What Is an Electronic Health Record?
EHRs are the digital version of paper patient charts. However, EHRs include a wider scope of information that goes beyond what a single health care provider collects about a patient. With this technology, health care providers have instant, up-to-date, and secure access to a patient’s complete medical history, including diagnoses, medications, immunizations, allergies, x-rays, scans, and laboratory tests.
This technology ensures that health care professionals will have the best information for making critical decisions about a patient’s care. EHRs also reduce the amount of paperwork that patients need to complete when visiting new health care providers. Additionally, EHRs can help providers serve populations like the elderly and non-English speakers better.
Framework for the Implementation of EHR Technology
In 2009, the U.S. Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act created a framework for the necessary implementation of health information technology (health IT), including EHRs. EHR technology in particular facilitates the sharing of information across providers so that they all will have access to complete, accurate, and up-to-date information about a patient.
Financial Incentives for Health Care Organizations
The widespread implementation of EHRs has proven challenging because of the large investments in time and resources required. To address this, financial incentives are available to encourage health care providers to adopt EHR technology.
In 2011, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) began providing incentive payments. The payments benefit eligible health care providers and hospitals that adopt, implement, upgrade, or show meaningful use of certified EHR technology. CMS incentive payments for each eligible organization can total up to $44,000 (through Medicare) or $63,750 (through Medicaid). In addition, the programs can provide more than $2 million to eligible hospitals.
Taking Advantage of EHR Technology
Organizations that prove they are taking advantage of the full benefits of EHR technology also receive incentives. Five patient-focused criteria evaluate effective or meaningful use of EHR technology. These include improving quality, safety, and efficiency; engaging patients and families; enhancing care and coordination; changing public and population health for the better; and ensuring privacy and security in health care organizations.
Recommendations for Successful Implementation
To give more support to health care organizations that wish to implement and achieve meaningful use of EHR technology, the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) outlines the steps for providers and hospitals to follow to switch over to EHRs. See the infographic below for more on implementing EHRs at health care organizations.
Electronic health records (EHRs) enhance quality, efficiency, and coordination in health care. Ohio University Online has developed the following infographic to help explain the growing importance of EHRs for health care organizations and to provide tips for these organizations to implement EHR technology successfully.
As EHRs come to play an increasingly important role in health care systems, they will become more common in health care professionals’ careers. In response to this, master’s degree programs in health administration are incorporating EHR technology into their curricula to prepare health care professionals to take advantage of EHR’s benefits in their careers and organizations.
Image Source: Ohio University Online