EHR Proposal Summary
Imagine you are working at a doctor’s office. You are approached by the office manager, who asks you to develop an effective way of storing patient information.
Write a 350- to 700-word summary to your office manager informing her of the advantages of using electronic health records (EHRs) to store patient information. Be clear and concise, use complete sentences, and use examples to support your responses.
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Include the following in your response:
- Discuss the functions and advantages of using EHRs.
- Discuss three to four forms used to keep patient information in EHRs.
- What is the purpose of each form? EHR Proposal Summary.
EHR Proposal Summary – Sample 1
Storing patient information has never been easier. Gone are the days of rooms full of filing cabinets and rows of files. With the advancement of technology in medicine comes the use of Electronic Healthcare Records (EHRs). EHRs allow offices to store patient’s records electronically, thus streamlining their patient files. EHRs will revolutionize the way that our office provides care to the patients. Through their various functions, advantages, and forms used we will be able to move this practice further into the technological age of record keeping. EHR Proposal Summary.
Electronic health care records have many functions that will help this office change the way keep patient records. The first function that EHRs provide a way to keep track of and manage every patient’s record individually, and electronically (Gartee, 2011). They also keep track of patient demographic information and care management data (US Department of Health and Human Services, n.d.). Having a person’s information in an electronic format helps to ensure correctness, and provide ease of access. Next, the electronic healthcare record operates as a legal document. In court proceedings, a lawyer can use their client’s health record to prove wrongdoing or evidence in a case (Gartee, 2011). Another function of an EHR is it is used to prescribe medication electronically (US Department of Health and Human Services, n.d.). A physician can fill out a prescription for a patient and send it to the pharmacy electronically thus saving time and issues with confusing handwriting. Lastly, records help in patient education (US Department of Health and Human Services, n.d.). At the end of an appointment, a doctor can use an EHR to print information on a patient’s condition or exam notes for that consultation. These standard functions of EHRs better shape the ability to keep track of the patients in this office.
Not only do EHRs serve multiple functions, but they also have many advantages to using them. The first advantage in electronic records is thorough, up-to-date records on every patient (Health IT, n.d.). Having up-to-date information reduces the chance of a medical error. Using EHRs will enable our office to have faster access to every patient’s record when needed, and also the ability to share with specialists in a secure manner (Health IT, n.d). EHR Proposal Summary. Thus, saving the patient time from filling out redundant paperwork. Another advantage of EHRs is the ability for physicians to better diagnose patient ailments (Health IT, n.d.). Lastly, they will lessen the amount of time spent on every patient’s record; therefore, increasing the time with patients. (Health IT, n.d.). EHRs have many advantages that will further this practice technologically.
Like their paper counterparts, EHRs still use forms to store patient’s information. The first example is the registration form. This type of form includes patient’s demographic data such as home address, and phone numbers (Gartee, 2011). This form is one of the most important, and if mistakes occur, it could mess up billing later on. The second type of form used is various consent forms. Consent forms such as treatment agreements or HIPPA consent are common examples of a consent form (Gartee, 2011). The primary purpose of these forms is to protect the patient from unauthorized care or viewing of their records. The third type of form is a patient’s medical history. Having this form on file for every patient is important so that the physician or nurse has a comprehensive background, and can make decisions based on the forms data. If data is missing mistakes could happen to jeopardize patient care. Forms are the backbone of an EHR, by providing accurate and complete data physicians will know to treat the patients.
As you can see, switching to EHRs from our current paper method is a better solution to storing patient files. The functions and advantages of records continue to improve the capabilities of medical professionals on a daily basis, leaving more time to spend with patients. The same forms that took up excess space in files would now be in digital format making it easier to find patient data. Patients are the customers of medicine, and by using electronic health records instead of paper, we can provide a better medical experience each time.
References
Gartee, R. (2011). Health information technology and management. Retrieved from The University of Phoenix eBook Collection database. EHR Proposal Summary.
Health IT. (n.d.). What are the advantages of electronic health records?. Retrieved from https://www.healthit.gov/providers-professionals/faqs/what-are-advantages-electronic-health-records
US Department of Health and Human Services. (n.d.). Common EHR functions. Retrieved from http://www.hrsa.gov/healthit/toolbox/healthitimplementation/implementationtopics/selectcertifiedehr/selectacertifiedehr_5.html
EHR Proposal Summary Sample 2
As a health care provider, you have so many different concerns on a day to day basis when it comes to the EHR system at the office. You should know your advantages and disadvantages of an EHR system and what you can benefit from to your facility and staff. The advantages that I would consider addressing would be improving the aspects of health care for the well-being and safety of the patient’s overall care. The EHR system ameliorates order and decreases the health care costs by encouraging preventive medicine and enhance straight order of health care services, and decreasing waste and unnecessary tests. EHR Proposal Summary. EHR system has different characteristics that authorize a superior clinical conclusion building by cross examining patient information from numerous areas (healthit.gov, 2014).
There are more advantages for the EHR system in the office of a provider with real time information on all clients at the time needed for service. This gives the faculty time to have all the clients records quickly as possible for a more smoother transition of care. EHRs additionally contribute a reliable electronic data will share with clients in the hospitals. EHR systems authorize providers with achievable results for the patients. Lower medical mistakes and supply protected care with ready to use guide that the provider use for physical exam care. Health maintaining is a great tool that is contained in EHR systems to stop diseases and to catch it at the beginning stage, this is down with precautionary care screenings and immunizations that’s within the plan of care systems. (Gartee, 2011). EHR Proposal Summary. EHR systems has more great advantages that enhances the communication interaction from clients to providers so the provider has looked over the reason for the ins office visit so they have a brief description to the diagnosis. It is vital that EHR systems have accurate legible, and complete patient information for health care providers and billing purposes. (healthit.gov, 2014). EHR Proposal Summary.
EHRs provide different applications for client information that takes the place of the paper forms. One vital form that is in electronic system with access to patient demographic’s, insurance and urgent contact information. Some of the features that are different from paper is electronic system can send reminders and alerts via text or email if the client requests like for billing, scheduling and patient information. Intake forms are for past medical history that offers you the option to record the information quicker, with the access to the check off boxes, drop down menu, popup windows for easy access. (Gartee, 2011). Intake forms make it a smooth transition for providers to go right to it by the click of the browsers. Flow charts show information for resent data from different tables that has a side by side comparison of information over a period (Gartee, 2011). Flowchart stores client’s vitals and taking in/take out information that can be related to diagnosing patients. Many hospital settings use these flow charts to capture patient vitals, take in/take out for shift to shift to relate to a patient’s state during a particular time frame. EHR Proposal Summary. Physicians may order diagnostic tests, labs and prescriptions when completing a total exam. Another feature is commercial EHR systems is to keep a copy of clinical frequently used orders that the provider all prescription by a click of the mouse (Gartee, 2011).. The motivation of all the forms is to become better in all direction of patient care, communication, education, timeliness, efficiency and equity.
References
- Gartee, R. (2011). Health Information Technology and Management (first edition). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall. EHR Proposal Summary.
- gov. (2014, September 4). What are the advantages if electronic health records? Retrieved from http://www.healthit.gov/providers-professionals/faqs/what-are-advantages-electronic-health-records