EHR AND MEDICAL RECORDS
[i] An electronic health record (EHR) is a record in digital format that is capable of being shared across different health care settings, by being embedded in network-connected enterprise-wide information systems. It is also called a computerized patient record or an electronic patient record. It is the health information or data of a patient or a community that is methodically compiled electronically. Data includes the patient’s medical history, status of immunization taken, vital signs, medication taken, allergies, personal statistics like age, height, weight, laboratory test results and radiology images if included. It can be in an all-inclusive or in a synopsis form.
The electronic health record is created and maintained to provide physicians and other medical providers, insurance companies, employers, and patients the complete medical information on a person.
Its implementation can reduce medical blunders and miscalculations. Speedy access to medical history and even new procedures and practices in the medical field enables propagation of improvements and developments in the effectiveness of health care.
Since records are automated per patient transaction and can be accessed by any authorized users, it helps lessen administrative expenses, thus adding more time to care of patients. EHR can create savings for the health industry in general.
One of EHR ‘s main feature is the Computerized Physician Order Entry. Instructions for physicians regarding the prescribed drugs including dosage, length of time to administer, schedule and others, in treating the patient are indicated in this entry thereby increasing safety of the patient and decreasing or eliminating medical error. If installed in hospitals, it can eradicate unfavorable treatment situations and save up a considerable amount of money for the hospital.
EHRs can also compile vast amounts of data that are available for clinical and medical research that can increase knowledge on medical practices. However, this can only be possible if EHR are used on a nationwide or even on a regional scope. This way, information and clinical data can easily be shared by individuals or different organizations . As is, care and consideration to the patient must be taken into account to avoid any harm or damage to the patient and to avert infringement to privacy.
On the other hand, all are not in favor of EHRs. The cost of purchasing EHRs varies widely. As in any other system, it will depend on the strength and inclusions of the system, and the number of providers it can handle. An online survey revealed that medical doctors pay around five hundred to more than six thousand dollars for their EHRs. According to respondent physicians, it takes more time to enter a data into the EHR than doing a dictation on a paper chart especially if the EHR is still empty.
The sharp price of EHRs is also contributing to hesitations in its adaptation. Potential users are still uncertain if whether they will get value for their investment. In a study conducted by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information, they found out that users of the EHR, administrators of the hospitals and medical doctors, have noted that decreased productivity has offset any advantages produced by the EHR. They even have to add more staff to look after the system.
According to the US Congressional Budget Office, beneficial effects of electronic health records can be significantly seen and experienced only in big or large establishments, but rarely in small medical clinics. Small clinics maintained by one or a small number of medical doctors and staff can even undergo financial damage if they buy an EHR. Majority of these physicians does not have the capability to generate more revenue to cover the expense of the EHR nor can they considerably reduce office expenditures.
In 1996, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of the United States passed a bill to set up regulations in the access of these records. Rules regarding verification, assessment, storage and transfer of medical records electronically were also included in this bill. .
Professor Jacob Appel, an academic instructor, alleged that around twelve million can have access to, or will need to have access to, a nationwide system which might lead inevitably to violations of privacy on an enormous scale. He pointed out that while a system can strictly authorize users to gain access to a medical record, it cannot prevent the personal objective of a user in accessing a record. He gave an example of an authorized user accessing the record of his daughter’s fiancé to check if the latter is an illegal drug user.
[i] En.wikipedia.org
Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com
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