How electronic health records are replacing paper files

What are electronic health records? 

Electronic health records (EHR) are a digital collection of patients’ records. It includes information such as sex, gender, age, name, health history contact information, lab test, and billing information. Electronic health records are well-organized electronic data and information about individuals and populations that can be sent to hospitals and caregivers. 

Advantages of EHR

1. It is written. 
2. Sharing of information is easily done. 
3. There is a cooperation between the doctor and the patients. 
4. Easily used to track past health records and treatment of patients.
5. It increases and improves the healthcare of the patients
6. There is enhanced productivity. 
7. Helps the patients to self-manage in cases of serious health issues
8. EHR increases the quality of care given to patients. 

Disadvantages of EHR

1. It required training of IT staff
2. Cost of maintaining Software
3. There is a need to purchase computers.
4. Information cannot be accessed once the network provider is down or slow. 
5. Slow productivity once the network is down 

Objectives of electronic health records

• To keep the execution cost-effective
• To assist with the maintenance and analyze adopted standards. 
• To increase productivity
• Investigate necessary practices, experiences, and frameworks. 
• Increase participants.

Collection of electronic health records data

Various hospitals have designed special electronic health records databases that can be reached from every computer in the hospital. To access patients’ records, the doctor, nurse, and any other healthcare provider log in to the system with their provided username and password.

Materials used in electronic health records

• Documentation button
• Electronic order entry.
• Clinical decision support system 
• Personal healthcare records
• Clinical data reservoir

1. Documentation button

One can contact specific links from one data to another which helps to provide relevant detailed information. 

2. Electronic order entry

The electronic order entry allows the provider to enter the patients’ records electronically into the computers leaving behind the thought of handwritten records. 

3. Clinical decision support system

Provides clinical information and patient-related information. It increases and improves patient care.

4. Personal healthcare records

This gives permission and allows the patient to have access to their health care records. It reduces cost and also allows patients to take input from home using devices such as blood pressure monitors and glucose meters to monitor their sugar intake. 

5. Clinical data reservoir

The clinical data reservoir is a database that keeps all the health information of electronic health records. 

Disadvantages of a paper document

1. Consume space
2. It is time-consuming
3. It is not flexible
4. Patients’ information is not secure
5. Arranging the information can be difficult. 
6. High rate of errors and omissions

The Future of electronic health records will Improve and increase transparency. It will develop a more comprehensive identification of the patients.

Conclusion

Against paper documentation, electronic health records will provide a gainful and dynamic change in the way in which physicians are working. Knowing fully well that EHR is computer-based, health data can be shared easily and faster with healthcare providers.

 

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