Communication and Information Technology
Technology has given health care providers the ability to communicate over distances to provide better care for the patient. Technology has made many differences in the health care community. “Technology has become a powerful communication tool in medicine,” (pg. 21). One new development in technology is electronic medical records (EMR) and electronic health records (EHR). This technology will allow health care organizations and providers to turn paper charts into digital charts (Garrett, 2011).
Although most people use the terms EMR and EHR interchangeably, there are differences between the two. EMRs are the medical information and treatment history of a patient for one organization (Garrett, 2011). EMRs give the organization the ability to track patient data so the provider can determine which patients are due for checkups. The EMR also allows health care providers to chart and list blood pressures, test results, and vaccinations. This will allow the health care provider to monitor each patient and ensure the patient is receiving proper care (Garrett, 2011). One problem with EMRs is that the information is used in one location and those records usually have to be printed out to send to another health care provider.
The EHR does everything the EMR does, but the biggest difference is that the information in an EHR can be sent from one health care provider to another. EHRs help provide information to everyone, not just the provider who obtains the information. The EHRs has information from multiple providers and that information can move from provider to provider with the patient (Garrett, 2011). EHRs allow primary care physicians to communicate with laboratories, specialists, and other health care providers that are giving care to the patient. According to Garrett (2011), ““The EHR represents the ability to easily share medical information among stakeholders and to have a patient’s information follow him or her through the various modalities of care engaged by that individual,” (para. 6).
The advantage of EMRs and EHRs is the ability to share information. EHRs have information that travel with the patient. EHRs contain information that can save a patient’s life. For example a person goes into an emergency room and the nurse in the emergency room is able to pull up the patient’s information and see that the patient has an allergy to certain medications. It is a great advantage to have this information especially if the patient is unable to provide the information. Another advantage of EMRs and EHRs is that they reduce the amount of paperwork the health care providers has to file and store. This also affects the financial aspect of the organization. Using EMRs and EHRs reduces the amount of paperwork, so there is less need to someone to file paperwork. This also frees up time for the team members in the office to provide better care. Another advantage is that the EMRs and EHRs will make it easier to verify patient insurance and eligibility and to file claims faster (Ruffner, 2010).
One disadvantage of EMRs and EHRs is the initial cost of installing the program. Although there are incentives provided to health care organizations that start using the new technology, it may not cover the initial cost (Ruffner, 2010). Another disadvantage is that not every practice will want to introduce EHRs into the office. Many health care providers who are older may not understand how to use the EHRs and decided that staying with what has always worked is best for them (Ruffner, 2010).
Another disadvantage and concern about EMRs and EHRs is the safety and confidentiality of patient information. Most health care providers that resist changing to EMRs or EHRs are afraid that the patient’s personal information can be accessed too easily, and this may jeopardize patient confidentiality. Other health care providers resist because of the time it does take to implement the systems and training time. Some health care providers so not want o spend the time training because of the costs they will incur (Ruffner, 2010).
As technology continues to grow and change EMRs and EHRs will continue to change and become the better way to store patient information. Some improvements can be made to ensure the patient’s records and personal information is kept confidential. The best way to get more health care organizations to use EMRs and EHRs is to educate them on the advantages of using them. Providing information on how using EMRs and EHRs can help reduce costs and make information easily accessible.
EMRs and EHRs are wonderful technological advances in health care organizations. They allow information to be stored and easily accessed by health care providers. EHRs allow health care providers to share patient information and stores results of tests, lab work, and personal information. The benefits of using EMRs and EHRs do outweigh the disadvantages.