issues and challenges in implementing electronic health records in primary care

2. ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORD
• CONTAINS ALL PERSONAL HEALTH INFORMATION BELONGING TO AN INDIVIDUAL;
• IS ENTERED AND ACCESSED ELECTRONICALLY BY HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS OVER THE PERSON’S LIFETIME;
AND
• EXTENDS BEYOND ACUTE INPATIENT SITUATIONS INCLUDING ALL AMBULATORY CARE SETTINGS AT
WHICH THE PATIENT RECEIVES CARE.

3. ISSUES AND CHALLENGES
• NOT A SIMPLE REPLACEMENT OF THE PAPER RECORD.
• IF IDENTIFIED PROBLEMS ARE NOT ADDRESSED AND REMEDIED PRIOR TO INTRODUCING AN EHR SYSTEM
MERELY AUTOMATING HEALTH RECORD CONTENT AND PROCEDURES MAY PERPETUATE DEFICIENCIES AND NOT
MEET THE EHR GOALS OF THE INSTITUTION/ COUNTRY
• PRIVACY AND CONFIDENTIALITY ISSUES
• ALTHOUGH THE INTRODUCTION OF A FULLY ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORD SYSTEM MAY SEEM FAR OFF IN MANY
HEALTHCARE INSTITUTIONS/COUNTRIES THEY ARE BEING INTRODUCED RAPIDLY IN OTHERS AND THERE IS NO
DOUBT THAT THE FUTURE OF HEALTH INFORMATION MANAGEMENT LIES WITH AUTOMATION AND THE
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION OF INFORMATION REQUIRED FOR PATIENT MANAGEMENT AT ALL LEVELS OF
HEALTHCARE.

4. ISSUES AND CHALLENGES CONT...
• QUALITY CONTROL MEASURES
• CLINICAL DATA ENTRY ISSUES AND LACK OF STANDARD TERMINOLOGY
• STRONG RESISTANCE TO CHANGE BY MANY HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS
• RESISTANCE TO COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY AND LACK OF COMPUTER LITERACY
• ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
• ELECTRICAL WIRING AND SUPPLY OF ELECTRICITY, AMOUNT AND QUALITY OF SPACE NEEDED FOR COMPUTERS,
ETC.

5. ISSUES AND CHALLENGES CONT...
• AVAILABILITY
• TIMELY AND WHETHER INFORMATION WILL BE AVAILABLE ON REQUEST
• ADMINISTRATION SUPPORT
• INVOLVEMENT OF CLINICIANS AND HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATORS
• LACK OF MAN POWER

6. THANK YOU
• REFERECE
• ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORD MANUAL FOR DEVELOPING COUNTRIES -
HTTP://WWW.WPRO.WHO.INT/PUBLICATIONS/DOCS/EHRMANUAL.PDF