Discuss the importance of interoperability in relationship to both types of records and to how the EMR and EHR improve quality and access to care
Discuss the importance of interoperability in relationship to both types of records and to how the EMR and EHR improve quality and access to care
Discuss the importance of interoperability in relationship to both types of records and to how the EMR and EHR improve quality and access to care
Differentiate between EMRs and EHRs. Discuss the importance of interoperability in relationship to both types of records and to how the EMR and EHR improve quality and access to care.
There is a difference between electronic medical records (EMRs) and electronic health records (EHRs). Even though they just differ by one letter, EMRs and EHRs serve quite distinct purposes. Both contain digital databases that store patient data, greatly reducing the need for actual paper copies. Both can be used to track data and as a check that patients are getting the right preventative care, like vaccines and screenings (Garrett & Seidman, 2011).
A patient’s medical record from one particular facility is converted to digital form and stored in an EMR. It contains notes from the providers, diagnosis, and treatments, all of which took place specifically at that clinic (Garrett & Seidman, 2011). However, EMRs are difficult to transfer to other facilities and frequently need actual printing out for information to be shared outside of the clinic or hospital (Garrett & Seidman, 2011).
An EHR takes a far broader view of “health” than an EMR, which focuses on the “medical” element (Garrett & Seidman, 2011). EHRs are more capable than EMRs in every way. They can save data from all healthcare professionals a patient could see, not just from one particular clinic or facility, giving a comprehensive view of the patient’s care as a whole (Garrett & Seidman, 2011). Providers may cooperate with confidence knowing they are viewing the same information, information can be exchanged between facilities without the time-consuming procedure of printing and faxing, and the EHR follows the patient wherever they go (Garrett & Seidman, 2011).
Re: Topic 6 DQ 2
Electronic Medical Records (EMRs) and Electronic Health Records (EHRs) are not the same. Though they are only one letter apart, EMRs and EHRs actually have very different functions. Both are digital programs that house patient information, thus greatly decreasing the reliance on physical paper copies. Both can be used for data tracking and as a tool to ensure patients are receiving proper preventative care, such as immunizations and screenings (Garrett & Seidman, 2011).
An EMR is a digitized version of a patient’s medical chart from one specific facility. It includes provider notes, diagnoses, and treatments, all of which occurred at that one clinic in particular (Garrett & Seidman, 2011). EMRs are not easily transferrable to other facilities, however, and often may need to be physically printed out for the information to be shared outside of the clinic/facility (Garrett & Seidman, 2011).
While an EMR focuses on the “medical” aspect, an EHR focuses on “health” as a whole, which is a much broader view (Garrett & Seidman, 2011). EHRs can do everything an EMR can do, and more. They can house information not just from one specific clinic or facility, but from all providers a patient may see, providing a holistic look at the patient’s care as a whole (Garrett & Seidman, 2011). Information can be shared between facilities without the cumbersome process of printing and faxing, providers can collaborate with confidence knowing they’re seeing the same information, and the EHR moves with the patient wherever they go (Garrett & Seidman, 2011).
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There are more than 800 certified commercial EHRs for inpatient facilities (DeNisco & Barker, 2016). A commonly used EHR is Epic, which is what my hospital system just switched to, from Cerner/ORCA. We made the switch to Epic for our inpatient facilities because our outpatient clinics were already using it, and Epic and Cerner did not share information with each other. While switching to Epic was not a smooth transition and we are still working through ongoing issues months later, it was a move made in the name of interoperability and patient quality and access to care. Having out outpatient and inpatient systems talk to each other provides invaluable information when a patient finds themselves inpatient. Providers and care teams can be confident that they see the holistic picture of the patient’s medical care, instead of having to fill in holes in records and spend time piecing together the history.
DeNisco, S.M., & Barker, A.M. (2016). Advanced practice nursing. Essential knowledge for the profession (3rd ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Garrett, P., & Seidman, J. (2011). EMR vs EHR—what is the difference? The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology. https://www.healthit.gov/buzz-blog/electronic-health-and-medical-records/emr-vs-ehr-difference
RESPOND HERE (150 WORDS, 2 REFERENCES)
Hello,
I do agree with you that there are many similarities between EMRs and EHRs due to the fact that both involve digitalization of the healthcare information and processes. However, the biggest difference comes in the usability of the two records, while the EMRs are restricted to the medical procedures or interventions taken on providing care to the patient, the EHRs involves the general health information about the patient from the biodata to any other relevant health information about the patient. Use of EHRs that have proved to be beneficial to the healthcare systems in a number of ways. It has helped the medical practitioners to access the whole of a patient’s medical history. The information helps the healthcare practitioner to be aware of any medical diagnoses the patient has undergone, any of the prescribed drugs the patient has used before and any allergies experienced by the patient (Dash et al., 2019). Additionally, the use of EHR has helped in analysis of demographics and clinical narratives together with the laboratory test results. This has ensured the reduced lag time hence the treatment process is able to be followed up quickly due to availability of the previous data. This also saves on cost hence in some cases no further examinations are needed because it is easier to infer from the previous existing data that is related to the current situation the patient is suffering from (De Benedictis et al., 2020).
References
Dash, S., Shakyawar, S. K., Sharma, M., & Kaushik, S. (2019). Big data in healthcare: management, analysis and future prospects. Journal of Big Data, 6(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40537-019-0217-0
De Benedictis, A., Lettieri, E., Gastaldi, L., Masella, C., Urgu, A., & Tartaglini, D. (2020). Electronic Medical Records implementation in hospital: An empirical investigation of individual and organizational determinants. PLOS ONE, 15(6), e0234108. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0234108