Advantages and Disadvantages of Electronic Medical Records
Introduction:
There are many functions associated with patient health records. Not only is the record used to document patient care, but the record is also used for financial and legal information, and research and quality improvement purposes. Because all this information must be shared among many professionals who constitute the ‘healthcare team’” (Young 92), and there continue to be problems with the paper health record, it is becoming more apparent that developing an automated health record is very important.
The electronic health record (EHR) provides the opportunity for healthcare organizations to improve quality of care and patient safety. “The greatest challenge in the new world of integrated healthcare delivery is to provide comprehensive, reliable, relevant, accessible, and timely patient information to each member of the healthcare team, whether in primary or secondary care and whether a doctor, nurse, allied health professional, or patient/consumer” (Schloeffel et al. 2).
An EHR also represents a huge potential for cost savings and decreasing workplace inefficiencies. “No longer are paper-based record systems fulfilling the needs of clinicians, and related healthcare workers” (Koeller 1). However, just as there are advantages and disadvantages with the paper medical record, there are also advantages and disadvantages associated with the EHR. In addition, since an EHR is a fairly new concept, there will also be barriers and obstacles in the implementation of the EHR. “There have been phenomenal scientific and technological breakthroughs, yet patient documentation remains largely the same” (Wellen, Bouchard, and Houston 1). Even though the technology is available for an EHR there are several barriers and obstacles that must be overcome before it can be successful. “Technology has continued to move forward at a rapid pace, but many organizational and human issues have slowed the pace of implementation of automated systems for an electronic documentation
There are many functions associated with patient health records. Not only is the record used to document patient care, but the record is also used for financial and legal information, and research and quality improvement purposes. Because all this information must be shared among many professionals who constitute the ‘healthcare team’” (Young 92), and there continue to be problems with the paper health record, it is becoming more apparent that developing an automated health record is very important.
The electronic health record (EHR) provides the opportunity for healthcare organizations to improve quality of care and patient safety. “The greatest challenge in the new world of integrated healthcare delivery is to provide comprehensive, reliable, relevant, accessible, and timely patient information to each member of the healthcare team, whether in primary or secondary care and whether a doctor, nurse, allied health professional, or patient/consumer” (Schloeffel et al. 2).
An EHR also represents a huge potential for cost savings and decreasing workplace inefficiencies. “No longer are paper-based record systems fulfilling the needs of clinicians, and related healthcare workers” (Koeller 1). However, just as there are advantages and disadvantages with the paper medical record, there are also advantages and disadvantages associated with the EHR. In addition, since an EHR is a fairly new concept, there will also be barriers and obstacles in the implementation of the EHR. “There have been phenomenal scientific and technological breakthroughs, yet patient documentation remains largely the same” (Wellen, Bouchard, and Houston 1). Even though the technology is available for an EHR there are several barriers and obstacles that must be overcome before it can be successful. “Technology has continued to move forward at a rapid pace, but many organizational and human issues have slowed the pace of implementation of automated systems for an electronic documentation
Cited: DoBias, Matt. “Illegible? Scribble? The (hand)writing is on the Wall.” Inside the Joint Commission Online 17 Feb. 2003: 3. Dray, Patricia. “Déjà vu.” Health Management Technology Oct. 2002. IT Applications in Healthcare: The Electronic Medical Record. Koeller, Rodney L. 2002. U. of Maryland. http://faculty.ed.umuc.edu/~meinkej/inss690/koeller.pdf, retrieved from Young, Kathleen M. Informatics for Healthcare Professionals. Philadelphia: F.A. Davis, 2000.