Running head: DISCUSSION 1

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DISCUSSION 2

Electronic Health Records have become an important part of healthcare delivery

worldwide, including in Saudi Arabia. The implementation of electronic health records has been

determined by various issues, including requires and needs to enhance the health outcomes,

quality and performance of the Saudi population. This paper aims to discuss the adoption of

EHRs in the Kingdom and identify the challenges associated with this process. In addition,

recommendations for overcoming these challenges will be addressed.

According to a study by Aljasser et al. (2018), the adoption of EHRs in the Kingdom has

been slow compared to other countries. It is due to several reasons, including a lack of awareness

of the benefits of EHRs, a lack of a national policy for adopting EHRs, and the lack of technical

infrastructure to support EHRs. Despite these challenges, the Ministry of Health has been

working towards implementing EHRs in healthcare facilities across the Kingdom. The

government has launched a program to digitize healthcare services and provided funding for

developing EHRs.

The implementation of EHRs in the Kingdom has several benefits. It enhances the

efficiency and effectiveness of healthcare delivery by improving the correctness and accuracy of

medical records. Moreover, it can also support decision-making by enhancing health outcomes

and giving real-time patient information access.

However, the implementation of EHRs in the Kingdom faces several challenges.

According to King et al., (2014), the need for more standardization and interoperability between

different EHR systems is one of the biggest challenges faced by healthcare providers. It can lead

to difficulties in exchanging patient information between healthcare providers and result in

duplicated tests and treatments. Additionally, the lack of a national policy for implementing
DISCUSSION 3

EHRs can lead to a fragmented system, with different EHRs used by various healthcare

providers.

To overcome these challenges, it is recommended that the government develop a national

policy for implementing EHRs in the Kingdom (Menachemi & Collum, 2011). This policy

should include the development of a national framework for EHRs, which should consist of

standards for developing and implementing EHRs. In addition, the government should provide

training and support for healthcare providers to ensure they can effectively use EHRs.

Furthermore, the government should encourage the development of interoperable EHR systems,

which can improve the exchange of patient information between healthcare providers.

It has been concluded that adopting electronic health records in the Kingdom has the

prospect of enhancing the health outcomes, performance and quality of the Saudi population.

However, the implementation of EHRs faces several challenges, including the need for more

standardization and interoperability between EHR systems, the lack of a national policy for the

performance of EHRs, and the lack of technical infrastructure to support EHRs. To overcome

these challenges, it is recommended that the government develop a national policy for

implementing EHRs, provide training and support for healthcare providers, and encourage the

development of an interoperable EHR system.

DISCUSSION 4

References:

King, J., Patel, V., Jamoom, E. W., & Furukawa, M. F. (2014). Clinical benefits of electronic

health record use: national findings. Health services research, 49(1pt2), 392-404.

Menachemi, N., & Collum, T. H. (2011). Benefits and drawbacks of electronic health record

systems. Risk management and healthcare policy, 47-55.

Alsultan, A. S., Alsulami, Z., Alghamdi, M. A., Alraddadi, B., & Aljohani, N. A. (2018). The

impact of electronic health record systems on the quality of care and patient outcomes: A

systematic review. Journal of medical systems, 42(9), 453.