The Use of Electronic Health Records in Patient Care

Web-Based Electronic Health Records (EHR)

Electronic Health Records (EHR) is modern technology incorporated into health facilities to keep patients’ information and data. The tool utilizes real-time data devices that make information available to medical professionals. The web -page is secure because EHR permits authorized individuals to view the data of every patient. According to, electronic health records do not contain patients’ medical histories. Instead, the research argues that EHR goes beyond healthcare systems’ standard data collection system (An et al., 2019). The U.S. National Coordinator for Health Information Technology stresses that electronic health records are useful for patient care. As a result, the presentation describes EHR’s experiences, features, benefits, impressions, and challenges as a vital element of health IT.

Definition of EHR

Electronic health records are digital paper versions used to store patient information. The software includes the medical records associated with past diagnoses, treatment, and recent information useful for the care of clients. The effective and efficient accessibility of patient data occurs with the implementation of the advanced IT tool. In other words, EHR is software implemented to safeguard and improve patient service quality. The accessibility of information from the client’s portal increases the quality of patient services. Electronic health records can be created into either remote or physician-hosted types. The remotely hosted EHR works under the control and supervision of third parties. This means the maintenance of the server and cyber security risks happen with the aid of a third party. Contemporary healthcare facilities implement three primary types of remotely hosted HER; cloud, subsidized, and dedicated (De Groot et al., 2020). The difference lies in the region of data storage. For example, the dedicated EHR stores information vendor’s dedicated servers while the subsidized EHR engages physicians in the entry of data and information in legally binding documents.

Features of the EHR

EHR has key features that support its functioning in data storage and access. First, the web page has a billing unit that assists healthcare facilities in managing financial data. The billing unit is further divided into segments that analyze revenues and expenses and another part that generates invoices. Secondly, an online portal that allows patients to review their records forms a critical part of the EHR. Thirdly, the front office unit contains software tracks for automated scheduling, managing tasks, feedback spaces, clinical support generators, and patient status analytics. The doctor’s support unit consists of treatment plan alerts, data analytics, online prescriptions, data segmentation, public health reporting registers, voice recognition, and data charts, which form the fourth feature of the app.

Electronic health records have a portal for every client. The portal requires an activation code for patient verification. The feature allows patients to access healthcare services, schedule appointments, update personal information, receive feedback and notifications, and view past medical appointments. EHR permits patients to contact doctors through particular communication links provided in the portal. The links enable the easy flow of information between doctors and clients. Online prescriptions, appointment follow-ups, and diagnosis queries happen with the existence of communication features. Besides, document management systems enable patient care by charting clients’ health statuses, treatment, and interactions with professionals. Finally, the tracking and reception of laboratory tests can be done through the lab integration feature.

Experience with Electronic Health Records

Experiences with electronic health records vary depending on the recruitment team and the types implemented in the healthcare system. (An et al., 2019) believes that EHR gives patients suitable environments for recovery and healing processes. In my view, the tool is highly effective when one assesses the readiness of the software before use. The operations work rate, workflow, corporate culture, and IT infrastructural monitoring of any health facility determines the quality of services issued. Therefore, EHR safeguards patients’ information by allowing direct interaction between clients and doctors. The outcomes of such interactions improve patients’ care based on prioritizing their needs. EHR works in four summarized stages’ assessment, mapping, development, and selection of solutions.

The process of using electronic health records is simple. In De Groot et al. (2020) opinion, it is advisable to recruit a committee after setting the roadmap of the EHR to allow the execution of the schedule and budget allocated for the health IT program. Application analysts, nurse advocates, and billing advocates are integral committee members. Forecasting the costs of maintenance and development of the HER simplifies the scheduling and merging of patients’ information in the facility’s portal. Better services are predictable with the implementation of more secure web pages. Testing the Web-based EHR is essential during training.

Challenges of EHR

Convincing healthcare providers to use the web-based EHR may be difficult based on the challenges of this type of record keeping. First, the maintenance cost of the web page EHR is very high because it requires software engineers to develop the page. Secondly, the software faces numerous technical abilities like hacking and survey demands. The third challenge linked to the web page EHR regards the professional training requirements. The professional and educational requirements needed to use the software are too demanding. Cyber hacking and high maintenance costs discourage healthcare professionals from adopting this type of EHR.

Medical practitioners already have complex issues, and adding more problems to their desks drains the task force. Web page-based electronic health records consume a lot of time to adapt and implement in the work environment. The time taken to train employees on the management of the app can be used to handle other emergency issues in the hospitals. In addition, the teams associated with a web page-based EHR do not reduce the number of emergency cases, which counts on the tally of improved patient care. Healthcare professionals prioritize quality healthcare. As a result, empowering teams toward the reduction of emergency issues is more helpful than testing emerging health technology. EHR creates more pressure in the workplace because it requires staffing to set, handle, and monitor its functioning.

Helpful Features

The EHR has essential features that attract medical experts. In many cases, the data analysis segment is an integral component in the definition of web page-based EHR. The data analysis segment is important because it shows the information aligned to quality health services. The form of EHR makes it easy to assess the rates of growth or failures associated with patient care. Providing affordable health is the dream of every nation and health system. The web page EHR has a platform that connects users to their medical covers. The accounting section allows patients to process payments, while the tracking and visibility segment enables them to monitor the transactions.

Web-based electronic health records are interesting based on three important reasons. The aspect of time is beneficial because it operates electronically; it can handle numerous data with zero errors. Individuals can easily adapt to the key features since the training is precise. Workshops and training organized for Web-based electronic health records users take little effort to learn. The software can easily make use of information. Therefore, the Interoperability feature makes it viable.

Benefits of the Web-Based EHR

Web-based electronic Health Records have many benefits. First, the software improves patient care by enhancing direct networking with health professionals. The modern health IT system allows patients to interact privately with doctors, improving the quality of care. The fears of facing doctors physically have been countered with the introduction of the web page EHR.

Safety, communication, and education are key benefits of EHR. Ghadamyari and Samet (2020) suggest that the information storage and access model allows patients to interact with medical specialists without limitation. Secondly, the model of the paper version creates a link for patient participation. No third parties are allowed to talk on behalf of the patient based on the profiles attached to every client. Thirdly, the lab reports, past health records, and patient demographic information are easily accessed through the online app. The same framework allows patients to access their diagnosis results. The safety and communication of clients in hospitals become easy with the adoption of web-based EHR. Patients’ data are safeguarded, and nobody except the doctor attached to a patient knows the information.

How Web-based HER Benefits Other Facilities

Financial institutions can adopt the technique to monitor the cash flow within specified business periods. Web-based electronic health records are a unique and effective tool that enables financial departments outside healthcare settings to trace fiscal information and data within an institution. Secondly, security agencies can use the app to record crimes and data associated with criminal investigations. The data analytics segment or feature can help illegal investigative directors mark specific regions as crime hotspots. The changes needed in prison can be implemented or achieved by adopting Web-based electronic health records. Technological improvements in the country can start with the introduction of Web-based electronic health records. The final sector that can borrow insights from web-based electronic health records includes communication authorities. The facilities can use the technology to monitor information shared and leaked by wanted criminals.

What Impresses about the Web-Based EHR

Healthcare systems depend on real-time data and information to monitor the quality of services issued to clients. The desire to replace physical files with automated devices makes the web-based electronic health records impressive. Ghadamyari and Samet (2020) claim that the ease of accessing and storing real-time data enables medical practitioners and patients to share updated information. The essence of real-time data and information is to allow the tracking of patient care. The accurate information shared by doctors on the patient’s portal improves the speed of diagnosis and treatment of diseases. Therefore, web-based electronic health records are effective in the creation of accurate information. Such data are secure because third parties associated with the type of EHR are eliminated from healthcare systems. In addition, the platform allows adequate networking on the social platform.

Personal Experiences with EHR

Associating with web-based electronic health records is interesting because it exposes new users to new experiences. Using the software is based on the easy integrations linked to the app. The only requirement is literacy; patients who can read can operate the software with less struggle. It is also important to note that training employees to use the device is easy since a verification code and personal profiles enhance access to such sites.

Importance of Standards for the EHR

Web-page electronic health records are controlled by standards that ensure patient safety. Standards are essential in enhancing data quality because facilities adopting the software incorporate organizational goals, values, and customs that prioritize performance. Secondly, the use of standards helps healthcare systems to create solutions for common medical errors. Clinical errors, for instance, are lower due to the fewer physical interactions of many patients simultaneously. Finally, using web-page electronic health records limits the customization of IT solutions to particular individuals. The software promotes teamwork based on the numerous networks provided in the platform.

References

An, S., Xiao, C., Stewart, W. F., & Sun, J. (2019). Longitudinal adversarial attack on electronic health records data. The World Wide Web Conference. Web.

De Groot, K., De Veer, A. J. E., Paans, W., & Francke, A. L. (2020). Use of electronic health records and standardized terminologies: A nationwide survey of nursing staff experiences. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 104(5), 103–523. Web.

Ghadamyari, M., & Samet, S. (2020). Decentralized electronic health records (DEHR): A privacy-preserving consortium blockchain model for managing electronic health records. Proceedings of the 6th International Conference on Information and Communication Technologies for Ageing Well and E-Health. Web.

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