Monday, 1 October 2012

Some Information About Web Based EHR Systems, Services, And Benefits

By Willian Z. Houkei


Electronic health records (EHR) are computerized medical record systems that provide more than one healthcare organization access to patient records via the internet. This multiple user interface is intended to encourage an easy information exchange between organizations in an effort to help them provide better healthcare to patients and economize on resources. Here we will consider how these systems are designed to provide these benefits.

Since patient confidentiality is such a high concern, having controlled access on any online system is non-negotiable, which is why EHR programs only allow authorized personnel to access the system by using a pre-assigned password. Only a system administrator can assign this user, or group, access information, and it only allows the individual(s) to access certain files. A physician and secretary, for example, would only have access to information related to the area of healthcare they need to do their job.

Medical malpractice suits due to practitioner error are a serious concern for most doctors. These electronic health record systems help avoid these by providing clear error messages, alerts, and reminders that warn physicians about drug interactions, contradictions, and dosage issues. These features are designed to help medical personnel troubleshoot areas that might need to be addressed, and to provide better quality healthcare to their patients.

Another benefit of EHR systems is that they save money and time when they make it possible for healthcare organizations to electronically request and send patient information. Many systems also offer what is called an "additional application program interface" (API), which allows physicians to connect to additional clinical systems and further increases productivity. Both of these options permit medical personnel to access the information they require without using a courier service, sending them in the mail, or making repeated phone calls.

Changes in patient information are hard to keep track of with traditional hardcopy records, which can cause serious problems down the road. EHR systems, on the other hand, make it easy to keep track by backing up user activity and information on an hourly basis, which ensures that files don't get lost, and simultaneously protects them from illegal third party access.

Any of this information is conveniently accessible to a physician from any location using a laptop, tablet, or any other secure digital device with access to the internet. Using these services also fulfills the "EHR Meaningful Use" requirement required for physicians to qualify for governmental incentive programs, meaning they are rewarded for employing these services in their medical practices. Apparently, there are many reasons to think about using EHR services.




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