A Look at Electronic Health Records

 An electronic health record (EHR) is a digital document summarizing a patient’s medical history. Technological advances in health care enable providers to maintain electronic records of their patient’s health information using digital devices, such as tablets and computers. EHRs summarize important administrative clinical data, such as immunization dates, medications, allergies, problems, progress notes, and hospitalization records. Care providers can access this information in real-time and share it within and across facilities.

A key feature of EHR systems is the ability to control who creates, updates, and accesses patients’ health information. This allows the free sharing of information between clinicians without worrying about unauthorized access and breach of patient privacy.

EHRs enhance the provision of quality care. Physicians access accurate, up-to-date, and complete information about their patients, empowering them to make the right treatment decisions. EHR systems also have analytical capabilities that enable care providers to identify patterns, predict diagnoses, and access various treatment options for patients. Notably, EHRs provide access to evidence-based tools that enable physicians to deliver comprehensive and high-quality care supported by the latest research and knowledge. With this insight, clinicians can discuss with patients the suitable treatment options, leading to positive patient experiences and improved health outcomes.

EHR systems facilitate communication between physicians and patients, which is a critical factor for improving medical treatment. Patients can contact physicians via text messages and video calls, share notes, and discuss important decisions from any location. Engaging patients in their treatment boosts their satisfaction and encourages them to take responsibility for their health, leading to more favorable outcomes.

Healthcare facilities can enhance efficiency through the adoption of EHRs. Clinicians save time during appointments since they can easily access vital patient data and offer patient-centered care faster than when relying on paper records. EHRs include pre-designed templates that provide care providers with guidelines for addressing specific and common issues. Clinicians can personalize these templates to align with the patient's requirements, which streamlines their work and conserves time and effort. Consequently, clinicians can efficiently manage a large number of patients while upholding a high standard of care.

EHRs enhance safety in care provision. With access to accurate and current patient health information, care providers can avoid medical errors when prescribing drugs. The system can flag potential drug interactions that may trigger adverse reactions, offer insight into how specific medication can affect those with allergies, and warn physicians when the potential side effects of a particular drug can affect a patient based on their medical history.

Despite their ability to revolutionize care provision and improve health care, EHR systems face several challenges in their implementation. One challenge is financial constraints, especially for small healthcare facilities. Setting up the system requires a significant capital outlay to purchase the necessary software and hardware, train clinicians on using the resource, and maintain it once it is operational.

Resistance to change is another issue that affects the adoption of EHRs.The implementation of EHRs may induce anxiety and uncertainty among both clinicians and patients, as the technology has the potential to disrupt established routines. To address this, providers can mitigate concerns by appointing a change agent to oversee change management. These professionals can tailor training programs for clinicians and patients to help them understand how the system will improve care provision, specifically the safety and quality of care, and save time and effort. Communication, transparency, and engagement can encourage care providers to adopt the system and convince patients of its advantages.

Lastly, data breaches pose a significant concern in the adoption of EHRs. The increasing frequency of cyberattacks raises patient worries about unauthorized access to sensitive patient information within the system. Additionally, these cyberattacks can result in the permanent loss of data, impacting the delivery of healthcare services. Facilities can mitigate this risk through data encryption and password protection. Encryption involves the use of a secret key to protect data in motion or at rest. Only authorized personnel, using the key, can access the encrypted data. Password protection, on the other hand, involves strengthening passwords to lock out unauthorized access to the system. Clinicians can implement this through two-factor authentication and regular password resetting.