The Effective Execution of Electronic Medical Record - Article Example

? Lesson 5.3 Discussion Forum Electronic Medical Record (EMR) enhances the aspect of clinical care and offers results as well as valuable information for diverse researches. It facilitates physicians to gain enhanced degree of information regarding the patients which further aids the doctors to make available a proper form of treatment to the patient. It is known to engage minimum time in recording information pertaining to the patients. The data stored in an EMR is considered to be a legal documentation. However, there is also known to exist a few ethical dilemmas regarding the discretion of the health as well as personal information of the concerned patients. Certain definite steps are required to be pursued for the purpose of successful implementation of the relevant process of EMR. It offers significant information related to diverse eruption of diseases and their treatment throughout the entire nation. Introduction In the past, physicians and medical staff used to record the details of patients in papers. Presently, maintaining particulars of patients through papers has been changed to electronic method of recording. This is commonly conducted through Electronic Medical Record (EMR). It is believed that automated or computerized way of medical documentation will prove to be an apposite method for synchronizing as well as enhancing the healthcare related services delivered to the patients. EMR has been observed to bring in a new technological revolution to the healthcare industry. It is considered to be a legal form of record about the details of patients (Boulus, n.d.). Overview of Electronic Medical Record An Electronic Medical Record (EMR) is a process of storing information of the patients with the assistance of computers. It comprises all the basic information that is supposed to be required for treating as well as nursing the patients. It stores information about the patients which entails both clinical as well as demographic information for future references (Garets & Davis, 2006). It is beneficial to have an EMR in a medical facility as it helps in accessing information from any computer. It involves less time as information can be updated and retrieved speedily rather than keeping records in papers. Therefore, it can be stated that it is a safe medium of storing information of the patients quickly. It provides valuable information about a patient to the doctor at any time for better decision-making as well as for the benefit of a patient. Thus, it creates prospect for doctors to gain a detailed comprehension about a patient through exchanging and sharing information (Shortliffe & Barnett, 2004). The effective execution of EMR includes eight steps which are as follows: Firstly, it needs to be ensured that the accurate form of EMR is chosen at the healthcare centre. It needs to be thoroughly checked that the right technology has been installed by the technicians who are trained and specialized in it and are willing to provide support after installing that software. The concerned EMR service provider should offer it with a guarantee which would assist in protecting the investment of the investor installing this technology (Sappington, 2009). Secondly, selecting and choosing a team leader who has a positive attitude is considered to be the following step. The team leader should be enthusiastic in reminding the staff regarding EMR implementation and its related efficiencies. The predetermined objectives related to the application of the system needs to be made apparent to provide a lucid comprehension of the related expectations to the staff (Sappington, 2009). Thirdly, for structuring a plan regarding the installation of an EMR, a conversation needs to be held with the service provider about the application of the mentioned system and the kind of training that needs to be offered to the staff. The installation of the system should be done in idle hours so that the regular operational process remains uninterrupted. Additionally, training should also be provided by the professionals in order to ensure expertise in terms of operating the system (Sappington, 2009). Fourthly, EMR software should be purchased from a reputed and well-known manufacturer who would provide it with warranties (Sappington, 2009). Fifthly, a proper investment needs to be made for the purpose of training the staff. This is supposed to be quite an imperative step in the process of EMR implementation. Training is deemed to be vital as it would help the staff to understand the characteristics and functioning of the software. The EMR provider needs to serve the basic information and resources required for training the staff (Sappington, 2009). Sixthly, a plan needs to be designed regarding the amount of paper records to be scanned for storing in the system and the quantity to be shredded. This decision varies across states as per rules as well as regulations. The EMR provider helps in ascertaining the precise obtainable paper records to be scanned and retained in the system (Sappington, 2009). Seventhly, selecting and choosing an EMR provider who offers onsite as well as preventative support is vital. It is really important to select a vendor who provides support 24x7. It is also essential to ask for preventative support packages from the provider which would aid in solving the issues and complexities related to the system before it crops up while using the defensive software (Sappington, 2009). Lastly, selecting an EMR provider is learnt to depend on various factors and decisions such as, the degree of assistance offered by the provider for successful execution of the technology along with the extent of concern regarding the made investment, truthfulness regarding the expenses and the longevity of the purchased EMR system. Therefore, all these steps should be followed for ensuring the application of a satisfactory EMR system (Sappington, 2009). Decision Related To Determination of the Definitive Content and Its Validity Proper and effective EMR system aids in providing information related to certain poisonings as well as infections or illness which can prove to be a threat to the entire population in a best possible way than the local physicians. The data recorded in an EMR is considered to be more exact which implies that there are chances of fewer errors. It helps in tracking and searching the profile of a patient in bare minimum time. Laws have been formulated or established with methodical as well as technological standards to preserve confidentiality in relation to the patients’ details and share the records only when notifications are received from medical authorities. Therefore, the recorded data in an EMR is considered to be a valid legal document (Humpage, 2010). Physicians or doctors are offered with the information and details about patients at any point of time and from any geographical location through an EMR. EMR also presents information about the outburst of any disease in no time to the entire country. It even assists in ascertaining the outcome of various researches carried out by large healthcare organizations (MDS Medical, 2012). Therefore, an EMR is regarded to be more effective and adequate in offering information and details related to medical problems throughout the nation rather than solely depending on the local physicians. The decision of sending and establishing the definitive content in relation to the required information should not be left entirely on the physician as they might not possess the competence to determine the extent of information that needs to be revealed. The physicians are also not believed to possess or retain all the related information regarding a patient as they are required to deal with several patients in a single day. Therefore, the determination of the definitive content of the information needs to be made with a combined effort from the technical authorities, nurses, physicians and the management of the concerned healthcare organizations. Ethical Implications EMR provides numerous benefits and it is also known to be concerned about the ethical viewpoint of patients. Patients may be alarmed regarding the individuals accessing their health and personal information. Healthcare organizations are becoming increasingly apprehensive about the safety of the personal information of patients. Therefore, the employees of the clinics or hospitals are only assigned to access the amount of information which they need to use. Patients are also authorized to restrict or block others from availing certain information in the EMR. Patients are also bothered about the confidentiality of the health related information, so passwords as well as logout time are provided for the safety of their detailed information (Yoder-Wise, 2010; Lo, 2006). Conclusion EMR is a fresh technology which helps in storing and maintaining information about patients in the healthcare organizations. It is a proficient system which trims down the engagement of excessive time and produces quick reports and information to the doctors or physicians. Once this system is installed in the organizations, it starts to deliver its capabilities and results for the relevant organization and focuses on sharing patients’ information among the entire healthcare centers. It enables doctors and physicians to gain a superior observation regarding the patient details for their proper treatment. It also helps in alerting the entire nation about the possible threats of certain disease outbreak and steps required for its precautions. References Boulus, N. (n.d.). Information about the Electronic medical record. Retrieved from http://www.sfu.ca/act4hlth/pub/misc/MidMain_about%20emr.pdf Garets, D., & Davis, M. (2006). Electronic medical records vs. electronic health records: Yes, there is a difference. HIMSS Analytics, pp. 1-14. Humpage, S. D. (2010). Benefits and costs of electronic medical records. Inter-American Development Bank, pp. 1-38. Lo, B. (2006). Professionalism in the age of computerized medical records. Southern Medical Association 47(12), pp.1018-1022. MDS Medical. (2012). Benefits of electronic medical records. Retrieved from http://www.mdsmedicalsoftware.com/benefits-electronic-medical-records.php Sappington, M. (2009). Eight steps for a successful EMR implementation. EHR Scope, LLC, pp. 149-150. Shortliffe, E. H., & Barnett, G. O. (2004). Medical data: Their acquisition, storage and use. James Z. Wang Research Group, pp. 45-82. Yoder-Wise, P. S. (2010). Leading and managing in nursing. United States: Elsevier Mosby. Read More