electronic health record. nursing health informatics

2. What is an electronic health record
(EHR)?
An electronic health record (EHR) is a digital version of
a patient’s paper chart. EHRs are real-time, patient-
centered records that make information available
instantly and securely to authorized users. While an
EHR does contain the medical and treatment histories
of patients, an EHR system is built to go beyond
standard clinical data collected in a provider’s office
and can be inclusive of a broader view of a patient’s
care.

3. EHRs are a vital part of health IT
and can:
– Contain a patient’s medical history, diagnoses,
medications, treatment plans, immunization dates,
allergies, radiology images, and laboratory and test
results
– Allow access to evidence-based tools that providers can
use to make decisions about a patient’s care
– Automate and streamline provider workflow

4. 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. EHRs are built to share information with
other health care providers and organizations – such as
laboratories, specialists, medical imaging facilities,
pharmacies, emergency facilities, and school and
workplace clinics – so they contain information from all
clinicians involved in a patient’s care.

5. Benefits of an EHR can be
categorized as follows:

6. 1. Potential Productivity and
Financial Improvement
– Fewer chart pulls
Improved efficiency of handling telephone messages and
medication refills
Improved billing
Reduced transcription costs
Increased formulary compliance and clearer prescriptions leading
to fewer pharmacy call backs
Improved coding of visits

7. 2. Quality of Care Improvement
– Easier preventive care leading to increased preventive
care services
Point-of-care decision support
Rapid and remote access to patient information
Easier chronic disease management
Integration of evidence-based clinical guidelines

8. 3. Job Satisfaction Improvement
– Fewer repetitive, tedious tasks
Less "chart chasing"
Improved intra-office communication
Access to patient information while on-call or at the
hospital
Easier compliance with regulations
Demonstrable high-quality care

9. 4. Customer Satisfaction
Improvement
– Quick access to their records
Reduced turn-around time for telephone messages and
medication refills
A more efficient office leads to improved care access for
patients
Improved continuity of care (fewer visits without the
chart)
Improved delivery of patient education materials

10. END
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