Electronic Medical Record - Article Example

How does the lack of standards slow the progress of the electronic medical record? I.D. Number: Term and Year Instructor’s NameHow does the lack of standards slow the progress of the electronic medical record?Introduction Due to several critical policy and healthcare issues, US policy makers want to creat and use digitalized or electronic media for the purpose of storing and retrieving medical data storage. This process involves Electronic Medical Records (EMR) that puts in practice computerized techniques and templates extensively.

However, since the computers and software programs are highly adaptable and customizable to the needs of the end users, EMR systems lack standard definitions for universally and legally acceptable templates, formats, forms, medical coding materials, etc. (Himmelstein, Wright, & Woolhandler, 2009; Hoffman, 2009)Discussion Without proper standardized treatment of the electronic material, particularly print outs, which are produced by the EMR software systems such as NextGen, implementation of this technology appears to be highly complex and even unrealistic to some extent.

Certain experts and clinicians have identified some key challenges with EMR. Many clinicians criticize that EMR set the limits of the scope of interaction/dialog between doctor and patient. The system of inducting readymade templates and hectic custom template making processes time and again prove to be insufficient for recording the different types of patients’ complaints. Moreover, if there are no standard set rules for at least the basic construct of an EMR system, state-wise adaptability within the American federal system will be hampered since programmers will not be able to decide which templates and feedback mechanisms must be changed from one state to another (Greenhalgh et al, 2009).

Hence, the international bodies such as EU are trying to implement standards to the EMR systems so that the hard copies of patient records can be used for legal and insurance purposes as well. Without preset and uniform standards, goals such as establishing national level networks of healthcare services and systems cannot be achieved (Hoffman, 2009).Conclusion As early as 2009, Gardner from UBM Tech reported the following:“In a move to streamline medical records, Medicare officials have detailed plans to standardize medical files so they can be stored and delivered in comprehensive electronic files.

Announced by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the proposed standards are aimed at helping release $19 billion in federal stimulus funds. The standards are expected to be developed over a period of several months.” Hence, the delay and difference of opinions regarding EMR implementation cannot be solved without uniformity of at least the presentation tools related to an EMR software program. Next, if standards are set as per the emerging global standards (by collaborating with the bodies like EU and ASEAN), US healthcare might induct the impetus it needs to actually deploy EMR systems throughout the federation.

ReferenceGardner, L. (2009), U.S. Pushes for EMR Standards. Informationweek.com. Retrieved on 11th October, 2012 from http://www.informationweek.com/healthcare/electronic-medical-records/us-pushes-for-emr-standards/222100334. Greenhalgh T., Potts, H.W.W., Wong, G., Bark, P., & Swinglehurst, D. (2009). Tensions and paradoxes in electronic patient record research: A systematic literature review using the meta-narrative method. Milbank Quarterly, 87(4), 729-88.Himmelstein, D.U., Wright, A., & Woolhandler, S. (2009). Hospital Computing and the Costs and Quality of Care: A National Study.

American Journal of Medicine, DOI:10.1016/j.amjmed.2009.09.004. Retrieved on 21st October, 2012 from http://www.ischool.drexel.edu/faculty/ssilverstein/AJM-Himmelstein-Hospital-Computing.pdfHoffman, L. (2009). Implementing electronic medical records. Communications of the ACM - Scratch Programming for All, 52(11), 18-20.