This presentation examines the implementation of Electronic Health Record (EHR) in Cleveland Ohio University Hospitals by describing its mandate and the associated goals and objectives. Further, it evaluates the role played by the Affordable Care Act and the Obama administration in the realization of this mandate. It also includes a description of the facility’s plan, the steps followed in the implementation of the EHR system as well as a discussion on the aspect of meaningful use associated with the system and the laws governing patients’ confidentiality.
Description of the Electronic Health Record (EHR)
The mandate of the Electronic Health Record (EHR) system at Cleveland Ohio University Hospitals includes storage and management patients' records and data in a digital version. Besides, the mandate of EHR in this particular healthcare facility involves the handling of the standardized clinical data inclusive of a broader perspective of patients' care. The hospital administration started it in 2003 (Barrett, 2017). The goals and objectives of the mandate of HER at Cleveland Ohio University Hospitals include the improvement of efficiency, safety, and quality of healthcare as well as reduction of costs incurred in the delivery of healthcare services. Further, the system of electronic health record focuses on ensuring the presence of an enhanced approach to the coordination of healthcare service provision among physician and other health practitioners (Kathleen & Joyce, 2002). The Affordable Care Act ties into the mandate of EHR in the sense that there is a considerable reduction in cost of healthcare service provided, which makes it more affordable to members of the public. Moreover, the Obama Administration ties into this mandate to the extent that it introduced a system of healthcare medical cover that is affordable and accessible to the American public (Federal Health, 2015).
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Student’s facility’s Plan
The Cleveland Ohio University Hospitals' plan involves commitment to the strategic delivery of fully integrated and comprehensive healthcare management through the incorporation of an electronic health record system to its approach too administration. The implementation of the EHR system at Cleveland Ohio University Hospitals involved a six-step approach. The first step involved the assessment of the readiness of the organization to establish its needs, objectives as well as technical and financial readiness. The second step entailed a planning phase where the approach for the implementation of the EHR was undertaken. The third step involved the selection and upgrading of the system to acquire the status of a certified EHR. The fourth step was more concerned with conducting training sessions to facilitate the installation and implementation EHR system by the hospital. The fifth step entailed striving to achieve meaningful use of the system at both stages one and two. The sixth, which is the last stage involves continuous improvement of quality achieved through operations such as refinement of workflows and enhancement of patient outcomes (Schumaker & Reganti, 2014).
Discussion of Meaningful Use
According to Barrett (2017), the meaningful use in the context of the implementation of the EHR system by Cleveland Ohio University Hospitals has been able to demonstrate seamless flow and exchange of health records and patients' data between insurers and healthcare providers among others critical stakeholders. Further, the aspect of meaningful use has led to the introduction of quality programs such as value-based modifiers and physician systems of reporting with the focus on providing a more improved quality of healthcare. In terms of attaining the meaningful use, the status of Cleveland Ohio University Hospitals is commendable since it has managed to be fully compliant with the minimum standards for electronic health records set by the government.
EHRs and Patient Confidentiality
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability (HIPAA) laws are meant to provide guidelines on ways in which standards of privacy and protection of patients' data as well as other sensitive health information should be undertaken. Some of the possible threat to patient confidentially that HIPAA laws seek to address the breach of privacy as well as misuse of personal data. To prevent HIPAA violations, Cleveland Ohio University Hospitals has been able to put in place guidelines and a more robust framework including punitive measures that compels healthcare workers to strictly observe patient confidentiality (Federal Health, 2015).
Conclusion
In summary, it is noteworthy that the mandate of the Electronic Health Record (EHR) system at Cleveland Ohio University Hospitals includes storage and management patients’ records and data in a digital version. The implementation of the EHR system at Cleveland Ohio University Hospitals involved a six-step approach. Meaningful use has led to the introduction of quality programs such as value-based modifiers and physician systems of reporting with the focus on providing a more improved quality of healthcare.
References
Barrett, A. (2017). Electronic Health Record (EHR) Organizational Change: Explaining
Resistance Through Profession, Organizational Experience, and EHR Communication
Quality. Health Communication , 33 (4), 496-506. doi:
10.1080/10410236.2016.1278506
Federal Health (2015). Federal Health IT Strategic Plan 2015-2020. Office of the National
Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) Office of the Secretary,
United States Department of Health and Human Services , 1 (3), 1-28
Kathleen, C. K., & Joyce, S. (2002). A Technological Approach to Enhancing Patient Safety.
Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society , 11 (2), 1-7
Schumaker, R., & Reganti, K. (2014). Implementation of Electronic Health Record (EHR)
System in the Healthcare Industry. International Journal of Privacy and Health
Information Management , 2 (2), 57-71. doi: 10.4018/ijphim.2014070104
