Electronic_Health_Record

Electronic Health Record 2 Selection and Acquisition Paper for Electronic Health Record The electronic health record is the new wave of healthcare technology. Many organizations is making the conversion over to electronic health record while some hospitals and healthcare organizations transition is slower. The electronic health record(EHR) allows many healthcare professionals to work in a more productive environment that allow for the electronic health record to be accessed by such professionals like doctors, nurses, support staff, and administrative personnel within healthcare organizations. The EHR makes the organization function more easily, save money, and allows the work flow to be more efficient. The electronic health record system gives promise to the healthcare system by addressing two of the most critical issues facing healthcare and these issues are: 1. Controlling the skyrocketing costs. 2. Improving the quality of care. The hardships of these two issues are felt across the board ranging from patients, employers, and providers. “Reengineering the wobbly parts of this dysfunctional system cannot be accomplished without a vitally important new tool: computerized physician support, including a comprehensive automated medical record (Overcoming Barriers to EHR Adoption, 2006).” The electronic health record is a digital collection of the patient’s medical history that includes such information as diagnosed medical conditions, prescribed medications, vital signs, immunizations, lab results, and other patient information such as height, weight, and age. Within the EHR the following functions can be identified within the electronic functions can be identified within the electronic medical record: Electronic Health Record 3 1. Order entry/ order management includes clinical test, consults, and medications. 2. Results management allows physicians to have access to patient’s records within the hospital or health system. 3. Electronic health information lets electronic exchange of clinical data occur within the healthcare team and its care partners. 4. Administration process deals with billing, scheduling, resource management, and other administrative functions. 5. Electronic Connectivity lets electronic exchange of clinical data occur within the healthcare team and its care partners. 6. Clinical decision supports uses computerized tools that assist with such things as diagnosis and disease management. 7. Patient access allows patients to have access to their individual health records. Healthcare systems, hospitals, physician offices, and insurance companies would purchase the EHR system to reduce overall healthcare costs. Once the system is purchased then the healthcare organizations would see a reduction in duplication of records, reducing errors found in the medical chart, avoid fraudulent claims that occur and open the line of communication between healthcare systems and organizations. Before any EHR system can be purchased for a healthcare organization or hospital the facility must access its needs of a new electronic health system and why should the organization consider such a need for new IT equipment and software. In the process of making such a determination and implementation of a new EHR system a few steps must be taken as a plan of action. Electronic Health Record 4 Planning is the first step a organization must take. This sets a clear vision of what the organization desires to reach by identifying key objectives. The objectives for healthcare organization must achievable and produce an outcome with measurable results. To reach measurable outcomes a project team with knowledgeable team leader should be set up. The project leader will have extensive information on healthcare organizations and on electronic healthcare systems. The project manager will oversee the entire planning process and help out and provide input to other as needed. Planning helps organizations deal with such issues as costs, change management, work flow, connectivity, and software / hard ware issues. Workflow and change management will allow healthcare organizations to prioritize practice needs and wants. This need could be reflected by the number of staff members affected, severity of financial risks involves, and the overall impact on the quality of clinical care given to patients. Discussion with staff on current problems and safety concerns should be a priority in work environment as well. Communication should be effective and clearly incorporated with the vision and objectives for the entire organization. When defining needs make sure it includes the entire organization. There costs associated with the purchase of a new electronic medical record system. These costs can soar well into the millions of dollars range quickly to make the healthcare organization EHR ready. Many organizations would have to set aside a budget and also get funding by means of grants from the government to aide and support the organization mission set forth. Once the system is in place at healthcare organizations the Electronic Health Record 5 financial return has created a significant barrier. Funding and ROI are concerns for all hospitals alike whether it’s larger or small in size. Regulations implications that government should provide grant funding facilitate developments of national standards and create code sets that are universal. Other things that the government should include in regulations are providing payment incentives, accelerate investments in regional networks, simplify the Medicare payment system and provide tax incentives. The electronic health record faces many barriers that create obstacles once the EHR system is in place for healthcare organizations. Some the barriers include: 1. Lack of consistent national informational standards and code sets. 2. Lack of funding. 3. Growing concern over physician usage. 4. Lack of staff resources. 5. Lack of existing. 6. Concern about payer adoption. 7. Insufficent financial return. 8. Privacy concerns. Fraud and waste issues happen all over the healthcare industry, but dealing with electronic health record it can happen from workers in healthcare entities all the way down to physician offices. It can happen on all levels from support staff to administration no one is victim free from this. Patients are being charged for services and goods that they are not receiving. This results in false claims that happen each year. Other things include using patient’s names, social Electronic Health Record 6 security numbers, and creating fictions medical records using patient’s identity. This type of crime can affect patients for years. Security and Privacy issues that healthcare companies face with the transition of electronic healthcare records: Healthcare organizations must periodically review and refine the definition of the legal health records. Many patients want to have control over their health record by contributing information into their personal health record. The EHR vendor must be helpful, but the electronic system should not determine health information policy issues. Healthcare organization must address issues relating to version control and release to the system. Successful workflows will depend upon how the electronic health record is transitioned into the company. Auditing access to health information is an IT and HIM function. The implementation of a new electronic heath system will occur in several stages. Stage 1 will be the assessment stage which will deal with practice readiness assessment, practice profile such as IT components needed. The IT team can perform an assessment of the staff to see where there basic computer skills are. Selection of a project team with a project manager and begin to hold regular meeting with staff. Stage 2 would deal with planning by reviewing such things as practice readiness assessment, practice profile concerning IT issues, and reviewing the office staff skills set. Stage 2 also will include the goals set forth for the EHR goals. Stage 3 defines the system requirements for the electronic health record system. This is the time that the project team will develop EHR selection process and goals that fit the mission and values of the company. Electronic Health Record 7 The project team will also evaluate the EHR vendors and make a selection of an electronic health record system. Stage 4 deals with implementation this is the time that the project team will create an plan and timetable with EHR vendor. The EHR implementation begins with installation of hardware and software. The system test happens during stage 4. Staff training beginnings and once everyone is trained properly then the electronic health record is put into use. Stage 5 is the evaluation period to see how the staff has adapted to the use of the new electronic heath record system and how has workflows improved as staff becomes more efficient with advancements within the system. Stage 6 allows for improvement to the system to focuses on issues of patient care, quality improvement, and patient self management. Electronic Health Record 8 References www.eheathiniative.org/eRx/clinicansNeeds.mspx Fraud fighting plan for EHR data has privacy experts up in arms. (2007, December). Contemporary OB/GYN. Mearian, L (2009, February). Cost of Obama E- Health Plan Could Reach 100B. Computerworld, 43(5), 12-14. Overcoming Barriers to Electronic Health Record Adoption.(2006, February). www.hfma.org