HIMS 661 UMDC Electronic Health Records

HIMS 661 UMDC Electronic Health Records essay assignment

Peer 1:

Thank you for sharing your discussion on the attributes of the EHR in the healthcare industry. I agree that the EHR has prompted a significant change in the delivery of patient-centered care and positive patient outcomes. However, EHR implementation comes with challenges that can negatively impact patient care if not carefully addressed in policy and practice. Instances of racial and informed bias have been observed in EHR documentation, prompting a drive towards reducing healthcare disparities nationally. Recent research indicates that a report on the use of “negative descriptors” like noncompliant or resistant were more likely to be used in Black patients records than those of their white counterparts (EHRIntelligence, 2022). Considering that a patient’s EHR is a complete documentation of their interactions with their healthcare providers, this sort of terminology can lead to issue with their treatment.

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Informed bias on the other hand may not appear to be as intentional as racial or cultural bias because it is the result of EHR data analysis that is available. Health records contain people with more medical encounters than the general population. When examining the electronic health records for associations between different conditions, this bias can lead to spurious associations (Spencer et al., 2018). Patients with conditions like chronic illness or cancer, which cause them to have frequent encounters with providers, their health history will be what is contributed to meaningful use. To gain a more well-rounded approach to EHR data analysis, HIM professionals must take into consideration information regarding those populations who ‘s information is less likely to be recorded.

References

EHR Intelligence. (2022, January 20). EHR notes reveal clinical documentation implicit bias concerns. EHR Intelligence. Retrieved June 2, 2022, from https://ehrintelligence.com/news/ehr-notes-reveal-clinical-documentation-implicit-bias-concerns

Spencer, E. A., & O’Sullivan, J. (2018, January 12). Informed presence bias. Catalog of Bias. Retrieved June 2, 2022, from https://catalogofbias.org/biases/informed-presence-bias/

Peer 2:

Thank you for your post. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. I also found an interesting article, i would like to share with you. Being diagnosed requires that clinicians communicate and share patient information in an efficient manner. Advances in electronic health records (EHRs) and health information technologies have created both challenges and opportunities for such communication (Quinn et al, 2019).

I also read that utilizing the EHR as a tool for reducing LGBT health disparities. Efforts to eliminate health disparities among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex (LGBTQI) populations have faced historical challenges. Historic extensive mistreatment in medicine helped create a culture in which many deny or hide their sexual orientation and gender identity (SO/GI) when seeking care. In turn, many care providers are not aware which of their patients are LGBTQI. Until recently, there was virtually no education on LGBTQI health provided in medical schools (Callahan et al, 2016). Without that education, many providers have never considered SO/GI in the care of their patients. To improve quality of care for LGBTQI patients, providers must be able to discuss SO/GI with their patients and understand that person’s health risks. The electronic health record (EHR) is a tool which can be used to identify LGBTQI patients and to prompt providers about potentially valuable prevention and treatment efforts. The University of California, Davis has begun to gather patient SO/GI data in the EHR, incorporating information communicated from patient to provider directly or through a questionnaire on the patient portal into the EHR. A 4-year competency-based curriculum around sexual orientation and gender identity has been developed along with grand rounds and workshops teaching how to discuss SO/GI. Improving atmosphere and educating providers and staff about LGBTQI health disparities has become important to improve the experience of LGBT learners, faculty and staff and the quality of care for LGBT patients (Callahan et al, 2016).

In conclusions as advances in health information technology evolve, challenges in the way clinicians share information during the diagnostic process will rise. To improve diagnosis, changes to both the technology and the way in which we use it may be necessary including being diligent in how patients are treated (Quinn et al, 2019).

References

Callahan Edward J., Henderson Catherine., Hendry Ton., Macdonald Scot., (2016). Utilizing the Electronic Health Record as a Tool for Reducing LGBT Health Disparities: An Institutional Approach. In: Eckstrand, K., Ehrenfeld, J. (eds) Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Healthcare. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-19752-4_7

Quinn, M., Forman, J., Harrod, M., Winter, S., Fowler, K. E., Krein, S. L., Gupta, A., Saint, S., Singh, H., & Chopra, V. (2019). Electronic health records, communication, and data sharing: challenges and opportunities for improving the diagnostic process. Diagnosis (Berlin, Germany), 6(3), 241–248. https://doi.org/10.1515/dx-2018-0036

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HIMS 661 UMDC Electronic Health Records