Electronic Health Record Analysis

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The evolution of technology in health care system has improved the quality of care and health of patients overall. The use of electronic health records has helped health care professionals monitor the progression of patients health over a period of time. Compared to the past where all patient documentations were stored in charts which were difficult to determine the state of patients health. According to Sewell (2016) "under the EHR model, one's health information is available from any location where there is Internet access and a health information exchange exists" (p.190). The technology of the electronic health record makes patient information universal as well as easier to diagnose.
The purpose of the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment …show more content…

One of the challenges with the electronic health record system is a security breach. Security breaches are a threat to patient privacy and confidentiality, especially without individual consent or authorization. A breach in patient health information is against HIPPA regulations and can lead to jail time for the accused. According to a conducted survey, about "73% of physicians text other physicians about work (Ozair, 2015)". It is not a secret that employees in the health care gossip about patients and their personal lives. However, HIPPA regulations need to be reinforced to prevent patient information from being disclosed. Hospital and health care facilities that are using electronic health record need to strength their firewalls, antivirus software and trespass detection software to protect patient data. As well as clarifying to all employees to not share passwords and ID with other employees. Also, login in out of all computers when done charting. For example, at a clinical setting a patient called out to a student nurse who was charting on the computer wall. The student stepped away from the computer to answer the patient. In this situation not only did the not log out but allowed anyone who passed the computer wall to see all the patients information including diagnoses. The ethical principles of respect for persons and confidentiality should not be …show more content…

One of the issue with the electronic health record is "a dynamic tension exists between the need for design standards and vendors’ competitive differentiation, resulting in restraint of the dissemination of best practices for EHR design(Bowman, 2013)". The investors of the electronic health record seemed to believe that the flaws of the EHR stem from the design. However, this is not true. One of the problems of EHR stems from improper system usability. One suggestion to fix improper system usability is to create policies and procedures that are appropriate. For example, creating a policy which prevents the copy and paste feature which will lower falsified documentations. As well lowering patient risk from documentation errors. Another recommendation is to provide all employees with the proper training of system use and what is to be expected. For example, when clinical students go to a facility they undergo a couple of days of training using the facilities electronic health record. This includes teaching which templates to document patient vitals signs, where to find blood tests, medication orders and physician notes. These expectations should include solutions for errors and safety risks. If all individuals working in the health care facility work together in recognizing errors. Then there will be fewer safety risks and confusion in the clinical

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