Name:
Section:
Pros and Cons of Electronic Health Records (EHR)
Pros
 Improved Quality of Care: Computerized
notes are often easier to read than a
physician's handwriting. This reduces the
risk of errors and misinterpretations that
can negatively impact the quality of
patient care.
 Convenience: Medical and office staff no
longer have to waste time sorting
through cumbersome paper records.
Users can access electronic health
records quickly and efficiently with just a
few strokes on a keyboard.
 Saving Space: Electronic health records
eliminate the need to store documents in
bulky file cabinets, which frees up more
space in the office for medical supplies
and equipment and other essentials.
 Patient Access: Many EHR systems
include a patient portal that allows
patients to view their medical history and
information whenever they wish.
Date:
Cons
 Potential Privacy and Security Issues: As
with just about every computer network
these days, EHR systems are vulnerable
to hacking, which means sensitive patient
data could fall into the wrong hands.
 Inaccurate Information: Because of the
instantaneous nature of electronic health
records, they must be updated
immediately after each patient visit or
whenever there is a change to the
information. The failure to do so could
mean other healthcare providers will rely
on inaccurate data when determining
appropriate treatment protocol.
 Frightening Patients Needlessly: Because
an electronic health record system
enables patients to access their medical
data, it can create a situation where they
misinterpret a file entry. This can cause
undue alarm, or even panic.
 Malpractice Liability Concerns: There are
several potential liability issues
associated with EHR implementation. For
example, medical data could get lost or
destroyed during the transition from a
paper-based to a computerized EHR
system, which could lead to treatment
errors. Since doctors have greater access
to medical data via EHR, they can be held
responsible if they do not access all the
information at their disposal.
 Financial Incentives: Installing a certified
EHR can help you fulfill the Meaningful
Use requirements for Medicaid and
Medicare, making you eligible for various
incentives from the federal government.
 Financial Opportunities: Your
organization needs to use computerized
patient records with a certified EHR.
 Time-Saving Templates: Already designed
templates are a major example of pros of
electronic health records. Using
templates, whether for general practice
encounters with patients or for use in a
specialty will ensure that staff members
always input the correct information
about patients before closing the
updated record.
 Patient Portal Improves Access: A great
way to save time and boost patient
engagement is to activate the patient
portal in your EHR system. It lets patients
type in their own information with a
computer at home or at a kiosk in your
waiting room, freeing them from
entering redundant details on multiple
stacks of paper forms. Your staff won’t
need to spend time entering this
information now either.
 Standard, more efficient record-keeping
for doctor notes, staff assessments, lab
results, etc.
 All authorized members of the healthcare
team have access to patient records and
records can be easily retrieved.
 Criminal Hackers: You can say that one
con of adopting an EHR is that your IT
department will have to exercise extreme
diligence to protect sensitive data from
criminal hackers.
 Developer Fails to Provide Timely
Updates: Another potential con would be
if the EHR comes from a developer that
has not updated on a regular basis for
some time now.
 Not Following Software Industry Best
Practices: The developers may no longer
have the capability to upgrade their EHR
in accordance with industry best
practices and government regulations.
 EMR systems can cost up to $30,000 per
provider and features such as a patient
portal or integration with a medical
billing partner are often extra.
 Dedicating time to EMR training is less
time spent with patients.
 Many providers complain of increased
work due to having to complete charts,
enter test results, and handle patient
emails in separate systems.
  Reduction in errors related to
misinterpreting handwriting or
transcription. Electronic medication
administration is developed to assist staff
in the rights of medication
administration. Barcode scanning, for
example, helps correctly identify the right
patient, right time, and the right med.
Additionally, abnormal test results are
flagged to prevent them from being
overlooked. EMRs also help to avoid any
significant component of healthcare
delivery to be missed. For example,
delivering a warning if a note or order is
not complete.
 EMRs have security and privacy features
baked in, ensuring that only authorized
individuals have access to sensitive
patient data.
 Improved efficiency: EMRs allow for
quicker documentation, which can
benefit patients needing rapid treatment.
For example, an EKG can be performed
and uploaded to a record in real-time,
and a specialist can pull it up and advise
within minutes. This leads to improved
patient care outcomes as delays are
shortened.
 If a technical error occurs and your
remote EMR software does not have the
information backed up, all data may be
lost.
 Workflow frustrations—such as having to
enter lesser-used medications or
treatments that are not part of the
standard selection process, or sharing the
patient’s records with another provider
who does not have access to the same
EMR system—lead to workarounds that
can create confusion, potential errors.
 Reduced oversight: Sometimes it's easy
to click a button or enter shortcuts to
reduce charting time. However, the
mechanical nature of electronic charting
can lead to an oversight of clinical
findings. For example, assessment
documentation shortcuts may default to
"normal" findings, and the provider must
alter based on an exam. If one
component is overlooked, it's false
documentation. Frequent, repetitive
documentation places the provider at
risk, especially if feeling rushed.
  Improved accessibility: EMRs allow
members of the healthcare team to
access pertinent parts of the medical
record easily. Also, records can
effortlessly be retrieved- sometimes
between different healthcare
organizations.
 Improved privacy and security for
patients: The more hands that touch
paper records, the more at-risk private
health information is. Paper charts sent
to chart rooms or outside a facility is
more at risk of a privacy breach. EMRs
have safeguards in place to prevent
violations. Access to certain parts of the
medical record is given only to the
appropriate employees. Flags are set up
if a record is inappropriately accessed.
Additionally, records are not usually
physically sent from one department to
another, or from another facility to
another, reducing the risk of lost private
health information or patient
identification.
 Standardization: EMRs promote standard
record-keeping to include staff and
physician notes, assessment findings, and
ordering processes.
 Cost: Electronic medical record programs
are expensive-in the millions.
Organizations must purchase the
software and train hundreds of staffs in
its use.
 Technical malfunctions: Any healthcare
worker can attest to the crippling effect
of technical difficulties with EMRs. When
the system goes down, it's like the
apocalypse. Backup paper records must
be kept, and data inputted later when the
system is back up and running. Confusion
as to what to do when this occurs can
lead to patient care delays and potential
errors. Healthcare organizations should
have clear guidelines as to what to do
when this happens, and paper record-
keeping available and accessible.
 Over-standardization: Healthcare
providers can attest to this fact as well.
It's frustrating for providers when they
need to order something that has not
been inputted into the system. Lesser-
used medications or treatments may not
be part of the selection process, which
leads to workarounds that can create
frustration, confusion and potential
errors.
  EHRs cut down on labor: By allowing
patient data to be reviewed faster,
reducing time spent issuing appointment-
reminder calls or emails, and allowing for
the use of templates to make document
creation easier.
 They can also improve population
management: Facilitate patient
reminders, improve payer
reimbursements and provide eligibility to
participate in various programs that offer
pay for performance.
 Improved billing and scheduling. When a
billing process is integrated with an EHR,
it becomes a comprehensive platform.
There is no need to enter data manually
and repeatedly, and the risk of payment
miscalculation is reduced.
 Less patient interaction: This is a
significant complaint among both
patients and providers. Patients see their
healthcare provider staring at a computer
screen more than they lay eyes on them,
which leads to a perception of de-
personalization in care. Providers often
feel that they spend more time
documenting than caring for patients.
 Increased virtual work: Providers may
argue that their workload has increased
with the advent of EMRs. Completing
charts, fielding test results that pour in
throughout the day/ shift, and even
handling patient emails can bog down
providers immensely. While the ability to
communicate with your provider is a
huge benefit for patients, it creates an
enormous amount of added work for
providers.
 Limitations on Contracts: Some industry
players limit integration to contracted
restrictions, more accurately described as
administrative barriers.
References:

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