Introduction
This essay will comprehensively discuss the various benefits of using electronic medical records and prove that they are critical in the healthcare organization. Furthermore, the proposal will outline some recommendations that will give an amicable solution to the problem. Several kinds of research have been done to compare the qualities of paper-based and electronic records although the studies have shown that both methods have their unique advantages (Reis, Maia, Marcolino, Becerra-Posada, Novillo-Ortiz, & Ribeiro, 2017). To date, the paper-based records are still the primary sources of information in the healthcare system for various reasons. That is however not to mean that electronic medical records are not critical for the healthcare organization. A technology advances, the debate as to whether to store healthcare records in papers or electronically continues. However, the benefits of EMR cannot be overlooked especially due to the increase in the general health safety of patients (Ayanso, Herath, & O'Brien, 2015).
Discussion
One of the primary advantages of EMRs is that they assist in the effective diagnosis of patients and through the reduction of medical errors. Electronic records reduce errors by improving the ability to diagnose diseases, reduce, and even prevent them. In fact, a study by the national survey of doctors regarding the EMRs revealed that 75% of healthcare providers who use electronic records often give better patient care. Furthermore, 88% percent of those who were involved in the study confessed that there were many clinical benefits of using EMRs while 94% of the medical practitioners explained that the records are available at any time and point of care, therefore terming them as very useful (Ayanso et al, 2015).
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It is crucial to understand that the EMRs not only just store records but also they also compute information (Reis et al., 2017). In this way, there is manipulation of data in a manner that a patient's life is transformed. For instance, a qualified EMR does not only keep records for medication but also checks for problems whenever a new drug is prescribed for the patient by a medical practitioner. Furthermore, the information recorded and saved in EMRs alerts a clinician in the emergency department about specific issues that require urgent attention even when the patient falls unconscious (Reis et al., 2017). Moreover, the electronic records expose potential health-related problems each time they occur, therefore, enabling medical practitioners to avoid serious consequences as well as leading to better patient outcomes (Ayanso et al, 2015). Lastly, there is a quick and systematic identification of operational problems thus giving doctors an opportunity of correcting them much earlier, and the issues are easy to identify like in the paper-based records.
Another key benefit of using EMRs is that there is a reduction in medical errors (Roumeliotis, Parisien, Charette, Arpin, Brunet, & Jouvet, 2018). The current systems in hospitals are supported with artificial intelligence and sometimes, sifting is done through substantial patient files. In the near past, a patient suffering from a chronic disease would have paper records composed of many pages. However, using the current technology and using electronic records, healthcare practitioners can swiftly sift through the patient's data to retrieve information regarding the current and past prescriptions, lab tests, diagnosis, and medical plans among other crucial information that is required. The statistics from various studies, however, do not indicate that medical errors are as a result of inattentiveness or lack of concern (Roumeliotis et al.,2018). Instead, they are caused by miscommunications and the lack of access to essential medical records and histories of patients when required. However, with electronic medical records, there is usually more coordinated healthcare which is reinforced by data sharing and easy accessibility by every member of the healthcare team.
The reason why it is essential to reduce such medical errors is that the outcome is a scenario that no clinician would want to face. Although people realize that doctors are humans and make mistakes, it is crucial to put specific measures in place to ensure that medical errors are reduced, and accuracy is increased where a patient is involved. Research indicated that many people die annually from preventable medical errors approximated at 250,000 deaths annually (Reis et al., 2017). In fact, a study carried out by John Hopkins reported that medical mistakes are third on the list of the primary causes of death in the United States. Moreover, it was insisted that the primary focus should be to identify possible errors before they occur, a process which can be done by embracing the electronic medical records.
Thirdly, EMRs enhance the privacy and security of patients' data by protecting private details of patients. One of the essential pillars of medicine is patient confidentiality to increase the bond and trust between patients and their doctors (Reis et al., 2017). The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act holds doctors responsible for any breach of information or data regarding patients. Various obligations require the healthcare providers to keep patients' information safe and secure and from people who are unauthorized (Ayanso et al, 2015). Regarding the EMRs, the act requires that healthcare providers use physical, administrative, and technical safeguards to protect patients' information. Moreover, there are specific safety measures enacted, for instance, access controls like the use of PINs and passwords and the encryption of stored data to ensure that the information stored electronically cannot be read and understood by an unauthorized party. Patients are also given the right to be notified in case there is a breach of information (Reis et al., 2017).
Recommendations
The chief operation officer's assertion that EMR technology is not critical for the healthcare organization is wrong. I would recommend that the system shifts from paper-based medical record keeping and embrace the electronic-based due to the many benefits explained and proven by research.
Conclusion
The primary purpose of using research in health administration is because the utilization of new research often affects treatment access, the quality, and cost-effectiveness of the healthcare delivery system in the United States. Currently, there is tremendous growth and interest in research utilization and provides ways in which various medical practitioners can become more effective in future through the use of research. Research is essential because it assesses and examines the issues and factors that affect the healthcare system. The primary goal of the study is to evaluate innovations in health policy and to improve healthcare delivery as well. Stakeholders are a crucial part of any research process whether supportive or critical of the research. Some stakeholders have a significant influence on the project and are vital to its success because they are directly involved in important matters such as funding or being in ethics committees.
In conclusion, using EMRs in the healthcare sector is essential especially as technology advances. Patients need to be provided with the best care by properly storing and securing their information and ensure that it can be easily retrieved at any time. Although the paper-based system has been widely used in the past, there have been disadvantages that lead to losses due to medical errors. However, with the EMRs, data is securely stored and accurately compute information.
References
Ayanso, A., Herath, T. C., & O'Brien, N. (2015). Understanding continuance intentions of physicians with electronic medical records (EMR): An expectancy-confirmation perspective. Decision Support Systems , 77 , 112-122.
Reis, Z. S. N., Maia, T. A., Marcolino, M. S., Becerra-Posada, F., Novillo-Ortiz, D., & Ribeiro, A. L. P. (2017). Is There evidence of cost benefits of electronic medical records, standards, or interoperability in hospital information systems? Overview of systematic reviews. JMIR medical informatics , 5 (3).
Roumeliotis, N., Parisien, G., Charette, S., Arpin, E., Brunet, F., & Jouvet, P. (2018). Reorganizing care with the implementation of electronic medical records: A time-motion study in the PICU. Pediatric critical care medicine , 19 (4), e172-e179.
