Electronic Health Records Pros

Abstract This paper will provide the pros and cons of changing to an all-electronic health records structure and the data that is entered into the records. It will also provide an example of an innovative system integrated into the Veterans Affairs healthcare system. Electronic health records are an innovative new system that manages patients’ files. It has altered from the old patient info systems into this more arranged and regulated database. It creates a system that connects the data of all patients; from past hospital visits, allergies, treatments and demographics.

EHR’s are crucial to the growth of the medical field; it allows a comprehensive visual of the health care field. A patient is able to handle their individual health information with simplicity and identify any erroneous data. One is able to revise their insurance and payment information with just a few clicks. The innovated EHR allows patients to have some kind of reassurance on the accuracy of the data being seen by their physicians and staff; that their checkups will be without delay because the need of unnecessary paperwork would be out of place.

Medical doctors are capable to enter the system distantly without any slit, which is critical in case of emergencies. The EHR supports evidence-based medicine across the system because it permits clinical census to increase and advance the effectiveness of health methods. EHR systems let patients involve themselves in clinical trials; find doctors that are specified in services that they possibly will necessitate, and let medical students and clinicians situate medical environments that contribute to their trained and educational focuses.

The EHR structures may have its rewards but there are limitations to maintain a system, which is roughly a national catalog for patient data and files. One shortcoming to the system is the cost linked to changing and the financial setback that small clinic could sustain. The value of the EHR ranges from the tools acquirement to make the transition and the cross training necessitated to have doctors and medical staff current with the latest system. A supplementary apprehension for the EHR system is privacy.

The patients are vigilant of information systems that contain their medical files, insurance and billing data such as patient location, economical, and insurance are located in the files, the safety and threats of hackers’ amplifies. Sickbays protect their files by providing and having regular inspection at all time because of legal matters. The Department of Veterans Affairs has refurbished his database to fit the veterans increasing population. Its new structure called VistA permits health care practitioners to review, modify and generate a comprehensive patient record.

The system by design links over 1000 health care facilities connected to the Veterans Affairs nationwide and it encloses specialists’ info and multimedia data. The system also has put forward a space for physician’s orders and worries to be matched for veteran. The Veterans Affairs went through a massive privacy breach in 2006, when a laptop containing veterans’ information was brought home by an employee. The agency had to issue alerts, send letters out to the affected veterans informing them of the possibly breach of their privacy.

The database enclosed the names, social security numbers and dates of birth of as many as 26. 5 million veterans and their families, according to the U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The agency realized the infringement of policy after the member of staff’s house was broken into. The breach was labeled one of the largest security and privacy breach at the time and veterans had to be vigilant about their finances and credit reports. ? References Veteransaffairs. gov Laura Dunlop (2007). Hoffman S, Podgurski, securityfocus. com/news/11393 Retrieved on January 7, 2012