...Electronic Health Records: Impacts on the U.S Healthcare Industry Blake Redco 28 Feb 2016 Abstract The patient health record, serves “to recall observations, to inform others, to instruct students, to gain knowledge, to monitor performance, and to justify interventions” (IOM, 2014). Beginning in the latter half of the 20th century and continuing through present-day, patient health records have increased in use and function. A significant portion of patient records, treatment history, and medication data are still stored in paper format however, and full transition to digital formats is likely decades away, or may not be achieved for many more years to come. This text will examine the modern electronic health record (EHR), and how it impacts, and is impacted by, the U.S. healthcare industry in political, technical, and economical environments. The focus on how and why the transition process is occurring, and the challenges therein, will be prevalent throughout examination of the three environments. This is a subjective description, although not comprehensive exploration of factors surrounding the HER, and is not to be taken as criticism or advocacy of any component of U.S. health care policy and/or practices. In each of the environments described below, efforts have been made to provide considerable and timely data, as well as references to influential industry literature and legislation. However, due to the dynamic nature of policies and mandates, technologies, and...
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...assessment in selecting an EHR product for a health care workplace The purpose of the needs assessment is to determine the gap between an organization’s current state and the overall needs of the organization with consideration to the strategic plan. The process is usually initiated by a person or group with a vision of the future. Evaluation of the strengths and weaknesses of the organization related to efficiency, quality, and financial strengths should be considered. Understanding an organization’s current state workflow process as well as long-term goals related to efficiency, quality, and financial outcomes by creating a gap analysis can assist the decision-making group. Long-term goals in today’s environment include the patient needs within a clinical setting, getting feedback from patients to evaluate how they may use technology to connect with medical personnel for their healthcare needs. “Use of systems for patients to self-schedule, entering data into daily logs for chronic illness, and Internet-enabled communication to their healthcare team are cogent considerations” (Hebda & Czar, 2013, p. 155). Implementing a new electronic health records (EHR) system to replace manual records is a complicated task. EHRs use complex algorithms to exchange patient data among different physicians and departments such as pharmacies and laboratories. EHRs are becoming increasingly popular because employees and patients can access records anytime and anywhere. Patient drug alerts...
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...[pic] Abstract EHR, known as electronic health record, refers to some systematic collection of an individual’s or a population’s electronic health information. The record is in a digital format which is theoretically sharable across various health care settings. Sometimes, this sharing can happen by way of network-connected, information systems or some other information networks. The electronic health record may include a wide range of data, like demographics, the patient’s medical history, their medication and allergies their immunization status, lab test results, vital signs, statistics like weight and age, and billing information. These systems are designed to represent accurate data capturing the patient’s state at all times. This allows the viewing of the entire patient history without tracking down the previous medical records of the patient and assisting in ensuring that the data is accurate, legible and appropriate. This reduces chances of replicating data since only one modifiable file is available, which means that the file is always up to date if it is viewed at a later date thus eliminating the issues of lost data forms or paperwork. Owing to all this information being in one single file, it’s much more effective to extract medical data for examination of possible occurrences or trends and long term health changes in any patient. Introduction As more health organizations tend to adopt electronic health records, nurses, clinicians and physicians...
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...Previous health care records were handwritten by a clinician on paper forms in a folder and stored away in file cabinets. An electronic medical record (EMR) is the electronic version of this previous medical chart, and what is popularly used in today’s time of health care. “It includes all components of the patient’s medical records and enables any member of a patient’s treatment team to access the patient’s progress notes, treatment plans, medications, and other patient information from a variety of locations” (Richards, 2009). The Institute of Medicine recommended the use of EMR’s since the year 2003. Since then, electronic medical records have been proven to provide effective treatment, reduce medical errors and improved accessibility to patient’s medical records. The implantation of electronic medical records has been an advantage to the current U.S health care industry and its people. By using this system, drug interaction warnings, prescription refill notifications and annual screening reminders are what save our population today. In order for an organization to decide whether to implement this system or not, management must review the risks and benefits that come along with this. The cost of applying EMR’s is considerably high and is categorized as being a risk for a company. Not only for the upgrade in technological machinery, but also in the training of health care professionals. Managers must set aside a budget specifically for the implementation of equipment as...
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...Electronic Medical Records Project Charter CMGT/410 July 28, 2012 Project Name: Implement Electronic Medical Records Prepared by Team C Date: 7/28/2012 ELECTRONIC MEDICAL RECORDS DEPLOYMENT Project Manager: Jim Forgath, CIO Project Administrator: Theresa Burke, Project Management Office BACKGROUND: Good Health Medical Services opened its doors in 1997. The company started out with just one primary physician and one specialty physician, which was an Obstetrician/Gynecologist to assist with the women’s health. The company was slow to start up and therefor manual record keeping was not a problem. The head receptionist was able to maintain the records in a timely fashion and was able to keep records up to date. Good Health Medical Services has grown over the years from seeing an average of twenty patients a week to over two hundred patients a week. The staff has also grown and now has over ten specialty physicians that range from Pediatrics to Oncology. The record keeping staff has grown as well going from one person to three people. There have been several cases of misfiled information or lost or missing files and the directors want to lessen some of these factors, save money and move into the current technology world of Electronic Medical Records (EMR). Purpose/ Business Need: The directors feel that there are several benefits to be had by moving from paper files to electronic files. The benefits of EMR are less paper files...
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...Future Trends in Health Care Your Name HCS/533 10 February 2014 Professor Here Future Trends in Health Care Electronic health records have become more prevalent in the current health care system than it was 10 years ago. Electronic health records were not used to the extent it is today for patient documentation. Without the advancement in electronic medical records, most of the information that is transferred so easily to other providers would not be able to happen. Electronic Health Records (EHR) is the quintessence of a trend changing the health care system. Because more medical facilities are adopting the use of electronic health records, members are receiving faster more efficient care whereas the medical facility is saving money. EHRs are “digital repositories of patient data accessible to multiple stakeholders” that include “patient’s health history, medical conditions, test and treatments, medication, demographics” and other pertinent information about the patient (Otto & Nevo, 2013. p. 165). Electronic health records eliminate misplacement of documents, destruction of the documents via handling, and to retrieve documents for continuity of care providers needed to seek information from multiple places. EHRs streamline processes; place the information in...
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...contrasting Sentara Health System 2010 and Eastern Maine Medical Center 2008 Davies Organizational Award Minerva Ndikum Medical Informatics 6208 DE PhD Philip Aspden This paper compares and contrasts eight different views of two winners of Davies enterprise award. The HIMSS Nicholas E. Davies award recognizes excellence in the implementation and use of health information technology, specifically electronic health records (EHRs), for healthcare organizations, private practices, public health systems, and community health organizations. The Award honors Dr. Nicholas E. Davies, an Atlanta-based practicing physician, president-elect of the American College of Physicians, and a member of the Institute of Medicine Committee on Improving the Patient Record, who died in 1991 in a plane crash. This paper will compare and contrast the eight difference, the process by which each organization decided to implement an EHR, the goals of each implementation, the governance process for planning and implementation and how stakeholders were involved in each case, the functionality that was implemented in each case, including clinical decision support tools and data sharing with external organizations, how security and data integrity issues were addressed in each case, how user satisfaction with the implementation in each case was addressed and give the results, and how each implementation’s success in meeting the original goals of Sentara healthcare system who won the award...
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...2011 Manzanita Brown With the constant changes in technology, a health care organization must stay up to date on technology and the lasted trends that offer the best patient care possible. Information systems that are designed for health care industry must help the organization meet the standards and qualities that are set by the health care industry for the success of the organization (Ruffin, M.). This briefing is to explain the selection process of an information system and what the roles the stakeholders and health care organizations goals play in the selection and acquisition process of an information system. Before beginning the process of selecting and acquiring an information system, the organization must determine what type of system they need. Health information systems are very complex and diverse systems, it must provide both information and guidance to the organizations. It is important that the organization looks at the different information systems to determine which system will benefit the organizations goals. Health information systems cover a diverse set of applications (Ruffin, M.). These systems include: Hospital information systems, Nursing information systems, Clinical research systems, Clinical decision support systems, Medical education systems, Health assessment systems, Electronic health record systems, laboratory information systems, radiology, pharmacy systems, patient monitoring systems, bibliographic...
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...service health system; provided care services for over 25 specialties, a referral center for eight critical care hospitals. Great Plains Regional Medical Center’s emergency department medical records was a paper system. They invested in an emergency department (ED) specific technology. This technology was needed to improve care management and continuity, clinician collaboration, and physician alignment (Anderson, 2011). This essay will overview the business system at the departmental level for Great Plains Regional Medical Center. Additionally, an overview of information gathering technique used and design method used. Finally, the impact of the project in terms of success will be discussed. Information Gathering Techniques Used Information gathering by analysts can involve watching people who will be using the system or interviewing people who will be using the system. Information can also be gathered by reviewing documents; either from planning, policies, or existing systems (Satzinger, Jackson, & Burd, 2009). Information gathering technique for this study was not specifically revealed. However, there was pertinent information gathered and noted. When patients transferred from the ED department to the inpatient unit, tertiary facility, or sent home, their ED records were not easily accessible. “Staff had to hunt for charts, causing workflow inefficiencies for everyone. For example, a common practice was for referring physicians to request faxed records—a time-consuming...
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...Implementing Organizational Change October 22, 2012 Implementing Organizational Change Health care organizations that choose to convert to an electronic medical record system (EMR) have several advantages; most important it increases patient safety, efficiency, cost-effectiveness and security. Accepting such a transition also presents with its share of challenges like preparing for the required significant time obligation and resources that will make the transition a successful one. Leadership and management must create an atmosphere that will get the buy-in of all stakeholders. Providing information about the process and what methods will be best to make the conversion to an EMR system is an important aspect of the implementation process. When the change process is initiated those involved in the success of the organization needs to examine the current processes and systems, including different roles that may be affected by the proposed change. With that in mind, effective communication during the implementation of this change will allow they may have regarding the new system. All of the above experiences taken into consideration, the organization can implement a successful organizational change with the support of those vested . Once the organization has accepted the proposed plan of change, leadership, and management will create methods that will monitor the implementation process. According to Leibel, Currie, Gelowitz, Aldridge and Kuncewicz (2012), “Transitioning...
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...Health Care Process Team D HCS/230 Robin Rompre 6/9/14 Team D has decided to choose Electronic Medical Records within Mental Health. We have decided that the target audience should be the following: the public, private health services and stakeholders who are concerned with the consumers in mental health. According to the Australian Government Department of Health (2005), “the primary target audience is the public and private health services: such as mental health service managers, providers, professionals, and other staff; mental health consumers, their careers and families; mental health policy makers and the mental health advocates.” “A secondary target would reflect on the sectors other than the mental health services (Australian Government Department of Health, 2005).” These audiences can include: acute health services and emergency primary care services. There are also non-government organizations that provide support for mental illness and disorders that will create another sector. This sector includes disability, substance abuse and community services. We feel that we should use this topic because of the importance of Electronic Medical Records. The mental health world is becoming larger with more and more patients. Mental health patients also need to be protected when it comes to their patient rights. This not only protects the patient, but it can also protect the community. If the wrong information gets out to the wrong individual, this could create a serious...
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...Phoenix Communication and Technology Paper Electronic Medical Records are made up of all the reports, assessments, legal documentations, and financial references to a person’s history. This system requires communication and information technology which takes part in an integrated system of health care that include the planning, and management of patient information. With the continued problems of paper records, electronic medical records have become an important issue for the health care organizations. Electronic medical records present an important and challenging issue for health care reform. Paper records consume a vast amount of time, patience, and costs in a health care system. This type of record maximizes the storage capacity which allows for more problems such as cost for additional space. Storage capacity causes records to get misplaced. Misplacing record can create errors, misunderstanding, conflict, and dismissal of employment. Physician writing is another problem when using paper records. Understanding Electronic Medical Records requirements will help the users in determining which system will best fit their needs. Using the electronic medical records system, patient safety and care are greatly improved. Developing a language system will allow for shared information with diverse cultures within the health care organizations. Before implementing electronic medical records in a health care setting, the organization needs to research, review...
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...So, implementing an electronic medical record would reduce medication errors, support clinical decision making, provide early warning of change in patients so consequently improve safety (Nelson & Stagger, 2014). As stated by Nelson & Stagger (2014), safety is one of the main goals of the implementation of an electronic medical record that could be made possible with a successful implementation of an electronic medical record. There are many things that people should consider when implementing an electronic medical record to help make it successful. Many authors have elaborated about how the introduction of an electronic medical record can impact safety. A study was conducted to estimate the impacts of a new electronic medical record on various aspects of practical function using failure methods and effects analysis approach in a setting with 32 staffs who were surveyed about how they perceived the frequency and severity primary care errors in 12 domains of practice. The results show that safety, improved in the domain physician-chart interaction, nurse-physician interaction, and patients in the planning phase, but in the domain of nurse, nurse-chart interaction, patient assessment...
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...Importance of Information Access using Electronic Medical Record (EMR): Electronic Medical Record (EMR) is a computerized system of keeping patient information. Similar to paper charting, EMR can be used to chart important patient data to treat patients and document the related nursing care. EMR can be used to store important patient information like patient’s diagnoses, allergies, medication, patient’s demographics, lab and diagnostic test. EMR also includes patient’s medical record number and account number that is given to the patients and is also used as reference about patients for future admissions. EMR’s provide accurate information that is easily accessible than paper charting. It also provides easy health care access to providers, improves communication among patients and health care providers. With EMR, nurses have easier access to in depth and detailed charting of physical assessment, tallying input and output and easy comparison in the trends of labs and diagnostic test. EMR also prevents medication errors since patients bar codes are scanned and verified accurately prior to administering medication. Data about medication is available prior to administration, so nurses can monitor possible side effects of medication. Thus charting patient information in real time or the ability to access results improves quality of patient care and increase co-ordination among health care providers. Personal Health Information: Personal Health Information (PHI) available online is...
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...Electronic Medical Records Christina Pierre HCS/490 Monday August 26th, 2013 Dr. Alex Kadrie Electronic Medical Records The Electronic Medical Record (EMR) is a digital version of a persons’ medical record that contains the same information as paper record except it comes in an electronic form. The EMR is much more secure than paper record. The access of EMR is limited to staff who have a leg mated “need to know” for treatment, payment, or operation purposes. The EMR system is designed to prevent unauthorized users from gaining access to a patient medical record through safeguards. The system is intended to track patient’s entire health and medical history in an electronic format. A patient’s information can easily be retrievable and can make a patient navigate through the health care system much safer and more efficient. The Electronic Medical Record can help organize patient information better, such as diagnoses, medications, and test result in a way that make guidelines easier to follow. It can provide automated prompts and reminders for when tests are due or when control of chronic disease is suboptimal. Through a tracking system and disease registries the EMR can improve patient care from outside to identify potential quality problems. The EMR also support diseases registries and reports to identify the patients who need follow-up appointments. The EMR can facilitate...
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