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Strengths and weaknesses of electronic health records
Electronic health record advantage
The Impact of Electronic Health Records on Health Care
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Informatics is the study of the structure, behavior and interactions of computational systems, and has many applications in today’s world (The University of Edinburgh, n.d.). Nursing informatics is a type of informatics, and they are similar because they both use information technology, computer science and information science to solve problems and transfer and manage information. Nursing informatics differs from informatics because it uses nursing science and technology to improve patient care. Clinic managers use nursing informatics to monitor patient outcomes, evaluate data trends, and measure workload and intervention (McGonigle, Hunter, Sipes & Hebda, 2014). In this post, I will explain why President Bush mandated implementing an electronic …show more content…
The goal of informatics is to increase productivity, decrease unnecessary work, improve documentation and streamline information exchange. There are many ways that my organization integrates technology into health care delivery, including using scanners to increase the accuracy of medication administration, and collaborating with outside pharmacy systems that notify physicians when medication refills are due. E-prescribing non-controlled medication is not new but recently technology has developed to allow providers to e-prescribe narcotic medication. Prior to this technology, patients or family members had to physically come to the unit to pick up scripts. This was a struggle for some of our patients due to chronic pain, and we also had problems with patients losing scripts or having scripts stolen. With this new technology, physicians can send controlled medication scripts to pharmacies securely and …show more content…
The electronic health record and other technology have evolved over the past twelve years to assist in streamlining work environments and patient-centered workflows, and supporting providers in decision-making across all organizational roles. For point of care nurses and patients on my unit, technology has increased the accuracy of medication administration and improved the patient experience. For my manager, informatics assists in overseeing resources and meeting financial goals. I’m interested to see where informatics will take nursing in the future. I imagine that we will see increased communication and information access that will lead to increased automation and coordination of work performed in health care settings (Huber,
As the evolution of healthcare from paper documentation to electronic documentation and ordering, the security of patient information is becoming more difficult to maintain. Electronic healthcare records (EHR), telenursing, Computer Physician Order Entry (CPOE) are a major part of the future of medicine. Social media also plays a role in the security of patient formation. Compromising data in the information age is as easy as pressing a send button. New technology presents new challenges to maintaining patient privacy. The topic for this annotated bibliography is the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Nursing informatics role is imperative to assist in the creation and maintenance of the ease of the programs and maintain regulations compliant to HIPAA. As a nurse, most documentation and order entry is done electronically and is important to understand the core concepts of HIPAA regarding electronic healthcare records. Using keywords HIPAA and informatics, the author chose these resources from scholarly journals, peer reviewed articles, and print based articles and text books. These sources provide how and when to share patient information, guidelines and regulation d of HIPAA, and the implementation in relation to electronic future of nursing.
Implementing technology in a clinical setting is not easy and cannot be successful without a well-organized system. It is important that healthcare providers understand the electronic medication administration record (eMAR) and its role in improving patient safety. One of the most significant aspects of healthcare is the safety of our patients. Medication errors account for 44,000-98,000 deaths per year, more deaths than those caused by highway accidents or breast cancer. Several health information technologies help to reduce the number of medication errors that occur. Once of these technologies is bar-code-assisted medication administration (BCMA). These systems are designed to ensure that the right drug is being administered via the right
This paper will identify the use of Electronic Health Records and how nursing plays an important role. Emerging in the early 2000’s, utilizing Electronic Health Records have quickly become a part of normal practice. An EHR could help prevent dangerous medical mistakes, decrease in medical costs, and an overall improvement in medical care. Patients are often taking multiple medications, forget to mention important procedures/diagnoses to providers, and at times fail to follow up with providers. Maintaining an EHR could help tack data, identify patients who are due for preventative screenings and visits, monitor VS, & improve overall quality of care in a practice. Nurse informaticists play an important role in the adaptation, utilization, and functionality of an EHR. The impact the EHR could have on a general population is invaluable; therefore, it needs special attention from a trained professional.
Nursing documentation is an important factor of healthcare delivery today. The use of information and communication technology offers opportunities for improving patient care delivery while reducing nurses’ documentation load and increasing the time available for caring for various patient populations (Munyisia, Yu, & Hailey, 2012).
Electronic-prescribing, often referred to as e-prescribing, is a fairly new, innovative way for physicians and other medical personnel to prescribe medications and keep track of patients’ medical history. Not only has e-prescribing enabled prescribers to electronically send a prescription to the patients’ pharmacy of choice, in the short amount of time it has been available, it has significantly reduced health care costs, not only for the patient, but for the medical facilities as well. In 2003, e-prescribing was included in the Medicare Modernization Act (MMA) which jumpstarted the role of e-prescribing in healthcare. It has proven to significantly reduce the yearly number medication errors and prescription fraud, and its widespread publicity has helped build awareness of e-prescribing’s role in enhancing patient safety. Although it has not been in practice for very long, e-prescribing has already made a positive impact in the field of health care.
Additionally, one of my patient’s left the unit to undergo pacemaker implantation, and during this procedure I was unable to access their EHR. Accordingly, this inhibition of access ensured that I did not accidentally document information in a patient’s chart that was not currently on the unit, which in turn, protects the patient from medication errors, and the nurse from incorrect documentation. In addition, my nurse informed me that viewing the nurse’s work orders is an expedient way to view the medication orders given throughout the day by exhibiting meds that need to be given, that have been discontinued, or that have already been administered. Furthermore, Micromedex is a computer software program used at by Cone health facilities to provide evidence-based information about pharmaceuticals including their mechanism of action, adverse effects, indications, contraindications, etc. Because of this information, the likelihood of medication errors is significantly diminished. This experience provided insight of the incredible strides that the healthcare system has accomplished recently, and it is evident that care is being given in a more timely manner than before because of these
Over the last several years, electronic medical records are becoming more prominent in health care facilities, replacing traditional written records. As many electronics are becoming more prevalent with the invention of numerous smartphones and tablet devices, it seems that making medical records available electronically would be appropriate for the evolving times. Even though they have been in use to some extent for many years, the “Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health section of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has brought paperless documentation into the spotlight” (Eisenberg, 2010, p. 8). The systems of electronic medical records mainly consist of clinical note taking, prescription and medication documentation,
Information technology, which is changing and advancing on a daily basis has played a significant role in the transformation of nursing from a reactive to the proactive profession (McGonigle & Mastrian, 2015). Information which was once concealed in between a 1000 page book can now be accessible at the touch of the finger selectively on an iPad or smartphone at one’s will. It will not be a mistake to claim that Nursing Informatics (NI) began when the medical industry started using artificial intelligence at the introduction of the Internet. In their writing, McGonigle and Mastrian credited the nursing informatics as the reason behind nurses’ exploration of nursing informatics specialist
Technology is stated as the scientific method and material used to achieve a commercial or industrial objective. To go one step further, nursing technology is using a tool to advance nursing practice. “The Institute of medicine identified that technology as a viable method of enhancing patient care delivery and improving staff productivity” Sensmeier, Horowitz (2003 page). Because inadequate nursing staff causes shortcuts to be taken, there are mistakes made that could have possibly been prevented. Errors by nursing staff were variously reported as being responsible for between 44,000 and 98,000 hospital deaths per year. Sensmeier, Horowitz (2003). Technology can have a large impact on nursing. In the past 5 to 10 years, computerized patient records have increased less than 10%. This number shows us that we are still not embracing technology to its full potential. Today in most hospital systems computerized electronic charting is being used. Many hospitals have many different systems for...
Information Systems/Technology and patient care technology for the improvement and transformation of health care is an important part of the DNP. Technology has transformed every aspect of human life in positive ways. Technology brought efficiency and improved healthcare deliverance system. Healthcare technologies enabled practitioners to better understand disease process and how to implement best treatment plan. DNP programs across the country embrace information systems and technology in their nursing curriculum because, it prepares nursing students to be innovative and deliver best care (AACN, 2006). DNP graduates must have the ability to use technology to analyze and disseminate critical information to find solutions that
William Goossen’s theory can be applied in nursing practice to develop nursing informatics skills and knowledge, as well as develop technological system competencies among nurses to collect, process, retrieve and communicate pertinent information across health care organizations (Goossen, 2000). This theory is highly applicable in addressing matters related to electronic health records, which are currently characterized with issues of privacy and confidentiality in relation to storage, retrieval and reproduction of patient health information. The model also provides broad applicability in guiding research at any clinical setting and contributes to the discipline of nursing by simplifying and enhancing documentation and storage of patient’s health information and by allowing better utilization of nursing resources (Elkind, 2009).
Over the past decade, technological advances have paved the way for nurses to provide, quality, safe, standardized and individualized patient care (Saba & McCormick, 2015). The use of the Electronic Health Records (EHR) to manage patient data is quickly becoming widespread in the healthcare industry. The emerging use of the Electronic Health Record, is transforming how nurses care for patients. By creating and implementing an electronic, comprehensive, standardized method of recording patient data, nurses can facilitate and coordinate patient care with members of the multidisciplinary healthcare team. The use of the Electronic Health Record will promote positive
Technological advancements have had profound effects on our day to day activities. In the modern world, technology has been employed to enhance efficiency and effectiveness. The medical field has not been left behind, it has employed the use of sophisticated technologies to improve service delivery, record keeping, efficiency, and effectiveness. The current face of the nursing field isn't the same as it was two decades ago. The invention of mobile electronic charts, radio-frequency identification devices have transformed the healthcare field to a more adaptable and efficient with nurses adapting to these changes. Consequently, technological advancements have had profound effects on health care. Notably,
Informatic practices support nurses, benefit nurses, and increase patient centered care. It allows information to be readily available to healthcare professions involved in the patient’s care. Every time I enter the clinical setting I am amazed with the advancement of technology and how accessible the information is. Beginning nurses should be able to start the computer, access the organization’s software, access email, and collect and enter patient data into the information system. Nurses need a solid understanding of computers and basic knowledge of the healthcare organizations software. An informatics priority would be to improve clinical information systems throughout health care settings and to increase the nurse’s comfort level with computers. Healthcare organizations should all adopt up to date clinical information systems and basic nursing informatics education programs should be embedded into the
In an increasingly modernized profession, the integration between computer systems and patient care is becoming more relevant to provide streamlined, quality care. Moreover, the informatics nurse plays an essential role in the relationship between information systems and patient care: “Nursing informatics professionals are the liaisons to successful interactions with technology in healthcare” (Kelly, Brandon, & Docherty, 2011, p. 155). Technology is paramount to providing optimal patient care, and will continue to grow in importance, relevance, and involvement; nursing informatics leaders are essential to guiding the practice with technology (Bates & Wells, 2012). This is apparent in the use of electronic medical records (EMRs), the computer application that electronically stores patients’ health data; EMRs are a vital part of the transition to computerized documentation (Sheridan, 2012). Since 2004, the healthcare industry has been moving toward improved efficiencies and patient satisfaction, in part, by transitioning to electronic patient documentation (Sheridan, 2012). EMRs improve care quality, safety, and efficiency while reducing coordinated-care disparities (Madison & Staggers, 2011).