The development of healthcare information management systems continues to be supported by technological improvements in both information and communication technologies. The paradigm switch from the old information management systems to new technical information management is making a presence. Ludwick & Doucette (2009) define the health information system as a process that involves information documentation and retrieval when it comes to decision making. The administrative decision making can include establishing strategies, organizing and supervising every activity related to healthcare delivery and improvement. The healthcare factors might be achieved at the therapeutic levels, including the excellent healthcare delivery to patients’, research assistance and the training of caregivers. Countries across the globe are adopting the new health information management systems. In this context, therefore, this paper will discuss the use of Electronic Health/Medical Records (EHR/EMR).
After decades of paper centered medical records, a new kind of record keeping has emerged–the Electronic Health Record (EHR). EHR is a digital format concept of a patient’s past and present medical history. It is the critical storage place for information concerning the healthcare services delivered to an individual patient. It is maintained by a caregiver through time and can be shared across different healthcare facilities platforms by network-connected information systems (Bajwa, 2013). Sharing information is a very significant component of getting the correct diagnosis and inhibiting complications. The healthcare systems require to decide whether to paper or computers to store their date. This will prevent losing information and assist the healthcare system run better. Such records might include principle management and clinical data germane to a particular patient under specific clinician. This system shift marks an excellent opportunity for the integration of public and healthcare via public health informatics.
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An application of the EHR technology might be seen in the following scenario of improving results of significance to older adults, for example, pressure ulcers and falls. According to Demiris, Dykes, & Bowles (2015) EMR system is related to the better recording of both fall and pressure ulcer risk examinations. EHR is analytically necessary for the improvement of pressure ulcer risk assessment documentation. Recording patient data using HER is often connected to a decrease in healthcare facility attained pressure ulcer incidents. The patient falls rates remain unchanged after EHR application. This signals the performance of Gerontological caregivers since they might now encourage improvement in the treatment of delicate procedures such as patient falls and hospital-acquired pressure ulcer cases through designing implementation and utilization of EMR. Chief geriatric care enhancement programs in the healthcare setting such NICHE Nurses Improving Care for Health System Elders (NICHE) is a case of how Gerontological caregivers could collaborate with nursing management and personnel to enhance the care of the elderly.
The EHR must be beneficial to every patient. The patient ought to be helped for them to enjoy the services from the EMR (Tomines, Readhead, Readhead, & Teutsch, 2013). The implementation of information technology not only supports innovation and creativity but also ensures that healthcare settings are compliant with the new improvement in technology. Furthermore, the use of technology assists in bettering the efficiency and effectiveness of healthcare provision to a patient. It ensures that an organization is modest and improve their service delivery. The staff roles are made more accessible and more satisfactory than initially. This results in saving time for patients’ when seeking medical help and intervention might be easily commenced. The use of technologies in the management of health information has generally improved on the safety and quality of care. Nonetheless, the systems might comprise the performance of the clinician. This can increase the prevalence of medical errors which are deleterious to the health of patient’s (Tomines, Readhead, Redhead, & Teutsch, 2013). Barriers to the application of the technology in practice is a bit restrictive to the success of the process. Patients privacy can be compromised through unauthorized access.
EHR affects tremendously digital equity as the system is not inequitable and is cost effective. The unlimited access to records through the internet is helpful in handling patients’ health. Past and present clinical history has demonstrated to be instrumental in fast-tracking treatment or intervention measures in the event of an emergency situation. Safe and quality healthcare service might be provided with the acceptance of the system. This is so as does not waste time, and avoids recurrent testing on a patient and makes sure that a patient is only given appropriate medication. Medical history ensures that errors in prescription are prevented and assist in determining conditions that can be frequent.
From an administrator's standpoint, the application of the EHR technology will significantly impact the efficiency and effectiveness of healthcare delivery. The use of EHR technology is straightforward and needs slight changes. The primary factor to take into account is the equipment and staff to operate. The material may be sourced from the firms manufacturing them and installed in the healthcare facility. The workforce might be trained on how to use the system and offered the needed support. Therefore, medical history of a patient in a hospital setting can be retrieved from the old system to the new system. As a result, a patient's database is created. Thus, the management must make efforts to homogenize the latest technologies with the social and technical prerequisites of the establishment.
In conclusion, the evolution of HMIS continues to be instrumental in finding the solution to patients, and nursing practitioners challenged associated with information management. The implementation of EHR system is vital in transforming the healthcare industry. Control of health involves persistent monitoring of patients' health status, service delivery concerning value and coverage. Therefore, to accomplish the above, it is necessary to have a specific and appropriate information management system in position within the healthcare facility.
References
Bajwa, M. I. (2013). “Emerging 21st Century Medical Technologies.” Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences , 30(3).
Bowles, K. H., Dykes, P., & Demiris, G. (2015). “The Use of Health Information Technology to Improve Care and Outcomes for Older Adults.” Research in Gerontological Nursing , 8(1), 5-10.
Ludwick, D., & Doucette, J. (2009). “Adopting electronic medical records in primary care: Lessons learned from health information systems implementation experience in seven countries.” International Journal of Medical Informatics , 78(1), 22-31.
Tomines, A., Readhead, H., Readhead, A., & Teutsch, S. (2013). “Applications of Electronic Health Information in Public Health: Uses, Opportunities and Barriers.” The Journal for Electronic Health Data and Methods , 1(2), 5.
