Health Information Management, Research Paper Example

An existing health information management system for the provision of electronic health records requires an effective understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the system and how it has been integrated into current healthcare practice at the organization. It is important to recognize the issues associated with implementing an electronic health records system and the steps that are required to ensure that this implementation process is successful. It is imperative to evaluate the existing system in order to determine if it has been successful and to recognize the limitations of this system and its impact on healthcare practice. The development of a successful system requires the recognition of its flaws and the development of new perspectives and adjustments to improve system growth and change on a gradual basis. The following paragraphs will address these implementation efforts and will consider their relevance in supporting long-term information systems approaches that will lead to successful outcomes at all organizational levels.

Body

The electronic health records system was implemented organization-wide 18 months ago. Under the medium-sized healthcare system, it is important to recognize the value of this system and how it has streamlined health records management and improved healthcare practice as a whole. Since the system was established, it has provided a number of benefits to the organization in terms of cost reduction; however, there continue to be questions regarding privacy, patient and provider risks, and ethical concerns. As a result, the system garners mixed reviews and demonstrates that there are critical issues to consider when implementing these systems to capture the data that is required in a format that is desirable for the current objectives of the organization and its people. The following sections will address these measures in greater detail to emphasize system strengths and weaknesses.

Cost

The costs associated with the electronic health records system have been reduced in the 18 months since the system was established. In essence, the system has reduced the time that is required to review medical records and has improved access to these records, thereby allowing more patients to be seen in the same amount of time (Lorenzi et.al, 2009). These efforts have been instrumental in supporting the growth of the organization and its people to improve outcomes and expand the cost benefits of the system (Terry et.al, 2008). In addition, cost indicators demonstrate that the program encourages efficiency in some areas and provides greater benefits to the organization as a whole (Terry et.al, 2008).

Privacy

The privacy of patient records continues to be a challenge for many providers, as they are concerned with the level of privacy that electronic systems offer so that sensitive data and information is protected at all times. Patients also remain concerned with the security of the system and the transmission of data that is shared across a network platform (Sheridan, 2012). In this context, it is observed that there are significant barriers that remain and that may impact data integrity and privacy for this patient population (Sheridan, 2012). In order to preserve patient trust and commitment, the privacy of their medical records must be preserved at all times and supported by significant strides in system protection (Sheridan, 2012). Privacy is critical to the success of this system and must provide a successful platform to protect the transmission of sensitive patient information across different platforms to appease patients and providers with their concerns in this area.

Patient/Provider Risks

As demonstrated in the evaluation, although there are cost efficiencies in place as a result of this system, there are also greater risks for some patients because random errors in electronic health records may lead to negative outcomes in terms of patient care and wellbeing (Terry, 2012). In this context, it has been observed that the organization thrives upon the utilization of this system to improve its direct care with patients; however, the results demonstrate that significant barriers still remain in the ability to provide successful healthcare outcomes for all patients (Terry, 2012). In addition, some providers have experienced difficulties during the transition process and are unable to fully embrace electronic health records and their benefits for the organization (Carayon et.al, 2009). These gaps have been difficult to overcome and continue to cause problems in achieving the highest possible quality of patient care (Carayon et.al, 2009). Therefore, patient needs and information should not be compromised in the process of attempting to move patients through the system at a faster rate because this could jeopardize their overall health and wellbeing in different ways and limit their progress (Carayon et.al, 2009).

Ethics

The electronic health records system has provided a number of benefits to the organization from a cost reduction point of view. However, questions remain regarding the ethical nature of the system, the type of patient data that is collected, and the ability to maintain ethical responsibility for this information. In general, a system of this nature may lead to the following conditions: “Autonomy is jeopardized when patients’ health data are shared or linked without the patients’ knowledge. Fidelity is breached by the exposure of thousands of patients’ health data through mistakes or theft. Lack of confidence in the security of health data may induce patients to conceal sensitive information” (Layman, 2008). Therefore, it is expected that the continued use of the system will lead to significant challenges for the organization from an ethical point of view. It is expected that the continued use of the system in its current state will lead to additional challenges; therefore, system improvements must be made and additional training must be provided in an effort to produce effective outcomes for the organization. Finally, the system in question faces critical ethical challenges because there is a unique and diverse culturally relevant population within the geographic constraints of the organization that do not effectively understand electronic health records; therefore, they often consider this type of system to be intrusive and question the information that they must provide (Were and Meslin, 2011). These efforts are important indicators of the development of new approaches to improve the ethical framework of the system and to demonstrate an improved interface to protect ethical concerns as best as possible (Were and Meslin, 2011).

Summary

The implementation of a successful electronic health records system requires an effective understanding of organizational needs and expectations in order to achieve the desired outcomes. In this context, the creation of this system must capture an understanding of the specific benefits of the system, such as its cost benefits, while also recognizing the challenges that emerge with respect to privacy, ethics, and risk. Each of these factors plays a critical role in the current system and demonstrates that there must be additional factors in place to support the system and its long term success. Greater attention towards the development of new perspectives to support improved data integrity and privacy are essential for long-term success, in addition to the promotion of ethical frameworks for patient data and safety. These efforts will provide greater benefits to the organization with the current electronic health records system and will expand the level of trust in the system that is necessary to achieve continued success in this area.
References

Carayon, P., Smith, P., Hundt, A.S., Kuruchittham, V., and Li, Q. (2009). Implementation of an electronic health records system in a small clinic: the viewpoint of clinical staff.

Layman, E.J. (2008). Ethical issues and the electronic health record. Health Care Management (Frederick), 27(2), 165-176.

Lorenzi, N.M., Kouroubali, A., Detmer, D.E., and Bloomrosen, M. (2009). How to successfully select and implement electronic health records (HER) in small ambulatory practice settings. BMC Medical Informatics & Decision Making, 9(15), 1-13.

Sheridan, S. (2012). The implementation and sustainability of electronic health records. Online Journal of Nursing Informatics, 16(3), retrieved from http://ojni.org/issues/?p=1992

Terry, A.L., Thorpe, C.F., Giles, G., Brown, J.B., Harris, S.B., Reid, G.J., Thind, A., and Stewart, M. (2008). Implementing electronic health records: key factors in primary care. Canadian Family Physician, 54(5), 730-736.

Terry, K. (2012). Sloppy EHR implementation could threaten patient safety. Information Week, retrieved from http://www.informationweek.com/healthcare/electronic-medical-records/sloppy-ehr-implementation-could-threaten/232800412

Were, M.C., and Meslin, E.S. (2011). Ethics of implementing electronic health records in developing countries: points to consider. AMIA Annual Symposium Proceedings Archive, 2011, 1499-1505.