2. What are electronic health records?
How do electronic health records work?
Who uses electronic health records?
What are the benefits to electronic health records?
Why every medical centre and hospitals should use
EHR’s.
Disadvantages to electronic health records.
Topics to be covered
3. What are electronic
health records?
“An electronic health record (EHR) is a digital version of a patient’s
paper chart” (Electronic Health Records: The Basics, n.d.) that can
be accessed on an electronic device. EHR’s can only be accessed by
authorized users which keeps patients at ease that their information
isn’t going to get out into the hands of others. These electronic health
records contain the patients immunization dates, test results, x-rays,
images, diagnoses, current and previous medications, history, family
history, treatment plans, allergies, and current conditions. These
records can be accessed anytime and anywhere, this makes it easy
for health care providers to be provided with the necessary
information to treat the client properly and more effectively.
4. Example of what an Electronic Health
Record might look like
Source: Adapted from a Canada Health Infoway Inc. illustration.
5. How electronic health
records work?
Electronic records are health records that are stored in
electronic databases that are accessed via internet or a
certain software system. Companies have developed a
number of different software systems to keep up with the
advancing demands of electronic health records. Since these
health records are now easily accessible via the internet or
stored on clouds doctors can send other doctors the patients
records so that they can diagnose or get another opinion on
something. This advancement has made doctors jobs easier
as well as other health care practitioners.
6. Who uses electronic
health records?
Doctors
Nurses
Physiotherapists
Massage therapists
Dentist
Pharmacist
laboratories
7. Figure 1. Percentage of office-based physicians with EHR systems: United States, 2001–2013
In 2013, 78% of office-based physicians used any type of electronic
health record (EHR) system, up from 18% in 2001.
8. What are the benefits to
electronic health
records?“One of the key features of an EHR is that health information can be created and managed by
authorized providers in a digital format capable of being shared with other providers across more
than one health care organization” (Electronic Health Records: The Basics, n.d.).
Easily accessible
Can be added to instantly
Transferred easily from one health care provider to the next
Cloud based systems so data will never be lost
Information is protected from environmental damage, loss, theft or damage
improve patient care
Cost efficient “Two studies commissioned by Infoway have indicated that, once they are in
place, EHRs will save an estimated $6 billion each year ( Electronic Health Records in
Canada. n.d.)”.
Patient participation
effective displays of ultrasounds, X-rays, and MRI scans
9. Why every medical centre and
hospitals should use electronic
health records
pharmacy resources to improve quality of medication reconciliation
Improve patient education
Reduce technical and financial barriers to communication of medication list and
medication compliance at home
electronic communication increases the reliability of communication with primary care
physicians
Doctors can communicate with other physicians
Each health care provider can access what other medical care patients have had in order
to give them the ultimate care
More efficient for everyone involved
Less time wasted in patient visits
10. Disadvantages to
electronic health records
Staff and doctors need training to use electronic health records
Hacking off the system could occur
Financial issues
loss of revenue associated with temporary loss of productivity
Time spent converting paper charts to electronic ones
Hardware needs to be replaced and software needs constant updates
Risk of patient violations
Unintentional errors put in to the EHR
Lack of end-user training
11. Conclusion
Electronic health records have become quite common in medical
offices, hospitals, and other health care providers clinics. They have
made records accessible by the click of button and sharing clients
records with other health care providers easier than ever. View previous
x-rays, ultrasounds and other imaging convenient for the view to see.
Having records in electronic versions has been a huge break through
but has also had its hang ups. The biggest pro to electronic health
records is that they save time and make viewing the records easier for
all health care providers. The biggest disadvantage to electronic health
records is the training involved in teaching the end-users how to use the
software. This requires time and lost revenue for a short period of time.
In summary electronic health records are an excellent technology that
has come into play making health care providers jobs easier and giving
the best client based care possible.
12. References
HealthIT.gov. (n.d.). Retrieved April 9, 2015, from http://www.healthit.gov/providers-professionals/faqs/what-electronic-
health-record-ehr
(2014, January 17). Retrieved April 9, 2015, from http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db143.htm
(n.d.). Retrieved April 9, 2015, from http://www.oag-bvg.gc.ca/internet/docs/parl_oag_201004_07_e.pdf
How Do EHR Systems Work? (n.d.). Retrieved April 9, 2015, from http://healthcare.adsc.com/blog/bid/195876/How-Do-
EHR-Systems-Work
Menachemi, N., & Collum, T. (n.d.). Benefits and drawbacks of electronic health record systems. Retrieved April 9, 2015,
from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3270933/
