Healthcare records system of a hospital
It has been a tiresome process for patients visiting a hospital or a clinic whether for the first time or for more consultations. In most cases, nurse often asks the patients for personal details which involve submission of hospital cards. It is through these cards that nurses are able to fish for one’s file which may be a process that may consume so much time for the patient. This is the hard reality in most of our hospitals across the world. However, there are a few hospitals which have embraced other advanced healthcare data systems such as the digital electronic data systems. Contrary to other sectors, the healthcare sector still lags behind in adopting the new information technology. Therefore, the transformation process from a traditional approach of paper record keeping into seamless digital recording has been a challenging subject in healthcare systems. As the world is entering into another era of technological advancement, most of the federal governments and other stakeholders in the healthcare systems across the states have offered their support towards pushing for a motion to make electronic medical records a worldwide standard. The importance of adopting these electronic data systems is far-reaching. Computerization would, therefore, allow nurses to get patients’ health information with ease, improved care and cutting on cost. This paper seeks to contribute to the overall understanding of healthcare record systems at large hospitals in relation to the adoption of the EMR systems. Finally, the paper will seek to inform of the recommended methods of improving the adoption of electronic data systems in hospitals.
According to Rizer, (2015), Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center is one of the large medical centers often crowded with patients as they offer a wide-range of services. The center has six hospitals with forty-six outpatient sites. Each day these hospitals are expected to serve approximately 1200 patients with more than 100 surgeries. These hospitals are often sub-divided into so many departments and sub-specialties. On a normal day, these hospitals within the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center often receive patients directly at outpatient clinics and at times there are referral cases from other smaller hospitals. Therefore each sub-specialty has its own wards where they admit their patients, treat them and also discharge them. Organizational structure at Ohio State University Wexner hospital is hierarchical and managers are regarded to hold a substantial amount of power (Jha et al, 2009). Clinical staffs are always focused on a day to day engagement on how they can improve their hospital operations and services to their patients. Ohio State University Wexner hospital is located in an area that covers a wide area hence serving a relatively larger population. As a result, these hospitals are often dominated by long lines of patients in the waiting room. At the end of the day, the hospital staffs are often overwhelmed by the tiresome task of registering their patients. This has, in turn, led to poor service provision in hospitals thus raising concerns in the healthcare sector. Ohio State University Wexner hospitals have therefore adopted the electronic version where patients’ medical history is maintained by the health providers. This includes the administrative clinical data of a patient once they visit the hospital for treatment. The medical superintendent of these hospitals, therefore, has developed a wide selection of nonclinical tasks and expressed importance in the electronic health data system for various reasons (Jha et al, 2009).
Billing is an important aspect of Ohio State University Wexner hospital and has been greatly improved through EHR systems. This has led to the improvement of transparency and workflow within the hospital settings. Through this system, a patient is able to visit a consultant, pay for the prescribed tests and laboratory examinations. After this, the patients can get back to the doctor for diagnosis where they are finally given a prescription at the pharmacy (Menachemi & Collum, 2011). All this enhanced by the use of the electronic system without having to carry along any doctor’s notes as the system enhances communication online.
Registration at Ohio State University Wexner hospital is made easier through EHR. This has led to a reduction of waiting time for patients especially while awaiting manual record keeping and movement of papers. Once a patient visits the hospital, the health staff in charge is only required to key in the patient’s details into the system. This has been of great importance as it has enhanced quick retrieval of information from the system thus reducing the time used to physically search for the records.
Another major reason as to why Ohio State University Wexner hospital has adopted the electronic data system of record keeping is due to the administrative support offered by these systems. The systems have been widely used in the hospital to assist in carrying an account of the surgeries performed each day and the number of patients seen by the health staffs within the hospital (Burton et al, 2004). Data collection is thus made easier especially when making returns to the ministry of health on statistics of illnesses highly treated within the hospitals (Menachemi & Collum, 2011). The systems have also raised the interest of medical practitioners in Ohio State University Wexner hospital as they have tools such as decision-making tools. The systems also have the ability to help clinical staff in practicing Evidence Based Medicine. Through the use of electronic health management system, the accuracy of diagnosis in hospitals is improved. This has greatly reduced the cost of healthcare as records are kept in place hence the repetition of tests is avoided. Picture archiving system, on the other hand, is widely used in hospitals and they are involved in keeping records of patients’ x-rays, MRI, and Ultrasounds.
However, Ohio State University Wexner hospital is not yet at a point where they can fully confirm the use of EHR systems only. It is for this reason that there is a need for an integrated use of health record systems. Thus doctors are recommended to use the two systems, the manual, and the electronic health data system. This will act as evidence in case litigation as the manual papers contain doctor’s signatures (Menachemi & Collum, 2011).
Privacy concerns are one of the emerging issues facing these electronic health records. Americans are worried that availing patients’ health records online will make it easily accessible to other people other than the patients themselves. Many people fear that increasing patients’ information online will increase identity theft and increase in dangers of ransomware. There have been reasonable concerns from consumers about privacy and safety. According to a study carried out in 2012, it was revealed that medical providers often disclose some of the patient’s information at a fee to all those who are willing to pay. Among all those who may be interested in a patient’s information includes, employers, drugs, and insurance companies. As a result of this justified concern about information security, the slow adoption rate has been experienced across all U.S hospitals due to fear of exploitation (Zuniga, 2015).
Jha et al, (2009), asserts that IT departments in collaboration with the hospital administration are working towards improving their use of data in order to keep their patient’s health. This will also improve their shift into value-based payment contracts. They are also seeking to build a strong interoperability with the various hospital systems and software, investing more in the enhanced decision support. IT departments at Ohio State University Wexner hospital are thus responsible for reinstating exceptionally modified and costly legacy systems that offer EHR solutions to the next generation. These solutions will thus increase security, mobility and cloud-based solutions that will offer physicians and hospital staffs. This will offer them with immediate access to the information, resources as well as specialists needed to provide best quality services to patient care. The system is also expected to incorporate other new technologies so as to advance patient engagement and treatment.
In conclusion, EHR systems in hospitals are reforming the healthcare system and more so in terms of patient care delivery. Allowing patients access to their health records through the electronic system authorize patients, reduces physical error and cuts the cost of patient’s insurance providers and hospital bills. However, there still exist so many hindrances to efficient electronic health records access. Information technology skills are lacking in hospitals, a resource that is desperately required so as to support and adapt to the desired changes. Future research should, therefore, focus on inducing the adoption of electronic health records for general practitioners, patients, and hospital staff. Although the benefits of these electronic health records are apparent from those who have already implemented, these are long-term benefits that will take time for users to observe. More immediate rewards are therefore highly needed for a universal acceptance and adoption of these health records.
References
Burton, L. C., Anderson, G. F., & Kues, I. W. (2004). Using electronic health records to help coordinate care. The Milbank Quarterly, 82(3), 457-481.
Menachemi, N., & Collum, T. H. (2011). Benefits and drawbacks of electronic health record systems. Risk management and healthcare policy, 4, 47.
Zuniga, A. V. (2015). Patient Access to Electronic Health Records: Strengths, weaknesses and what’s needed to move forward. School of Information Student Research Journal, 5(1), 3.
Jha, A. K., DesRoches, C. M., Campbell, E. G., Donelan, K., Rao, S. R., Ferris, T. G., ... & Blumenthal, D. (2009). Use of electronic health records in US hospitals. New England Journal of Medicine, 360(16), 1628-1638.
Rizer, M. K., Kaufman, B., Sieck, C. J., Hefner, J. L., & McAlearney, A. S. (2015). Top 10 lessons learned from electronic medical record implementation in a large academic medical center. Perspectives in health information management, 12(Summer).
