Premium Essay

Electronic Health Record Analysis

Submitted By
Words 1069
Pages 5
Electronic health record (EHR) software powers computer systems that collect, collate, store and disseminate vital patient data. An EHR system includes hardware that allows physicians and other medical organizations to gather and store information, and the software defines how data is entered, manipulated, accessed and shared.
Addressing Patient Privacy Concerns Associated With Web-Based EHR Software
Both patients and private-practice providers are concerned about protecting privileged information. Those concerns are legitimate when you consider that illegally acquired medical data often garners more money on the black market than credit card files. Quoting a Security Week statistic, Wonder Doc reported there were more than 121 million data breaches – both medical and non-medical – between January and August …show more content…
In order to make the information “readable,” views must access the file with a personal encryption key provided by human resources or the internal IT department. Anyone can easily read a paper file that accidentally gets left on a service counter or desk – this includes curious patients waiting for service.
The Kearn County Mental Health Department (KCMH-CA) reported leaving a medical report containing full names, service codes and location information unprotected while their facility was undergoing renovations. Fortunately, no highly sensitive information was exposed, but this could have just as easily been a document with more valuable information. It is far easier to leave information behind when relocating or renovating your facility if you are using paper-based records than it is when your files are digitally archived in the cloud, or on your network.
Reason #3: Recovering After a Natural Disaster or Other

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

Electronic Health Record System Analysis

...Patients are the number one stakeholders in a hospital. They are the ones who choose which hospital to see when in need of proper medical attention. By proper, one means professional and safe practices. An electronic health records system offers both, professional and safe practices. Implementing this system will make a patient feel better about the care they receive in such hospital. Simply because all their information will be available when they need the care. This can make things easier for the patient. With the use of this system, their allergies and medications can easily be tracked, this will advance their medical care. Also, this idea will help patients avoid unnecessary, and costly treatments. When a patient is ill, he or she might...

Words: 1800 - Pages: 8

Premium Essay

Electronic Health Records in Ambulatory Care — a National Survey of Physicians

...Health-information technology, such as sophisticated electronic health records, has the potential to improve health care.1-3 Nevertheless, electronic-records systems have been slow to become part of the practices of physicians in the United States.4,5 To date, there have been no definitive national studies that provide reliable estimates of the adoption of electronic health records by U.S. physicians. Recent estimates of such adoption by physicians range from 9 to 29%.4,5 These percentages were derived from studies that either had a small number of respondents or incompletely specified definitions of an electronic health record.5,6 To provide clearer estimates of the adoption of electronic-records systems by U.S. physicians, the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology of the Department of Health and Human Services4 supported our project to develop and test measures of adoption and to deploy those measures in a representative national survey of U.S. physicians. The goal was both to gather accurate information on current levels of adoption and to provide survey items that could be used to generate similar data over time on the diffusion of electronic health records and on physicians' perceptions of the effect of such systems on their practices. This report addresses the following questions: What proportion of physicians report that outpatient electronic health records are available to them in office practice? How satisfied are physicians who use such...

Words: 3195 - Pages: 13

Premium Essay

Evolution of Health Care Information Systems

...Evolution of Health Care Information Systems Looking back twenty 1990’s and now in 2010 health care has changed extremely. Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) did not exist until 1996. HIPAA made it possible for everyone to qualify for health insurance and setting privacy and they established health information standards and regulation. Veterans Health Administration’s (VHA) had a reputation of poor quality of care and the 90’s were the beginning of a major transformation of VHA that was aimed at improving the efficiency and quality of care that was being provided to their patients. Capability to do data analysis in 1990 was impossible most of the data was collected and stored in a room untouched. Advanced in technology made it possible to do research and do data analysis. The advantages in technology are beneficent to health care information in providing electronic medical records, medical billing, telemedicine and teleradiology. Evolution of Health Care Information Systems Compare/contrast of either health care facility or physician’s office operation with the same 20 years prior To look back twenty years ago in the 1990’s and now in 2010 health care has changed tremendously. In the 1990’s Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) did not exist. Prior to HIPAA, which was passed in 1996, there were no regulations or standards for health care delivery in making it more efficient for patients. There...

Words: 1641 - Pages: 7

Premium Essay

Electronic Health Record

...Electronic health records (also known as ‘e-notes’, EMR or EHR) have commonly replaced the conventional paper records used in medical facilities. EHRs are a longitudinal electronic record of patient health information generated by one or more encounters in any care delivery setting. Included in this information are patient demographics, progress notes, problems, medications, vital signs, past medical history, immunizations, laboratory data, and radiology reports”. Some of the basic benefits associated with EHRs include being able to easily access computerized records and the elimination of poor penmanship, which has historically plagued the handwritten medical chart. This technology can offer a more consistent method for open communication among physicians, nurses, labs and other clinical staff without relying on handwritten notes stored in a single-location, electronic health records can help with the time it takes to treat someone. Electronic health records have provided a solution to a range of health care procedures, have offered cost savings and benefits, and still have greater potential for improvement through future efforts. It is evident that the EHRs have shortcomings that are commonly noted and targeted, but they have solved many more problems inherent in previous systems, they are the ideal path for development and improvement for patients and healthcare providers. Electronic health records have allowed healthcare organizations to provide quality care all of its...

Words: 3962 - Pages: 16

Premium Essay

Hcs 490 Week 4

...Communication Paper HCS/490 Week 4 July 18, 2011 Benefit of Electronic Health Records In this paper I will demonstrate communication modality of EHR’s uses in health care. My focus is on Electronic Medical Records (EHR), and various approaches to using them. Electronic Medical Records have become a vital tool in health care facilities. They provide a uniform method of communication between doctors and other health care workers, without the necessity for handwritten information that is stored in a specific location. Necessary patient information can be acquired from various locations securely with a password. Paper based records are gradually being phased out and being replaced by computer based records. The transition is not yet complete but should be in the immediate future. Electronic Medical Records are the heart of computerized health information systems without then much of modern technology cannot be successfully coordinated into the typical clinical workflow. Importance of Electronic Medical Records There are several advantages of Electronic Medical Records: * Organization and increased efficiency * Immediate access to patient information * Better health decision when EHR can be accessed by multiple doctors in many cases it will prevent repeat or needless procedures due to lack of communication. * Standardization * Most important to many is HIPPA as it gives patients additional rights as they can have access to their medical information...

Words: 755 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Nursing Resistance of Electronic Documentation

...Nurses in Use of Electronic Documentation The field of health information technology for nursing is rapidly growing. Advancements in electronic documentation for health care, such as the electronic medical record (EMR), can be an overwhelming addition to the workload of nurses. There is resistance by nurses in use of electronic documentation (Sharifian, Askarian, Nematolahi, & Farhadi, 2014). It is this writer’s opinion that nurses are under informed regarding the rationale for changes taking place in documentation and the implications. The purpose of this paper is to provide nurses with the basics of the Federal regulations outlined in the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) and the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act of 2009 (HITECH) that require electronic documentation to be compliant and receive reimbursement. It also reviews how data are collected to determine the reimbursement for care (meaningful-use) and its role in evidence-based practice (Wright, Feblowitz, Samal, McCoy, & Sittig, 2014). Included is a review of the negative impact resistance generates on health organization reimbursement and the relevance it has on nurse staffing, jobs, wages, and satisfaction, along with, evidence reinforcing the training and support of nurses as a means to promote proper use of electronic documentation and increase user satisfaction. Federal Laws and Requirements for Compliance Health care agencies in...

Words: 1514 - Pages: 7

Premium Essay

Simulation Review Paper

...attention no matter if it is a broken arm or getting a tooth pulled, health care is a necessity. Patients come to the physician because of a problem that they are having and with that notion they are prepared to give full details of their problem. Giving information to the medical staff is a process that has to be done in order to know what exactly the type of treatment a patient should receive, if any, and the patient is giving these personal details in full confidence that the information doesn’t go any farther than the physician that is caring for him/her. The clinical use of genetic testing and the information from this is becoming a very important part in modern health technology and keeping records of personal information has improved especially in the storing of information which has been usually written in paper form but advanced technology has created an improved format to store personal medical information in, which is called Electronic Health Records (EHR’s). Genetic information stored in the Electronic Health Records could increase the possibility of a patient’s identity being known through a few genetic variants. 2 Electronic Health Records are a longitudinal electronic record of patient health information generated through visits with any health care...

Words: 1084 - Pages: 5

Free Essay

Importance of Theory

...advances the way a discipline is practiced (Shea & Cavan, 2014). Before this course I had little exposure to nursing theory and its application in the clinical realm. I knew things were done a certain way but truly did not know the origin of the ideas that influenced current nursing care. During the completion of my BSN degree, I grasped a basic concept of nursing theory and studied the major theorist involved. It has been very enlightening to view nursing theory in another dimension and study the clinical implication of its integration in practice during this course. In the following analysis I will seek to establish the importance of nursing theory and its application. I will discuss Virginia Henderson’s theory of need nursing and the application of its key concepts into practice. I will also establish important aspects of her theory and how they apply to the nursing metaparadigm. The analysis will also address the relationship between Henderson’s views and nursing informatics. Overall the influence of theory and its application in nursing will be thoroughly discussed. The Value of Nursing Theory Throughout time, the nursing profession has been influenced by nursing theory. Nursing theory has contributed to the expansion of nursing care and its proper application in the clinical realm. Nursing practice is more clearly understood and developed through the use of nursing theory. Theory fosters critical thinking and provides nurses with an expanded insight (Aghebati, Mohammadi...

Words: 1523 - Pages: 7

Premium Essay

Health Care Information

...developers, what measures are necessary to ensure the development of an effective health information system? Since the early 1980s, the healthcare industry has been discussing the need for electronic health records. And indeed, the past 20 years have seen the industry move toward a completely computerized medical record. A variety of technologies have contributed to this evolutionary process, including point-of-care clinical documentation, clinical data repositories, and automated results. The cumulative effect has resulted in slow but steady progress toward a complete electronic health record for the healthcare industry. Clinical and administrative data needed to assess and improve quality, identify potential cost savings, and make strategic decisions have become important as the pressure on healthcare rises. Current trends in healthcare that will drive information technology priorities in the immediate future include the following • Concern about medical errors and overall quality of care • Continued pressure for cost containment • Consumer empowerment • Growth in the use of evidence-based medicine • Demand for protection of privacy and confidentiality of information Effective health information systems are ones that improve health outcomes and reduce healthcare delivery costs. Since most developers are not clinicians, and most clinicians are not developers, to implement these health information systems successfully we must have some understanding of the healthcare...

Words: 1413 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Electronic Medical Records Annotated Bibliography

...The federal government has mandated that all medical records need to be converted to electronic form by 2014. Providers also have to prove their meaningful use of electronic medical records. Starting in 2015, Medicare and Medicaid payments will be reduced, starting at 1% for not complying with this mandate. Federal grants and funding were made available by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to assist health care providers to adopt electronic medical record format. As a result of the mandate there have been numerous articles that have been published by medical and trade journals. The articles cover a wide range of topics as they relate to electronic medical records covering topics such as cost, benefits, cons, patient safety, human error, and federal requirements. This is brief summary of some of the available articles as they relate to health care delivery and electronic medical records. Annotated Bibliography Amatayakul, Margret. (2010, December) Healthcare financial management : journal of the Healthcare Financial Management Association, ISSN 0735-0732, 12/2010, Volume 64, Issue 12, p. 104, 106. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy. apollolibrary.com/docview/1019985327 This article provides six steps of implementation for electronic health record. The model mirrors the steps of implementation developed by James Prochaska; however, the model was specifically tailored for electronic health record implementation. The process could be used by any facility...

Words: 1720 - Pages: 7

Premium Essay

Health Information System Analysis

...Information technology made the paradigm shift in record keeping of patients from a paper based system of health records to an electronic based system of health records. An electronic health record is a person’s official, digital health record and is shared among multiple health care providers and agencies. Since the commencement of the HITECH ACT in 2009 the implementations of electronic health record system have increased. The HITECH ACT introduced the electronic health record ‘meaningful use’ program and it is overseen by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology. Hospitals and physicians who prove their use of government certified electronic health system meets the meaningful use criteria are eligible to receive (). Vendor neutral archives (VNA) and picture archiving and communications systems (PACS) are two major types of health information technology that help health care professionals store and manage patients’ medical images. These two health...

Words: 537 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Are Electronic Medical Records a Cure for Health Care?

...Are Electronic Medical Records a Cure for Health Care? Abstract In the United States, healthcare remains a top priority and is consistently part of the national public policy agenda. Political leaders and healthcare providers attempt to address issues of quality, access, efficiency and affordability. Solutions to these challenges are being pursued through a great variety of strategies and methodologies ranging from adoption of best practices of patient care to negotiated contracts between payers and Care Delivery Organizations (CDO.) (Gonzalez, 2014) This writing assignment will take a look at the adoption of Electronic Medical records and show the strengths and weaknesses of overhauling medical records from paper to digital. Context The purpose of writing this paper is to give me a better understanding on how information systems can help the medical field. However, it is important to understand that you cannot just overhaul the current system in place. There needs to be a process involved to get everyone at stake the proper training and information needed to undergo such a large transition. Introduction Electronic Medical Records are basically electronic versions of paper-based medical records. An Electronic Medical Record (EMR) is essentially an electronic record of health related information on an individual that can be created, gathered, managed and consulted by authorized clinicians and staff in one healthcare organization. Electronic medical record systems...

Words: 1353 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Emr Research and Opinion Paper

...Trends and Consequences 15 a. Aggressive Implementation 16 b. High Costs 16 c. Labor Investment 17 d. Opportunity Cost 17 e. Impact on Researchers, Policymaker and Educators 18 V. Final Opinion 19 VI. Bibliography 22 VII. Appendix I 28 VIII. Appendix II 31 I. Advantages of EHRs In an effort to reign in rising health care costs and increased health care disparity and inequality in the U.S., former president George W. Bush doubled the funding for Health Care Information Technology to 100 million in 2005 (The White House). It was part of a larger plan to utilize latest information technology to standardize patient and health records, which despite spending 1.6 trillion dollars, attributed to 98,000 medically related errors in 2004. The plan was part of his campaign promise and was reiterated in his January 20, 2004 State of the Union address when, President Bush remarked, “by computerizing health records, we can avoid dangerous medical mistakes, reduce costs, and improve care.” Considering that the federal government is “one of the largest buyers of healthcare - in Medicare, Medicaid, the Community Health Centers program, the Federal Health Benefits program, Veterans medical care, and programs in...

Words: 7955 - Pages: 32

Premium Essay

Wgu Rwt1 Business Research Report Benefits of an Ehr

...Business Research Report Benefits of an Electronic Health Record Assessment Code: RWT1 Student Name: Student ID: Date: Mentor Name: Table of Contents Executive Summary 3 Introduction 5 Research Findings 5 Opportunity for Financial Incentives 5 Improved Quality of Patient Care 6 Increased Productivity and Efficiency 7 Recommendations 8 Conclusion 9 References 11 Executive Summary The benefits of successfully implementing an electronic health record are both vital to the future of our business as well as rewarding. The purpose of this report is to clearly demonstrate the need for implementation of an electronic health record and provide explanation of the benefits available to us with successful implementation. . The three main benefits I will be presenting research on are the financial benefits of an electronic health record, the ability to provide better quality patient care and the opportunity to increase productivity and efficiency through implementing an electronic health record. There are significant financial incentives for implementing an electronic health record and meeting Medicare and Medicaid’s requirements for meaningful use. Eligible providers can earn up to $44,000 through the Medicare EHR Incentive Program and up to $63,750 through the Medicaid EHR Incentive Program. There are three stages involved in meeting meaningful use the first stage consists of data capture and sharing, the second involves advanced clinical...

Words: 3353 - Pages: 14

Premium Essay

Adverse Trend and Data

...Adverse Trend and Data Management in Hospital University of Phoenix HCS/482 Adverse Trend and Data Management in Hospital The flow chart in the appendix 1 provides a comprehensive analysis of the adverse trend and data management that could occur within my organization. In depth, the research would evaluate patients’ healthcare and whether it is provided in an accurate and professional manner. To gather facts and information about the management in hospital, this research would follow up various steps. First, the research would evaluate how healthcare providers administer medical care and whether or not patients receive adequate support that boosts their well-being. Second, the study would evaluate whether the care provided in the hospital aligns with the medical standards. Conducting this research would create a strong platform to understand the past and present management and further work hard to eliminate any activity, condition, or medical errors that would hinder quality healthcare. Research Questions It is a well-documented fact that, quality medical care is of essence in reducing high mortality rates that occur as a result of poor medication and services provided (Flores, Win & Susilo, 2010). With this in mind, this research would investigate various factors that hinder healthcare providers from administering quality healthcare. To fully gather facts and information, this research would answer the following questions; do patients receive quality care and what...

Words: 1265 - Pages: 6