ANSWER
Electronic Health Record: An Application of Informatics (EHR)
An explanation of the technology
An authorised healthcare provider’s real-time digital record of a patient’s medical history is called an Electronic Health Record (EHR). Comprehensive patient data, such as medical history, diagnoses, prescriptions, dates of vaccinations, lab results, imaging, and treatment plans, can be stored in EHR systems. EHRs are frequently utilised in clinics, hospitals, and outpatient settings to enable smooth collaboration and communication between medical staff.
Benefits of EHR Better Patient Care: EHRs lower the possibility of medical errors by improving the accessibility and accuracy of patient data. Real-time patient status updates are available to providers, facilitating prompt and well-informed decision-making.
Streamlined Workflows: By eliminating the need for paper records, EHRs simplify administrative and documentation duties. Clinicians can concentrate on patient care with the aid of features like automated alerts and reminders.
Interoperability: EHR systems make it easier for healthcare organisations to share information, which enhances care coordination, particularly for patients who see several providers.
Data analytics: EHRs help with disease monitoring, population health management, and quality improvement projects by offering insightful data.
Possible Adverse Repercussions
Risks to privacy and security: Because EHR systems hold private patient data, they are vulnerable to cyberattacks. Data breaches could jeopardise patient faith in the healthcare system and expose people to identity theft.
Ethical Issues: Healthcare providers could unintentionally obtain or abuse patient data. For instance, it is unethical to look for irrelevant information outside of the area of treatment.
Increased Provider Burnout: Physician burnout and exhaustion can be exacerbated by the intricacy of EHR systems and the amount of time needed for paperwork, which takes away from patient contacts.
Interoperability Issues: Although EHRs are meant to facilitate smooth communication, data silos caused by disparities in systems and a lack of standardisation might reduce their usefulness.
In conclusion
One revolutionary piece of healthcare technology that has improved patient outcomes, streamlined processes, and made population health management possible is the electronic health record. To lessen any potential bad effects, it needs strong privacy protections, moral guidelines, and continuous user assistance. Addressing these issues is crucial to optimising the advantages of EHRs while preserving patient rights and provider welfare as healthcare continues to change.
QUESTION Select one informatics application or healthcare technology that is used in your practice setting or is of interest to you (ex: electronic medical record, health care app, early warning system, ePrescribing, etc). Please describe the application/techology and discuss the benefits of this, as well as the potential negative consequences, such as ethical or privacy issues.