Introduction
Currently, the Electronic health record is being used by around 13% of practicing physicians and about 12% of hospitals around the world. Evidently, the use of EHRs is in its infancy stage and increased use is expected within the next ten years. The health industry and governments have been promoting Electronic health records as a way of minimizing running costs as well as boosting services to patients.
For example, the former US government, stressed investment in healthcare to ensure that there is the computerization of all American health records in the next ten years. With the advancement of technology, all industries and sectors are adopting the most updated know-how and this aspect will most probably oblige the use of Electronic health records by an increased portion of the health sector.
Background
According to Hoffman (2016), an electronic health record is a digital record of patient health information collected within the period of the patient interaction with the medical providers. The information stored includes not limited to; name, sex, age, vital symptoms, relevant medication, laboratory reports, and past health reports. The concept of the medical report was developed by Hippocrates, a Greek physician back in the fifth century and at the time it was referred to as the Hippocratic Oath. The Hippocratic Oath had two main goals. The first was that a medical report should clearly describe the problem cause of the disease and second, a medical record should trace the period of the disease. In modern days, medical records can be traced back to the 1960s when a significant number of medical institutions started to use electronic health records.
In 1991, the Institute of Health of the US released a recommendation report describing how the implementation of the electronic health report would highly improve the current health industry. Ironically, a recent study reported that only a tenth of all health institutions have fully adopted the electronic health report. For example, research in the US to study the use of an electronic health record system indicated that there has been a slight decrease in the implementation of EHRs in the past seven years.
The study goes on to recommend the increased adoption of EHRs stating that EHR is the future of medical record-keeping around the world. Although the implementation of Electronic health records has been slower even with the rapid technological advancement, governments and stakeholders should both help in the adoption of the EHRs. This can be achieved through the elimination of all barriers hindering the implementation such as financial constraints by allocating adequate budget portions to their health industries. The electronic health record is by far the most important medical health data collection invention of the digital age. The Electronic health record adoption in the health industry will thus facilitate efficient handling of patient information bearing in mind the ever ballooning world population.
Literature review
The main question under global review is whether the implementation of Electronic health records will positively impact on patient health as well as deliverance of medical services. The process of patient health data has many aspects. However, the key factor likely to propel the Electronic health record into dominance is that it reduces storage space. Moreover, the wide range of risks associated with the manual health system will support the adoption of the EHRs. According to McCarthy (2013), an electronic health record is a patient-centered method of data collection. McCarthy supports this opinion and adds that EHRs is an important system as it eases collection and storage of data and also facilitates the progression of medical data. These ideas concur with the strife to improve record-keeping in health institutions.
Electronic health records can also be used in the aggregation of data from electronic apparatus such as X-ray and electronic microscopes, Fossel, and Donfman (2013). Fossel and Dorfman further agree that the implementation of EHRs by health providers will help reduce the hustle of storage of millions of handwritten files because the information is one of the key factors which form the basis of clinical decision making, health maintenance, and improvement. Once the Electronic health record is fully implemented in the health sector, it will become the driving force of other essential objectives of healthcare. At the moment, only a fifth of physicians in the US employ Electronic health records in the handling of information.
Past literature reviews have explained that Electronic health records are gradually becoming a necessity in the health spectrum and also note the EHRs system will help eliminate the burden of paperwork filing and also save doctors substantial time. This will in return make provision of health services more efficient and reliable in the long run. Other researchers are concerned about the fact that manual data system sometimes results to lose of patient information due to cases such as misplacement or damage of paper files. While there are notable differences of opinions between different scholars, generally the Electronic health records system is a key tool that solves adverse issues that affect day to day healthcare.
Questionnaire results
The questionnaires used for this study focus on the importance of the Electronic health record system and its implementation in the health industry at a global-wide view while at the same time noting the increasing demand for healthcare around the world.
Hypothesis one results
According to research conducted for this paper based on the 150 health institutions chosen for the study, the government has been promoting the implementation of Electronic health record systems by public and private hospitals.
Hypothesis two results
Research conducted for this study based on 300 physicians, 45% of medical practices employ Electronic health records system.
Hypothesis three results
Evidence collected in research conducted for this paper shows that the majority of the health practitioners support the use of Electronic health records systems as it is better than the manual system.
Hypothesis four results
Research conducted for this paper indicates that the implementation of the Electronic health records system will improve patient data handling and boost the health sector as a whole.
Case study
Questions and answers regard the use and experience of using the Electronic health records system as compared to the manual system.
The case study focuses on systematic feedback and the impacts of Electronic health records on the health industry, patient safety, and satisfaction if implemented on a global level. The Electronic health record system is a young initiative and according to the case study taken from the hospitals and doctors chose, this paper wants to find out whether implementing and deploying the EHRs will nourish the health sector.
Do EHRs positively impact patient safety?
Electronic health records system has a positive impact on patient safety with regard to information. About 80% of the physicians stated that Electronic health record system is a safer and more reliable way of patient information collection as well as storage as compared to the manual system
Are there any challenges in the areas of EHR implementation and deploying in terms of patients’ safety?
The major challenges that relate to the implementation and deployment of Electronic health records are maintenance of the system and financing of the whole process. The doctors stated that the government and stakeholders should play their role in financing the implementation of the EHRs and provide enough maintenance staff.
Are patients happy with the use of EHRs? What is their opinion on the subject of patient safety when it comes to health information technologies?
Research conducted for this paper indicates that 95% of patients are very happy with the use of Electronic health records systems as it is a better way of data collection and storage and the fact that it is a digital method which is in per with the current technological levels. Patients state that EHRs is a safer way of record-keeping because it can be encrypted with passwords and prevent unwanted parties from access to personal health information.
How can the existing EHRs be improved to generate better patient outcomes?
Doctors said that the Electronic health records system should be connected with its own social platform through which doctors and patients can interact and facilitate efficient consultancy and setting of appointments. Doctors and patients believe that this could improve the healthcare sector for the benefit of both parties.
Key challenges to implementation of E.H.R
Stress on medical staff was high in general.
The cost of implementation is relatively higher than the benefits of EHRs.
Inadequate technical support for maintenance and repair of the Electronic health records system.
According to Gorelick (2014), doctors should not be blamed for the slow adoption of the Electronic health records system and that doctors can only use electronic records systems that will help improve the care of patients.
Discussion
This paper discussion is based on the health record-keeping system that dates back to the fifth century B.C and evolved over the years up to 1960 when the Electronic health record system replaced the manual system. With time, health institutions have adopted this digital method which they deem more efficient and safer data handling tool that reduces paperwork and storage space. Numerous studies have advised the worldwide implementation of the Electronic health records system. The impacts of implementation of EHRs have been positive and with the evolution and enhancement of science and technology, this system has become a necessity.
Limitations of the study
The major limitation of this research is the sample size. The sample selected for the study was not well spread to represent different regions. Therefore, a generalization of the results to represent the global scenario provides an inaccurate picture. The longitudinal effect was the other research limitation. The time frame given to conduct the research is limited. Future studies should give enough time for research on this complex topic.
Conclusion
The implementation of Electronic health records has been slow due to its complexity and costs involved. Today, the internet is diversifying and all sectors are embracing the use of technology for efficient operation. Therefore, the health industry should pick up the pace and implement an Electronic health record system.
References
Cusseau, G., Grinsell, J., Wenzel, C & Zhao, F. (2013). Electronic health records: A case study of an Implementation. Berlin: Springer.
Fossel, M & Donfman, S. (2013). Electronic health records: Strategies for long-term success. Washington: Health and Administration Press.
Gorelick, D. (2014). Why Adopt EHRs?
Hoffman, S. (2016). Electronic health records and big data: Law and policy. Cleveland: Cambridge University Press.
McCarthy, K. (2013). Do the benefits of electronic health records outweigh the costs? Marietta: Nuesoft Inc.
Piliouras, T., Yu, R., Tian, X., Zuo, B., Yu, S & Sultana, N. (2013). Electronic health systems: A current and future-oriented view. New York: Elsevier B.V.