McKesson EMR Software, Case Study Example

Each student investigates a different electronic medical records (EMR) system.What are its advantages and disadvantages or limitations?Will you be purchasing an electronic medical record system for your business; and if so which one?

McKesson Practice Choice ismy Electronic Medical Record selection for this research. It is classified a web-based EMR practice management software solution. Currently the device has been certified for Meaningful Use for independent office practice.

Disadvantages

The operations overlap in that the system facilitates practice in small environments, only which is a great disadvantage. Also another major disadvantage lies in its limitations of primary office functions, which must be linked to a practice-wide process. Therefore, the system cannot function independently (Miller, West, Brown, Sim &Ganchoff, 2005).

Advantages

However, in its uniqueness lies in the ability to quickly access patient information through its clinical database features. Next the software facilitates scheduling of patient’s appointment and has very efficient accounting tools, that codes services with Medicare/Medicaid payment procedure ensuring that patients and billed correctly and providers receive adequate remuneration for services rendered (Miller et.al, 2005).

I will purchase McKesson EMR because my office is small and one of the advantages in this case is that it will be just appropriate for that purpose. Therefore, this disadvantage becomes an advantage for me.

After reviewing  either the article on The effects of electronic medical records on nurses work by Robles , or Do electronic medical records demonstrate a change in attitudes, knowledge, skills or needs by Beiter et al,  please answer the following questions:How do EMRs improve nurses’ knowledge?

Nurses learn how to articulate computer programs in retrieving patients’ data which formerly would have been stores in files/ file cabinets. Being computer literate in the twenty-first century creates contemporary nursing practice by improving nurses’ knowledge to surf the worldwide web from an occupational perspective (Beiter, Sorscher, Henderson  & Talen, 2008).

How do EMRs improve the quality of patient care?

Quality of care is immensely improved since time wasted gathering data from paper files, which might be inaccurate, is now saved through a click by logging into a computer; accessing the programs and retrieving all required information. Patient care quality becomes better since more accurate information is stored and some systems even assist physicians and nurses in making decisions based on the data stored(Miller et.al.2005).

How do EMRs affect nurses’ work

Electronic Medical Records (EMRs) have a positive effect on nurses’ work since it facilitates data entry. In cases where palm devises are used the system creates efficiency in recording vitals and drugs administered to patients just at their bedsides. If additional information is needed while there attending to the patient, it can be accessed without leaving to go to the nurses’ station. Consequently, the influence is beneficial (Parish, 2006).

After reviewing the article on Telehealth for Chronic Disease Management by Falsaffi, discuss how telehealth has the potential to improve quality of healthcare, expand access to health care, and reduce cost of healthcare?

Telehealth for Chronic Disease Management can improve quality of care when providers apply devices in monitoring chronically ill patients such as diabetics without having them visit their clinics. When providers can see through telehealth programs how patients’ vitals fluctuate; responses to medication and their general health condition it saves time and money. In expansion of health care access patients do not have to visit an emergency department to be treated by a physician.Through telehealth access to medical service is provided. The elderly who may have difficulty getting out of their home telehealth would facilitate receptive of homehealth care  (Falsafi, 2007).

References

Beiter, P.Sorscher, J.Henderson, C., &Talen, M. (2008). Do electronic medical record (EMR) demonstrations change attitudes, knowledge, skills or needs.  Informatics in Primary Care16:221–27

Falsafi, N. (2007). Caring, Sharing and advancing Health Information Technology: Telehealth for Chronic Disease Management. Caring News Letter

Miller, R.  West, C. Brown, T. Sim, I., &Ganchoff, C. (2005). The Value of Electronic Health Records in Solo or Small Group Practices. Health Affairs 24 (5): 1127–37.

Parish, C (2006). Edging towards a brave new IT world.Nursing Standard (Royal College of Nursing) 20 (27): 15–6.