The document discusses the electronic health record (EHR) and its benefits. An EHR centralizes a patient's medical records including diagnostic tests and treatment history and allows any healthcare provider secure access to this information. This ensures providers have complete information to aid in diagnosis and treatment. EHRs help reduce medical errors, streamline care, and empower patients by allowing some to access and contribute to their own records online. While privacy is a concern, laws aim to protect sensitive health information and only grant access to authorized individuals.

1. EMPOWERING PATIENT &
THE ELECTRONIC
FAMILY
HEALTH RECORD
(EHR) BY: MICHAELINA ALEXANDER

2. WHAT IS AN EHR?
 Instantly communicates all centralized records on a
patient to any health care provider in a secure and
confidential manner.(Congressman Tim Murphy,2006)
 It is inclusive of medical history ,diagnostic tests(e.g.X-
rays,CT scans, video copies of surgery, ultra-sounds
and laboratory treatments)are immediately shared with
physicians, consultants and health care specialist.
(Congressman Tim Murphy,2006
 It performs immediate checks to ensure proper
diagnostic questions are asked and ensures providers
and patients follow up on treatments(e.g.prescriptions
and follow up appointments) .(Congressman Tim Murphy,2006)

3. WHY AN EHR?
 Patients records are normally within many locations such as
hospitals and doctors offices ensuing the probability of lost or
unretrieved important medical records. (Congressman Tim
Murphy,2006)
 Obtaining paper medical records is time consuming
particularly in cases of emergency cases. (Congressman Tim
Murphy,2006)
 Important data is frequently omitted or distorted due to
patients providing incomplete medical histories. (congressman
Tim Murphy,2006)
 Data Unavailable to physicians may complicate diagnostic
tests. (Congressman Tim Murphy,2006)
 Many lives and a tremendous amount of money is lost every
year through medical errors . (Congressman Tim Murphy,2006)

4. HOW EHR WORKS?
 As soon as your doctor makes a referral ,all
aspect of patient care are tracked.(congressman Tim
Murphy,2006)
 In order for providers to make appropriate
diagnosis and treatments Patient information is
centralized .(Congressman Tim Murphy,2006)
 Prompts are given to the doctor to check for
specific medical tests based on complaints and
medical findings American Health Quality
Association,(n.d.)
 patient treatments are tracked (including if
prescriptions were filled and that patients
remembered to attend any follow up
appointments).AHQA(n.d.)

5. WHAT ARE THE
ADVANTAGES?
 prevention of unnecessary stress and money loss
caused by multiple examinations. e health
solution:patients(2008)
 Reduced waiting and treatment time . e health
solution:patients(2008)
 Care provided is fast and sometimes at patients
doorstep. e health solution:patients(2008)
 Treatment and follow-up appointments close to patients
home . e health solution:patients(2008)
 Risk reduction for patients by avoiding transportation. e
health solution:patients(2008)
 Possibility of treatment even at inaccessible places e
health solution:patients(2008)
 The risk for of medical errors is reduced.

6. WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES
CONTINUED?
 Patient “self-service and messaging”
 Access to parts of your own medical record American Health
Quality Association(n.d.).
 Refill prescriptions and mail order to home .AHQA (n.d.).
 Request appointments American Health Quality
.AHQA(n.d.).
 Contact and receive advice from a nurse or pharmacist
for non urgent issues .AHQA(n.d.).
 Send messages to your physician about non urgent
issues .AHQA(n.d.).

7. PRIVACY ISSUES?
 Access by others to your personal health information in the
EHR will depend on their role in your care, they may have
access to all or some .e.g. pharmacist will only have access
to medication information .Your Privacy and Your Electronic Health
Record(n.d.).
 A disclosure directive an instruction as to who can see you
information can be attached to your EHR and can only be
removed in the case of an emergency. Your Privacy and Your
Electronic Health Record(n.d.).
 Your information is password protected as instructed by law
in order to prevent confidentiality issues Your Privacy and Your
Electronic Health Record(n.d.).
 The law states your health care provider will have access
only to the information necessary to provide you with care.
Your Privacy and Your Electronic Health Record(n.d.).

8. REFERENCES
 eHealth Solution: Patients(2008)Potential advantages for the patient Retrieved from
http://www.ehealthsolution.com/patients.aspx
 Your Privacy and your Electronic Health Record (n.d.).The Law Foundation of British
Colombia Record(Brochure).Retrieved from www.healthinformationprivacybc.ca
 congressman Tim Murphy:2006:RX:Healthcare FYI#45(n.d.).Retrieved from
http://murphy.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=48&parentid=24siontree=23,24,48&ile
mid=384
 American health Quality Association.(n.d.).Retrieved from
http://www.ahaqa.org/pub/uploads/Murphy_Care_FYI_2a.doc