Electronic Health Records over Paper-Based Records
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Recording health data in medical facilities has evolved with the development of technology systems that allow users to store medical data in computers. The main aim of storing medical data and records in the computer is to ensure that records are easily accessible and safe from destruction. Some clinicians still prefer the paper-based system over the computerized system. Their hesitance can be attributed to a lack of proper education on using the computerized system and a lack of knowledge of the new system’s advantages. The electronic medical recording provides accurate information, enhances patients’ data privacy, enables more reliable prescribing, ensures security while sharing data, and reduces costs compared to the paper-based system.
Electronic health records provide accurate information on a patient. Chan et al. (2013) state that the digital recording system is accurate, proving it to be faster than the paper-based system, especially when locating specific information. The digital health system is equipped to provide accurate, up-to-date, legible, and complete information on a patient’s health. Compared to the paper-based system, it shows the patient’s history allowing the clinician to gain more knowledge to avoid any misdiagnosis. It further arranges the data according to the specific dates it was entered, providing up-to-date data when needed. Therefore, the digital health system provides more accurate information on patients.
Recording health information ensures that the data is stored securely and ensures the privacy of the data. The digital health system maintains a high-security protocol in authorizing individuals to access information on a patient (Fernández-Alemán et al. 2013). Unlike the paper-based system that can be accessed by anyone, the digital health system uses a password or a key identification measure to ensure only authorized clinicians access patients’ data. Thus, this system has enhanced to privacy and security of patient data.
Electronic health records enable more reliable prescribing by clinicians. Based on the history records stored in the digital system, clinicians have an easier time accessing previous clinicians’ previous prescriptions faster. Additionally, doctors and nurses can identify certain medications patients are allergic to and underlying conditions the patients may have (King et al. 2014). Based on these factors, the digital recording system in the health facilities enables more reliable prescribing by clinicians.
Using digital health systems to share recorded data ensures the secure sharing of a patient’s medical records with the patients and other clinicians. Many scenarios may happen when sharing medical records that make the process less secure. Patients can lose paper-based medical records or misplace copies, and so can doctors and nurses. End to end encryption in the digital system ensures information shared does not encounter any security breaches (Fernández-Alemán et al. 2013). Hence, it allows the electronic health recording system to ensure patient data sharing is done securely with the patients and clinicians.
Compared to a paper-based system, electronic health recording systems lead to reduced costs. Reduced paper-work reduces costs by eliminating cost implications associated with buying paper, disposal mechanisms, storage space, and filing and storage materials (King et al. 2014). Additionally, the system reduces costs by offering improved healthcare and improved safety in hospitals. Ultimately, implementing the electronic health recording system by clinicians leads to reduced costs.
When clinicians implement electronic health record systems, health institutions experience enhanced privacy of patients’ data, accurate information, more reliable prescribing, enhanced security while sharing data, and reduced costs compared to the paper-based system. Although most clinicians believe that the paper-based system is more straightforward and convenient, the digital health system proves that recording patient data in the computer has more advantages in the long run. Therefore, doctors, nurses, and other staff should accommodate the new recording system’s implementation and learn it to maximize the benefits of electronically recording patients’ health data.
References
Chan, P., Thyparampil, P. J., & Chiang, M. F. (2013). Accuracy and speed of electronic health record versus paper-based ophthalmic documentation strategies. American journal of ophthalmology, 156(1), 165-172.
Fernández-Alemán, J. L., Señor, I. C., Lozoya, P. Á. O., & Toval, A. (2013). Security and privacy in electronic health records: A systematic literature review. Journal of biomedical informatics, 46(3), 541-562.
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.