Question

Assume that you are a medical assistant working in a private practice or clinic and the clinic has decided to consider moving to an electronic system. You are highly in favor of moving to an EHR system.

Provide a rationale with supporting documentation for a recommendation to move to an EHR. Outline a plan for how you would transition the practice from manual to electronic records. Include in your plan how an EHR will provide a foundation for more accurate and secure medical records of the clinic’s patients. Also include any processes and procedures that will need to be adjusted and any security protocols that will be required

Answer 1

Electronic Health Record ( EHR )

It is a systematic collection of patients electronically stored health information in I digital format

1) Why it is important to move to EHR (Recommendations)

a) Lesser Space

It takes up much lesser space than paper records & can be stored more securely

b) Durability

Copiescan be made more easily into electronic media eg: magnetic tape that tend to more compact and durable than paper

c) Research

Data can be stored for research purposes without damage & loss

d) Management of daily work

To order supplies, tests, meals & services from other departments

Tracking of the orders made

e) Budget

Tracking of the items purchased in a specific nursing unit will help in modifying the budget & also to make necessary changes.

f ) Scheduling

Clients appointments can be easily entered & charged.

Staffing pattern also can be coordinated.

g ) Tracking

Procedure

Diagnosis

h ) Telemedicine / Telehealth

It use technology to transmit electronic data about clients to persons at distant locations

2 ) Outline ( Transition from manual to EHR )

a ) Build your EHR teamIncludes;

Provide training to the team

Physicians

Nurses

Health Assistants

Administrative staffs

Team leader will teach the remaining colleagues

b )

3) Benefits to the clinical patients

It provides more accurate & secure foundation for medical records of the clinical patients.

It can be used to assess the client's condition

Data can be send for reference to worldwide within seconds, which makes the diagnosis & treatment more accurate.

Example : Two way audio visual communication allows an international expert to examine & consult a clients case from thousands of miles away.

X- ray, scans & stored computer data etc can be sent using this facility

4 ) Process & procedures to be adjusted

5 ) Security protocols to be followed

Awarenesd about the Legal & ethical issues among the health care members is very important while using EHR.

Cients privacy should be protected.

Confidentiality of the data should be maintained

Concent should be collected, if the data is planning to use for the research.

Since it contains all the medical & treatment history of patients, it is important to make sure that the necessary standards are followed.

Ensure Security measures are met to not violate HIPPA.