomes as a result of improved quality of care, decreased medical errors, increase in financial revenue for organizations, better ability to conduct research, reduced cost of healthcare for patients, and an overall improvement in health for the general population (Menachemi & Collum, 2011). Disadvantages that were found in the review of literature included the initial cost to implement the electronic health record, continuing maintenance costs, and interruption in workflows that adds to the brief loss in productivity that occurs from healthcare providers having to learn a new system (Menachemi & Collum, 2011). There are also concerns about maintaining confidentiality (Menachemi & Collum,

Making the switch to an electronic medical records system will help to bring forth health care advances with the systems data quality and availability. This research study uses focus groups and surveys to get the opinions of different health care providers and some patients on what they think EMR will do for the health care industry. Literature related to EMR was reviewed to get a better understanding of the benefits and barriers of electronic medical records. The study uses data from

The healthcare industry is in the midst of a major change from paper based medical record keeping to electronic medical record keeping. As part of the American Recovery and Investment Act of 2009, the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act was passed (Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, 2014). HITECH is the U.S. Government’s first major contribution to the change from paper to electronic health information technology by setting meaningful use incentive program for Medicare and Medicaid providers that met certain requirements. Healthcare professionals that meet the meaningful use criteria will be awarded financially, and those that don’t meet the 2015 guideline will be penalized. We live in an electronic world of instant access to information and by adopting health information technology we give providers better and easier access to more information which in turn allows them to make a more informed diagnosis and treatment plan for the patient. The electronic health record (EHR) is part of the new information technology. According to the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (2014.), EHR’s provide many benefits such as improvement in the quality of patient care; improvement in the coordination of patient care; more accurate diagnosis and better outcomes; a higher level of patient participation in their own care; and cost savings for the practice

To improve healthcare in America, the Obama administration passed a law under the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act, to encourage the widespread use of Electronic Health Records (EHR). Under this act, Clinicians and hospital would receive incentives and reimbursement for the effective used of EHR in their practices. Electronic Health Records is an electronic version of a patient’s medical history that is maintained by the health provider over time. It includes relevant clinical data that is pertinent in improving quality of care, reducing medical errors and potential health care cost. For the purpose of this paper, two functions of EHR will be discussed: Computerized Physician Order Entry (CPOE) and Clinical Decision Support (CDS) tools. These two support tools have the potential to greatly improve quality care and to reduce health care cost.

The expense of implementing an electronic medical record (EMR) will be one of the most costly expenses a healthcare organization will encounter regardless of the size of the organization. The organization will face many ethical and legal challenges with the implementation of EMR and depending on the size of the organization may experience many organizational issues as well. The Affordable Care Act is pushing for national EMR implementation. In order to accomplish goal, it will be necessary to work through the many ethical, legal, and organizational challenges healthcare systems will face implementing EMR.

Implementing to electronic medical records has many benefits such as reducing medical record errors, accuracy, having medical record access immediately, reducing medication errors and improving patient care. Monetary incentives are given to providers who demonstrate meaningful use. For those who do not, they face reduction in reimbursement amounts. “In 2017, reduction in reimbursement is 3%.” (National Center for Medical Records, n.d.)

Therefore, several authors share some of the same ideas as to what some of the barriers faced during the transition to Electronic Health Records (EHRs) and if these barriers still exist once the transition to a full EHR system is complete. Herrick, et al., 2010, states that currently, there is no hard-core evidence to support the argument that Electronic Health Record (EHRs) and Health Information Technology is the best route for health organizations to prevent errors. In fact, the use of such technology could potentially lead to errors if information incorrectly entered in the system and Haupt, 2011, statement that smart software could help to prevent life-threatening errors better when administering medicines. Whereas, Boonstra & Broekhuis, 2010, states from a physician point a view need the understanding of the possible barriers that faced during implementation of EHRs because there a tremendous amount of literature on the obstacles but no suggestion on how to resolve these barriers have not been viewed. Barriers such as, financial on great startup and ongoing cost, technical and time to train staff and how much knowledge do they have with computer skills and psychological when support needed from vendors, etc. It suggests that once those barriers have been ironed out and a plan has set in place, then the transition from paper documentation to Electronic Health Records (EHRs) may go a lot easier for the healthcare arena physician, nurses and administrative

Healthcare is a complex entity that encompasses a variety of specialties necessary toward meeting the needs of patient seeking clinical services. There are multiple communications necessary to efficiently meet patient needs. For many years detailed documentation, progress notes, specialty consults, and physician orders have been hand written. The legibility of this documentation was often illegible, and difficult to decipher, which resulted in clarification orders and often delays. The electronic medical record was introduced approximately 50 years ago with an ultimate goal of compiling healthcare information for immediate and future reference (Keller, 2016). Since the electronic medical records was initially implemented multiple versions have since been created. Successfully implementing the electronic medical record, requires a great deal of research to ensure that the specifications align with the organization’s short and long term goals.

Medical care is making a switch to Electronic Health Records. The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology provided incentives to hospitals and other medical institutions to use electronic health records for "Meaningful Use" (Saba

Electronic health records (EHR) are digital patient records whose interoperable and sharable use can lead to improved safety, effectiveness, efficiency, and timeliness of care. The value of EHR is leading to more efforts into integrating medical organizations with the rest of the health care system to maximize patient benefits and improve transitions of care. Highlighting the case for EHR to health care stakeholders, such as organizations, organizational managers, and practitioners, will help contribute towards the integration above, in the process also supporting policies aimed to introduce EHR in healthcare. The objective of the policy brief is to demonstrate the value of EHR in promoting positive transitions of care and minimizing

The electronic health record has been developed to make things more accessible to different people that touch the patient care experience. Providers, billing departments, and insurance vendors would all access this information to provide a continuity of attention. The purpose of this is to be able to communicate medical records electronically to all the intended users of the information. It also allows for management of clinical data that can lead to better preventative care, management of chronic illnesses, and improve the financial health of practices (Crosson, Stroebel, & Stello, 2005). Electronic health record technology is starting to develop as the America government is pushing computerization. Many doctors don't like the electronic medical records because of the cost to their practice. Doctors look at the electronic health record as more money they have to pay out for someone else's

The passage of the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH) Act “encouraged healthcare organizations and providers to adopt and effectively utilize certified electronic health records (EHRs)” (Conrad, Hanson, Hansenau, & Stocker-Schneider, 2012, p. 443). In addition, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) instituted Meaningful Use (MU) as a form of “incentive programs that governs the use of EHRs and allow eligible providers and hospitals to earn incentive payments by meeting specific criteria” (Yoder-Wise, 2014, p. 195). Consequently, as cited by Berfeld and Parker (2010) “Adoption of computers in care and an electronic medical record (EMR) within healthcare organizations is no longer an option, but a necessity for safe and cost effective provision of care” (p. 17).

Electronic Health Records have enhanced how information is stored and transmitted in the healthcare setting. They are a safe and much more secure way of maintaining records. In addition to security, it speeds up service times for patients and records can be transported through the click of a mouse. EHRs are now mandatory as a directive set by the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and all healthcare organizations must conform or face a heavy penalty (EHR adoption, 2011). Despite the fact that many organizations do not like change, there are some positive outcomes that could occur if an organization switches from the “old” way of doing things to a new EHR system. By implementing an EHR system, an organization could see more money to the bottom line. Many organizations have been noticing that EHRs are allowing them to become more efficient and they have seen business grow in recent years. Dr. Larry Garber a physician and medical director for informatics at Worcester, Mass based Reliant Medical group said” The $24 million EHR investment was worth every penny, the medical group has seen return on investment, big revenue boosts and a huge increase in compliance and clinical results. (McCann, 2013). EHRs can be designed by the individual organization. They don’t have to come in a one size fit all category. Dr. Gerber spoke about his practice designing an EHR feature for radiologist that allowed them to correct the percentage of incorrectly ordered

One of the avoidable missteps often made when a practice implements a new electronic health record (EHR) is failing to train staff adequately. Tom Giannulli, CMI officer for Kareo, told Physicians Practice it's not wise to try to learn a new system and see patients at the same time, going so far as to suggest doing so will ultimately “waste time and increase frustration.” Many industry experts agree with Giannulli. Most warn medical organizations who don't take the time to initiate a full-scale training program on the new technology, they can expect productivity and accuracy to suffer, at least in the short term. Of course, few practices can financially afford to shutter their office for a week of intensive training. Their patients may experience