Answer for DNP 805 Discuss the usefulness of the electronic health record (EHR) and its impact on patient safety and quality outcomes Re: Topic 2 DQ 1

 Answer for DNP 805 Discuss the usefulness of the electronic health record (EHR) and its impact on patient safety and quality outcomes

Re: Topic 2 DQ 1

A variety of electronic methods have been used to integrate health information technology into the health system and into primary care for individuals and patients as a group to continue to improve and provide quality care to patients (Agency for Healthcare and Research Quality (AHRQ), 2019). The Electronic Health record (EHR) is defined as a ‘longitudinal’ electronic record of patient’s health information which is generated during several episodes of care in a care delivery setting. It has a robust database of information that has a capacity for customization to the needs of the patients and the healthcare providers (HCP) that could be endless. EHRs have been designed to collect and store so many different types of information on patients such as patient demographics, order entries, laboratory values, radiologic images and documentations by HCPs (Alexander, Hoy, & Frith, 2019).

Some of the strengths and limitations of EHR. In 2017, hospitals growth in the use of EHR is about 96 percent in non-Federal acute acer hospitals. The EHR has been used to redesign and benefit the healthcare system. EHR supports evidence-based practice that helps to improve the outcomes of patient care. With EHR, volumes of data can be stored for years and obtained quickly and easily to evaluate patient populations, manage acute and chronic diseases that will help to ensure adequate preventive care individually, collectively and simultaneously more than would have been possible with paper charts. It has become a clinical for all future clinical practices and is potentially life-saving, efficient and cost-effective (Thurston, 2014). EHR has led to the decrease in the number of errors with medical care in terms of clinical orders. HER has improved the ability to read orders and avoid errors, it has prevented the duplication of all health care orders. It has also led to the sharing of the same information by all HCP and has improved the outcome and quality of care for patients. EHR has improved the privacy of patient information (Thurston, 2014). AHRQ’s EvidenceNOW initiative was established in 2015 to support the delivery of evidence-based care and improve the heart health of patients more than 1000 primary care practices nationwide by supporting ongoing health information technology evaluation of practices and quality improvement efforts. But with small and medium sized practices HER has grown about 93% while some are using programs not designed to improve quality care or research. New practices still need support to navigate through the learning curve to improve their efficiency and adjust their workflows. Some practices do not report clinical quality measures to the outside group like the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and private insurers, like most practices do which helps to improve practice. Some practices are not aware of where to go for technical assistance but there are services available such as Hospital data networks, Health information exchanges, and clinical data warehouses though some resources are not available to all practices (AHRQ, 2019).

References:

Agency for Healthcare and Research Quality (AHRQ). (2019). The promise of electronic health records: Are we there yet? Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. https://www.ahrq.gov/news/blog/ahrqviews/promise-of-electronic-health-records.html

Agency for Healthcare and Research Quality (AHRQ). (2019). Health information technology integration. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Rockville, MD. https://www.ahrq.gov/ncepcr/tools/health-it/index.html

Alexander, S., Hoy, H., & Frith, K. (2019). Applied clinical informatics for nurses (2nd ed.). Jones & Bartlett Learning.