Electronic Health Records (EHRs) provide a comprehensive patient health history.\u00a0 These records are the complete set of medical and clinical data gathered during a patient\u2019s life across all providers they have visited.\u00a0 An EHR is intended to be used by anyone involved in a patient\u2019s care.\u00a0 It can only be modified by authorized users. EHRs unlike Electronic Medical Records (EMR) can move with the patient anywhere they go. An EMR is simply a digital version of a paper chart that has a patient\u2019s history from just one provider.<\/p>\n
Benefits of Digitizing Health Records<\/strong><\/p>\n Your car has a maintenance history, which now almost entirely digitized, automated and distributed to a network of dealers which can provide servicing.\u00a0 Why shouldn\u2019t your body have the same privilege?<\/p>\n Basic EMR Penetration Amongst Acute Care Hospitals [4]<\/p>\n EHRs provide you the ability to track data and valuable biometrics over time.\u00a0 They identify and automatically notify you when you are due for preventative visits and screenings.\u00a0 EHRs will continuously monitor your vaccination status.\u00a0 The benefits have driven the adoption of this technology as shown above.<\/p>\n Practice Fusion is taking the idea one step further and putting everything on the cloud to improve accessibility and automatic updating.\u00a0 The system allows physicians to chart on any device [5].<\/p>\n Additionally, the creation of an EHR provides massive amounts of potential to have various systems connect.\u00a0 Billing, scheduling and task management can all be incorporated into the patients file to coordinate care and consolidate provider and staff responsibilities.\u00a0 Practice Fusion also provides intuitive charting based on data collected to assist physicians in making assessments about patient health.\u00a0\u00a0 The Practice Fusion EHR has also been ranked as the number one e-prescribing system.\u00a0 By integrating prescriptions, drug to drug interactions and drug-allergy interactions are automatically reverified incase the physician misses something.\u00a0 The system can also help reduce out of pocket costs by searching the web for eCoupons [5].<\/p>\n Diagnostic tests, imaging and x-rays can all be imported in the EHR to allow both the physician and patient to access the same data, thereby improving communication and transparency.\u00a0 If a primary care physician refers you to a specialist, they will automatically record of all the visits and tests done to date.<\/p>\n Hospitals have massive financial upside by implementing good integrated EHR systems.\u00a0 For the points mentioned, utilization of physicians, nurses and lab techs can be improved [1].\u00a0 Information flow will assist all health practitioners to make better decisions.\u00a0 Integrated scheduling will improve utilization of expensive imaging equipment and prevent unnecessary work to be reperformed.<\/p>\n From the patient perspective, the experience is massively improved.\u00a0 Before the visit, a patient will get a confirmation and reminder of any pre-appointment procedures to follow.\u00a0 During the visit, additional clinical brochures and pamphlets can be accessed to better explain certain conditions.\u00a0 Finally, after the visit patients can continue to log in and see their own health data with any recommended action items from their doctors.<\/p>\n Risks\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong><\/p>\n The primary reason EHRs have taken so long to implement is due to the sensitivity of the data.\u00a0 Health records have strict regulations (HIPAA) which mandate how certain healthcare transactions can occur electronically.\u00a0 It also sets limits and conditions on the uses and disclosures that may be made of data without patient notification [6].<\/p>\n Additionally, with implementation of any new system there are new logistical challenges.\u00a0 Hospitals have standardized workflows which have been designed around the traditional method of hard copy record taking.\u00a0 With implementation of electronic history logging there are new challenges around work flows which may need to be redesigned.<\/p>\n The Future<\/strong><\/p>\n EHRs have made great progress but applications are unlimited.\u00a0 Imagine carrying your entire personal history on your phone. In an emergency, anyone treating you can easily know of your pre-existing conditions, any allergies to medicines etc., and can avoid costly errors. New data that is actively being captured from your wearable device can show up on your doctor\u2019s dashboard if any vitals are out of safe limits.\u00a0 Further information can be incorporated with a \u201cTherable\u201d, therapy delivering wearable.\u00a0 Imagine a diabetic who is wearing a smart watch that can actively monitor and deliver insulin as needed.\u00a0 Hospitals, insurers and consumers all have a role to play in thinking about the applications of digitization on the cost and quality of care during our lives.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Sources<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n [1] http:\/\/reports.weforum.org\/industrial-internet-of-things\/executive-summary\/<\/a><\/p>\n [2] http:\/\/columbiasurgery.org\/heart-transplant\/brief-history-heart-transplantation<\/a><\/p>\n [3] https:\/\/www.healthit.gov\/providers-professionals\/electronic-medical-records-emr<\/a><\/p>\n [4] https:\/\/www.healthit.gov\/sites\/default\/files\/data-brief\/2014HospitalAdoptionDataBrief.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n [5] http:\/\/www.practicefusion.com\/electronic-health-record-ehr\/<\/a><\/p>\n![\"penetration\"](\"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2016\/11\/Penetration.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n