Implementing Electronic Health Records

Implementing Electronic Health Records

The advancement of technology in healthcare has redefined the healthcare space for health workers and patients. Healthcare technology includes the use of electronic health records. An electronic health record system is a digital version of a patient’s medical information and history in real time (Ibrahim et al., 2022). A patient’s electronic health records are managed and accessed by authorized providers. Electronic health records are implemented to reduce the paperwork that is easily lost or misplaced (Ibrahim et al., 2022). Authorized providers can easily access patient information instead of using several files and paperwork to find patients’ information.

Functional Considerations, Regulatory Considerations, and Interoperability

Implementing electronic health records must consider function, regulations, and interoperability to minimize errors and ensure a fast and efficient system function (Ibrahim et al., 2022). Functional considerations include long-term goals, providers, customization, software design, and costs. The software design and customization depend on the departments in which the electronic health record system will be used, such as the pharmacy and laboratory departments. The provider must be certified and with a good reputation. Further, the software choice and design must perform the intended function and be able to handle a specific amount of patient information and data. In addition, the selected electronic health record system should be easy to use. Accordingly, authorized providers will be trained on how to access and use the system. Moreover, providers select a system that is both affordable and meets the provider’s goals. For instance, a provider can purchase a costly system for long-term use. Nonetheless, the system must present accurate patient information and records. As such, providers test the system during the implementation process for usability and efficiency. An implementation process can take up to several months before the electronic health record system is fully adopted.

Additionally, when implementing electronic health records, regulatory considerations must align with the Data Protection Act. The systems must meet certification criteria and standards for electronic health record systems. The selected system must ensure data protection and security.

Interoperability

Interoperability is the ability of software and systems to exchange information (Schmeelk et al., 2022). Interoperable electronic health records share patient information between different electronic health record systems and between different providers. Interoperability is important since it aids in exchanging and sharing patient information. Patients seek healthcare from different facilities. For accurate diagnosis and treatment, providers should be able to access patients’ information and history from their previous providers. Through electronic health records, providers promptly access reliable and accurate patient information (Lee et al., 2022).

Data Integrity, Data Security, and Legal Concerns

Data integrity is the trust and reliability of data throughout its life cycle. Despite the advantages of electronic health records, providers and patients are still skeptical about data privacy, integrity, and security. Data integrity in healthcare ensures that data accessed in electronic health records are accurate and correct. Notably, incorrect patient data can lead to wrong diagnoses and treatments and poor patient outcomes. In addition, electronic health records are susceptible to data theft and hacking. On the other hand, data security decreases the risk of data breaches and increases patients’ trust in their providers.

The HIPAA privacy rule protects healthcare information and outlines conditions in which a provider can share patient information (Tariq & Hackert, 2022). Moreover, laws and rules on data privacy allow patients to sue providers for sharing their information without their consent. The legal concerns on electronic health records include data inaccuracies, security breaches such as hacking, privacy and confidentiality, and system implementation.

References

Ibrahim, A. A., Ahmad Zamzuri, M., Ismail, R., Ariffin, A. H., Ismail, A., Muhamad Hasani, M. H., & Abdul Manaf, M. R. (2022). The role of electronic medical records in improving health care quality: A quasi-experimental study. Medicine, 101(30), e29627. https://doi.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000029627.

Lee, S., Kim, J., Kwon, Y., Kim, T., & Cho, S. (2022). Privacy Preservation in Patient Information Exchange Systems Based on Blockchain: System Design Study. Journal of medical Internet research, 24(3), e29108. https://doi.org/10.2196/29108.

Schmeelk, S., Kanabar, M., Peterson, K., & Pathak, J. (2022). Electronic health records and blockchain interoperability requirements: a scoping review. JAMIA open, 5(3), ooac068. https://doi.org/10.1093/jamiaopen/ooac068.

Tariq, R. A., & Hackert, P. B. (2022). Patient Confidentiality. StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK519540/.

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In this writing assignment, you will be writing a one- to two-page paper explaining the implementation of electronic health records.

Implementing Electronic Health Records

Step 1 Reflect on your involvement with the implementation of electronic health records (EHRs) in the clinical setting (either as a practising nurse or as a student in the clinical setting).

If you have not used an EHR, think about how you might implement an EHR in your practice setting. Answer the questions in Step 2 using this hypothetical EHR system.

Step 2 Address the following topics in your paper:

Explain at least three functional considerations to take into account when implementing an EHR.
Explain the regulatory considerations for implementing EHRs.
Explain interoperability. Why is interoperability important?
Explain data integrity. Why is data integrity important?
Explain why the security of data is important when implementing an EHR.
Explain the legal concerns surrounding the implementation of EHRs.
Cite any sources in APA format.