The electronic health record is based on maintaining patient history on a computer. It includes crucial controls, such as demographics, progress, etc., and it plays a vital role in patient care through information providers.
It may consist of all clinical data
provided by the patient or organization, present complaints, pharmacological
treatment, vitals, complete medical history, vaccinations, radio graphical
reports, and laboratory reports. EHR controls proper workflow for physicians
and automates information access. EHR also has capabilities that are directly
or indirectly involved in quality control, final reports, diagnosis, prognosis,
and other medical care-related areas. The EHR is an advanced approach to
healthcare-related activities that make the patient-doctor relationship more
transparent and robust. Data analysis through information technology enhances
patient care and decision-making.
The following examples show how EHR
provides advanced patient care.
The incidence of errors reduces
surprisingly because of clarity in records and accuracy in medical reports.
The medical information is more
accessible, reduces duplicate testing, reduces treatment delays, and empowers
patients in terms of best decision-making.
Reduce the chances of errors because of
precise, clear, and accurate medical records.
Types of electronic health management systems
EHR (Electronic Health Record) is a
comprehensive system for tracking health-related information of patients that
is easily accessible to physicians. It keeps the patient record files in the
form of computer software. There are several ways to configure an EHR system.
Each has advantages and disadvantages depending on the unique needs and
requirements of the medical practice. (Types of EHR Systems, 2022).
Physician-hosted system
A doctor-hosted system refers to the
provided data hosted on the doctor's server. This implies that the cost of
hardware and software is the responsibility of physicians, in addition to the
ongoing maintenance and security of data stored on their servers. Having a
physician-hosted EHR system in an office can benefit large-scale practices in
which the overhead cost of complex software can be included. Using an
on-premise server will accelerate the EHR system and become a more reliable
data reservoir. (Types of EHR Systems, 2022).
Remotely-hosted system
It is essential for the security,
backup, and maintenance of provided information. This system is responsible for
data maintenance that rests with a physician or other location outside the
medical office. This shift in responsibility may attract those healthcare
setups or organizations who want to collect data but not store that data. This
system eliminates those factors that distract physicians from patient care.
(Types of EHR Systems, 2022).
Remote systems
Subsidized
Subsidy systems include relationships
with entities that subsidize EHR costs. Doctors usually establish this
relationship with the hospital, and the hospital controls the data. Remote systems
involving funding bodies may raise specific legal issues, such as reliable data
and data possession problems.
Dedicated
A dedicated host system is a system in
which professional health stores the EHR on the vendor's server.
The Cloud system
This is the most demanding EHR system.
The vendors are responsible for storing data in the cloud, so physicians do not
need to store data on their servers. This implies the secure and protected data
available on the internet and is accessible from the seller's website.
Need for EHR systems in an organization
Some EHR systems are more appealing and
beneficial for medical service providers. Some plans are cost-effective for
data storage, like cloud systems. The cloud-based system is the best choice for
those healthcare organizations that can not afford an IT team for data
management. Moreover, healthcare organizations having large-scale setup scans
purchase good expensive software and hard wares and hire a team of
IT professionals. On-premises
(specialist facilitated) frameworks are remarkable for associations that need
unlimited authority over their information, including security, enhancement,
and foundation.
Comparison of EHR systems
No electronic health record system is
fundamentally superior, and specific designs may better suit the demands of a
healthcare practitioner than others.
Server-based and hosted EHR
A hosted system means another entity
hosts the entire EHR software on its server outside the health care practice.
This institution is in charge of data backup and security. Despite its cheaper
cost, hosted EHRs may be slightly slower because of the pattern's distance from
the servers containing the data. This type of system has higher costs,
especially in hardware and installation. The price is comparable to leasing the
software for a hosted EHR in the long run.
On-premise and cloud
Data management is the main difference
between a cloud system and an on-premise EHR system. Cloud systems are always
in need of one who governs as well as maintains the cloud. On the other hand,
on-premise systems make it easy for physicians to run the software and keep
their data.
BENEFITS
Electronic health record has a wide
range of advantages. Not only do EHRs make remote access to medical records
much easier and more common for doctors, but they also make potentially
dangerous medication errors much earlier. And with EHRs that share information
between multiple healthcare providers, Doctors can immediately learn about
critical laboratory values. This information exchange generates knowledge, a
step toward improving long-term patient health outcomes.
Limitations of using EHR
Inescapable hazards are associated with
data storage when adopting an electronic health record system. Here are some
pointers for dealing with potential liability issues.
Protection and security
Physicians must understand the terms of
their agreements with EHR companies to protect patients. It involves
understanding where the practice's data is housed and who has access to it.
Choose a vendor that complies with all applicable state and federal health and
personal information confidentiality and security regulations.
Unapproved access to clinical records
also poses a significant risk. Proper EHR training for staff assures continuing
data protection and does not compromise patient privacy.
Excessive information generation
Furthermore, excessive information might
pose problems with Electronic Health Records. Printing the patient's notes will
allow you to review them occasionally. Consider the patient's history from the
perspective of a beginner. You could include too much information if you need
to quickly and easily digest the necessary information.
Information security
Electronic health records are just as
reliable as the data they receive. When incorrect data is entered, the overall
system's efficacy suffers. Ensure that the correct patient information is input
and that the right author is acknowledged for data entry. Consequently,
identifying the clinician or support worker who entered essential information
takes time and effort.
Risk factors associated with contracts
You should enter into a contract with an
EHR vendor only after carefully considering its terms. It is important to pay
attention to this essential contractual matter because it can be the difference
between liability for medical malpractice or lost information.
Operational problem
One must constantly be on the lookout
for mistakes in the EHR system that might endanger patients. Drug interaction
notifications might be rendered ineffective by outdated information. This
system failure is dependent on your doctor detecting and correcting it before it
does you damage.
Contract signing
A good EHR vendor will sign a working
contract with you and help you ensure patient safety and health.
Ownership
Knowing who owns the information is the
first step in developing a healthy EHR vendor relationship. To be a record of
responsible medical practice, physicians must hold patient information.
Patients may also suffer if they cannot get critical health data for personal
lawsuits, ongoing care, or reimbursements.
Conclusion
Before selecting the electronic health
record system for any organization, one must research the pros and cons of all
the available options. One wants to choose the plan that works for the person
rather than the scenario where one must modify the entire training to fit the
organization.
The availability of expensive software
and hardware with costly installations or infrastructure is of no use for
low-budget setups. A clinician-hosted system having on-site server availability
makes the process reliable and speedy. If companies examine the near term, the
option between hosting and storing data may appear straightforward. However,
for a long time, organizations must be able to protect patient records.
Improving overall patient health outcomes, protecting medical practices, and
making life easier is necessary.
- Budget
- The size of the organization
- Any software and hardware used or available
