EHR

EHR

EHR

The Transition From Paper-Based Health Records to Electronic Health Records (EHR) and The Effects of These Changes Have on Cost, Quality, and Access.

Adelina Benjamin-Johnson

School of Graduate and Professional Studies, BSBA / BSHC / BSIS / BSOM

Washington Adventist University, Takoma Park Maryland

May 12, 2010

Washington Adventist University

Health Care / Business Administration / Information Systems

Name: Adelina Benjamin-Johnson

Address: 2718 Neman Court Bowie Md. 20716

Phone: (301) 272-7583

Email: adelina_01@hotmail.com

Project Title:

The Transition from Paper-Based Health Records to Electronic Health Records (EHR) and the Effects of These Changes on Cost, Quality, and Access.

Project Description:

The United States healthcare system is currently undergoing many changes. Some of these changes are currently being debated by the legislature; however one profound transition that is already in play is the trend of converting paper-based medical records into electronic-based ones. My project seeks to delve into the potential advantages of computer-based health records and the new role they play in providing quality care when a patient needs it most.

Table of Contents

Preface5

1.1Definition of Electronic Health Records7

1.2History of EHR7

1.3Components of EHR8

1.4Benefits of Electronic Health Records12

1.5Adopting EHR15

1.6Downsides of EHR17

2.0 Role of the Healthcare Administrator / Implementer21

2.1 Use of EHR in Taiwan (Fully integrated System)24

Discussion33

Improvements from EHRs41

Costs of EHRs42

What Are You Looking for?44

Vendor Certification46

Computerized Physician Order Entry47

Preparing for Implementation50

From “Go-Live” Onward53

Conclusion54

References55

Time Log58

Preface

The past 35 years have yielded tremendous growth in scientific knowledge and this has helped revolutionize medical and surgical treatments. The patterns of disease have therefore also changed, and the medical records of individual patients now often relate to illnesses which last for many years and may be treated at different times, even within one hospital, by clinicians of various specialties. This has caused a communications barrier, which must, as a matter of urgency, be broken. One of the most serious obstacles to the efficient practice of clinical medicine today, both within and outside hospital, is the difficulty of rapid and accurate communication of known facts about individual patients between one healthcare provider and another. Electronic Health Records (EHR) can help break this barrier and give clinicians the added information needed to treat a patient in the most efficient and effective method possible. In addition to ascertaining the pros and cons of the transition to computer-based medical records, I would also like to highlight the advantages of EHR with respect to lowering costs, improving quality, and increasing access to the records for the patient and healthcare provider. My early hypothesis concerning this transition is tri-pronged. First; that electronic medical records will have no negative effects on the management of patients' private information, second, there will be significant savings of both direct and indirect costs associated with the implementation of EHR, lastly, the increased access to a patients' medical record will aid healthcare providers in providing care when time is of the essence, and it will also reduce the duplication of services.

The Transition from Paper-Based Health Records to Electronic Health Records (EHR) and the Effects of These Changes on Cost, Quality, and Access.

Introduction

The United States healthcare system is currently undergoing many ...