Question

Explain why the implementation of the electronic health records (EHR) brings value to quality and patient safety.

Answer 1

An Electronic Health Rcord is an electronic version of patient medical history , that is maintained by the provider over time , and may include all of the key administrative clinical data, relevent to persons care under a particular provider including demographics, progress notes, problems, medications..It shows the graphic reprasentation of hospital visit., so with in one click a healthcare provider can go through the patient health record.

EHR s help providers better manage care for patients and provide health care by providing accurate up to date and complete information about patients at the point of care. Enabling quick access to patients records for more coordinated efficient care . Enhancing privacy and security of patient data.

Electronic Health records improve quality of care , patient out comes, and safety through improved management , reduction in medication errors, reduction in unnecessary investigations and improved communication and interactions among primary care providers , patients and other providers involved in care.

Core EHR functions.

• Health information and data
• Results managment
• Order entry and Order Managment
• Decision support
• Electronic communication and connectivity
• Patient support
• Administative Processes
• Reporting and population health Managment

If EHR is not functioning the nursing staffs should make arrangment to collect the laboratary results directly, more man power needed.

Also the same problem applicable for medicines also. With EHR care giver can enter the medicine data directly in patient record and send the priscription to pharmacy and collect medication in time. If EHR is not available the caregiver should write priscription and send other staff to pharmacy and take medicine for patient.It may cause errors and also man power needed more.

So EHR implementation help to reduce effort of the staffs as well as the data is safe and legible.