Electronic Medical Records, Essay Example

The ease and simplicity of life that is created by the use of information technology is not always indicative of the implementation and inner workings of the application itself. Technology is ever changing and with these changes come increased productivity as well as significant challenges. Since technology is a critical part of organizational strategy, organizational development and competitive edge, most businesses do not have a choice as to whether or not to implement technology – it often becomes the most integral part of the business.

Electronic Medical Records (EMR) is a clinical decision support system which provides expedient access to patient information. The primary purpose of Electronic Medical Records is to provide the immediate retrieval of patient medical records without waiting for an information transfer via paper, phone or other alternative sources of transmission. By using EMRs, physicians and nurses are able to store, retrieve and modify patient information immediately. This allows patients the option to visit a different physician without having to wait for their information to transfer. By using Electronic Medical Records, healthcare organizations can increase patient safety, enhance quality of treatment, improve patient outcomes and minimize medical errors.

Although a paper-based system is the most common and often preferred method of maintaining and transferring patient data, the 1996 Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) mandates that healthcare organizations take careful measures to protect the privacy and security of patient information (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services). The continued use of a paper process cannot always guarantee this security; however, some researchers now question whether the ease of use and easy access of Electronic Medical Records may also put the patient’s privacy at risk (Ramunni).

References

Ramunni, Kate. Griffin Hospital reports breach of dozens of patient medical records. N.p.: n.p., 2010. N. pag. Web. 24 May 2011. <http://www.ctpost.com/local/article/Griffin-Hospital-reports-breach-of-dozens-of-427298.php>.

S. Department of Health and Human Services. Health Information Privacy. N.p.: n.p., 2010. N. pag. Web. 24 May 2011. http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/understanding/index.html>.