Electronic Health Record Functions in Acute Care Settings, Thesis of Community Health

Download Electronic Health Record Functions in Acute Care Settings and more Thesis Community Health in PDF only on Docsity! C802 Task 1: EHR Functions A.  List four electronic health record (EHR) functions needed by clinical end-users in the acute care setting. 1.  Describe how each EHR function listed in part A may be used.   Clinical end-users in acute care settings use several applications of an Electronic Health Record (EHR) on a daily basis. Four essential functions are – Computerized Physician Order Entry (CPOE), Clinician Decision Support (CDS), Point of Care (POC) technology, and Electronic Medication Administration Record (EMAR) (Amataykul). The combined use of these applications aids in documentation accuracy, and accelerated decision making and care. One of the most important applications needed by clinical end-user in the acute care setting would be CPOE. CPOE offers copious benefits when relating to overall cost, efficiency and continuing support (Amataykul). CPOE allows clinicians to gather and record crucial medical documentation in a HIPAA (Health insurance and Accountability Act) secure environment worldwide. CDS provides reminders, context-sensitive order sets and templates (Amataykul). In addition, CDS can prevent errors in order entry which could have negative impacts on the patient. CDS can theoretically improve efficiency, reduce costs and reduce patient inconvenience. . In reality, CDS can tackle all of these capacities at the same time. In the hasty atmosphere of acute care, this functionality can provide indispensable support to clinicians to provide the best after-effect for patients. POC technology allows clinicians to chart assessments, progress notes, etcetera (Amataykul). The most important characteristic of POC technology is that it is present at the bedside. POC technology is utilized to facilitate and improve interaction between clinicians and patients which leads to better healthcare outcomes. POC devices have outstanding adaptability, enabling medical staff to address their needs in the most effective way. Electronic Medication Administration Record (EMAR) acts as a medium from the pharmacy to the clinician community and from the clinician community to the pharmacy. When constructed for portable capabilities, EMARs can permit direct entry processing in multiple care settings. If the EMAR is designed to have bar code functionality it could offer many additional possibilities. These combined elements can help to ensure the five right of medical administration are maintained which in turns helps to ensure patient safety in the acute care environment (Amataykul). A2.  Discuss one strategy that might be used when introducing new technology to enable it to integrate with old technology in the acute care setting. On strategy that might be used when introducing new technology is to utilize a system integrator. This person or team will work with both systems to ensure each is communicating with the other HIE provides a number of benefits to both patients and providers which helps healthcare work toward its goal of interoperability in the transition to value-based care. Some of these benefits include fewer errors, fewer duplicate tests, improved efficiency and better care coordination (Berry, 2013). HIE can also enhance patient care by increasing patient outreach and creating increased response to individuals that are displaced due to natural disasters. C2.  Describe current challenges preventing more widespread implementation of health information exchanges. Challenges of preventing more widespread implementation of HIE include funding and sustainability, provider adoption, and privacy and concerns (Berry, 2013). Adding to the task of employing privacy and security policies and procedures is the diversity of opinions and definitions about privacy and confidentiality. Privacy becomes tough to explain in HIE networks. Privacy has been described as” notoriously vague, ambiguous and controversial term that embraces a confusing knot of problems, tensions, rights, and duties” (Rhode, 2006). D.  Explain three factors an organization .should consider when providing a personal health record to patients. One factor to be considered when providing a person health record (PHR) to patients is the PHR provider. There are numerous options when choosing a PHR provider. A consumer’s employer, provider or insurer may offer them a PHR with little to no cost (AHIMA Personal Health Record Practice Council., 2006). Consumers also have the option to select a vendor services that are online vs. a software application. Whichever is chose, the consumer should always review and understand the advantages and disadvantages of each provider. Another factor to be considered is the type of PHR that would be the most beneficial to the patient and providers. Electronic records can be stored via a software application on a personal computer or thought an internet-based service (AHIMA Personal Health Record Practice Council., 2006). The chief difference in the format is the accessibility in which they can be revised and preserved. Another difference is the availability- how easy can clients make them assessable to their providers. This leads us to a third factor – Computer and health literacy. Computer and health literacy can influence the successful use the PHR. PHR usage has a positive influence on doctor/patient relationships . In addition, it “improves their ability to navigate the health system” (Day K, 2012). Computer and health literacy are vital, in terms of PHR, as it provides transparency on items such medications, laboratory results and diagnoses. D1.  Discuss three qualities of a personal health record that should be determined before its adoption.  Privacy, Access and Control- The PHR should be rigorously controlled by the individual but also available of access in case of an emergency (Amataykul).  Interoperability- The PHR have reliable exchange with other authorized individuals. Currently the meaningful use (MU) obligations could be a hurdle as providers deem PHR is necessary. This could cause the patients having multiple PHR that do not interconnect.  Practicality- The PHR should practical in aiding individual decision making by the patient and their clinicians Works Cited AHIMA Personal Health Record Practice Council. (2006). Helping Consumers Select PHRs: Questions and Considerations for Navigating an Emerging Market. Journal of AHIMA 77, no.10 , 50-56. Amataykul, M. K. (n.d.). Health IT and EHRs , Principals and Practice 6th Edition. Berry, K. (2013). HIE Quality Check. AHIMA 84, no.2, 28-32. Retrieved from Journal of AHIMA: https://library.ahima.org/doc?oid=106195#.X0h0S9NKhhE Day K, G. Y. (2012). Influencing factors for adopting personal health record (PHR). Stud Health Technol Inform, 178;39-44. Retrieved from Stud Health Technol Inform: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22797017/ Haenke, B. a. (2008, February). Clinical Data Exchange Models Matching HIE Goals with IT Foundations. Retrieved from Just Associates: https://www.justassociates.com/application/files/1014/9124/7589/Clinical_Data_Exchang e_Models_2-08.pdf Health IT. (2019, Sept 10). What is electronic prescribing? Retrieved from HelathIT.gov: https://www.healthit.gov/faq/what-electronic-prescribing Rhode, H. B. (2006). Privacy and Security Challenges in HIE: Unique Factors Add New Complexities to Familiar Issues. Journal of AHIMA 77, no.7, 70-71,74.