Premium Essay

Are Electronic Medical Records a Cure for Health Care?

In:

Submitted By cbarry83
Words 1353
Pages 6
Are Electronic Medical Records a Cure for Health Care?
Abstract

In the United States, healthcare remains a top priority and is consistently part of the national public policy agenda. Political leaders and healthcare providers attempt to address issues of quality, access, efficiency and affordability. Solutions to these challenges are being pursued through a great variety of strategies and methodologies ranging from adoption of best practices of patient care to negotiated contracts between payers and Care Delivery Organizations (CDO.) (Gonzalez, 2014) This writing assignment will take a look at the adoption of Electronic Medical records and show the strengths and weaknesses of overhauling medical records from paper to digital.

Context

The purpose of writing this paper is to give me a better understanding on how information systems can help the medical field. However, it is important to understand that you cannot just overhaul the current system in place. There needs to be a process involved to get everyone at stake the proper training and information needed to undergo such a large transition.

Introduction

Electronic Medical Records are basically electronic versions of paper-based medical records. An Electronic Medical Record (EMR) is essentially an electronic record of health related information on an individual that can be created, gathered, managed and consulted by authorized clinicians and staff in one healthcare organization. Electronic medical record systems lie at the center of any computerized health information system. (Takvorian, 2007)

There are many functions associated with patient health records. Not only is the record used to document patient care, but the record is also used for financial and legal information, and research and quality improvement purposes. Because all this information must be shared among many professionals who

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

Inaccurate Medical History

...paradigm shift in record keeping of patients from a paper based system of health records to an electronic based system of health records. An electronic health record is a person’s official, digital health record and is shared among multiple health care providers and agencies (). Since the commencement of the HITECH ACT in 2009 the implementations of electronic health record system have increased. The HITECH ACT introduced the electronic health record ‘meaningful use’ program and it is overseen by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology. Hospitals and physicians who prove their use of government certified electronic health system...

Words: 1808 - Pages: 8

Premium Essay

Health Sciences: Unit 1 Text Questions

...diagnostics? How is this related to Health Sciences? Diagnostics covers the identification of diseases, illnesses, and other conditions and the process by which the identification is made. It is related to Health Sciences, because it helps doctors diagnose a patient's illness, describing their symptoms and for doctors to have a better knowledge of the illness. What is trepanation? Why was this used? Trepanation involves drilling a hole into the skull of the patient in order to release intracranial pressure. Describe three ways that healthcare is funded. Some healthcare systems are funded through taxations; use tax from individual taxpayers to pay for a portion of the healthcare. Another is funded through social insurance programs; run by the government and paid for through taxes. Finally, private health insurance is another way to fund for health care; purchased by individuals. What are private healthcare sites? What are their characteristics? Private healthcare sites are those where the hospital or office is owned by a for-profit company and the funding comes from patient and insurance payments. What is patient-centered care? Patient-centered care are healthcare and medicine that is based on treating patients. Critical Thinking Questions Private health insurance is a common form of healthcare payment in the United States. What are some of the advantages and disadvantages of private health insurance? Private health insurance provides another means...

Words: 491 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Hcs/533 Future Trends in Health Care

...Future Trends in Health Care Your Name HCS/533 10 February 2014 Professor Here Future Trends in Health Care Electronic health records have become more prevalent in the current health care system than it was 10 years ago. Electronic health records were not used to the extent it is today for patient documentation. Without the advancement in electronic medical records, most of the information that is transferred so easily to other providers would not be able to happen. Electronic Health Records (EHR) is the quintessence of a trend changing the health care system. Because more medical facilities are adopting the use of electronic health records, members are receiving faster more efficient care whereas the medical facility is saving money. EHRs are “digital repositories of patient data accessible to multiple stakeholders” that include “patient’s health history, medical conditions, test and treatments, medication, demographics” and other pertinent information about the patient (Otto & Nevo, 2013. p. 165). Electronic health records eliminate misplacement of documents, destruction of the documents via handling, and to retrieve documents for continuity of care providers needed to seek information from multiple places. EHRs streamline processes; place the information in...

Words: 1593 - Pages: 7

Premium Essay

Mgmt305 Unit 1

...QUESTIONS 1. Identify and describe the problem in this case. Can electronic medical records become a health care cure? 2. What management, organization, and technology factors are responsible for the difficulties in building electronic medical record systems? Explain your answer. Influences of the group leads to the structure phase of problems within the electric medical record system that can possibly entail expenses. Doctors who are located locally as well as more micro hospitals might assume that it will become more costly over a short period. Because of the price range of thirty to fifty thousand dollars, smaller offices may not be able to implement this system. Viewing the technical aspect of the system might cause possible alignment difficulties when attempting to produce a single service. 3. What is the business, political, and social impact of not digitizing medical records (for individual physicians, hospitals, insurers, patients, and the U.S. government)? By keeping a hard copy or paper copy of medical records this may possibly limit information that may be required at another medical location. By not adhering to transferring over to the new system this opens a medical facility up to penalties rendered by the government. The cost of penalties may even result in costing more than it would to just upgrade to the new system. 4. What are the business and social benefits of digitizing medical recordkeeping? The most beneficial factor of the new system would...

Words: 393 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Health Science Unit One Questions

...1. What are diagnostics? How is this related to the health sciences? Diagnostics is, essentially, figuring out what is wrong with a patient. This is related to the  health sciences in that patients do not always know what is ailing them. It is the health  care professional’s responsibility to take care of and diagnose the patient. 2. What is trepanation? Why was this used? Trepanation is the ancient practice of drilling holes into the head in order to relieve  cranial pressure. This procedure dates back to as early as 7000 BCE. It was used in an  attempt to relieve pressure inside of the skull due to illnesses such as epilepsy,  migraines, and the swelling of the brain. 3. Describe three ways that healthcare is funded. There are several ways in which that health care is funded. These methods include  private funding, government funding, and public funding. Private funding is paid for by  out­of­pocket payments, generally with assistance from an insurance company.  Government funding is paid for by the taxpayer, and is offered to individuals who cannot  afford their own insurance. Finally, public funding is paid for in donations. Public  hospitals do not seek a profit beyond that of basic maintenance. Profits are made solely  through donations. 4. What are private healthcare sites? What are their characteristics? Private health care sites are characterised by their method of payment. At private health  care sites, you are required to pay for your treatment through out­of­pocket payments or  ...

Words: 718 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Your Medical Information in the Digital Age

...Health & Well-Being BY JOHN D. HALAMKA, MD Your Medical Information in the Digital Age The U.S. is moving toward electronic health records. Here’s how to make that work for you. for granted that you should manage your own résumé. After all, it catalogs your professional history and accomplishments – who else would manage it well? But chances are you don’t oversee your own medical records. Until now, doing so has been difficult because bits and pieces of your information are probably scattered across the files of several doctors, hospitals, labs, and pharmacies. That’s an inconvenient – and potentially dangerous – state of affairs, but one a new federal law may help to remedy. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is providing about $30 billion to improve the exchange of health care information. One trickle-down effect will likely be greater access to your lifetime medical information through a personal health record in electronic form. The underlying idea is simple: YOU PROBABLY TAKE Compiling your medical data in one place lets you be the steward of your health information. Like first writing up a résumé, creating a personal health record takes time, but there are several payoffs. Having the record can prevent unnecessary testing and treatment (and, in turn, save you money), reduce the chance of a medication error, and instantly provide vital information in an emergency. It also can be used to keep track of your weight, blood sugar, and much more. (For a list of...

Words: 998 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Bruh

...Review Questions: 1. What are diagnostics? How is this related to the health sciences? -Diagnostics covers the identification of diseases, illnesses, and other conditions and the process by which the identification is made. -This is related to the area of health sciences in the way that it’s helping you to understand what is wrong with you and your body. 2. What is trepanation? Why was this used? -Trepanation is drilling a hole into the skull of the patient in order to release intracranial pressure and other reasons. - Trepanation was used in an attempt to help people suffering from migraines, epilepsy, mental disorders, and head injuries. 3. Describe three ways that healthcare is funded. -Three ways that healthcare is funded is by federal, state, and local governments. 4. What are private healthcare sites? What are their characteristics? -Private healthcare sites are those where the hospital or office is owned by a for-profit company. -The focus for the site is on making a profit, similar to other for-profit companies that we find in other business sectors. 5. What is patient-centered care? - Patient- centered care is the part of the where the patient becomes active for their care and treatment regimen. They are also increasingly being included in planning and decision-making regarding health care policy and program development. Critical Thinking Questions 1. Private health insurance is a common form of healthcare payment in the United States...

Words: 573 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Communication in Health Care

... Communication with elderly people with disabilities can sometimes be difficult. Patients who has trouble speaking, makes it hard for the doctor or nurses to understand what the patients are trying to say. Patients with disabilities who has trouble hearing also makes it very difficult for the doctor and nurses to explain to the patient what the patient need to know or difficult asking how he or she feel. In this essay, it will explain the methods of communication when communicating with elderly, disable people; explain the advantage and disadvantages of traditional, electronic, and social media for health care communication; last, the effects of HIPPA and other regulations on the use of those media for health care communication. In the situation of displacing patients, the doctor or nurse must explain to the patients exactly what is going on. First thing as a health administrator of a nursing home, the administrator must notify the patient’s family member and explain to the member on what is going on. The administrator must explain why the patient is displaced and explain the new policies that the national group is implementing. Communicating with elderly, disable patients can be difficult and also a hassle. Patients who cannot hear can and cannot be difficult. Writing the information down on a piece of paper would be a helpful way to acknowledge the patient about what is going on. A patient who cannot hear does not mean he or she can use other communicating...

Words: 1092 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Hsa 250

...520: Health Information Systems October 25, 2013 Strayer University, Loudoun Campus Technology Assessment The role of technology in healthcare plays a key part in how physicians treat illnesses and also how the method by which they diagnosis illness and disease. Technology is not limited to medical milestones through research and the creation of new drugs but also how people can obtain the information regarding medical procedures, receive medical care and information about living healthy lifestyles (Williams & Torrens, 2010). The most common concept that one considers is technology within the health care field is the research that creates life-saving medical procedures through surgery and medication. Large companies such as Pfizer, Merck, and other companies possess the abilities to fund ground breaking research in order to find cures for diseases like HIV/AIDS and many types of cancers or to help treat the ongoing symptoms. Their concept of technology also applies to the materials that many surgeons use during surgeries such as knee/hip prosthetics for knee and hip replacements. In the 1960s these types of surgeries were unheard of and have grown to a $600 market for the research and development to produce such devices through companies like Stryker (McGill, 1989). Significant technology Technology within the healthcare field is not merely limited to ground breaking research to treat illness and disease but specifically how physicians can access patient health records...

Words: 1398 - Pages: 6

Free Essay

Cpoe

... permits doctors and other medical professionals to enter medical orders into an electronic database. Although there was much precaution in implementing the system, medical professionals have found that entering the medical information into a computer has reduces the number of errors in medical records. Since some medical professionals handwriting is hard to read and maybe confused which could prove to be fatal for patients. The system also assist physicians in making plan of care decisions for patients based off medical evidence that is access through the system. Computerized physician order entries allow permits the authorization of procedures and send referrals for patients. Many were hesitate about converting over to the CPOE system because it was thought to be very costly. The system initially cost the United States an estimated $1.1 billion dollar but it is projected to save money in the future. The benefits of the CPOE system is a reduction in medical errors and medication errors. The system has built-in alerts that will sound if an error is detected in the system, giving the medical professional a chance to correct it before it proves to be troublesome. Even though the startup of the system may be expensive ranging from $3- $10 million dollars depending on the size of the medical facility, it could save a medical facility from being sued for a neglect or wrongful death case. CPOE systems has not been an easy transition for all medical facilities because of the training...

Words: 481 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Sainsbury Case

...Intermountain Health Care Introduction: This report analyses the case of Intermountain Health Care (IHC) which presents the idea of integrated model of health care system and provides perfect explanation of medical organization. The purpose of this report is to outline various lessons learned from the case of IHC and set an example for other medical organization by explaining success criteria of this case. Success criteria of the IHC: IHC has succeeded to deliver uniform quality medical care with continuous enhancement by implementing strategic vision in the organization and co-ordination among staff. For the health care organizations patient’s satisfaction is the essential key to success, by knowing this fact and to gain the satisfactory level of the patients, Intermountain has analysed and implemented qualitative principles for the satisfaction of patients. Also, with the help of these principles, Intermountain has planned the system. In this process of transformation at IHC, Dr. Brent James, a biostatistician and a surgeon, has played very important role and addressed the basic issues of quality management with the help of integration system. Simultaneously, as a result of integration system and as a part of organisational structure, Intermountain has found Dr W. Edwards Deming within the medical practice by mounting the cure percentage of patients which has made Intermountain unique from other health care organizations. To manage the delivery of medical care at IHC, Dr. Brent...

Words: 706 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Electronic Medical Records and Confidentiality Issues

...Previous health care records were handwritten by a clinician on paper forms in a folder and stored away in file cabinets. An electronic medical record (EMR) is the electronic version of this previous medical chart, and what is popularly used in today’s time of health care. “It includes all components of the patient’s medical records and enables any member of a patient’s treatment team to access the patient’s progress notes, treatment plans, medications, and other patient information from a variety of locations” (Richards, 2009). The Institute of Medicine recommended the use of EMR’s since the year 2003. Since then, electronic medical records have been proven to provide effective treatment, reduce medical errors and improved accessibility to patient’s medical records. The implantation of electronic medical records has been an advantage to the current U.S health care industry and its people. By using this system, drug interaction warnings, prescription refill notifications and annual screening reminders are what save our population today. In order for an organization to decide whether to implement this system or not, management must review the risks and benefits that come along with this. The cost of applying EMR’s is considerably high and is categorized as being a risk for a company. Not only for the upgrade in technological machinery, but also in the training of health care professionals. Managers must set aside a budget specifically for the implementation of equipment as...

Words: 3261 - Pages: 14

Premium Essay

Technology and Healthcare

...level, medical technology is the practical application of the scientific body of knowledge produced by biomedical research. When growth in scientific knowledge is applied for the purpose of improving medical care, it leads to advanced techniques for a more precise diagnosis, more effective and less invasive therapies. Medical technology is seen to be a double-edged sword because in one respect it allows research to develop sophisticated diagnostic procedures, which then develop “cures” to increase longevity and quality of life. Yet, this new technology comes at the tremendous cost of conducting that developmental research. Then once this technology is available, there are costs associated with training staff to use it properly, facility upgrading and a higher demand from consumers and physicians for the utilization of the new technology (Shi & Singh, 2008). Not all technological advancements are created equal; and add a tremendous strain to health care spending. Electronic Health Records (EHR) replace the traditional paper records and help to streamline patient care by making it possible to access, share and edit patients’ records more efficiently. Widespread adoption of EHR will eventually lead to savings in health care costs. In the United States, the non-governmental and highly influential Institute of Medicine (IOM) has committed to a technology-led system reform and urged “a renewed national commitment to building an information infrastructure to support health care...

Words: 886 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Challenges and Security Issues

...Unit 5 IP – Challenges and Security Issues American InterContinental University Abstract In this assignment, review of three different case studies will be discussed. Topics will include when an antivirus software cripples your computer, determining how secure cloud computing is, and electronic medical records systems. After the review of each case study, a set of questions will be answered to provide details on each study as to what was reviewed. Challenges and Security Issues (Case Studies) Introduction In this assignment, review of three different case studies will be discussed. Topics will include when an antivirus software cripples your computer, determining how secure cloud computing is, and electronic medical records systems. Case Study #1 When Antivirus Software Cripples Your Computers On April 21, 2010, McAfee crippled hundreds of thousands of McAfee equipped machines, by mistakenly sending an update to its users reclassifying svchost.exe as being a malicious file which was known as W32/wecorl.a virus (Humphries, 2010, para 1-2). The factors that were responsible for this software problem was that McAfee failed to send users a warning notifying them that svchost.exe was going to be either deleted or quarantined; instead they deleted the file completely. On the other hand, failure to detect this error was at the fault of McAfee’s automated quality assurance. Another reason this spread so quickly is because of the high demand for faster antivirus updates....

Words: 1227 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Medical Records

...Are Electronic Medical Records a Cure for Health Care? 1. Do to the current method of medical record keeping is one reason why health care costs in the United States are so high. The majority of medical record keeping here in the United States is paper it makes it difficult to access and share. 2. The factors responsible for the building of electronic medical record systems are like organization, doctors, insurance companies, patients, and the lacking of technology. Doctors difficulties is that they have limited time and to take 20 hours of training to use the EMR. The United States government also plays a big role by having a short term goal that by 2015 that all medical facilities will be utilizing EMR. And patients have a concern of confidential information that will be stored in this system that can be read all across the United States. 3. The business, political, and social impact of not digitizing medical records are that doctors will not be able to have instant access to a patient’s medical records. And without digitizing medical records means that there will be the need for more paper work. Politically the 2015 goal set by the US government would also be impacted. Socially people would expect little error to this EMR system like correct dosages. And by not digitizing medical records has a greater risk of errors. 4. The business and social benefits of digitizing medical recordkeeping are when taken from paper and filing them to the EMR patient’s...

Words: 1289 - Pages: 6