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Electronic Records Impact on Health Care Industry

Julian Alfonso Corral Jr

HCIN 540

Tennille Gifford

October 28, 2019

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Abstract

Healthcare has in the most part has evolved in how data collection is now implemented within

clinics and hospital settings. For the longest time, data collection has been on physical copies

that do record information of patients but has many flaws. In this paper discussion will occur

how paper-based information is now being outdated since information cannot be currently

updated and loss of records that occur due to either human error or information that is not made

available. Slowly and now surely the introduction of Electronic Health Records has replaced

paper record keeping since updating, maintaining and sharing records has become easier than

paper based. This paper will discuss the transition from paper based to electronic based form of

recordkeeping.

Keywords: Electronic Health Records, Healthcare, Clinical, Hospital

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Introduction

Electronic Health Records Procession

The transition from paper record keeping to electronic has been a difficult pathway for

some and the impact on the transition has been a steady progression. For some in the healthcare

industry have faced many common barriers that electronic health records have presented such

has the startup cost, training and the data entry aspect. EMR providers appear to underestimate

the level of computer skills required from physicians, while the system is not only seen as but in

practice is very complex to use by these physicians. ( Ajami, S. and BagheriTadi, T. (2013).

EHR is used by many but what if it is used to determine patient results based off what

information was provided in their records. The availability of information in the EHR can benefit

similar studies trying to understand the link between provider behavior in the EHR and patient

care and outcomes. (Amroze, A. et. Al. (2015).) This in turn starts to show what impact

electronic health records have on the healthcare industry since now that patient data is easily

obtainable.

There now can be a correlation in which electronic health records improve the quality of

care since the data can become easily accessible. The data that is seen in the electronic section

can now provide more information and be accurate than with paper version. The EMR

technology gives health care providers information in formats that were not possible with paper

charts. Primary care providers can now view and print graphs of values such as weight,

cholesterol levels, and blood pressure, tracking changes over time. (Manca D. P. (2015)).

One of the main goals of having the electron health records is for patients themselves

begin to look and a better understanding of their own data. Online access to medical records by

patients has the potential to enhance provision of patient-centered care and may improve patient
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satisfaction. However, it may also prove to be an additional burden for the healthcare provider.

This in turn show the impact that ehr has regarding to their own patient in which the end goal is

for the patient begin to understand their own medical history and lore. (Mold, F. , et Al 2015)

Main Body

Electronic Health Record Impact and Procession

The history of health records has also been seen has having a paper file every time you

have gone to see your primary doctor or medical staff. Although when there is a change in

insurance or if that doctor no longer is your main care provider what happens to your file? In

most cases, the file is transferred over but often than not a new medical file is opened. In modern

times, that is slowly changing to having an electronic version of recording keeping. Another

issue with having a paper-based record system is the high risk of medical errors that will occur,

and medical errors are one of the leading causes of death within the United States. One effective

way of resolving this issue is using the electronic health record system would eliminate many of

these issues and lead to major improvements in the health and safety of patient care. (Ajami, S.

and BagheriTadi, T. (2013). The transition process especially for physicians and nursing staff

makes addressing any medical issues or concerns easier since the information will become easier

to access for everyone to see. On a paper-based system access becomes limited to only the

person viewing the file while an electronic based system can be viewed, edited, and send over to

specialized physicians for any type of clarifications. By having easier and a simple point of

access, it is reported that offices that adapted an EHR system had reported more positive views

of the potential effect of computers on health care than physicians who did not yet. (Ajami, S.

and BagheriTadi, T. (2013)

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The transition to electronic health records provides physicians with valuable information

that can be used to for early interventions of patients that display early signs of common diseases

such as cancers, cardiovascular diseases and missed screenings. By using the EHR system the

information provides feedback to the primary care providers about the quality of their care, such

as screening rates and preventive target achievements. (Manca D. P. (2015)

By having screens results available to patients before even going into the physician office gives

patients the chance to review and even better prepare for any medical questions to their primary

care provider. This in return helps physicians and nurse staff for quicker rotation of patients

coming in and out than if their information was still on paper format. Online access and services

also positively impacted on patient safety, especially when patients are given access to

medication lists and are offered prevention or health maintenance reminders. (Mold, F., et Al

2015).

Electronic Health Records are further seen as time efficiencies in terms of access for both

nurses and physicians in what documents are accessed. Nurses often document using

standardized forms or care plans, while physicians rarely use standardized templates to write

their clinical notes. Retrieval or viewing of information is part of the work processes of both

nurses and physicians. (Poissant, L., Pereira, J., Tamblyn, R., & Kawasumi, Y. (2005) For

nurses, it is a hassle to import first time data than it would if normal chart is taken. Once the data

is entered, access is faster, and edits are made easier than looking for the file and getting the file

to the correct people to do the final edits. For physicians, if the file is created the only input for

patient care are the clinical notes that state the reasons for visits, medical data and any treatment

plans that explain what to do after being medically released.

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Even if patients are admitted to different hospitals or health care clinics, it is important

that all medical data becomes known to the staff when treatment begins. The main issue with

paper record files is not having all the information quickly made available since a new record file

is made for first time patients. This enables health care professionals responsible for the patient’s

care to identify any medication changes or discrepancies between the prior and current

medication lists. (Slight, S. P., et Al 2015).

This is further seen by the support that the government gives to different hospitals in the

form of being able to provide continuous care while integrating healthcare. The way that

healthcare itself is being integrated across hospitals is having a resource that oversees regional

data exchanges that can be used across health settings. In the United States, one of the biggest

hospitals known within California is Kaiser Permanente and to connect such a massive network

together through EHR Kaiser Permanente Health Connect was born. Like the United States,

Europe as well has a data base that called Smart Care that used for healthcare services in which

healthcare services are made ready and available. Kaiser Permanente Health Connect provides

continuous care to 1.1 million insured persons through EHRs from its 38 hospitals and 650

clinics and gives patients the latest medical information. SmartCare] in Europe has developed a

standard interoperable platform to share data with 23 regional stakeholders to provide integrated

health care services. (Wen, H. C., et Al (2019) By having these resources at hand it enables

information to not only be available to patients but also have digital access to clinics and

hospitals worldwide.

Physicians used Electronic Health Records to update and inform patients from test results

to a simple summarize on their charts for future references. This electronic data form of data

leaves behind a log in which researchers can determine what main points of HER are being used
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and what can be further improved upon. This data reflects what can be further improved in Her

and what can be fixed to further enhance the features of the programs. Log data can reveal which

types of alerts and notifications physicians act upon; those that are commonly left unopened or

are not generally followed by any action could be candidates for elimination or modification.

(Amroze, A., et Al (2019)

Some said features can include the organization of incoming messages that normally

would be filter by an assistant and deem what is important and what can be check on later. With

the EHR system this can be monitored more closely and even sent out alerts when an emergency

is stated or can be a simple review. Unopened or unacted upon messages can be moved to and

organized within separate folders to which the providers can return later. The availability of

information in the EHR can benefit similar studies trying to understand the link between provider

behavior in the EHR and patient care and outcomes. (Amroze, A., et Al (2019)

The transition from a paper-based record keeping to now an electronic based format has

not only lead to future improvements of care but has also help with evaluation of data collected.

This data when analyzed and used for studies can lead to different health reforms such as lower

cost for different types of medicine at a lower rate or analyze the current health population for

medical needs. EHR systems serve as a source of data for monitoring the health of populations,

allowing researchers to evaluate, among others, the effects of environmental hazards; the impact

of health system reforms. (Verheij, Curcin , Delaney, McGilchrist, (2018)

With a paper-based system, it is harder for analysis to take place because of time

consuming collection versus being able to collect data within minutes instead of weeks even

years at some point. For the advancement that EHR as provided it can be further developed for

research and can show the benefits of having this system in place. EHR does have its downfall as
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any system does but the benefits do outweigh the negatives and can only improve now. The

transition of paper-based record keeping to electronic based record keeping came from the needs

to improve and develop a record that can become accessible by the click of a keyboard than by

hunting down a paper-based file.

Conclusion

The transition of paper-based record keeping to electronic record keeping has not been an

easy road for some. For most paper-based records have been around longer but the issue arises in

the form of keeping data, saving data properly and that issue of duplicate files. When the paper-

based files are transferred manually to an electronic version most if not all these issues that are

addressed can become easily solved. Duplicate files can become merged and all clinics along

with hospitals would have access to see notes left behind by the last physician with the patient. If

a patient wishes to transfer to a different physician their records would follow them in mere

minutes versus waiting on an office to transfer physical files. Data collection becomes much

easier to collect and transfer when projects request for information.

For Electronic Health Records to continue to succeed improvements will always be made

to further any data gaps and can limit human error when it comes to data input along with data

transfer. Paper-based records will continue to exist but Electronic Health Records are now slowly

becoming the new data form to collect.

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References

Ajami, S. and BagheriTadi, T. (2013). Barriers for Adopting Electronic Health Records (EHRs)

by Physicians. Acta Informatica Medica, 21(2), p.129. 

Amroze, A., Field, T. S., Fouayzi, H., Sundaresan, D., Burns, L., Garber, L., … Cutrona, S. L.

(2019). Use of Electronic Health Record Access and Audit Logs to Identify Physician Actions

Following Noninterruptive Alert Opening: Descriptive Study. JMIR medical informatics, 7(1),

e12650. doi:10.2196/12650

Manca D. P. (2015). Do electronic medical records improve quality of care? Yes. Canadian

family physician Medecin de famille canadien, 61(10), 846–851.

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