Electronic Health Records: Impacts on the U.S Healthcare Industry

Blake Redco

28 Feb 2016

Abstract

The patient health record, serves “to recall observations, to inform others, to instruct students, to gain knowledge, to monitor performance, and to justify interventions” (IOM, 2014). Beginning in the latter half of the 20th century and continuing through present-day, patient health records have increased in use and function. A significant portion of patient records, treatment history, and medication data are still stored in paper format however, and full transition to digital formats is likely decades away, or may not be achieved for many more years to come.
This text will examine the modern electronic health record (EHR), and how it impacts, and is impacted by, the U.S. healthcare industry in political, technical, and economical environments. The focus on how and why the transition process is occurring, and the challenges therein, will be prevalent throughout examination of the three environments. This is a subjective description, although not comprehensive exploration of factors surrounding the HER, and is not to be taken as criticism or advocacy of any component of U.S. health care policy and/or practices.
In each of the environments described below, efforts have been made to provide considerable and timely data, as well as references to influential industry literature and legislation. However, due to the dynamic nature of policies and mandates, technologies, and financial forces, new information will emerge which can alter their respective environment, and the U.S. industry as a whole.

Electronic Health Records

Every aspect of a patient’s care ultimately results in some level of historical data. From hand-written notes, prescribed medicines, vital statistics, and given treatments, it is imperative that clinicians and other providers accurately