The adoption of Health Information Technology, such as EHR is revolutionizing the healthcare delivery as it helps avoid many preventable medical errors and the health record can be accessed anytime from anywhere and anytime by the authorized users. However, some providers still argue that the time spent on entering the information in the EHR could be spent with the patient while entering and viewing the health information on the computers makes the patients feel that they are are not given the personal attention that used to be during the paper medical record era.
As Project Manager of EHR implementation, how would you convince the providers (Clinicians) that their this assumption is untrue and that it actually adds to the value of healthcare delivery?
Change Management
EHR is the electronic health record, it’s the digital form of the patients’ record chart. This system avails information on a real-time scale and makes it accessible to the authorized personnel. Many clinicians have assumptions that the EHR system does not give personal attention to patients like in paper era, but the truth is that it actually adds value to medical health delivery in that: it provides accurate, real-time and comprehensive information about the patient since it also includes not only the medical prescription but also the patient’s medical history. It allows quick access of the reports since all are in digital format, this leads to improved coordination hence providing efficient health care.
It helps the medical providers to diagnose effectively, reducing medical errors and providing safer care, since this information contains medication, treatment plans, immunization dates, allergies, and laboratory test results thus enhancing health care delivery. The system also enhances the privacy and security of patient’s data, since it’s only accessible to the patient and the authorized personnel. It also reduces medical costs incurred, this is achievable since there are reduced paper works, all data are electronically inputted and available to all departments and also, because there is reduced duplication of testing since all the previous test records are available for examination.
It helps the clinicians to make better medical decisions since it allows and enables them to integrate the patients’ medical report from different sources. This leads to building in trust between patient and physician since the medical prescription is reliable. Most physicians writing are illegible but with this system, it leads to legible medical reports and complete documents about the patients’ medical history. The physician can also explain the various reports to the patient improving the patient-physician interaction and communication.
References
Chouffani, R. (2018, September). The importance of EHR tools in today’s healthcare industry. Retrieved from https://searchhealthit.techtarget.com/feature/The-importance-of-EHR-tools-in-todays-healthcare-industry
Monica, K. (2017, June 8). Could Automation Solve the Healthcare Industry’s EHR Problem? Retrieved from https://ehrintelligence.com/news/could-automation-solve-the-healthcare-industrys-ehr-problem
Loria, G. (n.d.). EHR vs EMR – What’s the Difference? Retrieved from https://www.softwareadvice.com/resources/ehr-vs-emr-whats-difference/
