In my opinion, electronic health records (EHRs) are an improved modification of electronic medical records (EMRs). EMRs are digital records that contain patient medical and treatment history within a clinical practice setting. These records allow health care providers to monitor patient progress and identify patients due for preventive screenings and check-ups, which improves patient quality of care. However, the major draw-back of EMRs is the fact that these records are “location limited”, restricting access to patient information to the site where care was initially provided. This location limitation creates a dissonance among health care providers, which contributes to increased medical errors and medical costs. EHRs are the same as EMRs, with the exception of being site transferable. This means patient information is shared among providers in each stage of the health care process. Therefore, patient information travels from within the hospital to the outpatient clinic to the pharmacy. This allows health care providers to avoid performing unnecessary diagnostic tests and prevents medical errors such as drug interactions and adverse drug events (ADEs).
The implementation of EHRs will dramatically impact the role of pharmacists in health care. These records will allow pharmacists to become collaborative partners in the provision of health care to patients. Pharmacists will have the opportunity to consult with physicians in establishing patient-specific therapeutic options to treat or manage disease states. As the drug experts, pharmacists will be allowed to evaluate the appropriateness of a prescribed drug as it relates to dosage and efficacy in treating a specific disease state. As a result, patients will not be subjected to sub-therapeutic doses or pharmacologic therapy for which there is no reasonable medical indication. Additionally, the availability of patient information will allow pharmacists to recognize and prevent adverse drug events (ADEs) due to drug interactions and patient drug allergies. Collectively, the implementation of EHRs will allow pharmacists to dispel the myth of being mere “dispensers” and step into the forefront as a vital component of the health care process.
The implementation of EHRs will also have a marked impact on the patient’s role in health care. EHRs increase patient accessibility to health information. As a result, patients have the opportunity to view laboratory results and monitor their progress. Positive laboratory results provide patients with an incentive to adhere to drug therapy, which improves therapeutic outcomes and patient quality of life. Additionally, the accessibility of EHRs will allow patients to become proactive partners in the decision making regarding their health care options. Patients will have the opportunity to dispute any incorrect information and address concerns that may arise prior to the administration of medication, which will prevent medical errors and ADEs.
Implementation of EHRs is driven by both limiting and facilitating factors. A primary factor that poses a threat to maximal usage of EHRs is the maintenance of privacy. Once patient information is made available to share among health care organizations, there is the opportunity for breaches in security of this information. Patients may be reluctant to allow information to be transmitted from different facilities. Therefore, measures must be taken to insure the proper health information exchange (HIE). Many organizations may opt out of implementing EHRs due to concerns regarding the costs of training and computer programs to ensure effective, secure health information exchange (HIE). One of the factors driving the implementation of EHRs is the presence of regulatory agencies committed to governing the exchange of health information according to nationally recognized standards. The Health Information Organization serves as the chief organization responsible for ensuring proper health information exchange (HIE). The HIO will provide a support system to help health care facilities transition into the challenge of acquiring the software and standards vital to establishing proper HIE and implementing EHRs. Once a proper balance is attained, EHRs may be effectively implemented to improve the quality of health care and the quality of life for patients.
A national Electronic Health Record (EHR): What are we waiting on?
EHR is long overdue. It’s is my opinion that the lack of a nation EHR system is the single biggest problem in our healthcare system. I wonder how many millions or billions of dollars we waste on repeating tests that have been done, treating adverse drug reactions that could have been prevented, or simply wasted man hours due to not having the entire patient’s information requiring us to call a dozen other offices? Life would be so much easier for every medical professional if we could simply look up the patient and see every symptom, diagnosis, and medication that they had taken since birth. It would make every medical professional’s life simpler. It would make providing care for the patient simpler, safer, and more efficient. It would cut costs of healthcare. It would save everyone money.
There are really only a few problems with such a system. The biggest problem is those that are resistance to change. We have to convince the public that it is safe and beneficial. Everyone likes the fact that their medical records are safe. Everyone, also, knows that nothing is absolutely safe if it is accessed via the internet or any open network. This problem will affect all others. We have to find a way to convince people that, even though there are those security risks, they are paled in comparison to the benefits. I believe most medical professionals would embrace this idea, but there will always be those that resist any change. The size and scale of such a system would require the government to manage. It would require new laws, rules, and regulations. It would literally require an act of congress. After that little problem of government passing such an act, there is the cost. The startup cost would be huge, initially. I couldn’t even guess such a number, but it would pay itself off rather quickly in savings and human lives. The last big problem is converting our entire medical industry to a new system. The new training will be difficult for some. The cost to the medical facilities will be great. There is also the question of how do we achieve all of this? How do we do it? How long should we take? What happens when the system goes down (because we know all computers and networks crash sometime)? What are the backup options?
In the end, I feel all the negatives and other questions are irrelevant. The thought of having a national medical data base that medical professionals can access for information on any patient at anytime makes perfect sense. I doubt anyone can doubt the logic and benefit of such a system. I doubt the can say we would be better off without it. The only thing people can say is: How much is it going to cost? How are we going to do it? How long will it take? And how safe will my private information be in the system?
Trying to stop electronic health records from becoming the standard of practice is like trying to stop a train from barreling down the tracks. Change is coming. For decades the United States health care system has relied on punitive, ineffective, and expensive methods of storing and sharing personal health information. With the advent of the computer and the internet, health care records are poised for a face lift. Once it was only possible to record patient data on paper and share it via physical messenger. However, now it is possible to do these tasks electronically. One enabling factor for this conversion is the fact that computers and the internet are not only pervasive in business but relatively inexpensive. Because computers are everywhere there is a built in infrastructure that is just waiting to be tapped. Additionally, the free market has made this technology cheap through competition. Unfortunately, one hindrance from this becoming reality is that having this technology is a choice. In other words no one can make you have this technological infrastructure. The reason this is important is because this model will not work unless everyone buys into it. Perhaps a way in which this can be brought about in pharmacy is through national organizations urging members to buy into this model.
From my experience, I have seen this technology trying to creep its way into the daily workflow of pharmacy. More and more online patient records are being stored and analyzed in the recent past. This is good for the patients because it provides extra-care for them. Further more, if this information is made accessible to patients it will encourage them to become proactive in their involvement and management of their own health. Pharmacy currently is able to store all drug related information into a company wide database and share it with every other pharmacy within that company. This makes going from one in state chain pharmacy to the same chain pharmacy out of state an easy and smooth process. This system improves patient care, as well as making it easier and more convenient for patients. If this system were to be integrated between all chain and independent pharmacies it would make the entire profession more proficient, profitable, and personal.
The adoption of electronic medical records and electronic health records still has room for improvement in pharmacy. As it stands, only partial electronic health records exist on the pharmacy level. However, some health care providers, like Kaiser Permanente in Atlanta Georgia, are offering complete electronic medical records to patients. Pharmacies must begin to become more like this in order to provide even better patient care. A transformation into a system that has more information will allow a pharmacist to do his or her job better, allowing for better patient care.
The digital age has come upon us and now it is our responsibility to keep up with the movement. Pharmacy is already beginning to take the initial steps toward electronic medical records. The adoption of this would be better for pharmacy and better for the patient. As this oncoming train of electronic medical records is coming ask yourself this, are you on board?
An EHR would be very valuable in the pharmacy field. An EHR is an electronic health record that follows a patient from health professional to another health professional. I have seen while working in pharmacies that many patients do not remember all their past medical history, including surgical histories and past medications. I would like for EHRs to help further transform the pharmacy field into a profession where the pharmacist has more of a role in determining a patients prescription medications. By using an EHR, pharmacists are able to check if the patient has used a medication in the past that did not work and advises the doctor to try a different route of treating a disease state. A downside to the EHR program is that patients cannot help to edit their information. For example, say a patient travels outside of the US and has to go to the hospital. They are treated and given a medication. When arriving back in the US, they go to their primary care physician and inform the doctor of what happened while in another country. However, the patient cannot remember the infection they had nor can they remember the name of the prescription medication they were on. In this situation, the EHR would be incomplete because the patient could not update their medical information while in another country as soon as the infection occurred. Although this may occur, I believe that an EHR would be of great benefit to the patient. This is due to the patient not being required to spend ten minutes filling out a medical history form at each doctor’s office that he/she may visit and the physician will have a more complete history through the EHR than most patients are able to give. A lot of patients have difficulties in remembering all of their past and current medical history, especially if they have numerous disease states and prescription medications for each one.
The impact of EHRs on pharmacists role with other health care providers is ensuring that the prescription history is complete, assuming the patient has always used your pharmacy and no others. Pharmacists will also be able to assist physicians in the prescribing process by giving the physician the best advice possible based on the patient’s medical history. A few limitations exist for this implementation. One is that patients fear their information will be out in the open for anyone to look at. Also, physician are afraid that an EHR will increase their workload because they will have to stay up later at night in order to update all their patients medical records. However, there are also many advantages that enable EHR to be implemented. One such enabler is that physicians will not have to go through the process of asking for a full medical history each time a new patient comes into their office. Also, patients will not have to try to remember every medical problem that they have ever had in their life.
To make the EHR better for patients and physicians to accept this program, I would require a medical ID number be assigned to each patient. This is for the patients anonymity if the information somehow gets stolen. All physicians will be able to know which patient is being discussed because once the physician has signed into the program, the patient’s name is easily found. To make this program easier for physicians to implement, I think that the computer program that they use to keep up with medical records in their office will also have a program that automatically updates the patient’s EHR.
The Harvard Gazette has a published an interesting article regarding Electronic Health Record titled “U.S. lagging in adoption of electronic health records”. This article was published in October, of 2006! An Electronic Health Record, or EHR, has been a topic of political health discussion in the United States at least half a decade to this point. Former President Bush stated, soon before the above article was published, that there was a need for healthcare institutions to implement electronic health records for the majority of patients by 2014. While we, as a country, may well be on track to adapting to the advancements in health information technology and its potential, the overwhelming majority appear to simply wonder how such an enormous and daunting task could be possible to achieve, not to mention the safety issues that go along with electronically “shared” health information. However, despite these apparent difficulties, the reasons for implementing such a system profoundly outweigh the risks that are associated with developing and maintaining a secure Electronic Health Record.
As a pharmacy student, ideas of how the possibilities of what the probable Electronic Health Record could do to change the pharmacy profession excites me, as I hope it would for a great many other health-care professionals. Accessibility to an all in compassing resource pertaining to a specific patient, at a specific time, that is actually complete, would make the job of a pharmacist extremely easier, but also more complete as well. The risk of drug allergies, drug interactions, and other drug related adverse events and adverse reactions would tremendously decrease simply because the pharmacist would no longer need to rely on a patient for pertinent information that he or she may not understand or simply not remember. An appropriate example to demonstrate this idea is when a patient must fill out repetitive information regarding multiple disease states when visiting multiple places to seek medical advice. If this person were part of an Electronic Health Record system, the important information would be easily accessible at all those locations. Consequently the patient’s experience with the overall health care system could be more enjoyable.
Not to be excluded from reality, this task would require economical expenses to be achievable. Although this statement is true, I believe the cost could be balance between the three parties that already have an investment in the patient’s health otherwise. First, the patient themselves could be responsible for a small portion, similar to a tax. Next, the pharmacist, and other health-care providers, could be responsible for another portion due to the fact that they would be benefiting greatly. Finally, insurance and similar institutions could also pay for a portion of the required expense. My reasoning behind these ideas includes the following: the patient receives the benefit of a healthier life, and as a result two things will occur. One, the insurance company assumes less cost for healthcare overall for those patients participating in EHR, and two, health care professionals would require less malpractice insurance due to the decreased risk of slips and accidents with medication during the drug filling process.
You are calmly heading to meet your new physician, then you remember, the seemingly never-ending paperwork. It would be so much more convenient if healthcare providers already had your entire medical/health history instead of you having to imprecisely recreating it. The development and use of Electronic Health Records (EHR) would help with that drastically. An EHR incorporates the health-related information for an individual patient that can be accessed by multiple health care parties. The EHR can include, but is not limited to, an individual’s medical history, immunization records, allergies, medication therapy, vital signs, laboratory information, assessments and notes from providers, and insurance/billing information. EHRs are going to be integral part of medicine and healthcare in the near future. There is not one person who would not benefit from the use EHR. The thought of EHR is that every healthcare provider would have easy, almost instant access to an individual’s entire medical history. The patient’s EHR would be a concise, accurate document providing various details of past and current healthcare. The EHR would allow for more effective healthcare decisions, improve the quality of healthcare, and possibly decrease some of the stress on the healthcare provider and patients. EHRs enable the development of a central system for all healthcare providers. EHR would be immensely valuable for the field of pharmacy. Often times as pharmacists, whether clinical or community, we are not always briefed on a patient’s complete drug therapy or the rationale for drug therapy. This lack of knowledge prevents pharmacists from providing the most proficient pharmaceutical care. Not only does the EHR enhance the relationship and care between the pharmacist and patient, but also the relationship between the pharmacist and physicians, as well as, nurses. EHR would allow for effective collaboration between the various healthcare providers, thus benefiting all involved parties. An individual’s EHR would also allow for the patient to have access to their medical record, this access allows them to keep up with their healthcare and be proactive in their individual healthcare. Additionally, the patient would be able to add information. EHR utilizes modern technology that many people have come to expect in today’s society. EHR allows for the movement of information electronically, thus allowing for quicker updates and retrieval. Many individuals may work worry about the safety and security, but through the use of interoperability, an health information exchange, and the various HIT committees security and privacy can be well controlled. The major advantage of EHR is that is modern technology, but this also the major disadvantage of EHR. Technology is a wonderful tool, but it is not always reliable and predictable. At anytime a glitch could occur and EHR could be inaccessible, this could potentially cause major issues for patients attempting to get healthcare during the time of a glitch. Other concerns are the maintenance of EHRs, the central coordination of all EHRs, time involved in creating and learning the technology, cost, and the need for a constant “back-up” of EHRs. I believe the all persons that receive or provide healthcare will gain from the use of EHRs and we will soon be seeing them across the US, so get ready to say goodbye to that never-ending paperwork required at each new visit.
The electronic health record is an electronic record of a patient’s health related information. It can be accessed by providers across the nation as well as the patient themselves. Paper records have been kept for decades but become a problem when patients are seen by more than one provider. Patients may not always remember exactly what procedures they’ve had done or when they were done, they may not know every medication that they are taking, and they definitely can’t remember every visit to their physician throughout their lives. With the use of electronic health records, all of this information will be kept in one place for easy access. This will greatly impact physicians, pharmacists, and patients.
A big issue for pharmacists right now is the issue of polypharmacy. This is when patients have medications filled at multiple different pharmacies. When this occurs, pharmacists aren’t always aware of every medication a patient is taking. There could be a major drug interaction between two or more of them, but the pharmacist won’t be able to prevent this from occurring if they aren’t aware of every medication being taken. With an electronic health record, pharmacists will be able to see every medication, both past and present, that a patient takes. This ability will drastically improve our capability to properly monitor patients and counsel them on possible issues that may arise.
Patients will also greatly benefit from electronic health records. Not only will their medication regimens be better monitored, thus resulting in improved health outcomes, but they may also be able to save time and money. Many times, diagnostic procedures are performed multiple times because physicians are unaware that they have already been done. This increases costs for patients and slows the process of diagnosis and treatment. With electronic health records, this will no longer be an issue. Physicians will be able to access information regarding past procedures and will know what has already been tried. This will greatly decrease the time and money spent by the patient. In addition, patients can access their health record at any time and make changes to it. This will allow patients to stay informed about their own healthcare and become more involved in it.
One enabler to this new technology is the current use of incentives. Hospitals and physicians are currently being offered monetary incentives to incorporate this technology into their practice. In addition, electronic health records can save physicians a lot of time. They will already have a patient’s medical history when they see them which will cut down on the time used trying to obtain this information. However, with every good comes a bad. This technology will require physicians to learn new technology and may affect workload and flow. Changes will likely need to be made in the way their offices typically function which is sometimes a limitation to incorporating new technology into practice.
I hope that the healthcare industry accepts this new technology and realizes what a great improvement it can make in patient outcomes. I know it will take time for healthcare providers to completely shift from paper to electronic records, but look forward to utilizing electronic records in my future practice.
Implementing the Electronic Health Record has the potential to change our system of healthcare. It’s baffling and somewhat embarrassing in this day in age that record keeping in the healthcare system is still mostly paper based and that the patient’s information, which is essential to providing good care, is not shared between providers. It would just make sense if instead of every provider collecting their own information, the patient could have one record that all the providers can contribute to and use. That way all the doctors, nurses, pharmacists, first responders etc. that are involved with that patient can make decisions using all the latest tests, labs, and medication information. After all, we are supposed to be a team, aren’t we? An EHR would foster the sharing of information that would ultimately benefit the patient and lead to better quality of care.
Having an EHR for patients would be especially helpful for pharmacists. Information such as allergies and medication history could follow the patient no matter what pharmacy they chose to use. When dispensing a medication, it would often be good to know what the doctor is prescribing the medication for in case there is a better medication or if the pharmacist is going to counsel the patient. With pharmacists doing more immunizations these days, patients wouldn’t need to keep up with their immunization record if the pharmacist could access that information from their EHR. This might help in having a more timely administration of vaccines as well as avoiding multiple vaccines due to a lack of information.
I also like the idea of a Personal Medical Record and I think that aspects of that could be incorporated into the EHR. It would be a good idea if patients could contribute as well and their information be stored and shared. Patients could document things like blood pressure readings, glucose readings, weight, or anything that they measure at home that a provider would be interested in. The patients may not need access to all parts of the record, but it would be good if their notes were included as well.
While implementation of an Electronic Medical Health Record system is a positive advancement within the healthcare system, Electronic Medical Health Record-based systems are not without their inherent flaws. Privacy issues come into play with an electronic record that could be easily accessed. Patients will have concerns about who can see their personal information. There will be some initial mistrust when patients no longer see their information locked up in cabinets, but rather it’s floating around in cyber space. With more widespread use of EHRs there may need to be restrictions on what each provider can see. There may be times when every provider doesn’t need all of the patient’s health information. Does your podiatrist need to see the results of your mammogram? Another problem with fully converting to electronic records is that providers will be at their mercy when technology malfunctions as it often does. The doctor may not be able to run his clinic if the internet went down or the software had an issue and he were unable to access his patient’s records.
The implementation of Electronic Health Records (EHRs) has great potential to positively impact health care, offering many benefits to all health care professionals and patients. Mandating EHRs would allow for transparency of patient records among all health care professionals. This transparency would greatly enhance pharmacist’s ability to properly recommend medication adjustments. From my work experience in a retail pharmacy, I think the biggest road block for a pharmacist making medication changes is not knowing the diagnosis and complete medical history of the patient. Most prescriptions do not indicate why the drug was prescribed, so the pharmacist cannot be 100% sure the drug they are dispensing is the most appropriate medication, even though it is what the physician prescribed. The current health documentation system does not allow pharmacists to positively impact patient care to the full potential they are educated to do. The general public is very health ignorant, and therefore the brief medical history patient’s give to a pharmacy is inaccurate and incomplete. These three factors cumulatively hinder a pharmacist’s ability to accurately suggest medication therapy, and would all be avoided with the use of EHRs. One major limitation of EHRs would be the development and cost of software that would allow for the cross communication and compatibility among data from the vast array of health care professionals (interoperability). Purchasing the software would be expensive, and the implementation and use of the software could potentially greatly alter the established workflow in physician’s offices. This high cost and change in workflow may lead physician’s to be resistant to making the change to EHRs. Though implementation of EHRs would require much time, money, and effort from all health care professionals, it would greatly benefit the patients. Implementation would require wide scale, cohesive project management of the entire US health care system, which would be extremely complicated. If health care professionals really are in the profession to better their patient’s lives, the want to help patients in the long run (despite short term struggles) is the biggest enabler to the implementation of EHRs. Today’s health care system is unorganized and uncoordinated, and though implementation of EHRs would initially be hard, the long term patient benefits are extremely high. EHRs would greatly improve patient care, yet the typical patient might not even be aware drastic changes have occurred. EHRs do not require anything extra from patients. However, patients would benefit therapeutically. Patient’s would spend less time filling out multiple medication history forms at every doctor’s office and pharmacy visited, and the accuracy of medication histories would improve because the patient “history” would be created first hand as illnesses and diagnoses occur. EHRs could also enable patient to be more active in their own healthcare. Patients would also have the ability to access their medical records and make comments on the document. Accuracy of the record would not be compromised because patients would only be able to comment, but not alter the document. EHRs would be extremely hard to implement, but would lead to patients receiving better care from all aspects of the health care system. The medical record transparency EHRs would create would allow professionals to focus more on their specialty. Specifically, physicians could focus more on diagnosis and pharmacists could focus more on appropriate medication therapy.
The use of the Electronic Medical Record is quickly becoming the preferred documentation of many doctor’s offices, hospitals, and places of clinical businesses. The Electronic Medical Record provides an overview of care for a particular patient at a particular organization. It is quickly proving itself to be much more efficient and accurate than the paper records of the past, and it is impacting patient care in a positive way.
In the past, paper records have been the standard in tracking patient care. Health care providers were responsible for documenting the care given to patients on paper documents. Paper records, at the time, were the most efficient and accurate way of documentation, but are becoming quickly outdated upon the emergence of Electronic Medical Records (EMR). Paper records can be easily lost, and are not as quickly accessible are EMR. They are also subject to the unintelligible writing of health care providers, and are not subject to controlled medical vocabulary that EMR are.
EMR have made the patient care process much easier. They provide a real time documentation of patient care and also provide an accurate documentation of the person administering a service. This is helpful for a pharmacist to document any services provided to a patient so that they can be billed for later. The EMR is online, so there is not a risk of losing it in natural disasters. Since it is online it is easily accessible by all health care providers for a particular patient at a particular organization. Where there is only one copy of a patient’s paper health record, the EMR can be accessed by all healthcare providers in a particular organization for a patient. This makes it easier for a pharmacist to review a patient’s medication list if they work within the same organization. This also makes it easier for a pharmacist to receive information about a patient from an organization who has EMR. When the pharmacist call’s a physician’s office that uses EMR, the information is accessed much faster and easier than it would be on paper. Online EMR also decrease errors in the medication dispensing process due to unintelligible handwriting. The EMR is also subject to controlled medical vocabulary. Controlled medical vocabulary is a tool used to standardize the reporting of patient care. In the future when everyone moves to EMR, this will make the pharmacist’s role much easier.
Patient also benefit from the use of EMR. Since health care providers have to document patient care in real time, they are much more likely to provide accurate and up to date care. Also, since the providers have access to the patient’s EMR, they are more able to provide the best treatment option considering all the factors that apply to the patient.
One limitation to EMR is implementation. Although EMR can provide faster and more accurate care for a patient, it takes time and money for an organization to transfer all of the paper records to electronic ones. Some organizations may not have the funds or the means to do this. Another limitation would be if the database containing the EMR crashed, they would not be accessible during that time. These are drawbacks, but the EMR enables the healthcare provider and pharmacist to provide the best care possible.
Through my experience in a community retail pharmacy, I continually see the need and importance of the Electronic Health Record (EHR). Although EHR’s aren’t implemented universally, I’ve seen a glimpse of its potential while working as an intern at CVS Pharmacy. Our database is linked centrally to where we can see a patient’s full medication history. The drawback is that it only includes prescriptions, notes, and comments pertaining to CVS, and we all know that many patients use multiple pharmacies, tend to go where the coupons are available, etc. This central linkage is very convenient for us to piece together things a patient can’t tell us specifics on. It’s also very nice when we need to transfer medications for patients who are traveling and just need a one-time fill at our store. I’ve also seen the need for an EHR in my PPE experience. A patient of mine sees multiple physicians and although one is her PCP, she often forgets what she has told to each physician. This has led to duplicate therapy and a few prescriptions that should not be taken together for interaction reasons. I’m so glad that our PPE program is there to catch things like that, but it just shows how much can be avoided if we had an EHR.
I would like to see the EHR have a big impact on the pharmacists practice. We all know that the role of a pharmacist is changing and we are being given more trusting roles in counseling, collaborating, and medication therapy management. To fill these roles effectively, we have to be in the loop. Patients don’t always give us all the information we need and to be honest, we don’t always ask the right questions. If we had an EHR, we could not only be thorough and complete, but also efficient in seeing more patients. I think this would also help pharmacists gain more trust from both physicians and patients. Sometimes pharmacists are simply thought to be “drug dispensers”, but we have a lot of training and knowledge so I think the EHR would enhance what we can do for the health care world. However, I don’t want the impact of the EHR to be centered solely on the pharmacy world. I think that if used correctly, there wouldn’t be any bad impacts, but I don’t want there to be competition between the physician and pharmacy/pharmacists. I believe that we need to set a collaborative and united front to gain the trust of the patient and show them that the implementation of the EHR is a positive step for health care.
Patients would benefit greatly from an EHR. We’ve just learned in lecture how patients are more involved in their healthcare than ever before. There are so many sources on the internet where patients can learn about health conditions, treatments, and medications. We also know that many health complications are lifestyle related and may be prevented by patients taking precautions and staying aware of their health. Physicians don’t always have the time to fully counsel a patient on a condition or medication they prescribe. So many times patients come to the pharmacy and if you ask them what the doctor told them, they simply reply, “He/She told me to come here to you.” Having a EHR could open up the door for the pharmacist to fully explain what the patient has been diagnosed with, counsel on the medication, implement healthy strategies to aid and enhance medication therapy, answer questions, and then follow up later to see the results. We could have such an important role of giving patients an active role and a better understanding of what’s going on. Creating awareness has a wonderful benefit for them!
As I said earlier, it is imperative for physicians and pharmacists to have a good relationship. We as pharmacists are not trying to take over a doctor’s job and overstep boundaries. We are all here to improve patient’s health and collaborate to complete that task effectively. I think that if both sides keep that in mind, it will strengthen the relationship between the pharmacist and physician, especially when we see a positive outcome that may not have occurred without the EHR and collaboration.
There are going to be some limitations to the maximal usage of an EHR. This includes time, money, and the size of health care. There are so many doctors’ offices in Auburn, Alabama and to think of universally putting together records from all the states is a bit overwhelming. This would take a huge amount of time and money that I’m not sure is available at this time or in the near future. I think many people agree that this would be a great thing for our health care, but I’m not sure it’s feasible right now and that’s a big limitation. However, there are enablers that are driving the campaign for an EHR. We talked about Hurricane Katrina in class and how the natural disaster shed light on this situation and the need for an EHR. Little incidences pharmacists see each day also contribute to the need for the EHR, such as duplicate therapy, drug interactions, allergies, and medical conditions. I think the EHR is imperative for where healthcare is going but I also understand the constraints that are making it difficult to take off. The only way I know to handle that would be to phase it in a little at a time. I’m not sure there will ever be full resources available to complete this project all at once so we have to start somewhere!
I believe that a big advancement in health care lies in the electronic health record (EHR). The EHR is a person’s medical record that stays with them for their healthcare. This would allow all healthcare providers to have access to this information that could contain their laboratory values, diagnosis, and medications. With this kind of all inclusive access, the implications for a pharmacist could be huge. A patient can receive better medication management advice from the pharmacist if they have access to this kind of information. An electronic health record could also mean less medication errors due to drug interactions or unreported patient allergies. The pharmacist will also be able to make better assessments for chronic disease states, such as diabetes or dyslipidemia. Patients might not realize the importance of these laboratory values and this way the pharmacist can better know how a patient is doing, without having to have the patient bring them a hard copy of their laboratory values. I think this kind of disease state management is the future for pharmacists. I have seen the potential for this kind of record keeping first hand through my experiences with PPE. I have several patients that are older than 65 years old. This population represents a large demographic of the kind of patients that frequent pharmacies. There have been many times that my patient’s are experiencing consequences of their disease state (i.e. symptoms of low blood sugar in diabetes) and they will have recently gotten their A1c, but they do not remember the reading. If there was a comprehensive electronic health record that could be accessed by care providers wirelessly, then I could have pulled up that information and provided disease state education. I can see the benefits of the electronic health record, but I know there could also some negative impacts. There is always a risk that information can get into the wrong hands. The comprehensiveness of the electronic health record is both a strength and a weakness. There would have to be many privacy protections put into place to ensure that such personal information is accessed by healthcare providers working with that patient. In a pharmacy there are many technicians and interns that all have access to the same workstations. It would be extremely important to have trustworthy employees with such private information. The electronic health record could have a positive impact on the relationship with other providers. This kind of record keeping could open doors for collaboration between different health care providers. The patient’s primary care provider would be able to see if the patient was seen by a specialist and thus they could collaborate with the other provider on what kind of care is best for their patient.
Overall, I think the electronic health record would be a great advancement in the field of pharmacy. It would allow for collaboration with other health care providers and make way for better patient care. The hardest part of the electronic health record would be getting it started. This would be process that would require resources such as money and technology support. I believe that implementation of the electronic health record would also require understanding from the patient that although there might be some extra paperwork for them in the beginning, in the end it could mean better healthcare. I think the process to implement the electronic health record should begin on a small scale with the primary health care providers and pharmacies. The only limitations I can see would be if the health care providers had trouble adapting to the new technologies. This can be overcome with an open mind and good training.
EHR (Electronic Health Record) is a technology that will change all aspects of pharmacy. Pharmacy has always been one of the professions that has always been adapting to changes as technology is changing. Pharmacist’s role and technology is always evolving and it is imperative that pharmacy along with other health care providers, and patients continue to grow and evolve and adapt to all of these changes.
Using electronic health records will significantly impact how pharmacists work. Electronic health records will help streamline pharmacy practice, and decrease the time it takes to fill a prescription. It will help bypass the paper work and help reduce workload. Additionally, it will reduce medication errors due to transcription mistakes. Transcription mistakes are very common in pharmacy and they are deadly, and completely unnecessary. Electronic health records will completely eliminate these fatal errors. Patients forging or tampering with prescriptions would no longer be an issue as well. Therefore, electronic health records will bypass the middleman and reduce the chances for mistakes, tampering, and making the whole prescription filling process more efficient.
Electronic health records will not only change how pharmacist’s jobs are impacted but it will also impact patients. Patients will mainly be concerned with their security. There is always a real concern of companies will have their private health information and sell it to insurance companies or it will get in the hands of people that do not have health care as their primary interest. On the other hand, some patients might like electronic health care because all of their information is accurate and in a location that all of their health care providers can obtain. Therefore, in the case of an emergency for disaster all of the patient’s medication information is easily obtained in one centralized location.
One limitation of electronic health record is cost. Upgrades and implementing the electronic health record program can be very costly and time consuming. This could cause various hospitals and physicians to resist using electronic health record technology. Training all personnel using the technology will also be very expensive. It is also necessary to consider the upkeep and maintenance cost of running the electronic health record system on the daily basis.
Although there are some limitations regarding the implementation of electronic health records being used in pharmacy and health care, there are some ways in which the health care field can enable maximal usage of electronic health records. A way in which to enable this is to ensure electronic health records are accessible. If electronic health records are accessible, I believe being accessible to the authorized people at the right times would be the greatest advantage of electronic health care records. For this to be used by the majority of health care providers and medical facilities it is important for them to accessible.
It is important to consider the strengths and weaknesses of the implementation of electronic health records. It is important that electronic health records are accessible to both patients and providers. Technology in health care is limitless and despite it’s limitations and electronic health records could help reduce medication errors, improve workflow, and enhance patient accessibility to their health documents.
EMRs and EHRs are a computerized digital form of a patient’s health record. Even with the technological advances in today’s age, the most preferred method of recording patient information for most hospitals and other health locations are paper based records. Why? Most of us would agree when I say that it might be due to the convenience of making a data entry on the spot. I have worked in a hospital pharmacy for the past few years, even though electronic records are making their way in practice, I know from personal experience that doctors still write records on paper and fax them to the pharmacy or other places when needed. I know that it’s convenient however, I believe that having an electronic medical record (EMR) and an electronic health record (EHR) is really important for all patients and for the health system overall.
Once computerized this information is stored and is accessible to anyone/anywhere via a network. By making this information accessible through a network would not only benefit the patients, but also every health care system and provider throughout the nation. This technology can be beneficial in many ways such as: reducing errors, keeping records safe, cost efficient, better treatment outcomes for patients, and many more. Misspelling, illegibility, and differing terminologies are just some of the downfalls of hand written records. Making a health record electronic can prevent such errors and lead to better patient health outcomes. Fires, floods, and other natural catastrophes have been known to damage physical health records for years. Electronic records can be stored forever, and can also be useful to keep record of health information that patients forget over time. EHRs are also very efficient as they ensure that all of the patient’s information is stored in one place and eliminates the cost of acquiring previous health records from different locations when needed. This will help patients receive quality care on the spot without having to wait for their records to be acquired. This will also help pharmacists and physicians to provide patients with fast, accurate care by having the complete patient history on site leading to better patient outcomes.
EMR/EHR are very beneficial however, they do have some downfalls. Some of the negatives associated with electronic records are that they may threaten our privacy, lead to a loss of human touch in health care, might not be that efficient, and are not as safe or secure as one might think. They might threaten our privacy in the sense that having one’s entire medical history recorded and digitalized for anyone to see might not be very appealing to everyone. Patient might see this as a treat to their patient confidentiality rights. Critics say that even though electronic records make information ready and accessible this is not a standardized record yet and may not be as efficient as it’s made to sound. One location’s EMR system may not be compatible with others and this may lead to errors and inefficiency. Also, everyone in today’s age has heard about data hacking, and stolen identities. Having your entire medical history electronically with the fear that it might get into the wrong hands or can be used against one is not a very appealing scenario to anyone. This furthers the downfalls against electronic records and is one area that needs to be worked on for this concept to be feasible to patients worldwide.
Even though there are a few downfalls, I believe that this is a great technology that can be beneficial to health care providers and patients alike. As mentioned, it will allow storage of health information in one location. You can even personalize it, as in the patient can decide what information of theirs will be recorded and what won’t be. It will give everyone faster and easier access and also it’s completely free. I believe this can be a great advancement in the medical profession.
There are advantages as well as disadvantages to the development and utilization of Electronic Health Records (EHRs). As this tool comes to fruition, pharmacists and patients will definitely experience its impact.
Pharmacists stand to gain great benefits from EHRs. One such benefit will be the ability to take a more active role in the provision of health care to their patients. As it now stands, very little collaboration with other health care providers is achieved unless pharmacy care is taking place in a clinical setting. Within the retail setting, pharmacists, more often than not, fall into the role of dispenser and are viewed as such by others. In this mode, access to patients’ health and medication histories are limited to what has been entered into the computer systems linking “sister” stores. While this is somewhat helpful, this does not provide the full picture necessary for making the most informed decisions about patient care. For instance, if a patient pays cash for narcotics prescribed by one physician at a retail pharmacy then goes to a competing chain and pays cash for the same narcotic prescription written by a different provider, catastrophic events could occur. In this instance, the insurance company which would have flagged the second prescription has been bypassed. The disconnect between the different prescribers and the two unrelated chains represent additional flaws that allowed this unacceptable fiasco to occur. Enabling all providers to have access to a standard record that profiles the prescriptions and care provided to a patient would be very useful in curtailing such events as the one previously described. From the provider’s standpoint, the disadvantages of such a system are almost nonexistent with the exception of incorporating and supporting access to such a national database once it is fully developed.
Looking at the patient’s perspective, I can see the benefits as well as the drawbacks. On the positive side of things, patients will not have to concern themselves with remembering dates of procedures, diagnoses, and their medication regimens when asked time after time to provide this data when visiting a different provider. With the EHR, this information will be accessible to all and will lessen the chances of recording misinformation. The main drawback involves patients’ reluctance to open up their personal health histories to innumerable amounts of people. Though only providers directly involved in a particular patient’s care should access the files, there is that ever-present human trait of curiosity. While one would hope that professionals would not needlessly access and share their data, the other human trait, paranoia, will most likely prevail in the minds of patients.
I have been on both sides of this issue. As a pharmacy intern, I have had my job made easier by the comprehensive profiles that we have built for our regular patients within our store as well as at our “sister” locations. As a patient, EHRs have allowed me to receive immunizations at various locations within my state while having a single record updated based on the services provided at these different sites.
In summary, if maximally utilized, EHRs can truly revolutionize healthcare. The reluctance of providers and patients to release pertinent information will limit this progress. Identifying adequate software programs with sound security features will allow the EHRs to flourish.
I have had experience with the Electronic Medical Record (EMR) system both in pharmacy practice settings and as a patient. At my physician’s office, my health information and vital signs are inputted directly into an electronic format without any use of paper files. Having health records in an EMR has many advantages to patients, including myself. The EMR program allows physicians to more consistently track patient’s health information, which gives them a better picture of the overall health status of individual patients. This can allow physicians to better analyze health information and communicate it to patients. For example, my physician was able to show me a line graph of my weight over the course of two years (the amount of time the office had been using the EMR). This line graph allowed him, as well as myself, to see how I was progressing which would have been more difficult if he were looking through my chart to compare weights from all of my previous visits. This same idea could be applied to tracking and relaying information on many different disease states, such as blood glucose readings to diabetic patients and blood pressure readings to patients with hypertension. One disadvantage of the EMR, however, is its inability to effectively relay information to other providers. If I see other physicians, they do not have access to my EMR from my primary care physician; this could be a problem because the different physicians must diagnose and treat my condition without having the health information present in my EMR.
As a pharmacy student, I have used the EMR system to keep a continuing record of my patients in the IPPE program; furthermore, there is a limited EMR system at my community pharmacy that I work in. These EMR’s are useful to me as a pharmacy student because they help me understand what a patient’s health and medication history have been at my practice site. Therefore, I can better follow-up with them and make recommendations for therapy because I am more informed than I would be with paper charts. EMR usage in pharmacy has the potential to minimize drug errors through a better sharing of information, such as patient drug allergies and medication history. A major limitation to optimal EMR use that I have seen in practice is the lack of intercommunication between health professionals. Despite having the technology to keep information such as drug allergies in an electronic format, we at my community pharmacy still must ask incoming patients what their allergies are. This lack of connectivity could create confusion and misinformation if the patients are unsure of their medication history. In the future, EMR usage has the potential to change the way pharmacists and other health professionals work. If regulations are enacted that will allow pertinent EMR information to be spread to other sites of care (such as a pharmacy) in the Electronic Health Record (EHR) format, a patient’s crucial health information will be available to the professionals who need it. This will help my work as a pharmacist because I can better ensure a patient’s safety; moreover, I can better analyze their diagnoses and corresponding medications to ensure that they are receiving optimal therapy. Although the expansion of the EMR/EHR system could create more work for pharmacists (in updating and using it to verify information for each patient) I believe that they will be of huge benefit to both pharmacists and to patients because vast improvements in health care can be provided. The improvement to patient health care will be a driving force to the implementation of EMR/EHR system. It will also facilitate providers to work together, which will foster inter-disciplinary relationships that could, in the future, improve the pharmacist role as a drug expert.
The extent of my experiences in pharmacy is limited to the two week summer rotation in a community pharmacy. Yet, I am aware of the implications that adoption of an electronic health record (EHR) for patients will have on medical all practices. Once we began our discussion on the topic of EHRs, I was curious as to why it has taken us so long to adopt such a system. If the founders of KatrinaHealth can pull together thousands of patients’ medical information in 10 days, what’s stopping us from picking up where they left off? EHR would make pharmacists’ and physicians’ jobs much easier. Every blood pressure reading, allergy, x-ray, lab value, etc. would be available for viewing anywhere the patient goes. For the pharmacist, all aspects of a patient’s health could (and should) be easily accessed in order to provide the best comprehensive care possible. The pharmacist would not have to their precious time calling physicians to obtain these values. Adoption of this system would be convenient for the patient as well. Patients will be relieved from the task of having to track down their medical records from one doctor to another. Instead of the patient having to report their allergies to physicians/pharmacists on multiple occasions or having to fill out the same medical information each time they visit a different doctor, everything the physician/pharmacist would need would be located in one centralized site. Additionally, EHRs offer the capability of the patient to interact with their record so that they are more involved in their own care. Many physicians will order repeat lab tests simply because they are unable to locate past results. As we all know, this greatly and unnecessarily increases health care costs. Having an EHR would resolve this problem. Also this benefits the patient so they don’t have to repeat painful procedures. Unfortunately only about 5% of private hospitals have adopted this EHR system. Most VA hospitals, however, do have electronic records. According to an ABC news special on EHRs, VA hospitals have adopted this system because they a strong financial incentive to invest in the technology due to the life-long relationship they have with their patients. Studies have shown that the VA system contributes fewer medical errors, lower costs, effective treatments and patient satisfaction. Also, when asked about their view on EHRs, the physicians and nurses at the VA all agreed that they loved the system, and that it works. The VA’s adoption of EHRs proves that it successful and appreciated. So why haven’t more private hospitals begun to incorporate EHRs into their facilities? I am unsure what the cost will be to implement a technology as complex as an EHR in all hospitals, but I can imagine it’s very expensive. Also, as we learned in class, interoperability is an aspect that needs to be considered. It may be difficult to integrate all the different systems across the United States. While the cost and complexity of implementing a technology such as EHR may initially slow its adoption, I am confident that EHRs will be well worth the trouble. Other than the aforementioned limitation of EHRs, I cannot think of any reason why EHRs should not be executed as soon as possible.
The electronic health record, I believe, will benefit patients, pharmacists, and doctors. The electronic medical record can also contribute to better patient care even though it is not the most efficient. The electronic health record can benefit patients by saving time, mistakes, and by providing better healthcare to avoid future ailments.
In my experience from a summer rotation in an independent pharmacy, the pharmacy did not use an electronic health record. Every time a patient came through the drive thru window or up to the counter and it was their first time visiting, they had to fill out a form. The form asked about their medical history, personal information, and a bunch of other random facts that are probably included on every other healthcare form they fill out at the physician’s office, eye doctor, dentist, and other healthcare providers. However, the pharmacy did seem to use some sort of electronic medical record because when patients that had visited before came back for refills, they pulled up their profile on the computer.
The use of the electronic medical record was useful to the pharmacist to pull up patient information quicker and be able to print off labels more efficiently, but the patient could have benefited more if the pharmacist did have their electronic health record. The benefit to the patient being that care could be improved by providing the pharmacist with as much information as possible so that he/she can make a better judgment on the drug therapy.
There are many more benefits to the patient and pharmacist using an electronic health record. The pharmacist can save time with new patients by not having to get them to fill out forms and enter them into the computer which can cause errors. The pharmacist will have an instant download of the patient’s complete health record which will most likely include more accurate information than what the patient would have written down on the form. This makes the pharmacist’s job easier and allows them to spend more time counseling. By the pharmacist having a more complete history, the patient benefits from avoiding adverse drug reactions or inappropriate therapies. Also, because the pharmacist has more time, the patient is allowed to have a more in depth consult from the pharmacist, which can increase drug compliance.
The electronic health record has its limitations in a few aspects. Limitations to the use of the electronic health record include patient acceptance, standardization of a program, and incorporation by healthcare providers. Patients may not want to have their personal health information out in the matrix of computers that can easily be transferred and hacked by anybody. This concern does not make too much sense though because people still today use online payment methods, online banking, or give their credit card number over the phone to the delivery pizza place. If people can trust those sites and people to keep their information safe, why cannot they trust a site to keep their health information safe? The program must be standardized so the health information is easily transferred from place to place; this can become hard with competing companies. Healthcare providers may not want to change to this program because they are set-in- stone with their ways. All of these are limitations to the electronic health record.
The factors pushing the electronic health record include the push for more efficient patient care and better stability of healthcare information. While paper is great to have patient health information on it, it has its limitations. An electronic version of a patient’s health record offers better security than paper does in that paper can easily be destroyed or lost. Imagine a few huge filing cabinets full of patients’ information, how do you move all that in the case of an emergency? Sending electronic health information is also quicker; a push of the button is all that is needed, no stamp required. Patient care can increase by every healthcare provider having all the right, accurate information. This enables the physicians and pharmacists to make better judgments on therapy and drug selection. There are great opportunities that push towards an electronic health record.
Through the use of the electronic health record there will be an initial resistance, but in the overall long run there will be more acceptances and a realization that it is the better and more efficient way for healthcare.
The electronic health record (EHR) if implanted properly could greatly influence the overall health system in a positive way. The EHR contains specific patient related health information including but not limited to: their current and previous medications, laboratory values, past surgeries and illnesses, as well as current medical diagnosis. The EHR “travels” with the patient, allowing all health care providers they may see have access to this information. By having updated information on a patient this will save the patient time from re-filling out basic forms whenever they go to a new doctor or pharmacy. It will not just save the patient time but also the doctor from having to re go over these conditions each time. The EHR will also allow the doctor the ability to make more accurate and informed decisions regarding treatments and medications for the patient. The doctor will be able to see what has worked in the past or what has caused problems without having to rely on the memory of the patient. For elderly and children this will take a significant burden off their care giver. The care giver will no longer have to remember someone else’s as well as their own medications and medical history.
With pharmacists also having access to this information they can quickly and accurately access any interactions that may occur from a change in medications. If a patient has questions about over the counter medicines the EHR will also allow the pharmacist to determine if they are able to safely add this to their current prescription regimen. While working in the pharmacy I find myself constantly having to call insurance companies because a reject message either is stating filled at another pharmacy or refill too soon. Upon mentioning this to some patients they quickly become aggressive and deny having it filled somewhere else or they become embarrassed. By having access to a patient’s current prescriptions the EHR can help notice pharmacy and doctor hopping immediately without having to call the insurance company. It will also help with controlled substances that are being filled too soon by switching back and forth from pharmacies and prescribers that are not run through insurance. In a pharmacy the EHR will save the pharmacist, pharmacy staff, and patient time by eliminating some additional steps in the fill process.
A patient will benefit knowing that all of their information is accurate and can travel with them wherever they live. It will save the patient time from having to go pick up medical records to take to a new provider or a specialist. If they were to become ill and had to be hospitalized this would provide them safety and security knowing that a physician has access to any allergies, current diagnosis, and medications they may be on. This should take some stress out of the patient with thinking they might have left something out that might detrimentally affect their health.
With all the good that the EHR has there are also limitations to it. First off the system has to be safe and secure since a patient’s confidential information is being shared. Patients are nervous of the safety of this system and need to have guarantees that it is safe, reliable, and secure. Implementing a system to transfer all of this information will take time and is extremely cost limiting which may delay it being implemented. Also people are hesitant to change; they want to stay in their current ways because they feel it is currently working. Patients are afraid of the unknown and the potential problems that may arise. We will need to show the patients the good and benefits that an EHR will provide them. The EHR will enable the physician the ability to see labs and images taken at other sites. It will also cut back on nurses’ time from asking redundant questions that are already in the EHR. Potentially this could save employee time and allow them to devote additional time and care to the patient. This could potentially result in cost savings to both the patient as well as the physician. Patients will also have the ability to view this information, which will provide them additional comforts that the information is accurate and up to date. With patients seeing the benefit and potential cost savings that could result from an EHR they may be more likely to put pressure on their current health care providers to implement the EHR.
In an era of such an explosion of technology with so many different types of industries being made electronic, it seems strange to me that our health care system, proported to be one of the best in the world, is so behind with regards to making health records electronic.
To initiate change, money usually has to be offered as an incentive. I think it is great how the government has taken an active role in being an advocate for change in this area and included as part of the stimulus package an incentive for physicians and hospitals to make the change. In contrast to American health care being thought of as the best, we also tell ourselves that the system is broken. It is inefficient and obtuse and is in the midst of a much needed giant overhaul. I feel that there is almost a sense of urgency with regards to this and the answer to the problem often creates much animosity and resentment when people start to voice their opinions.
The best way to fix a problem is by fixing it. I say get to work and do the best you can do. It is obvious that health records need to be made electronic so this is a great starting place for changing our health care system. I like to imagine how much easier health care professionals jobs would be if patients health and medical records were electronic. The patient could give their code, or maybe have a card, and the healthcare professional pulls up the pertinent information immediately and has access to a full patient history. What a remarkable thing this would be.
With technological advancement and the ability to simplify things and make life easier also comes a way for people to abuse the system and create fraud. But I actually see how making health care records electronic could reduce fraud. There is a problem with patients who “doctor shop” for prescription medication. This could be eliminated with the correct implication of electronic medical records. One patient, one record.
Sometimes patients like to get a second opinion for a diagnosis and this is actually encouraged in the community. I think that this could both create problems with electronic health records, as well as create benefits. It would be easier to see the patient’s last diagnosis and this could create an environment where the new physician could either agree with the previous diagnosis or if there is indeed a discrepancy, to make an alternative diagnosis. I think this could potentially create a logistical nightmare with insurance companies but hopefully the practice of better medicine will actually result.
So I am very excited to see the change happen in this area of our health care system. I think the road to fulfillment of the goal will be difficult, at times, but it absolutely necessary to the advancement of the health care system. With the power of the government and insurance companies behind this massive change, I think it will be accomplished before we even realize it.
For this assignment I will be discussing the benefits and drawbacks of utilizing an electronic health record (EHR) for patient interactions. An EHR would allow pharmacists and physicians to access and update a patient’s general health information. In regards to actually witnessing the EHR in action, this is something I have never witnessed in the pharmacy I work or in PPE. Like we discussed in class, an EHR is not a reality yet in most places. I think it is a tool that can greatly increase the communication between the pharmacist and physician in order to improve the care and outcomes of patients in the United States and throughout the world.
When we process a prescription at the pharmacy, pharmacists are able to generally know what the medication is prescribed for because of its mechanism of action and drug class. But, the prescription fails to point out a diagnosis for the patient. If pharmacists were able to access an EHR that provided information regarding the patient’s visit to the doctor’s office, this would be a great step forward. Pharmacists would be able to better assess the efficacy of drug selection if we knew the patient’s diagnosis. I think this would be one way that could impact the pharmacist’s job. We could access previous medical decisions to make sure a therapy tried by another doctor is not being attempted for this prescription fill. We could also see if patients are using several doctors to get multiple prescriptions for things like pain medications. I believe this could allow pharmacists to be more confident in counseling patients if we were able to utilize an EHR system.
Hopefully, utilizing an EHR system would change how patients see the healthcare system, and particularly how they see pharmacists. I believe it would be a great idea to incorporate the EHR system with a personal health record (PHR) that patients can see. I would not necessarily grant them access to physician’s notes from visits but allow them to see their entire health record. This could allow patients to better manage their healthcare and be more informed about their medications. As we discussed in class, one problem that patient’s might have with an EHR is the privacy and security factor. Steps would have to be taken to ensure that patient’s health records stay secure. I personally would feel safer and know that I would be provided with the best possible health care if all my physicians could access my health records through an EHR. To me, this is light years ahead of every physician holding ‘paper’ records and not communicating with other physicians. I will give the analogy of older patients in the pharmacy still writing checks to pay instead of using a credit card. We just have to convince patients that an EHR will benefit them and increase their quality of care.
There are some limitations and driving forces to utilization of an EHR. I think the main limitation would be the price. It would be costly to start and integrate a nationwide system that any physician and pharmacist can utilize. Insurance providers (or whoever would fund the system) would have to be convinced that in the long run, they would see a return on their investment and health care costs would decrease. Another limitation would be finding a system that every physician and pharmacist could agree on or integrating multiple different systems. To counter that, I think the number one driving force would be profit. Companies who design systems for EHR’s would want to know that they can make a profit. For health care providers, the biggest driving force of all would be the chance to open the doors of communication in order to achieve the most paramount goal – improved patient outcomes.
Electronic Health Records have the potential to significantly improve the quality of patient care. EHRs enable health care professionals to share information more easily so that they may have a better understanding of patient health statuses. They allow each of a patient’s health care providers to see the exact same information and draw conclusions that are based on a more complete and accurate picture of a patient’s current and previous health status. If a provider does not have a complete picture, then mistakes may be made and a patient’s health may suffer. Patients benefit from EHRs because they receive better care and providers benefit because they are able to make more informed decisions.
EHRs are beneficial for patients because they help keep important information from slipping through the cracks. For example, an unconscious patient may not be able to inform a physician of a severe drug allergy, but an EHR would. Also, a patient may be unaware of an upcoming booster that is needed, but a diligent health care provider may take notice of this in an EHR. To err is human, and physicians, pharmacists, and other providers are no exception. Essential information is occasionally overlooked or missed by HCPs and unfortunately patients often suffer because of it. As EHRs give providers a more complete picture of a patient’s health status and medical history, it is less likely that important information will slip through the cracks unnoticed.
Additionally, EHRs have the potential to help pharmacists perform their jobs better and more efficiently. Viewing a patient’s EHR would allow a pharmacist to see why a particular medication was prescribed. Often pharmacists are left in the dark about why a medication is ordered for a patient. For example, a diuretic could be prescribed for kidney disease, heart failure, hypertension, or another ailment. A pharmacist would have to rely on the patient for this information, and sometimes patients are not 100% sure about a medications indication. Additionally, because this record is complete and consolidated, pharmacists save time by having to look no further for information than the EHR. EHRs allow pharmacists to collect patient information in a more streamlined fashion. This process allows patients to receive better care and better service.
One limitation EHRs face is that of patient acceptance. There is a great deal of concern in healthcare with privacy issues. Many patients may be unwilling to have their health information condensed into an EHR because they may be afraid of a loss of privacy. All of their health information would be transmitted and available for each of their HCPs to see. Patients may also fear that an unauthorized person may gain access to their health information.
One of the more enabling aspects of implementing EHRs is simply the potential benefit that they hold for those involved. Patients may become more receptive to the idea of an EHR if they are educated about the benefits that EHRs allow, such as better health care, more efficient services, and more informed health care providers. EHRs are not intended to get all of a patient’s information in one place simply for faster care. It is for better care. This is crucial for patients and providers to understand to enable widespread implementation of EHRs.
In my opinion, an electronic health record (EHR) is critical in changing our current failing health system. A lot of money could be saved by having all medical information in one easily searchable document. When a patient goes from doctor to doctor, it would decrease the need to reorder test that might have already been taken. The doctor would also be able to look at the patient’s complete medical history to get a better idea of what is going with the patient. Any pharmacist would be able to easily manage the patient’s medications. It would prevent patients from seeing multiple doctors and having multiple medications for the same medical problem. The doctors would also be able to see if the patient was already on a medication for the patient’s current complaint. The EHR would help the medical profession provide more comprehensive care for the patients and save money by prevent serious medical mistakes or misdiagnoses.
The EHR is crucial for pharmacist. I think it is crazy that pharmacist do not know why a patient is receiving a medication in the first place. Prescriptions should have the indication written on them so the pharmacist would be able to double check and make sure this was the best medication for the patient. An EHR would provide the pharmacist with important information to make sure the patient is on the correct drug therapy. They would be able to make sure there are no duplicate medications, drug interactions, and disease interactions. The patient could use multiple pharmacies if they so pleased and the pharmacist would still be able to provide the patient the best service possible because they would have all the patients information in front of them.
The only limitation is the fear of losing privacy. Unfortunately, I think we are have already lost a lot of freedom and privacy. The government already tracts a lot of your daily activities. Some people post their whole entire lives on the internet. I can understand some people not wanting their information out there for all medical personal to access because even though we are all HIPA certified and have regulations to follow, not everyone follows the rules about privacy. I think more people would benefit from an EHR then the few that would be negatively affected by it.
A central location for these documents would also have to be created. In my opinion the medical field should all use the same computer programs anyways. Instead of companies competing with each to sell their programs, they should all work together to build the best system for the country. We restrict our technology and ability to provide the best care possible with money. If we as a country did not care about making the most money, but instead focused on providing the best care, we would all be a lot better off. If the same computer system was in every hospital, pharmacy, and doctors office, any medical personal could walk into any facility and provide care for the patients. It would also make it easy to share information between providers.
I believe that electronic health records could change the healthcare system that we are used to. If pharmacists and physicians could have access to the same records, both groups of people could do their jobs better. If physicians were aware of what their patients were already taking, they could be more careful about prescribing a mediation that would interact. If the pharmacist could see what the patients are taking, even prescriptions filled at other pharmacies, this would insure that the pharmacist has the information needed to make an educated decision about the patients health care. This would also prevent patients from seeing multiple doctors for the same illness. There is a huge problem with patients seeing multiple doctors complaining of something that would require pain medication to treat. The doctors are hesitant to give prescriptions for pain medications if they are questioning the patients intentions, but at the same time they want to make sure they are not letting anyone suffer with extreme pain. If this electronic health record was implemented, it would prevent patients from being able to see multiple doctors seeking pain medications.
Pharmacists need the diagnosis code in order to provide our patients with the best care. When an antibiotic is prescribed, we must tell the patients what the side effects are and how to take the drug, but we cannot verify whether or not it is the appropriate drug for the illness. Pharmacists could help physicians in many ways if they knew the diagnosis. If a patient cannot afford their medication, the pharmacist will call the doctor to see if they can change to a cheaper medication, but cannot suggest anything until he finds out what the drug is being used for. This would help patients be able to come to pharmacists as the complete resource to their drugs and conditions. This would take some of the weight off of the physicians so they can focus on diagnosis new disorders rather than maintaining treatment for already diagnosed patients.
Confidentiality would be a concern I have about the electronic health record. I am not sure how they would keep this information secure. With the internet the way it is today, most things can be hacked into. I would not want my electronic health record on the internet available for anyone to see. I would not want people to be able to use my health record against me when considering me for a job or for a loan. If an employer, for example, knew you had a condition that could impact your job status, they might not hire you for that position.
The electronic health record is something I see happening in the near future. Pharmacists need this information to do their job better, and I am sure patients would agree since it would better their care with the most accessible health care professionals. Patients always look to us for knowledge, and this can only increase the amount of help we can provide our patients. It could change the way health care operates.
An electronic health record (EHR) could help change American health care in a positive direction. EHRs are a digital collection of patient information that can include medical history, allergies, vital signs and laboratory results. This record can then be shared among different health care providers including pharmacists. An electronic health record could impact the way a pharmacist works on a daily basis. By having full access to a patient’s full medical and medication history, a pharmacist would be able to improve the quality of care that patients can receive. Pharmacists would be able to determine any interactions that may occur with a patient’s medications or disease states especially with over the counter medications. It would be easier to for a pharmacist to recommend a product to a patient if he was able to have access to the patient’s allergy information and any other condition that could interact with many over the counter medications.
Electronic health records would also greatly benefit the patients. Many patients today may prefer to get second opinions on any major medical diagnosis. The availability of an electronic health record would make this process easier. Doctors would be able to access a patient’s previous lab results without having to rerun tests. Patients also would not have to try and get any paperwork or labs to be sent to other doctors. Many times this can take several days to weeks to happen. With an EHR a patient can receive a second opinion faster and at a lesser expense due to not having to have duplicate tests run. Patients would also not have to fill out family history or past medical history paperwork at each doctor that they visit. All of that information would be included in each patient’s electronic health record that the doctor could access. Patients would probably appreciate this benefit of EHRs because it would save them time and possibly headaches at every new doctor visit.
One limitation that may prevent the full implementation of electronic health records is unwillingness to change. Many health care providers may not want to have to switch to a new system of record keeping. A switch to a new system would take a great deal of time to learn how to use. All persons that would have to use the system would need to be instructed on how to use the system. Health care providers may be hesitant in switching over to an electronically based health record because of the time it would take to learn an entirely new system when it is just easier to stay with the current way.
One driving factor that could help facilitate the use of EHRs is that the information would not be lost in a natural disaster. Like with Hurricane Katrina, the recent outbreaks of severe weather have destroyed doctor’s offices and pharmacies. Many patients’ medical records have been lost including what medications they take. If patients’ records were kept electronically, they would not have to worry about losing all information to natural disasters or fire. EHRs would help to preserve their medical histories from any form of destruction allowing patients to be helped quicker after any tragedy.
In management class this semester we discussed the future implementation of electronic medicals records (EMR) and electronic health records (EHR). These are records that contain specific patient health information such as labs, diagnosis, allergies, past and current medications. An EMR only contains patient health information that was obtained or performed at that site and the EMR is owned by that hospital or clinic. This information does not stay with the patient if the patient chooses to be seen by physicians or pharmacists at another hospital or clinic. An EHR contains all of the specific health information that has been obtained or performed on that patient at any hospital or clinic. This information stays with patient no matter which hospital or clinic they visit and the patient owns the information.
An EMR simply requires physicians to transfer their paper copy of patient information into an electronic database. Although this process will be time consuming, once completed it should serve to be very beneficial. Having all of the patient’s information in one central location so that all physicians and pharmacists in that specific site can access this information will help physicians make informed decisions when providing care to the patient. Most of the time pharmacists only see prescriptions for a drug, they do not get information on why that drug was prescribed. If a pharmacist is able to view a patient’s record then they will be more able to do their job as the drug expert in determining if the best drug was prescribed for that patient or if there is a better option.
Forming an EHR for every patient is much more complex since this requires gathering information from each physician and pharmacist that the patient visits. There also must be a network set up that allows for the protected flow of this information from one site to another. Once these records have been created, then I think that we will see a huge decrease in health care cost and an increase in quality of patient care. Physicians will be able to see all of the tests and lab findings that were performed on that patient at other sites so there will be no need for patients to be receiving the same tests multiple times. It will also make it easier for physicians and pharmacists to track patient’s diagnosis and medication history, which will improve disease monitoring and management. Also with an EHR patients are able to view their information and append any information that they believe to be untrue. This allows for patient involvement in their own health care.
Implementing these records is going to take a lot of time and is going to be met by a lot of resistance from physicians, pharmacists and patients are unwilling to make the change. However it is time for the US health care to make these necessary changes. It only takes one disaster such as Hurricane Katrina or the tornadoes that caused massive destruction in many cities of the southern states on April 27, 2011, to scatter and destroy a patient’s paper health information record. If a patient has an EHR then they can take their health information with them even if they are forced to relocate and see new physicians and pharmacists.
When it comes to healthcare the United States prides its self on being one of the leaders in technology in healthcare, having some of the world’s greatest doctors, and innovators of cutting edge procedures and research that is of great benefit to the entire world. Now with a country where you have the option to get treated by the best doctors and receiving the most technologically profound procedure, why is the transmission of patient health information still in the 1980’s? If we promote to provide the best healthcare to a patient, wouldn’t the first step be to make sure you had all the information about that patient at one given moment, instead of having to call every doctor that the patient has ever seen to get that information? To truly be a leading nation in healthcare, our healthcare system desperately needs to implement a system of electronic health records so that any healthcare provider would know everything they would need to know about that patient before even treating them. A system like this would greatly improve efficiency of workflow, prevent redundancy, and ultimately decrease the cost of healthcare for everyone.
It would seem very obvious on how an electronic health record would benefit physicians or other healthcare providers who are directly treating the patients, but the benefits for pharmacist may be more difficult to see initially. Everyday pharmacists receive countless prescriptions for patients, and for the most part do not have a clue to why the doctor prescribed a certain medication or what disease state this medication is being used to treat for the patient. So when a pharmacist is trying to counsel a patient on their medication, we are unable to tailor the details about the medication specifically for each patient. If patients had electronic health records that pharmacists had access to then pharmacists would be able to discuss in better detail with the patient what the medication is for and how it is beneficial to whatever disease state that they have. It would give us the chance to properly counsel a patient on their medication and address any concerns that they had about a given medication.
As being a patient, there are numerous benefits to having an electronic health record. From personal experience, there have been countless times where I have seen a doctor and the nurse has to ask me the same questions that I just answered for a previous doctor, or there have been times that they have asked me questions about things that happened years ago such as when did I have chicken pox or when did I receive a certain vaccination. A lot of the time I didn’t remember these things and had to simply guess or give a time range of when something occurred. It would be easier on patients, if they had an electronic health record that already had majority of the information that was needed, so that we as patients wouldn’t have try to remember every medical encounter we have had. It would also be beneficial to patients in times of devastation. If a patients’ primary care doctor’s office were to be damaged and all of the files lost, most patients would not be able to remember everything that was in their record. If there were a system in place where all of these things were electronic then these things wouldn’t have to be a concern for patients.
I feel that the biggest hindrance of having an electronic health record would be actually starting a system like this. Since forever, everything has pretty much been in paper format, and if we were to switch to an electronic system then that would mean that all of the stuff that is on paper would have to be entered in for each patient. This process would take a lot of time and additional work to gather all information for one patient from all locations, and in the process information could be lost. It would also be a very costly process. To first find a system for all healthcare providers to buy into, then to integrate it with the workflow of a particular location, and update it with all patient information, would be a process that would be costly in the since of employee time and what cost it is to the business.
On the other hand, if we were to get such a system running then future cost would be prevented and it could greatly improve workflow. Prevention of redundant lab test could be avoided because the information needed about a particular test would already be available. Monitoring of efficacy of medication could be properly done because you would have the information on when a certain medication was started and could chart the progress of the patient on the medication. For nurses instead of spending time asking the patient questions about things they may not remember, nurse would already have what they need and if any additional information is needed from the patient the exact question that needs to be asked would be known.
Overall I feel that having an electronic health record is something that would in the long run benefit everyone and help our health system to provide the best healthcare to everyone.
I personally feel the development, implementation, and proper use of an Electronic Health Record (EHR) would benefit not only the medical health professionals, but the pharmacy realm as well. As the role of a pharmacist in a patient’s care continues to evolve and gain more and more responsibility, the pharmacist’s input into the EHR will be vital as well as the pharmacist’s ability to access this information. Currently the “revolutionary” standardization process of prescription legibility is the only thing pharmacy really has going for it. This is not allowing us to maximize our training. Yes, making prescriptions more legible will aid us in picking the correct medication and reviewing all potential ADRs in addition to counseling, but without knowing what disease/condition the drug was written for, how can we possible even know the correct drug is being given? We simply can’t unless the patient actually knows and tells us what it is supposed to be for. As students and interns, we already see how difficult it is to interact with a patient and get a detailed enough answer to determine either what is wrong with them or what drug they are taking. Going into nursing homes to review a patient’s chart, you see how untidy, not up to date, or accurate the patient’s current record is. It is always in a different format, with information in different areas than other establishment’s records which takes time to decipher. This would all be reduced by simply having everything in a standardized format including all records and details done at different sites into one location. This would allow the pharmacist to see what the patient has been through at different points in time, medication and diagnosis wise, to ensure they are receiving optimal therapy for them. The doctor would also be able to ensure that medication his patient is receiving is the best choice and has not been altered from what he thinks is best. It would allow for a professional system of checks and balances to ultimately provide the minimal level of adverse events while maintaining the highest level of care. This will reduce overall health costs in the long run as well as influence a better health care system. The patient will see reduced insurance costs, physician waiting times, and increase in their overall safety.
One limitation to this system is software compatibility. Since multiple software can be used to input health data in different formats, there is a problem with being able to accurately accumulate this data into one source without creating a mad jumble of information that would actually take longer to decipher than traditional ways, especially while still attempting to perform daily functions such as prescription filling and checking. There have been standards created and implemented aimed at preventing this, but it still looks to be a major hindrance to the quick and efficient incorporation of this type of system into all health care settings. As well as, health care staff and professionals lack of interest or ability to operate such systems in an effective manner. It may require much training for some.
A major driving force for this type of EHR system is currently the government. It is very beneficial at this point in time to begin to implement these types of systems for financial compensation. Also, pharmacies have long since been removed from the purely paper world and have been relying on computer programs to aid in prescription filling and checking for some time, so simply adding one more software program to the system would not necessarily mean a complete over haul of the entire workflow or training process.
I think the key to making all of this a success, is for large institutions to not necessarily jump on the first functional system that is developed, but to make sure to pick a system that will allow for the greatest ease of use and clarity in the long run.
The implementation of Electronic Health Records (EHRs) in America’s health system would be revolutionary to patient care in all aspects. In my opinion, one of the largest problems in our health system is the lack of collaboration between providers. We have countless healthcare professionals (HCPs), filled with knowledge and wisdom in their specialty, but no way of documenting treatment provided or to collaborate with other HCPs that have provided treatment to the same patients. This will make a huge impact on pharmacy, and therefore me in my future practice. Logically, it is insane that we treat patients without a credible patient history. With the EHR, we would be able to access our patient files and view disease states, treatment history, medication history, indications for therapy, allergies, drug interactions, specific lab results, etc. Given all of this information, this would allow us to apply our knowledge and maximize patient care. It would also give us opportunities to collaborate with other HCPs if needed, discuss what treatment was provided, and possibly make recommendations and interventions for the patient. Since the EHR would be electronic and quickly accessible, it would save HCPs time because they would not have to input all of the information. There are also several advantages for the patient. Every time a patient visits a HCP, they have to go through the mundane process of filling out papers. The EHR would help reduce this task for the patient. It also would add credibility to a patient record versus asking the patient to recall everything about their medical history at one time. It would also save money for the patients and insurance companies. There are numerous instances where additional visits could be avoided if proper treatment was provided to begin with. Lastly, they would be receiving optimal care, and more appropriate and accurate treatment overall. One major limitation to the EHR is standardization across the nation. It would be ideal for one standard EHR system to be available for all data to be inputted, that way there are no inconsistencies to what is required and the format of the record. If this were the case, it would have to be some type of internet network for all HCPs to access quickly; this introduces the problem of security for patient. The only other solution would be for every HCP to have the same software program in real-time, and this is not very practical initially. One of the major enablers for the implementation of the EHR is the reduction in healthcare costs. Healthcare costs are a huge predicament in our country today, and I believe that the system and our country are willing to do whatever it takes to reduce the costs. Just some of the methods in which EHR would reduce costs include decreasing time for patient visits from beginning to end, decreasing transcribing time for nurses and other healthcare staff, decreasing unnecessary treatment, and decreasing the time HCPs spend trying to find out all of the information that would be contained in an EHR. All in all, EHR would be a great step to taking our healthcare system to the next level. Especially with the technology capabilities we have, it is distressing that we have not taken this initiative already. Not only will it reduce healthcare costs and lift burdens from patients and HCPs, but it will also give pharmacists and other HCPs an opportunity to provide the utmost patient care possible.
People may say that George Bush doesn’t care about the people, but his push for electronic health records (EHR) suggests otherwise. Most people don’t know what computerizing health records means for them. If I didn’t know better, I would imagine it means all my private information is out in space for hackers to get in and tell everybody I know. Maybe people wouldn’t be so worried about their security of their health information if our culture didn’t stigmatize so many illnesses, but that’s not the topic for today.
Anyway, an EHR is a centralized place to put all of your medical information from cradle to grave. If you broke your arm in Indiana when you were seven, it’s there. If you had the flu in New York when you were twenty two, it’s there. All of your diagnoses and medications and allergies, there they all are in one place. Can’t imagine how that would help you? I know how it could have helped me. I know I had the chicken pox when I was little, but I couldn’t get the medical records to prove it so I had to have blood drawn. That cost time, money, and blood. I forgot I’d already had two Hepatitis B shots, so instead of just one more I had three more shots. That cost me time, money, and pain. (It hurt!) Don’t forget about all the forms you have to fill out every time you see the doctor, especially if it’s a new one. With the EHR being used, most of that information would already be there. So EHR can save time and money – not to mention the discomfort of additional testing.
EHR could also reduce errors and increase safety. By having your allergies and medical conditions readily available, it should be easier for the doctor to choose the right drug for you. Even if he ignores your history of anaphylaxis after taking penicillin and prescribes it to you anyway and you take the prescription to a pharmacy you’ve never been to before, if the pharmacist has access to your EHR, she will be able to check your allergies and make sure you don’t take that drug.
Speaking of pharmacy, having an EHR would have a substantial impact on the quality of care that pharmacists provide. During my experience in both the community and the hospital setting, the prescription/order arrives to the pharmacy in basically the same way. A drug, dose, and schedule are scribbled on a piece of paper. After interpreting the physician’s handwriting, the pharmacist makes sure the drug won’t kill the patient and makes sure the right drug goes out. I’m not saying that part’s not important, but imagine if the drug and regimen came to the pharmacy with a diagnosis. With the EHR available to the pharmacist, he or she could see why the patient was put on the drug in the first place along with all of their other relevant medical conditions. The pharmacist could use his or her many years of training to evaluate if this drug is appropriate. It would really help with the misuse of prescription drugs, a very expensive problem in a time when reducing costs is so important.
I understand that implementing an EHR would be a huge undertaking. It would require developing the software, actually entering all of the information, and then storing the massive amount of data. It would not be cheap. However, the cost would be balanced out by the money it would save and the increased quality of care it would provide.
Electronic Health Record
The development of Electronic Health Records (EHRs) has the potential to drastically change the healthcare professions. Imagine being able to go to any hospital, doctor’s office or pharmacy and not have to fill out a plethora of forms before being seen. If only a few basic identifiers were required to gain access to a complete database of all your healthcare information, patients would be less frustrated by filling out duplicate forms and trying to remember all the information, doctors would have a much more complete vantage point when diagnosing and prescribing, and pharmacists would be able to see your diagnosis and lab values and counsel you more appropriately. As a pharmacist, I would find it a huge help to be able to see if patients are doctor shopping or pharmacy hopping. It can be quite a chore to call insurance companies and other pharmacies and multiple doctors’ offices to determine if I should fill this prescription for a controlled substance. Having all that information at my fingertips would save countless precious man-hours. A comprehensive database will also allow pharmacists more complete information to make decisions regarding drug-drug interactions and drug-disease contraindications. Quality pharmaceutical care requires that pharmacists have comprehensive information available. The pharmaceutical care model that is currently being promoted by pharmacy organizations and schools of pharmacy nationwide encourages pharmacists to be responsible for the outcomes of medication related therapies. Practically, we can only be as responsible as we are informed. You cannot hold a pharmacists accountable for dispensing a drug a patient is allergic to if the pharmacist is not given the opportunity to speak with the patient and it is not noted on the chart. That is often the reality in retail pharmacies. The patient’s parent, spouse, sibling or co-worker is often dropping off their prescriptions and their teenage child picks it up later. The EHR eliminates a lot of guesswork in healthcare. While patients may be relieved to reduce the paper trail burden, the implementation of the EHR may be limited by concerns about the privacy and security of patients’ personal health information. Currently, a name and date of birth is all that is typically required to access medical records. The privacy level could be increased to require a social security number, insurance ID number, or a patient specified PIN to grant initial access by an institution to the EHR. Subsequent inquiries or additions to the EHR could be made by the name and date of birth system currently in place. In the event that a patient arrives unconscious and alone to an emergency department, access to an EHR could be life-saving. In this situation, the social security number or insurance ID number, rather than a PIN, would be a more appropriate means of granting access to the institution as these are likely found in the patient’s wallet or purse. The EHR should be unable to be altered except by medical personnel. In addition to protection in the event of identity theft, deceptive patients may wish to delete certain items from the EHR. As an added security measure, a picture of the patient could be taken at annual check-ups to help deter identity theft or insurance fraud. Overall, I support the development and implementation of an electronic health record and look forward to seeing how it progresses the world of healthcare.
I believe that if implemented properly, Electronic Health Records (EHRs), would be of great benefit to pharmacists, other healthcare providers, and, most importantly, patients. One large benefit of EHRs is the time they would save. Currently, each different health care provider has their own, individual record of a patient’s medical history—this means that each time a patient encounters a new provider (a new physician, a different pharmacy, etc), they have to take the time to provide this information. With an EHR, this information would be “centralized” across various medical providers, so that whenever a patient encountered a new one, all they would have to provide would be their name/identifier, and then an employee could look it up. EHRs would also save healthcare providers time because they would be electronic; this means that they would be legible to everyone and be in a standardized format—certain information would always be in a certain order, meaning that once healthcare providers were familiar with said format, they could easily locate the information they needed to find. For instance, a pharmacist could immediately find the section detailing a patient’s medication information. Finally, because of the time they would save, EHRs would be benefitial in emergency situations. When a patient is admitted to the ER, they likely do not want and/or do not have time to provide their medical history; likewise, nurses would probably prefer to spend their time in other ways than transcribing information. With EHRs, they would not have to take the time to do this. One limitation to this situation would be if the patient was unconscious and did not have any identification on their person; in this case, obtaining medical history would still be near impossible. However, overall, EHRs would save time for both patients and healthcare providers.
Another advantage provided by EHRs would be increased safety for patients—this is especially true in the case of pharmacies. If a patient were to have a centralized record of their drug allergies, as well as all the medications they are currently taking, more drug interactions could be prevented. With the system we have currently, the only way a “new” pharmacy (i.e., one a patient has never been to before) has of knowing if a patient is allergic to a medicine or if the prescription they bring in may interact with another medication they are taking, is what the patient tells them. Some patients are taking a lot of medications—for instance, some of the patients for my PPE team are taking at least twenty medications. Thus, it is definitely likely a patient may forget to mention a drug they are taking, which could lead to a potential for drug interactions. With an EHR that was updated each time a new medication was started, all the pharmacy would have to do would be to look up this information, and then determine if it had any bearing on the patient’s newly prescribed medication. This would not only increase patient safety, but also reduce pharmacists’ liability due to preventable drug interactions.
In the age we live in today, in which technology is advancing and an increasing number of people are familiar with how to use it, I believe EHRs are very feasible. This advance in technology (as well as in knowledge of how to use it) enables implementation of an EHR system. The major limitation to such a system is protection/safety of this private information; even with all the ways we have developed to combat access to restricted information, there are likely still people who would be able to “hack” the system and gain access to these records. Therefore, those developing such a system need to make sure they have put as many barriers in place as possible to prevent this, and should have a plan in place for what they would do if the system does get violated. Thus, it will likely take more time until EHRs can be successfully implemented. However, I very much hope that it does become a reality. I do have reservations about protecting the information, but overall believe the benefits of such a system outweigh the negatives. EHRs will save time for both patients and healthcare providers, reduce the liability of healthcare providers, and increase patient safety.
The Electronic Heath Record
I truly believe that there is nothing more important to the future of health care than the implementation of an Electronic Health Record (EHR). Many people may already be familiar with this but an EHR holds all of an individual’s health information and can be managed from more than just one location by authorized health professionals. An EHR is a subtype of the Electronic Medical Record (EMR). An EMR is an electronic version of the patient health record at a single institution and cannot be shared across institutions, whereas an EHR can be viewed across all the patient’s health institutions from any location. Obviously, in order for EHRs to work they must be interoperable from one institution to another. Therefore, these must have nationally recognized standards of language, diagnosis, formats, etc. Given the huge amount and gravity of the information that will be exchanged, it is essential that it flows smoothly.
I think the biggest motivator for implementing an EHR is the need to reduce the cost of health care. There would be an initial cost to implementing this system but over the long-term I think it could save the health care system billions. By implementing an electronic system we could cut down on the cost of using paper. It would also save health care workers a lot of time. Think of how much time is spent in the community pharmacy setting calling back physicians to verify a prescription or how much doctors have to call each other to verify information. In the health care industry time is money. This system would decrease errors caused by miscommunication between doctors and other health professionals which could translate into saving money that would be spent on correcting these errors.
If the pharmacist had a health record of a patient it would allow them to make a better decision regarding their therapy. They would be more informed and less apt to make a mistake. There have been numerous times when I have worked in a community pharmacy that I wish that I had a profile of all the patient’s medical conditions and allergies. Many times a patient may not remember all of their drug allergies or know why they are taking a certain medication when they come up to the counter. I think that by having a centralized electronic record of each patient that it would greatly benefit the pharmacist. It could potentially decrease the amount of errors and would decrease the amount of time the pharmacist spends on the phone with the physician verifying if the information is correct.
From a patient perspective, an EHR would improve their care and decrease the time spent on a patient history. Personally, I get tired of having to repeat the same information every time I go visit a new doctor. I also know there have been times when I have forgotten to tell them some pertinent information. As a patient, it is difficult to go back years later and recall specifically every surgery, every medication, every condition, and the outcomes of all these things. An EHR would help eliminate some of this headache.
There are some limitations and hurdles to overcome to implement an EHR. In my opinion, the biggest limitation is the risk of a patient’s privacy being breached. Personal health information can be a very sensitive topic and most people are hesitant about sharing this to just anyone. Just the thought of all that private information being managed in one system or one record is kind of scary, especially knowing that people can hack into almost anything these days. However, I believe that as we prove that this information can be kept safe and secure people will grow to the idea of an EHR.
I think the implementation of an electronic health record would drastically change and improve the practice of medicine. As of now, there is no way to link any part of a patient’s medical history. A patient’s medical history consists of hundreds of sheets of documentation that are scattered throughout different hospitals, doctor’s offices, pharmacies, and health settings which could even be in several different states. Several organizations have started applying the use of electronic medical records. I believe that EMRs at an organizational level are the first steps towards the creation of an EHR. While an EMR is very helpful, it is only beneficial if a patient sees the same doctor or is seen by the same organization that owns that EMR. I think in order to optimize health care and get the most out of medical records, an EHR will have to be created that allows any healthcare provider to obtain a comprehensive medical history of a patient.
Having an EHR would surely impact pharmacy practice. An EHR would allow pharmacists to work in a much more efficient manner. As of now, pharmacists have no idea what other medications a patient is on or what disease states they have unless the patient has always gotten all of their prescriptions from the same pharmacy. An EHR would allow the pharmacist to access all of the patient’s medications to ensure that they are getting adequate care and that nothing they are on is interacting with one another. It would also allow the pharmacist to ensure patients are getting the most efficacious therapy. It would help pharmacists to catch any problems in drug therapy that could lead to adverse events. Medication Pathfinder, the EMR that HSOP uses now, is a tremendous help to student pharmacists. It allows us to effectively evaluate patients. It allows entering P1s to access a patient’s records and understand previous treatment prior to their interactions with the patient.
Ultimately, an EHR would significantly improve patient’s medical care and eventually improve their outcomes and quality of life. Yes, an EHR would be a tremendous help to health care providers, but in the end patients would be the ones who benefited the most. By having an EHR, patients would be able to go to any health care provider, and the health care provider would be able to access their full medical history. This would allow the provider to more effectively treat the patient. Therefore, the patient would get the most out of their medical care. Adverse outcomes could be prevented. It could also save the patient from having to fill out the same forms over and over at every doctor’s visit.
There are factors that would hinder the initiation of an EHR. One such limitation would be the fear of patient privacy. This is a very valid fear and problem to consider with the development of an EHR. As we talked about in class, there are insurance and safety nets with the possible hacking of a person’s bank account. However, with personal private health information, there is no way to recover information that is leaked. Once private health information is made public, there is no way to restore this information. When an EHR is developed, there will have to be a way to ensure that there is no possible way for private information to be disclosed without the patient’s permission.
Even though there are limitations to EHR implementation, there are also factors that support its development and usage. We live in an age that is driven by technology. We have come to communicate and find almost all of our information through electronic means. An EHR makes sense to use at this time because it would conform to our technological society. It would make patient care much more effective and would make it easier on health care providers to work with an electronic system. An electronic health record would easily be accepted as an efficient way for medical records to be obtained and would lead to maximal practice and implementation by all.
Electronic Health Record will equip health care providers with an advantage not available before in treating patients. It is a tool that grants access to all information relevant in effectively and efficiently caring for a patient. After it is implemented it will lower health care cost by decreasing medication errors, decreasing the amount of redundant labs and tests run, and improve outcomes.
Electronic Health Record will make a pharmacist’s job a little easier, along with all other health care providers. Having access to all of the patient’s history including allergies and reactions to previous medications taken, harmful drug adverse reactions can be avoided. Pharmacists can also view past and present therapy for a patient; this is helpful in many ways. They can observe therapies tried by the patient to control a disease and from there make a better judgment on what should be used next, not repeating a class that proved ineffective. Also, being able to monitor all medications a patient is taking they can ensure one is not decreasing the effectiveness of another, or possibly causing more harm than good, and that they are not taking more than one medication for the same problem outside of guidelines. This would also prevent narcotic abusers from being able to see multiple physicians and fill at multiple pharmacies. Pharmacists will be able to monitor a patient’s adherence to their therapy and intervene if an issue arises. Overall, this enables the pharmacist with the tools needed to optimize pharmaceutical care by ensuring patients receive medications that are safe, most effective for them individually and that they are on regimens that provide the most benefit.
Personally, as a patient, I think this is great! Each time you visit a new doctor you fill out paperwork, it is often the same type of questions you answered a year ago when you had to go to Urgent Care and the same type of questions you answered five years ago before you moved, and now you’re answering them again, but you cannot remember all the dates of your surgeries, you are not sure if your grandfather had cancer because he passed away when you were young, you cannot answer any of the questions about your father because you hardly know him and mom is not picking up the phone to help you. Well this is often my experience. A Personal Health Record would save me, and the doctor’s office, time and I would feel more confident about being treated because I have provided all of my medical history and it is accurate. With the amount of technology we have today, there should be an app for that. If I could download the software onto my phone and update it when I go back home and see my mom, grandparents and pay my absent father a visit I could get answers to those questions and permanently have them stored. I am sure I am not the only person that cannot remember everything when I visit the doctor. If patients only had to keep up with one system and they could update it at their leisure with both past and present issues this would be an easier and a more complete file than what is currently collected. Providing the health care team with complete, accurate, and detailed information will help them make more knowledgeable decisions so each patient receives the unique therapy they need. Also, the earlier a patient has access to this software the better, if I could enter all my info now and keep it updated throughout my life, if one day I am a elderly person in the nursing home with amnesia the health care staff will be able to take better care of me with access to all of my information.
A few challenges Electronic Health Record faces is cost and the time it takes to install, convert to, and implement this new system. But as more hospitals, doctor’s offices, pharmacies and patients utilize it the more cost effective it will become. It will lower overall health cost by decreasing medication errors, improve earlier diagnosis, reduce redundant tests and labs, improve workflow and efficiency of doctor visits. Currently ARRA authorizes the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to provide incentives to those physicians and hospitals that adopt the Electronic Health Record and prove “meaningful use”. Adoption should be considered as early as possible because the incentives are front loaded, they are given incentives the first few years but after the cutoff point there are penalties.
Electronic Health Records
I believe the idea of EHR will only help build our current health care system. The concept as you may already know is that each individual has an electronic record of health related information that is nationally recognized and can be utilized by clinicians and staff. To me this would be great for any health care professional who sees multiple patients each day. The doctor will have more information about the patient and has it recorded so that he can make appropriate medication choices which in the long run allows for pharmacist to focus more on consulting with the patients about their medication. As a pharmacist, if we had the ability to use a patients EHR, it would allow for us to know more about their disease states and medical history so that we also could give a hundred percent of our efforts into providing the best help possible. We could see what medications were tried in the past, allowing us to choose a medication that would prevent future resistance. Or we could be able to share more drug and disease state information to our patients that maybe the doctor didn’t have time to share. I believe this tool would have a huge impact on a pharmacists role in helping patients with their current medications. Most of the time, the patients may not even know what their current problem is. The EHR gives the pharmacist insight into everything that the doctor knows as well.
Some might ask how else this electronic health record help, for instance how would it effect the patients. When I think of all my customers that visit the pharmacy I immediately think of how close to none of them actually know what medications they are on. They completely trust pharmacists and doctors to know which drugs they are on and actually need. EHRs should allow the patients to feel more relaxed and more trusting about what medications they are taking and that both the doctor and pharmacists are on the same page. There could be a down side to some patients, seeing as how some people may not want their personal information shared between pharmacists, doctors and all the technicians or assistances. But for the majority of patients the benefits our weigh the risks and should help on the patients portion of the health care system.
When reading the positive aspects mentioned above, it easy to imagine how all this can help save money for patients, doctors, pharmacists, and help the American economy. Yes one limitation might be that every doctors office and pharmacy and hospital will have to get the technology implemented into their practice. However, the amount of medication errors that will be decreased, the decrease in wrong drug regimen, and the improved overall patient care will be unbelievable. With every decision made for our country and for each individual patient we have to weigh the pros and the cons, and to me the pros are doubled compared to the cons. Besides better patient care, saving money for each party involved is by far the biggest reason this should be implemented into the current health care.
Electronic Health Record (EHR)
Having an electronic health record that can be accessed by any provider in the United States would be ideal. I feel that although we have the technology and capability, a truly nationwide acceptance of this system seems farfetched in the next few years. Although the EHR is forecasted to save the government money in the long run, there are more pertinent issues at hand to be addressed. I have had experience with an EMR at a local hospital. I found it very convenient to be able to access patient information from a hospital-physician network system when evaluating patients and their drug therapy. If the patients used an in network provider we had access to years of laboratory values, medications and patient history. This proved very beneficial in providing efficient pharmaceutical care when rounding with the physicians. Bringing this type of access to information into every pharmacy, especially in the community, would greatly impact patient care. Most community pharmacists are working with limited information about their patients’ medical history and disease states. Increased access to patient information will give pharmacists an opportunity to evaluate drug therapy based on diagnosis and laboratory values rather than just by a prescription and verbal information from the patient. I think that having an EHR will greatly benefit the patient as well. I find it very frustrating to tell my medical history to every new doctor I see. This would allow the patient to feel content about the decisions his/her health care providers are making. Most patients see more than one provider for medical care. The EHR will help the patient to transition between physicians without leaving out important information. EHR will also improve relationships between healthcare providers. I feel like there will be more collaboration between physicians and pharmacists for continuity of patient care. There are many limitations to creating a nationwide EHR including: cost, privacy/security and getting everyone on board. There may also be resistance from patients in of fear disclosure of sensitive medical information. I feel that it will take many years to perfect this system. There are also monetary incentives from CMS to adopt the EHR early on. Most providers should choose to implement the EHR to reap some of the benefits before it becomes a requirement. I feel like the government should develop the software required for an EHR rather than a dozen independent companies. The government or specific agency can monitor the privacy/security issues that the people will be concerned with. There will need to be a primary party responsible for each EHR such as a primary care provider. The EHR can then be added to by other providers and amended by the patient. I think the patient should also have access to his/her medical records at all times. From personal experience, it can be very difficult to obtain your own medical records without monetary fees, days of waiting and hassle. I was appalled when my primary care physician’s office asked for a $50 annual fee for things like copies and refill requests. If I had an EHR I would not be subjected to such nonsense. Ultimately, I do not know what would make a perfect EHR, but I am glad the government is behind progressing towards this idea.
I’d like to suggest EMR Software Pro be added to the list of resources. The site helps you compare EMR software systems and EMR vendors. Lots of articles about EHR options for Clinics and Hospitals that want to meet meaningful use.
1. EHR Adoption http://www.centerforhit.org/online/chit/home/ehr-adoption.html
AAFP Center for Health Information Technology
Purpose: This website was founded by the American Academy of Family Physicians to relay information about health information technology. The guiding principles of the group are affordability, compatibility, interoperability, and data stewardship.
Value: This site offers resources for EHR adoption, including preparation, selection, implementation, and maintenance.
2. CHIME Offers Input on Electronic Health Record Certification Plans http://www.ihealthbeat.org/articles/2010/5/3/chime-offers-input-on-electronic-health-record-certification-plans.aspx
iHealthBeat: Reporting Technology’s Impact on Health Care
Purpose: iHealthBeat is a free, daily news digest that posts the latest information about technology’s impact on health care.
Value: The College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME) gave their feedback about the certification for EHR. In this article CHIME gives their opinion about what should be changed in EHR certification.
3. Groups Back Proposed Electronic Health Record Definition http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20100316_5115.php?oref=search
Nextgov: Technology and the Business of Government
Purpose: This site is a spin-off of GovernmentExecutive.com and provides coverage and commentary on the management of information technology in the federal government.
Value: This article mentions how the Obama administration affects EHR and what certain groups think about it.
4. Supporting Progress Toward an EHR http://www.ahima.org/e-him/progress.asp
American Health Information Management Association
Purpose: AHiMA is a group that manages health information technology in the US. Here the latest information is provided about the EHR.
Value: This site offers information about what is currently being done about the EHR and what needs to be done to further progress its acceptance.
5. Kaiser Permanente Completes Electronic Health Record Implementation http://xnet.kp.org/newscenter/pressreleases/nat/2010/030310ehrcomplete.html
Kaiser Permanente
Purpose: This site is about a group that currently uses the EHR and provides information about the effects they have seen with its use.
Value: This article cites detail about how KP implemented the EHR and the advantages or disadvantages that have been noticed.
-Allscripts Solutions: Electronic Health Record
-http://www.allscripts.com/products/electronic-health-record/default.asp
-This is a great website that offers EHR Solutions for many different sizes and types of medical businesses that provide patient care. They have demos for the different solutions they offer so you can see how they would work for you. They also have a mobile remote component so that they work with PDA’s and Smartphones. They have easily accessible customer service through their website and as a plus, they are CCHIT certified.
-This report covers everything you would ever want to know about EHRs. It would be highly informative for any health professional or member of the general public. It defines what EHRs are, how they work, what they can do for your practice and your patients, and even has a debate section to help decide if you should buy an EHR solution or build up your own. It defines all the components that make up EHRs and even looks forward by discussing past, current, and future trends in EHRs. This would be a good document to read before looking at the individual websites for EHR solutions offered by businesses.
-Electronic Medical Records vs.Electronic Health Records: Yes, There is a Difference
-www.himssanalytics.org/docs/wp_emr_ehr.pdf
-This is a wonderful document to read if you don’t know what an EMR or an EHR is, and if you don’t know the difference between the two. It also describes the different stages of implementing EMRs within your practice, so that you can move towards participating in EHRs. It has very good charts and pictures to explain everything, such as what all is included in the EMR. This document also gives data on how many hospitals/etc. are in each stage of using EMRs and the different types of institutions also, such as their size, whether or not they are academic, and whether or not they’re general medical. It emphasizes the importance of having EMRs established before we can successfully move on to EHRs.
-MedicsDocAssistant Electronic Health Records by Advanced Data Systems Corporation
-http://www.adsc.com/ehr_docassistant.asp
-This website is another that offers an EHR product for purchase by institutions to use. However, it also claims that it is an EMR as well. The webpage is easily navigable to see the different services that this product offers. It has snapshots of how it looks on the computer screen so that you can see how it is formatted and operates. To receive more information about this product, you must call a number. This product is also CCHIT certified. There is also a handy link to FAQs and answers about the ARRA of 2009.
1) National Institutes of Health, http://www.ncrr.nih.gov/publications/informatics/EHR.pdf
The National Institutes of Health is a government organization charged with the task of bringing health research together with health practices. It also monitors as any government agency does. The website provides a PDF report that was done by the agency that defines and outlines the EHR system and even delves into the business aspect of the whole venture. The website provides a fairly concise but thorough overview of what the EHR system is, where it came from, and what it could mean for businesses, practitioners and patients. It is a handy and easily printed source of information.
2) Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, http://www.cms.gov/ehealthrecords/
This site is a subsite of the US department of health and human services. It provides general info on EHR’s and their impact on the Medicare and Medicaid programs. It is basically a copy and paste job of the NIH report, but there are some links that can get you to info that has a national impact on implementing EHR in the two health programs. The information is not very specific though and is only useful as a generalization tool. But what government website is otherwise.
3) HIMSS, http://www.himss.org/ASP/topics_ehr.asp
The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society is a healthcare organization that is dedicated to its namesake…research and development of healthcare information and healthcare management systems. The members of the organization are mainly healthcare workers and vendors so the point of view is more practical and business oriented rather than governmental regulations, although, you can read about those too. The site provides general information about EHR’s and promotes the widespread implementation of the systems. The most useable and unique feature of this site is the link to case studies and success stories relating to EHR implementation. There is also current news and information available for the world of Health IT
4) EHR Safety Institute, http://www.ehrsafety.org/
This website was started by a group of physicians and clinicians. The purpose is to identify safety and security issues for both patients and providers inherent in EHR systems and attempt to find solutions to those issues. The website includes a list of their staff and advisors and also includes a detailed mission statement that helps define their point of view/origin.
I feel this website is helpful in a few ways. First and foremost it demonstrates some of the pitfalls associated with widespread EHR adoption in the early phases. All anyone ever hears about is how wonderful and utopic EHR’s will make everything, this website gets you thinking proactively about safety issues that come along with the technology. Other than that it seems to be a marketing tool for an EHR consulting firm.
5) Indian Health Service, http://www.ihs.gov/CIO/EHR/
This is a subsite of the Indian Health Service that is tax funded and dedicated to bringing medical services to native American and Alaskan Indians. The website provides detailed information on the HIS’s own EHR system branded RPMS. Everything you wish to know as a practitioner involved with HIS can be found here from definitions to training to implementation forms and applications. This website is gives the same overview info as most others but its value to us lies in that it shows you a little more of the implementation process the government uses, because that is who is going to be watching us from now on.
athenahealth is a company that sells a variety of software services designed to help physicians run their businesses more efficiently and effectively. The purpose of their site is to promote their business and highlight their services. One of the services they offer is a web-based EHR program called athenaClinicals.
Value: It is a very professional looking site, easy to navigate, and does a convincing job of explaining the benefits of implementing EHR. There is also a software demo available on the site. There is a blog that is updated by various members of the company, including the CEO, as well as links to several “recommended reading” health care related blogs. I think this would be a very beneficial site for someone looking to implement or learn more about EHR.
This site is another company, called Ingenix, providing EHR services. The site allows potential buyers to learn about the federal stimulus program, “compare EHRs”, see a demo of the services, and review the costs versus potential savings.
Value: Judging by the website, this seems to be a much larger company than the last and the site feels much less personal. While athenahealth mentioned “stimulus dollars guaranteed”, this site has a much larger focus on the federal stimulus program, discussing deadlines, payouts, and other details of the program, which would be very helpful to someone looking to learn more about the program. The page that lets you “compare EHRs” only compares their service, CareTracker, to “traditional EHRs”, and I can’t help but feel it’s a little misleading. The first ‘non-traditional’ benefit they boast of is “web-based” and I already mentioned that athenahealth is also web-based. This site is very nicely designed and clearly a lot of time and money went into its creation.
This site is a blog run by McKesson that serves a resource to help practitioners and hospitals get the most out of their EMR.
Value: The site provides related articles and case studies all pertaining to EMR. Visitors are able to comment on blog posts and view the comments of others. Widgets are shown below each post to allow users to share the blog with others through various outlets. A ‘hotline’ is provided for users to contact someone from McKesson in regards to questions about EMR and the Federal Stimulus program. The site is pretty basic but it provides a lot of good information.
This site is a blog that, in its own words, is “an open forum for EMR, EHR, HIT, HIPPA related information.” The author blogs about a variety of issues dealing with EMR and related topics. It tells us nothing (that I could find) about who the author is or his intentions. Visitors can comment on the posts and view the comments of others.
Value: I’m sure there is a lot of good information found in this blog but I found the site to be rather difficult to navigate. Advertisements take up nearly as much space on the page as the actual content does, which makes the site rather annoying, in my opinion. There are links along the side of categories, to allow users to search among the blog posts to read about a particular topic. That feature would be wonderful, except for the fact that it’s hidden among all the advertisements (many of which are in the exact same font). Overall I feel like this website may have value. But who wants to waste their time trying to find it?
This site is a blog written by a family physician in Canada. It is a ‘diary’ of her experiences since she first decided to implement EMR in her practice in 2006.
Value: This blog is the polar opposite of the last one I described above. This site is clean and professional looking, with no advertisements and extremely easy to navigate. I think this blog would be an interesting read and probably quite helpful to another physician who is currently in the process of implementing EMR in their own practice. There are also some links to related articles and sites.
This website is a broad-spectrum search engine for volumes of knowledge regarding limitless fields of interest, one of them being EHR. The value of this site is that it seamlessly allows students, teachers and novices alike to all be able to find useful information free of charge, with an emphasis on providing a readable, easily understood description of the service and how it influences the health care field. Wikipedia is used by millions of people all over world to provide its users with a better than average description of their topic. This site is not intended to be an exhaustive source for the desired topic, but it does provide quick, somewhat reliable and easily accessible for those seeking to further their knowledge of a certain subject.
This site seems to be dedicated to the advancement of thought and implementation of new techniques in the medical field. It claims to better the health care field by being a leader at providing the best use of information technology. This site is useful because it describes why HIMSS has been exceedingly beneficial and how it has helped to improve the overall field of medicine. It also has use because it has a “FAQs about HIMSS” link to lay out the demographic data regarding societal history, the Board of Directors and differences this group has made in medical advances.
The purpose of this site is to provide a location for physicians to discuss the benefits of EHR as it pertains to their health care practice. Within the Practice Fusion website, the link “EHR Bloggers” is just one of the headings for a site whose purpose is to allow the repeated discussion of popular healthcare “IT topics”. This site has a great deal of value because the physicians that drop by to discuss in this forum are the same that are influential decision makers in the future of health care practices. Sites like these allow health care providers to come voice their opinions and bounce ideas off of each other that may lead to advancements in their field of practice. By voicing their opinions on sites like these, organizations such as the FDA are forced to step in and monitor EHR to see if it is making a distinct difference and whether it is worth stricter regulation and advancement.
EMR Experts is a website that was developed in order to supply unbiased reports discussing various EMR software programs that are available to professionals needing assistance in making a decision on the EMR software best suited for his/her practice. The site visitor can look up information about EMR software that is specific for a variety of specialized areas of medicine. Various articles and quick links can be found on the left side of website that aim to promote the benefits of EMR for anyone who is considering making the transition to electronic medical records. The clear value of this website is to better inform the public about EMR in order to help in the decision making process of choosing a software program best suited for a particular practice. This company also insures assistance in other areas that may be time consuming for their clients such as hardware selection and hardware installation. EMR Experts promotes EMR by giving potential clients assurance that they can save time and money by utilizing both the site’s resources as well as the company’s installation services.
HealthTechnologyReview.com was created to supply resources regarding health information technology in order to better inform the site visitor on this topic. Information on medical devices, job opportunities in the healthcare profession, as well as computer technology can be found on this website. Various software reviews are available for those professionals who are trying to make an informed decision about the software program best suited for their practice. There is also a list of websites related to EMR and EHR that is given in order to supply additional resources regarding the benefits of the utilization of electronic health records in the medical field. The obvious value of this website is that EMR/EHR information is consolidated to one site in order to save potential client’s time wasted searching for various resources as well as to inform those interested in incorporating electronic medical records into their practice.
Website 1: Advanced MD
URL: http://www.advancedmd.com/products-solutions/emr-ehr/
Description: Advanced MD provides software that allows physicians to have a web-based EHR. They describe it as a ‘comprehensive and integrated web-based solution for clinical and financial management, designed for independent practices.’ Their software contains ability to gain mobile access to patient data, the ability to communication with patients online, e-prescribing capabilities, “health watcher” automated alerts, ability to get test results and orders wirelessly, and many more.
Site’s value: This site would be valuable to physicians interested in EHR. It provides more than enough information and explanations about their product. They claim they will even walk the physician through the set up and provide demos teaching them how to get the most out of the software.
Website 2: Wikipedia
URL: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_health_record
Site’s Description: This article basically describes an EHR. They touch topics such as advantages and disadvantages, privacy concerns, standards, costs and implementations, and even describe what is being done in other countries (England, Australia, and Canada) regarding EHR.
Site’s Value: This site has some value to people who want just basic and general information regarding EHR. Since it is a “wiki” site it should not be used for health care professionals. Overall, if someone just wanted general information about EHR’s they could find it here.
Website 3: eClinicalWorks
URL: http://www.eclinicalworks.com/eclinicalworks8/features.html
Site’s Description: This website also provides clinical software for physicians (eClinicalWorks8.0). They provide an EMR much like the first website I described. Their software contains CDSS, order capabilities, ePrescribing, and progress notes that can be given to the patient in SOAP format.
Site’s Value: This site is helpful to physicians looking to purchase EHR software. Unlike my first website discussed, there website is not as appealing to the eye nor is it very easy to find what you are looking for. They are very vague on the information they give about their software. In addition, the home page (eclinicalworks.com/index.php) is very busy and has many distractions on the sides of the page. The only thing that I really found helpful is they provided snapshots of the actual software while it was being used, however, if I was a physician I would much rather prefer the first website described above.
Website 4: iPractice
URL: https://www.ipractice.com/wps/portal/EMR?WCM_GLOBAL_CONTEXT=/iPractice+wcm+library/iPracticePortal/Tools/EMRInvestment&WT.mc_id=EM00075&WT.srch=1
Site’s Description: This particular link provides insight for a return on EMR investment. It compares purchase and implementation costs to potential savings. Purchase and implementation costs include software system (including licenses), hardware needed, estimated annual costs, implementation costs, and other temporary costs. Potential saving include annual costs of supplies (paper charts and storage), annual cost of medical records staff, and three others. They provide slots to insert your estimated amount into the positions and then it calculates the potential return. It does mention that the calculation is for financial assessment demonstrations only.
Site’s Value: This site is for health care professionals only and you must register and have a username and password, however, anyone is able to use this calculator to see what their return on investment might be purchasing EMR software. In my opinion this is somewhat useful but, it does not look at the positives and negatives regarding patient care. It also doesn’t add in the idea that you could get back more on your investment by purchasing the software, being more prepared and organized, therefore, possibly increasing the number of patients seen a day or in the physicians practice. In all, I don’t think this is very valuable.
Website 5: buzzle.com
URL: http://www.buzzle.com/editorials/7-14-2005-73154.asp
Site’s Description: This is an article that describes 10 benefits of an EMR. The ‘10 benefits’ listed are speed, storage, security, support, accessibility, affordability, infrastructure, versatility, efficiency, and manageability.
Site’s Value: This article can be used for both someone trying to find out more information about EMR’s and are weighing their options and it also can be used for physicians. The 10 benefits I found are well described and accurate (from what I learned in management). At the end of the article the author, Joe Miller (an author of informational articles and online advertisements), gives a word of advice to the reader mentioning that there are many results found on a search engine when EMR is searched. He added to use this information to find the right software for the reader. However, after reading the article one can find a plug for AdvancedMD.com where it says that EMR information is available at that site. I feel that he somewhat contradicts himself after noticing that plug. Although, this is mentioned I still feel like this article is valuable to the reader.
In visiting Clinic Tools at https://www.clinictools.org I found that they offer EMR services for mental health services, physician’s offices, or home health care. If one were to be in the market for an EMR I would recommend this site. They offer training on how to use the site, and also convenience of having all your health related records in one place. They also offer online payments for all services rendered no matter where they were performed.
Allscripts (http://www.allscripts.com/products/electronic-health-record) offers EMR for physicians of all different practices, big or small, narrow or wide. They have their focus on physicians and how to make their lives easier. It seems like a trusted site. They say they are CCHIT certified and have plenty of experience. The site is very easy to navigate depending on what type of practice the physician is in. If I were a physician I would find this site very helpful. The overall tone of the site is also inviting. It appears knowledgeable but not boastful .
At e-Clinical works (http://www.easemd.com/patients) EMR are also offered. They also are CCHIT certified and offer training on how to use the site. They also seem to offer more ideas for physicians to increase valuable time with the patient. This includes having a form that patients fill out like a scantron. This information is scanned and uploaded so subjective information doesn’t have to be received by the physician it is already loaded. They also offer lots of other higher technological amenities that will increase processing time of patient and physician as well. They have added things that make life easier for the doctor as well. As long as they have cellular service they can have access to the patients chart through their eclincal mobile appliacation. This site by far has been the most user friendly and most informative of the EMR sites I have been too.
When I went to gloStream at http://www.glostream.com/ I was a little disappointed compared to some of the other sites I have visited. They offer EMR services sponsored by Microsoft. It was not as user friendly as other sites. It also seemed as if they were trying to sell Microsoft products and services more than the EMR as compared to other sites. They offer similar services as other sites and are CCHIT certified. I did not find this site to as friendly to physicians or patients who might be interested. When I was reading throughout the page Microsoft was mentioned more than health related services or even physicians or even the EMR. I got the impression it was just a sales add for Microsoft. I did not find this site to be as helpful as others.
NextGen healthcare information systems at http://www.nextgen.com/ is an extremely user friendly site. It focuses on physicians and patients and doesn’t appear to be selling me anything. They offer EMR services to online clinical and managerial products as well. They even offer a place where physicians can communicate with patients online. I think the services they offer are useful for physicians. Although I found this site to be user friendly and has a lot to offer I felt that other sites had a more “caring attitude” than this one. I did not feel it was trying to sell me something but it lacked a personal trait that I think patients would relate to.
1. Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) http://www.himss.org/ASP/topics_ehr.asp
The purpose of this site is to provide global leadership for the optimal use of information technology and management systems for the betterment of healthcare to health care stakeholders.
The value to site visitor is to get valuable resources regarding Electronic Health Records. The visitor obtains education about public healthcare policy and industry practices, and there are lots of opportunities for professional development. You will also be able to find resources to best use IT and management systems for the betterment of healthcare.
2. Advanced Data Systems Corporation(ADS) http://www.adsc.com/ehr_docassistant.asp
site purpose: To provide Electronic Health Records, Practice Management and Radiology Information Systems software solutions to physicians and healthcare providers in every medical specialty and practice size.
The value to site visitor is to find all the software necessary to implement electronic health records system that is highly efficient and is HIPAA compliant. The site is easy to navigate and the corporation installs and configures each new system to your needs and offers you onsite training at your location.
3. Open Clinical http://www.openclinical.org/home.html
This site is supposed to be a aid in learning about and tracking developments on advanced knowledge management technologies for healthcare.
This site is beneficial to the visitor in that it offers a lot of resources regarding Electronic Medical Records. It also provides information on the clinical, technical and political context to the field of computer-based clinical knowledge management and decision support.
4. Sequel systems Healthcare Solutions http://www.sequelmed.com/Products/electronic_medical_records.aspx
This site sells Electronic Medical Records and offers training services on the same. This site would benefit the visitor by offering software products and training services. It is also easy to navigate and find desired information.
5. Software Advice http://www.softwareadvice.com/medical/electronic-medical-record-software-comparison/?wfvar=wfctrl
This site offers free advice to buyers of medical software. This site would benefit the visitor by giving advice on the benefits and disadvantages of specific software offered by different companies and their ability to meet your Electronic Health/Medical Records software needs. It has an easy to follow solutions narrowed to your desired needs.
1. Health Information and Management Systems Society(HIMSS) http://www.himss.org/ASP/topics_ehr.asp
The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) is a healthcare-stakeholder membership organization that includes an array of leaders throughout the healthcare system. The primary goal of HIMSS is to improve health information technology and management systems and encourage health care professionals to make effective use of the available technology.
I feel that this is a good website and is useful regarding the importance of health information technology and basic explanations such as electronic health record (EHR) or healthcare reform. However, I feel limited on the amount of information I can obtain because of the membership factor. The website does offer web seminars which are a great educational tool, but the viewer would have to be a member in order to participate.
2. American Psychiatric Association (APA) http://www.psych.org/default.aspx
The American Psychiatric Association (APA) is a membership directed website. The primary focus is advocacy of patients, but moreover entails scientific findings and links that pertain to this particular field of practice.
This is not a website I would seek out to find information concerning a specific topic such as electronic health records (EHR). When given an option to view information on this subject it automatically brought up the login screen. Although it is membership oriented, it did give various sources and links to go to concerning the subject matter. I do not feel this is a useful site for non-members.
3. e-MDs Solution Series http://www.e-mds.com/
E-MDs Solution Series is comprised of on-staff professionals such as physicians, nurses, pharmacists, etc. that provides technology/software and services that are tailored to the specific needs of medical practices. This company strives to improve patient care, save time, and increase practice revenue by developing the highest quality software solutions for existing and future clientele.
This is an excellent website that explains what their purpose is , but also goes into detail about EHR/EMRs and allows viewer to understand the importance of existing problems within the healthcare system pertaining to technology and how this company can assist in alleviating some of the hassles by the software and services they provide. E-MDs site offers testimonials, face book, twitter, and EHR discussions. I feel that this site is successful with their positioning strategy from the color scheme to all the information it provides to the user.
4. Sage http://www.sagehealth.com/Pages/default.aspx
Sage is a software company that engages in providing tools to medical practices in numerous areas of interest such as electronic health records (EHR), practice management, community health, and radiology. The company focuses on implementing the goals of its business partners and provides opportunities which allow medical practices to have interaction with company representatives to help motivate and strengthen their clinical business.
I feel that this is a great website that offers a vast amount of information concerning health care and not just information about their company. They offer face book, twitter, you tube, and LinkedIn. One thing that does stand out is that they offer a demo video of how their software is utilized which is a great way to promote their EHR/EMR product. The site is a bit “busy” but overall I think it is educational.
5. Allscripts http://www.allscripts.com/products/electronic-health-record/default.asp
Allscripts is a computer software company that provides services nationwide to physicians, hospitals, and other providers to deliver effective and easy-to-use solutions in everyday practice. The mission of this company is to grant physicians the technology needed to improve the focus and health of their patients.
This website was helpful, but not as useful and easy as compared to other websites. It took clicking on more tabs to get to the information I wanted to get to. I am sure this is a great site, but it is not appealing which personally deterred me from wanting to continue my search. The colors and format are boring and not eye catching.
1. Electronic Medical Records: Real Life Physician Experiences http://www.electronicmedicalrecords-emr.com/
It provides a blog for EMR topics and discussion about other healthcare related subjects. It offers full screen shots of an EMR so you can evaluate the software for yourself. It also offers a host of information for the consumer, such as estimated cost savings and links to articles about various EMR topics. This site seems to be very convenient for physicians looking into purchasing an EMR. It is clearly the opinion of one person, but I believe other’s opinions are extremely important when buying software. It allows one to branch off from this site for further exploration of the subject matter.
2. Everything for EMR/HER Selection and Advice http://www.myemrchoice.com/
This site provides a glossary of terms related to EMRs for those who are new to this concept. It also gives a list of links to other sites for more research. For those who are interested in more information, a survey is on the home page. After completion, an IT specialist will call you and discuss EMR options based upon your responses. The blog is very informative in that it discusses up-and-coming technology that can be used with EMRs. It also provides helpful consumer information such as what features and components an EMR should have for highest efficiency. This site is valuable to consumers in that it allows one to talk to representatives for answers to question that are not answered directly on the site or on any other sites. The advantage of this site is the option of talking to a live representative. More benefit can be gained this way.
3. RevenueXL: EMR & EHR Blog for Physicians http://www.revenuexl.com/blog/
This site is a blog that discusses the importance of EMRs and why research and adoption needs to begin now. It explains that it takes time to find the best EMR for each practice and this is why ample research is important. It includes links to related topics within each entry that supports claims made by the author. Readers have the option of commenting on the entries, which allows for further insight into the topics discussed. Readers can interact with each other and collectively revolutionize healthcare. Tags are also available for the narrowing of topics and ease of site navigation. Because of the ability to interact with fellow physicians and IT experts, this site can prove to be very valuable. Other’s opinions can be extremely helpful and it allows one to gain different views on topics.
4. EHRcompare http://www.ehrcompare.com/compare
This site allows physicians to compare and contrast different EHR systems and their components. Because so many are available, it conveniently categorizes them by the type of practice. It gives very thorough comparisons that range from the many costs involved to capabilities of the software. It also includes how often updates are available and how many practices currently use each program. In addition, links to live demos are available. When available, one can see ratings for each EHR. This site is valuable because it compares multiple aspects of each program and opinions from current users. The compilation of details given in this one site offers efficiency when trying to decide what program to purchase. The amount of information offered is a huge benefit for those trying to get the most out of their money.
5. HIMSS: EHR http://www.himss.org/ASP/topics_ehr.asp
This site explains the idea of EHRs and how they better healthcare. Its purpose is to promote the improvement of healthcare nationwide and worldwide. It does this by offering podcasts and presentations related to innovative health topics, including EHRs. Another feature is that it provides case studies on the use of EHRs and how they have been successful in practices. Those who are involved in this site are executives of companies who support this revolution and are helping to lead the changes involved in it. This site is very valuable in that it allows a place for those in healthcare to learn more about EHRs and make connections with influential and powerful leaders in the healthcare field.
1. HIMSS – Electronic Health Records (http://www.himss.org/ASP/topics_ehr.asp)
HIMSS is short for Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society. It is a healthcare-stakeholder membership organization that has offices in the U.S. as well as in other parts of the world. The website’s purpose is to provide and encourage a spread of knowledge of how healthcare can be advanced and improved globally through using the best information technology and management systems. The site provides links to a multitude of topics involved in healthcare information technology including Electronic Health Records. The page about EHR includes access to frequently asked questions, case studies and success stories, usability of EHR, adoption of EHR, and an award is given to healthcare systems who have successfully implemented EHR. There is also information on upcoming events held by HIMSS as well as up-to-date news on what is going on with healthcare information technology and research. The organization’s board members are top executives of vendors and healthcare provider systems. Members that make up the organization are for the most part working in patient care settings. The organization also collaborates with other members of healthcare organizations. So, the value of this site is beneficial when wanting information on up-to-date healthcare information technology.
2. EMR and EHR Forum (http://www.emrandehr.com/)
This site is a forum for discussion of EMR and EHR and anything related to these subjects. One person, John, is an IT tech support for a university health center who is the main blogger of this forum. He posts blogs of articles and his opinion and anyone is able to comment on each post. There is an archive of the posts where they are separated by subject and by date. Blogs are posted almost every day and links to other sites about EMRs and EHRs are provided. Even though this is one person blogging on the topics of EMR and EHR, links are provided to different articles, webinars, and wikis to expand on the information discussed within the post. This is a valuable site for seeking information about what other people’s opinions are and also as a way to access other sites.
3. EHR Scope – Connecting Healthcare to Technology (http://www.ehrscope.com/about)
This site’s purpose is to provide a place for a comparison of all the EHR and EMR software that is available as well as how to implement the software successfully. There are multiple articles available as well as testimonials from people who have used EHR Scope in the past. This site is valuable for having a one stop shop for choosing the correct EHR and how to set it up. There are hundreds of EHRs to choose from and an algorithm is set up to help make the best decision as well as demos of the various options.
4. AdvanceWeb.com – Electronic Records: EMR vs. EHR
(http://health-care-it.advanceweb.com/editorial/content/editorial.aspx?cc=203986)
This site is an on-line access to the magazine Advance for Health Information Executives. The site provides monthly articles about the ever-changing and evolving information technology in the healthcare world written by leading healthcare executives and consultants. An article was published about a year ago explaining the difference between an EMR and EHR. There are many more articles that discuss EMRs and EHRs that can be accessed by searching the archives. So, this site is a valuable tool for people who may not quite understand what an EHR and EMR are and want to find out more information about them.
5. A Resource on EMR (http://emrresource.com/)
This site is a McKesson sponsored blog on information about EMRs. The blog includes articles, differing perspectives, case studies, and links to related sites all pertaining to EMR. The site is valuable because it provides blogs of various information about EMRS as well as links to multiple sites on information varying from EMR standards to EMR-HIPPA with just the click of the mouse. There is even an option to follow this blog on Twitter as well as an option to have updates sent of posts and comments.
GE Healthcare https://www2.gehealthcare.com/portal/site/usen/menuitem.d9d1e5260a507013d6354a1074c84130/?vgnextoid=fef1c555ff930210VgnVCM10000024dd1403RCRD
The purpose of this site is to provide information and education about GE’s innovative programs and services that can greatly help healthcare providers better prevent, diagnose, and treat patient illnesses and positively contribute to the health of the world. Visitors of this website will gain a better understanding of what Electronic Health Record is and how it can significantly impact their personal healthcare and the healthcare of the nation as a whole. People who view this site can discover that an EHR would provide a complete health record for each patient that could be available to all of the healthcare providers that a particular patient interacts with.
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services http://www.cms.gov/EHealthRecords/
The overall purpose of this website is to provide all necessary information about the services and use of Medicare and Medicaid. It serves as a source of information about the agency, as well as providing current information about healthcare in the U.S. Visitors of this website will find a concise overview of what an Electronic Health Record is, along with specific examples of how an EHR can improve patient care. In addition, the website provides links to several related topics.
HIMSS (Healthcare Information and Management Systems Socity) http://www.himss.org/ASP/topics_ehr.asp
The purpose of this site is to educate about and advocate for the transformation of healthcare by using health information technology in order to provide quality care to patients. People who visit this site will find the most recent information about technology improvements in healthcare. There is a great focus on EHR, with numerous links about what EHR is, tools to implement it, studies conducted about it, and much more. People will find data about both positive and negative outcomes of an EHR.
HL7 Electronic Health Record http://www.hl7.org/ehr/
The site was originally developed to begin creating standards of an EHR. This website now serves to not only present information about the development of standards for an EHR, but also offers opportunities to get involved in this project. Visitors to this website can find general information, and numerous documents and presentations about EHR. The work that has already been done by the organization creators to implement EHR standards, and directions about attending HL7 meetings and participating in other events is also available to those who visit the site.
Open Clinical http://www.openclinical.org/emr.html
This site was created to encourage implementing additional technology in healthcare in order to provide patients with the highest quality care. The site provides education and knowledge about the most advanced technologies available for use in healthcare systems. Visitors to the site can gain an understanding about an Electronic Health Record through the site’s detailed content. The site provides basic definitions often used in EHR discussions or articles. It presents information about the possible benefits and barriers to an EHR, the standards of an EHR, interoperability, and several links to related subjects.
The purpose of this website is to inform and teach people that are primarily involved in HIS, Tribal, and Urban Indian health care facilities. It is provides explanations about the purpose of an EHR, training courses about how to use EHR software and other useful tools to help professionals learn to use the system.
Value: In my opinion, I believe this site would be very useful for a health care professional working for the HIS, or any other related organization. I do not feel that it would be helpful for a patient who was searching the Internet for further explanation about EHRs.
The purpose of this article is to give a broad overview of what an EHR is. It goes into detail about all the various aspects involving EHRs, including its pros and cons, costs, software and how it is also used in various other countries.
Value: In my opinion, I feel that this is a helpful resource for the average patient who is googling EHR in search of an explanation of its purpose. All the information in the article is unbiased and allows the reader to form their own opinion about the adoption of EHRs. This would not be a useful resource for a healthcare professional if they were seeking information or help regarding EHR software.
This website helps Healthcare professionals choose what type of EMR software they will use in their office. They offer free demos of EMR software and also have a section where Doctors can find EMR software that is more customized to their specialty.
Value: This website is very helpful for healthcare professionals who are searching for EMR software to use in their office. Healthcare professionals are able to use this site to compare various EMR software available and make an educated decision of what would be best in their office setting. It would not be useful for patients who are seeking information about EMR.
4. EMR/EHR Done Right
The purpose of this video is to show patients exactly how EMR works and how it would be an asset to have in a Physicans office. It shows how it can make all aspects of a doctors visit much easier from making an appointment from your home computer to checking lab results after you have left the doctors office. It also shows how the medical records can be backed up in various ways and how they would not be lost if something were to happen to the doctors office or computer.
Value: I feel that this video would only be helpful for a patient who was looking for more information about what exactly an EMR is and how it can be used. I think that this video is vary biased and pro-EMR, and does not address any of the negative issues surrounding EMR. I would not recommend this video to a patient who was looking for an unbiased explanation of EMR. This video would not be very helpful to physicians researching EMR, because it only is an overview of the system and does not address important aspects of EMR that should be considered.
This article is about what has been seen since healthcare professionals have started to use EMRs. It addresses hot topics such as its effects on costs and impact on patients’ lives.
Value: This article would be valuable to a patient who is researching EMR, and trying to form an opinion on it. This would not be helpful to health care professionals seeking information about EMR, such as software, problems and other important topics related to it.
-Athena Health http://www.athenahealth.com
This is a website of a company that sells Electronic Medical Records, electronic medical billing, and a live, automated patient communication system, and a payer viewer. This site, offers its services for physician offices of all sizes, and allows customers to preview the different services they may be interested in. The website also offers videos of testimonials for their services, webinars to offer information and support about using and adopting their programs, and there is a monthly e-newsletter available for subscription. They also provide links to case studies done, showing the different benefits for different size practice sites.
This site is most beneficial to physician groups who are interested in updating their current medical records; medical billing, ways to track payers, and a new way to communicate live with their patients. This website offers a personalized trial offer for the services any group may be interested in, which is very practical, and allows prospective customers to work with their programs before purchasing such a large investment. Athena Health’s website is extremely valuable to anyone looking to purchase these types of systems, to compare the quality of services for different companies.
-Fox Meadows Software http://www.foxmeadows.com
This website is for a company that sells single database EMR, HER, and practice management software. This website offers more than just medical records including a Healthcare Portal that allows patients to access their own healthcare records. From this website it is also possible to view different screens incorporated in the systems, including patient visit notes, billing and scheduling, fax management, web portal, auto check-in kiosk, dispensary and inventory controls, and bar-coded ID cards with many more. This company seems to offer different services with alternative features.
Fox Meadows Software website is very useful for any company who is looking to upgrade or add to their current healthcare technology, or software. This website also has an option to see how this system would be beneficial in different specialty settings, and allows a sample to be viewed or a live demonstration to be scheduled. It shows multiple aspects of use for individual specialties, which allows prospective clients to get an idea of how this system could help their practice.
-HIMSS-Transforming Healthcare Through IT http://www.himss.org/asp/topics-ehr.asp
This website is full of information. It gives multiple IT uses in the health field, and offers conferences and presentations how to use technology. It offers information on EHR adoption, HIT and return on investment, Global EHR, EHR usability, and provides case studies with success stories. There is also a link to see what information is currently in the news, and even a link to Healthcare Reform information.
This site seems to be helpful in learning the importance of EHR, and how it will be beneficial for the healthcare system. This is a good website to get an overview of the benefits of incorporating EHRs. HIMSS also offers a membership which provides local connection, communities and networking, education, publications and industry news and other services. This website is a useful resource for anyone in the health profession, or anyone who wants to learn more about EHRs.
-Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services http://www.cms.gov/EHealthRecords/
Center for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) offer an overview of EHR, and describes many of the benefits of EHR. There are also multiple related links they provide within the CMS and outside the CMS. This site just offers a brief description of EHR, which is probably only beneficial for the general public. This site does not offer any useful information for healthcare providers.
-Open Clinical http://www.openclinical.org.emr.html
This website offers a wide variety of information. It includes a brief history of how medical record systems have been utilized in the past, then provides a list of terms with acronyms and explains what they stand for. Most importantly it gives the pros and cons for EMR. Overall the benefits of EMRs are the same as other websites, but for once this list the “barriers” and “issues” of implementing EMRs. Open Clinical describes eight core capabilities that EHRs should contain: Health information and data, result management, order management, decision support, electronic communication and connectivity, patient support, administration processes, and reporting, and provides a description for each of these. This site also provides information on EMR/EHR standards and work in progress.
This website could be a great benefit to seeing the whole picture of implementing EMR/EHR systems. Open Clinical offers links to other HIT pages regarding technology adoption, programs and plans, and links to information about personal health records and other E-health sites. This site would be extremely valuable however it has not been updated since 2005, so the information may no longer be valid.
The purpose of this site is to provide information about electronic medical records. A detailed description is given about what all is included in an EHR, such as providers, progress notes, problems, medications, vital signs, past medical history, immunizations, laboratory data, and radiology reports.
This site would be of value to those individuals who are interested in finding out more about electronic medical records. There are also links to sites that deal with related topics, such as the Economic Recovery act of 2009.
The purpose of this site is to provide some insight into the implementation of electronic health records almost a year after president Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009. The site explains why this implementation is largely still in the development and research phase.
This site would be valuable to people who are not only curious as to when EHRs will be an integral part of modern health care, but why the process is taking so long.
The primary purpose of this site is to give a list of the advantages of EHRs. These advantages include better documentation, lower cost, better storage, easier retrieval of information, reduced malpractice insurance premiums, increased level of medical care, and accurate record keeping.
This site would be valuable to both patients and health care providers in that it lists advantages for both parties. For patients, lower cost and increased level of medical care would be desirable outcomes. For providers, these advantages would provide better quality of care in general, and less cost to practice.
The purpose of this site is to provide a nurse’s perspective on the implementation of EHRs. The nurse that wrote the article gives information on the content, advantages, disadvantages and practicality of use of EHRs.
This site would primarily be of value to nurses who want to know more about the impact that EHRs would make on their profession.
This is a site that is devoted to helping people find employment, and in this particular search, to finding jobs related to EHRs. The site gives a long list of available jobs, and then gives a description of these jobs.
This would be a valuable site to someone who has an interest in working with EHRs, but just does not know exactly how one could turn such an interest into a career.
HiMSS http://www.himss.org/ASP/topics_ehr.asp
Site purpose: The purpose of this site is to make sure health information technology is used appropriately by serving as a resource for the best use of information and management systems.
Explanation of Value: HiMSS works to better the healthcare system by providing valuable tools and resources to optimize the use of information technology within the healthcare system. HiMSS works as an advocate to the use of health information technology, while ensuring quality patient care. Not only does the website provide a definition of an EHR, it also provides details of the effectiveness, efficiency, and satisfaction of its implantation.
EMR Experts http://www.emrexperts.com/
Site purpose: This site serves as a resource for healthcare professionals to help them select the Electronic Medical Record that best fits their healthcare setting.
Explanation of Value: EMR Experts offers a full range of Electronic Medical Record and Practice Management Software solutions specific for various medical specialties. EMR Experts provide unbiased information and works to save healthcare professionals hours of research time and thousands of dollars. They will also help one select the appropriate hardware, and offer installation, training, and maintenance assistance.
Physicians EHR http://www.physiciansehr.org/index.asp
Site Purpose: This site serves to provide advice to physicians on electronic health records, electronic medical records, and with other aspects of healthcare such as privacy and security implementation strategies.
Explanation of Value: Physicians EHR offers guidance from certified consultants who provide assistance and support through the entire EHR and PMS implementation. Physicians EHR collaborates with medical professionals to save them money on hardware and software purchases. Physicians EHR will review the facilities, specialties, and documentation practices of each setting. These consultants also provide other services such as writing an initial implementation plan, coordinate hardware and software installations, and review and provide information to better the EHR implementation. These individuals are also available to work part-time when needed, which helps to save from having to hire a full-time staff to manage the implementation.
Allscripts http://www.allscripts.com/products/electronic-health-record/allscripts-enterprise/default.asp
Site purpose: This website provides clinical EHR software of choice for various specialty and multi-specialty health settings. Allscripts strives to meet the specific needs of physicians, while maintaining an award-winning package at a reasonable price.
Explanation of Value: With a client base of 4,000 clinics and 40,000 physicians, Allscripts makes every effort to be an industry leader in EHR software implementation. This website offers easy-to-use, fast software solutions in which clients can build a firm EHR foundation. Allscripts also offers additional add-on solutions in order to further enhance the EHR experience and to help revolutionize the way physicians practice medicine.
EHR Scope http://www.ehrscope.com/
Site purpose: This site serves as a resource to physicians and health professional clientele, providing information and updates about healthcare technology. Because selecting the right EHR software solution can be extremely time-consuming, EHR Scope provides assistance with this process, so that their clients make the best software decision.
Explanation of Value: EHR Scope provides the latest Health Information Technology (HIT) news to clients and future clients. This website offers insight to medical professionals on selecting the right EHRs/EMRs, and provides testimonials and reviews from recent consumers. EHR Scope also offers an EMR magazine, which addresses physicians’ concerns, and features articles on the current news and trends pertaining to EHRs/EMRs.
1. HIMSS – http://www.himss.org/ASP/topics_ehr.asp
The purpose of this site is to provide pharmacists with information on Electronic Health Records. It provides background information, tools, usability as well as case studies and success stories to describe EHR’s. The value of this site to those visiting this site is the amount of information that’s provided. The information is up to date and there are numerous links to different publications. Also there are resources from corporate members that provide those visiting the site with their first hand opinions. I feel this is great for those trying to find information about EHR and the benefits it can provide to healthcare.
2. Open Clinical – http://www.openclinical.org/emr.html
The purpose of this site is to provide in depth information on EHR and EMR in a way that separates it into different components. It provides a background, many definitions, benefits, barriers, issues that may arise as well as interoperability and standards that are currently in the works. It also has links to public reports and different topics that include EHR and EMR. I feel this site is very valuable to have a complete understanding of EHR and EMR because it includes every aspect of it. Also the amount of information is vast and it seems to provide an unbiased view because it includes not only benefits but any barriers or issues that could arise with EHR and EMR. I think it’s helpful that it provides suggestions to different areas that are associated with this topic because you can learn more about informatics and different technologies.
3. E.H.R. Home – http://www.hl7.org/ehr/
The purpose of this site is to provide information on the HL7’s EHR system standards development. The HL7 EHR work group is a special interest group that was created in 2001 to begin developing EHR standards, now HL7 is considered a Technical Committee because the importance of EHR has increased. It gives viewers different announcements as well as links to information on EHR and ways to get involved with the committee. There are also links to different documents and a calendar of events. I feel it through these features it is a very valuable site for those interested in being involved with developing EHR standards. Also valuable for those who just want to know how the standards are being developed because it provides up to date information and documents.
4. Better Health – http://getbetterhealth.com/the-achilles-heel-of-electronic-medical-records-systems/2009.05.26
This site provides blogs and this particular one was submitted by KevinMD in the Better Health Network. The purpose of these blogs is to provide an opinion and insight on developing healthcare technologies. The value to the reader is a well developed opinion and view on how EMR could take away from the doctor patient communication. It gives the reader a different point of view on EMR to help them develop their own opinion on EMR and to possibly encourage the reader to submit a blog of their own. Also there are links to different submissions that may interest the reader that are related to the topic.
5. McCombs Today – http://blogs.mccombs.utexas.edu/mccombs-today/2010/04/professional-values-and-uncertainty-linked-to-physicians-use-of-electronic-health-records/
This site provides News from the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas at Austin. This blog is to highlight research that was going to be discussed at the Innovation in Heath Care Delivery Systems Symposium. The article discusses the research on physician’s use of EMR’s and how they are still able to instill their professional values. This gives those reading it the physician’s opinions on EMR as well as research on the use of EMR’s. It also encourages those who are seeking more information to attend the Symposium. For those who cannot attend it could spark interest and discussion as a hot topic in healthcare.
Ihealthbeat.org
The purpose of the website is to give up-to-date information about technologies impact on health care. It gives reports on different studies that are looking into the use and value of technology in the health care field. It has different topics to choose from including electronic health records (EHR) and personal health records (PHR). The EHR and PHR topic has articles about different studies that are looking into the use of EHR.
The values and views of the website seem very unbiased and factual. The website contains articles and podcasts giving information about different research studies regarding health information technologies, governmental discussions about the use of these different technologies, and the public’s opinion about the use of technology in health care. All of the information is updated daily or almost daily.
American Medical Informatics Association
The purpose of the website is to connect all people interested in the use of informatics in the medical field. It is contains podcast, articles and job search information about using technology in the medical field. The AMIA also wants to promote the use and understanding of EHR in health care.
The website contains many links and articles about why using technology in health care is important. The information on this website is updated as new information or opinions become relevant. It only uses information relevant to the support of using technology in health care, so I would say that the information on this website, while being factual, is biased. The website has twitter so people can follow the organization as new information is updated to the site.
Sage Health
This is a website for a company who creates software for electronic health records. This website promotes and gives detailed information about how EHR works. This company designs software for the health industry including both practice management software as well as an infrastructure for electronic data interchange, a service that connects physicians, payer, pharmacies and labs together. The integrity of this company can be questioned considering the fact that they design software for health care systems so they will be biased towards electronic health software and in particular their products.
Although this website sells software for health care systems, it still gives a lot of information about what EHR is as well as the other services and products that they offer. If someone is unsure as to what EHR is, it gives a good explanation and detailed information about what EHR is and how it works. It gives a demonstration of how the software works as well, so a physician or health system can see what the product can do before making a commitment to buying the product. I found this website interesting because it is the first website that I have come across that actually sells a product for EHR. The product is also certified by CCHIT so it is guaranteed to work with the future information exchange network that the government hopes to set up.
MD Synergy
This is another company that designs software for health care providers. However, instead of developing an EHR for an entire health care system, they have developed an EMR for clinics or an office of health care providers. It allows the physician to do all of the same things as an EHR except link to other health care providers. It allows for ePrescribing, order labs and practice management but is only linked to the particular office it is installed in. The EMR product however cannot run without other software, the Practice management software. It also does not provide a demonstration of how the product works before signing up with the company to request information.
This website is for physicians shopping for software and already knows what type of system they are looking for. The website does not give information as to what EHR/EMR is or what it does. This website is user friendly, however, only if you know what you are looking for. The website is not for information about what EMR is but to simply purchase the software. The products on this website are not CCHIT certified, so there is no guarantee that the products will work with the government’s future information exchange network.
e-MD
This is another website for a company that designs software for health care systems. The company has up-to-date news about how informatics is being adopted in the health care world. It seems to be interested in letting people know not just about their products but how the medical world and government are implementing technology into health care. Some of the news is based on different health systems signing contract with them to use the company as its electronic health records vendor. It also has information about how the government wants electronic information to be implemented and the incentives that are being offered.
The website is very open about promoting the use of electronic software for the management of patient care and the office. The website seems to be for physicians but I believe that patients could use the website as a means of learning about new technology to make their physician visits better and more effective. The company also offers a list of the features that the software is capable of performing and what the software will look like by offering screen shots of the software in use. The software is also CCHIT certified so it is guaranteed to work with the government’s future information exchange network.
This website is a sales pitch for athenaClincals EHR program. It explains the features of their system which CCHIT certification, exchange and submission of clinical data, enhance e-prescribing and other features. What makes this site interesting is that you can send them some information about your company and you can view a demo of their system. It also contains links to drive in what is guaranteed with their program, including stimulus money.
This site can be valuable for companies who are looking for new EHR systems if they are upgrading or are getting a system for the first time.
2.Electronic Health Records Jobs Roles and Responsibilities. http://www.electronichealthrecordsjobs.com/index.html
This website explains what an EHR is and how they work in a quick overview. It also gives an overview of what job and careers are available because of the EHR systems that are being developed. For example, one job opportunity is a programmer/analyst. You can also look into being a data specialist or senior data architect and many others. Senior architects collect data in meetings, interview and other information gathering techniques and develop business models based on this information. This website is a good value to those who are interested in what opportunities career-wise are now available because of EHR development.
This website is a webpage that links to outside resources about electronic health records. It’s there to help people become educated in the field. It has links to EHR reviews, the privacy and security of the software, other resources, technical standards and other aspects that might be associated to electronic health records.
This website is good for people (who are a part of the APA, since they are the only ones that can get to the links, apparently) who want to quickly review the many aspects and issues that are associated with electronic health records.
This page is a link from a busnessweek.com webpage that collects information details concerning electronic health records and electronic medical records. This link in particular is about Obama’s EMR stimulus package. It explains the details involved with the package which include the provision of $40,000 in incentives to use EHR, creation of HIT Extension Programs that would facilitate regional adoption efforts, provisions of funds to states to coordinate such incentives, creation of grant and loan programs, acceleration of the development of the National Health Information Network, among other things.
This site is an opinion as well about what the Stimulus Package is. This site could be valuable because it does have the quick overview and it gives some insight about what other people think about what is going on in health care today.
This webpage is a 14 page pdf file that explains the difference between EMRs and EHRs. It was last updated in 2006, but it still seems to be helpful for people who want to learn more about the two systems. EMR “is the legal record created in hospitals and ambulatory environments that is the source of data for the EHR”. The EHR “represents the ability to easily share medical information among stakeholders and to have a patient’s information follow him or her through the various modalities o care engaged by that individual”. It later goes on and explains that without reliable EMRs, a valuable EHR will never be fully in place.
This webpage is valuable for people who want to know what is going on in this field and shows how important it is for health businesses get more involved in the EMR/EHR movement for all of this to work. It is very important to learn all the background so that a system/program can be more successful.
This article was written by Dr. Blumenthal, and covers the basics of how the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) effects the healthcare system, and the incentive for physicians and hospitals to adopt the EMR software during the timeline allotted by the government, to take part in the $17 Billion being offered to these participants.
The benefit of looking at this site and article is a shortened but thorough description of the act, and the stimulus plan. Dr. Blumenthal also gives his personal pros and cons on the EMR/EHR program, and his thoughts on the act.
Website 2
Allscripts (www.allscripts.com)
Allscripts is a technological company that currently provides 160,000 physicians and 800 hospitals in the US with their software, with the purpose of connecting healthcare systems. They have software that is able to accommodate most types of healthcare practices, even homecare agencies.
The benefit a healthcare provider would receive from visiting this website is gaining knowledge about the different technology programs available for EMR/EHR. Allscripts also offers a payment plan for purchases, with no payments for the first six months, and assistance to physicians applying for the Medicaid and Medicare stimulus incentives for physicians using EHR technology.
The group that performed this study wanted to determine the financial benefit or cost of implementing EMR systems in primary care. The reference for comparison was traditional paper-based patient records, and they measured for a 5 year period. They estimated a net financial benefit of 86,400 dollars per provider for using an EMR system verses paper records. They attributed this gain to “savings in drug expenditures, improved utilization of radiology tests, better capture of charges, and decreased billing errors”. They concluded that investment on EMR technology can result in a positive financial return.
The benefit of looking at this study is that a patient may be encouraged that their healthcare spending will be decreased and more effective, and a provider will feel confident in their investment and the positive outcome for their patients and business.
Website 4
CMS Centers for Medicare and Medicaid services (http://www.cms.gov/EHealthRecords/)
This website gave a good definition and explanation of what an EHR actually is, and what is included in an EHR, verses an EMR. It told that EMR’s are inevitable for our nation’s healthcare systems, and told the benefits to patients and providers.
The benefit of someone visiting this website would be to clear up any confusion about the use of the words, since they are so commonly used in the media interchangeably, but they are actually not the same thing. An EMR is part of a EHR, and the two are owned by different people/ providers.
This article was written on February 10, 2009 when the senate initially approved the $838 billion stimulus bill. The author presents some concerns he has with an electronic health record, and that whether or not a patient wants their information available electronically, where it is searchable, they do not really have the option to “opt out”.
This article is of benefit to the reader because it presents some views that I personally had not thought about, and would are useful to know, if given the opportunity to voice their concerns about EMRs. It is clear when this article was written that the details of EMR/EHRs were not “hammered out” yet, and I’m not quite sure that they still are. It’s definitely still a work in progress.
YouTube is a social media and Web 2.0 site that allows users to share videos. This specific page focuses on Electronic Medical Records. The video is a Close Up news coverage segment about Microwize Technologies and how they are implementing electronic medical records. The user can watch the video and post comments, and the site also suggests related videos to watch. The news cast looks at one company’s solution to updating antiquated paper medical record keeping. This is especially valuable for physicians because it discusses the importance of having thorough and streamlined records that will improve patient care and save valuable time. The records can also be shared between doctors’ offices for uninterrupted patient care. Having an efficient documentation system can also help doctors with insurance audits. It is important to have access to records at all times, and the availability of IT help and backup systems are discussed. Microwize executives and physicians who have used the EMR software talk about their experiences with the technology. Microwize is “delivering the practice of the future today.”
athenaClinicals is a page on the website for the company athenahealth. There are tabs for company information, services, blog, and alliances. This page gives an overview of the company’s EHR, the web-based software and rules database, and service agreements. Visitors to the site can watch videos about the software and view a demonstration to see how it works. There are also videos about physician and hospital testimonials. You can also subscribe to a monthly e-newsletter and find out about guaranteed federal stimulus dollars for EMR adoption. Contact information for athenahealth is provided so healthcare professionals can learn more about adopting the technology to improve patient care. Especially valuable tools on the site are case studies and webinars. The case studies include: Harness Network-Based Services, Added Revenue with Integrated Services, and Easy Adoption and Control Over Performance. The Webinars include: Our Federal Stimulus Bonus Payment Guarantee Program, Cracking the Code of Successful EHR Design, Successful EHR Adoption, and Growing Your Practice with athenahealth.
This page is created by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. The site provides an overview of Electronic Health Records and a link to CMS information related to the Economic Recovery Act of 2009. There are also links to resources outside of CMS: American Health Information Community (AHIC), Certification Commission for Health Information Technology, Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS), and Health Level Seven (HL7). This page explains to the user why it is important to implement EHRs and the impact the technology will have on patient care. It provides resources for both healthcare providers and health information technology companies about complying with new government policies regarding healthcare technology.
“How Apple’s Position on Flash Could Turn Many Medical Professionals Back to Android” is a blog on a site that allows healthcare professionals to review medical applications on PDAs, specifically iPad and iPhone. In addition to viewing related blogs, the site allows comments. While there are apps like medpage today mobile for the iPhone, this blog discusses the disadvantage of Apple devices (iPhone and iPad) for accessing web-based EHRs. Many web-based EHRs such as CareCloud and Practice Fusion are Flash-based (Adobe) and are not compatible with Apple devices. Apps must be created for the iPhone and iPad to be able run a web-based EHR. The site contrasts Android technology to Apple. This blog could help healthcare providers decide on what kind of PDA or other hand held technology to invest in.
This site blogs about healthcare law, and the specific blog “OCR Request for Information: HIPAA Privacy Rule Accounting of Disclosures under HITECH” is written by Bob Coffield, a healthcare lawyer. The blog discusses a recent statement from the Office of Civil Rights about new legislation regarding HIPAA and provides a link to the OCR website for more information. The OCR wants comments on the pending legislation from both consumers and providers of healthcare about disclosing private health information and the administrative requirements of accounting for disclosures. There are nine questions to comment on, and the blog lists them. This blog shares information about legislation requiring time limited action for busy healthcare providers who otherwise might be unaware of the developments in Washington. It is important for healthcare providers to be able to comment on legislation that will affect the way they practice. According to HIPAA, patient information needs to be protected, implementing EHRs/EMRs will require safeguarding information transfers between healthcare providers, deciding what information is allowed to be shared, and regulating who has access to patient information.
The purpose of this website is to provide the benefits of utilizing information technology and management systems in the healthcare setting. The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) believes that by utilizing these tools, healthcare will be transformed and quality care will be ensured to all patients. The website has obvious values for anyone who is interested in learning about health information technology. Some of these values include: the latest news in health information technology, upcoming conferences and events regarding this topic, and also membership information for any health professional who is interested. Job opportunities are also discussed, as well as publications for those interested to gain further knowledge on health information and management systems.
This website was designed to promote a current EHR software program called SequelMed. Product promotion includes listing program benefits such as built in alerts to assist in decision-making and optimization of workflow to improve patient care. The website gives testimonials and customer success stories, both of which further assist in promoting SequelMed over competitors. The value of this website is to assist healthcare professionals that are interested in utilizing electronic health records to make an informed decision on a software program. SequelMed is also linked to social media networks such as twitter and facebook in order to promote the advantages of the program.
EMR Experts is a website designed to give unbiased reports regarding the various EMR software programs that are available to healthcare professionals. The site visitor can look up information about EMR software for a variety of specialized areas of medicine such as cardiology, neurology, or orthopedics. There is also a list of articles promoting the benefits of EMR for anyone considering making the transition to electronic medical records. The value of this website is to help the site visitor in the decision making process of choosing an EMR software program. EMR Experts will also assist in hardware installing and training to ensure a smooth transition for their clients.
This is a site created to give information regarding health information technology to the site visitor. Information on medical devices, healthcare jobs, and internet/computer technology can easily be found on this website. There are also software reviews for professionals who are interested in analyzing the benefits of choosing one software program over another. Recommended websites and popular pages regarding EMR and EHR are also given in order to provide the site visitor with additional resources regarding the use of electronic health records. The obvious value of this website is that information regarding EMR and EHR is consolidated in order to minimize time searching for various resources as well as promote the use of electronic health records.
OpenClinical is a website that was designed to provide information to healthcare professionals, computer scientists, or any others interested in learning about advanced knowledge management technologies. The website is divided into several different “zones” such as the community, background, and research zones. The “Background Zone” provides information on topics such as evidence-based medicine, electronic medical records, and personal health records. There is also an opportunity to register to become a member of OpenClinical in order to receive the latest information regarding a particular interest. The value of OpenClinical to the site visitor is to provide resources on advanced knowledge management and technologies in order to better his/her understanding.
1. OmniMD: Physician Empowered (http://www.omnimd.com/)
This site sells products and services for an Electronic Medical Record (EMR) for physicians. It boasts the product’s ease of use and ability to be adapted to the needs of the buyer. These products include applications like ePrescribing, appointment scheduler, lab order integration, and medical calculators. To further persuade physicians to purchase these products, the site offers a demonstration to those who register.
This website allows physicians the opportunity to learn more about this EMR software and how easy it is to use. On this site, physicians can discover how these products and services will add value to their practices and help them do their jobs more efficiently through links to the various applications and demonstration of the product.
2. Software Advice (http://www.softwareadvice.com/medical/electronic-medical-record-software-comparison/?wfvar=wfvard)
This site compares the leading providers of EMR software. Users can get a free quote and a free demonstration of each product. This site matches software buyers with software vendors and collects a fee from the vendor. For those customers who need more assistance they offer a toll free number where they can speak to an expert and a free guide on the 10 steps to selecting the right medical software. In addition, the site offers testimonials from satisfied customers.
When deciding which EMR software to buy, physicians can use this site to compare several different products on one site instead of visiting several different sites for each of these products. On this site, potential buyers can also learn more about the benefits of EMR in their practices. They can request a free quote and free demonstration of each vendor’s software. If they are still unsure, the site offers additional help from experts in making a decision.
3. ElectronicMedicalRecords-emr.com (http://www.electronicmedicalrecords-emr.com/)
This site provides links to a blog, demonstration slides, cost savings, articles, and advantages of EMR. Although this site claims to offer demonstrations, it is not interactive but provides pictures of screens. This site provides a newsletter to help physicians decide on the software best for them through its newsletter. Moreover, it offers news about EMR, like collaborating with a hospital on the same EMR software. This site provides both strengths and weaknesses of this proposal.
This site offers links to articles and the advantages of EMR software to those who are still skeptical or who just want more information before making a purchase. With this site, physicians can receive helpful information throughout the entire process, from researching different types of EMR software to implementing it in their practice. For instance, it offers the advantages and disadvantages of various options associated with choosing and buying EMR software.
4. The Informatics Group (http://www.theinformaticsgroup.com/otheremrehrjobs.html)
This site defines EMR and gives some background information on the subject. In addition, describes many job opportunities, such as EMR Project Manager, EMR Trainer, EMR Business Analyst/Systems Analyst, and EMR Application Specialist/Tester. The Informatics Group offers these consultants to healthcare providers who are wishing to implement EMR software in their practice to help facilitate the process.
Users of this site can learn about novel job opportunities in the health informatics field related to EMR use. They are looking for people who are skilled in these areas and offer prospective employees the opportunity to email their resumes. In addition, physicians can receive support in implementing this new software. Therefore, this site matches EMR professionals with healthcare providers wishing to apply this EMR.
5. PC Science: EMR Science for the PC (http://www.pcscience.net/index.htm)
This site offers resources to help physicians decide on purchasing EMR software. For instance, the site provides testimonials from satisfied customers, descriptions of the limitations of certain features, links to information on government acts, and definitions of terms like EMR. This site devotes more space to promoting EMR in general instead of the company’s own product. In addition, this site focuses on helping the consumer make an informed choice by emphasizing the need to research options before choosing the right software.
Users of this site will be able to learn more about EMR if they have limited knowledge on the subject. In addition, any healthcare provider will be equipped with valuable information to begin the process of selecting EMR software. Since this website did not focus specifically on the company’s software, users will be able to see the importance of researching all possible options before making a decision.
The Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services website provides a brief overview of Electronic Health Records. They describe how an EHR contains many key items of clinical data for a patient and lists many of these items. They describe how implementing and using Electronic Health Records could benefit clinicians and streamline workflow, and they also give a list of reasons how EHRs can improve patient care. This website also seems to be advocating the nationwide adoption of the EHR system, and provides a link to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 so that readers can see how EHR was involved.
This could be a useful website for anyone who wishes to find out exactly what is an Electronic Health Record. It could be useful to clinicians who visit so that they could see how it might affect their daily workflow. It also is useful to them, as well as non-clinicians, who want to know what role the EHR subject played in the Recovery Act that President Obama signed in 2009.
This website belongs to Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society. It begins by offering a description of an EHR and what it contains and involves. This website exists to provide valuable information to clinicians who might be adopting this system of health records. It provides a series of links to documents that are very beneficial to anyone looking for more detailed information. It could help a clinician with information about everything from what it will take for them to adopt EHR to what kind of returns they can expect on their investment.
This site is valuable to anyone who might visit it. It links the user to documents related to the following categories: EHR adoption, Return on Investments, Standards and the Electronic Health Record, Global EHR, Tools for EHR Professionals, EHR Usability, Project Management, and others. I followed some of the links and a lot of the information seemed very valuable, while other links were difficult to follow. Also some of the documents were not available to users that weren’t registered with HIMSS. Overall, I think anyone who visits this website can learn about many of the issues facing EHR such as barriers to use, usability of EHR, and reasons to implement EHR.
This site seems to be designed specifically for use by the Indian Health Service facilities. It is a tool for their healthcare facilities who have implemented EHR services, those who are in the process of implementing them, and those who may be doing so soon. This site, like the others, offers a broad overview of EHR. It geared more specifically to the Indian Health Services, though, and offers preparatory processes to their clinics and clinicians who are using it. It also provides other resources to the IHS employees such as EHR training, EHR frequently asked questions, key contacts for EHR issues, and presentations that may help answer any questions about EHR.
This website is probably very valuable to all of the IHS clinicians and employees who are involved in changing over to EHR, or preparing to change over. This website seems to be of greater value than the other sites because it offers actually experience with the EHR system. Anyone in the Indian Health Services system can access the links on this webpage to find answers to their questions. For people not involved with IHS, they can have an outsiders look at how EHR works, and see what kind of experiences the Indian Health Service has had with it.
From what I can tell, OmniMD is a company that provides medical sowftware products and services relevant to clinical use. They describe themselves as “a developer of HIPAA compliant Internet-based enterprise clinical solutions, designed to fully automate the work-flow of contemporary healthcare organizations.” The purpose of their website is to market their products and services and provide a description of them. Regarding EHR, they have a link to a page so that the user can read the benefits and features of the system and what implications it will have on their workflow.
I don’t see this website having much value to anyone other than potential clients. Someone who is looking for a company that offers the EHR system could use this website as a resource to find out what this specific company offers. They could also use this webpage to find contact information to get more information about the product or find out about pricing and what would be involved with implementing this tool. I suppose that this website would also be valuable to existing clients of OmniMD, as a troubleshooting avenue or to answer other questions.
This is a website that offers current news as well as solutions to healthcare management technology. It covers technology issues across the board. It has links for people using or looking for information about EMR, links for Hospital based news, links to news involving group practices, and other news articles too. The EMR page, specifically, is a page that offers an array of articles involving the Electronic Medical Record system. The website even has a forum where you can go and read about questions or problems that people have had, or where you can go to ask a question to others that might have experience with the problem at hand.
This website might be the most useful of the five websites we have discussed. I followed the link to the EMR and found some articles that would be very helpful in learning about EHR/EMR. It would be a valuable page to any person with any level of experience with this system. For people that know very little about it, there is enough information to gain a solid understanding of its place and purpose in practice. And for the people that have plenty of experience with EHR, this is the perfect website to visit to keep watch for the latest news.
10AU258
1) Healthcare information and Management system society (HIMSS) http://www.himss.org/ASP/topics_ehr.asp
Purpose of the site:-Provide global leadership on Information technology related to the use of electronic medical record and its management. Having offices in a few countries in the world such as Singapore, Brussels and a few states in the United States, they have about 23,000 individual members who are the beneficiary on the health care information exchange between countries or states in the United States. When those members go those places and seek care, their information follow them so that they get better treatment than individuals who doesn’t have an integrated health record available for physician to see.
The site is valuable to visitor because it encourage people to become the member of the national health care network and share their medical information electronically. Their medical information will be available in the time of need and be useful in health care information exchange whenever they travel in those countries of the world and be in a situation to receive health care.
2) Advanced data system corporation (ADS) http://www.adsc.com/ehr_docassistant.asp
Purpose of the Site:-To indicate that ADS came up with the ultimate electronic medical record software that is very important in today’s health care management than the traditional paper based documentation of personal health records.
The site is valuable to visitor because it communicates clearly how superior electronic medical care is and lists the benefits of using electronic health record. It also tells people that unlike other software, the EMR software is not going to be purchased separately and installed in their computers. Instead it can be directly accessed online. It also shows what the EMR software will look like on their webpage in a way to encourage users how easy it would be to upload their medical information without the need of filling out forms. Patients also will have capability to fill out automated questioners about their medical recorded in advance to arrival to the practice site. The corporation also strive to find a software solutions that links patient health record with i-phone and allow care provider obtain up to date information from patients which will be available on the tip of their finger during the time of care giving. They also worked on developing software products for example a computer based provider order entry (CPOE) that us absolutely important in health care information exchange that is proven to free up care providers’ time and reduces costs.
3) OmniMD http://www.myemrstimulus.com/about/
Purpose of site:-To develop the HIPPA complaint standard on EMH usage. They are leaders in e-business development and internet consultant. They also have products such as EMR software Medical billing software and give services such as Medical transcription, medical document management etc.
The site is valuable to visitor in that it lists summary of the key and critical factors in the implementation of CPOE. It also provides education why e-prescribing is important and how it works. They also have several products that are typically focused on improving the medical care via IT management of HER. Therefore, one learns about terminologies on electronic health care process and show how they work in a brief summary.
4) Wikipedia-The free encyclopedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_health_record
Purpose of site:-To educate people about electronic health record by giving description, definitions and examples on what EMR mean.
The site is valuable for any person to get the first hand educational information on EMR. In addition it also lists advantage and disadvantages associated with using EMR.
5) My medical records.com http://www.mymedicalrecords.com/aboutUs.jsp
Purpose of site:-They provide solution that is secure and easy to use in addition to the web-based storage solution to consumers, care providers, insurances, employers, professional organizations etc. Using file upload, fax, phone, e-mail etc they make an electronic exchange of sensitive documents among prescriber, pharmacy and consumer only through a security enabled system that uses the application of passwords. The major aim is also to reduce the complexity of health care record keeping process for prescribers and making prescribing both time and cost effective.
The site is valuable to visitor in that one can learn about the important alternatives of electronic medical recording and prescribing systems targeting in the improvement of the health outcome of the patient via using electronic information sharing systems available today. One can also learn that this company gives at the top of their list in order to increase confidence among users especially prescribers.
The purpose of this article is to inform patients and healthcare providers of new regulations that would impact the evolving medical records system which is fast moving towards EHR. This article examines the perceived benefit of EHR to patients and healthcare providers. It examines the use of EHR systems globally compared to the U.S. and explains potential benefits and pitfalls.
The value to visitors of this site would be gaining information to form an opinion on EHR. This could explain the potential benefit or harm that EHR may present in healthcare to concerned patients and healthcare providers who must adopt this new system.
The purpose of this site is to sell the EHR system that Allscripts offers. They are targeting physicians in private practices, hospitals, and community organizations to adopt the EHR system they sell by illustrating its main benefits.
The value to visitors of this site would be evaluating the benefits, and obtaining prices for adoption of this EHR program.
3. Electronic health record alone may have limited ability to improve quality, costs of care – Eurekalert! http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-04/mgh-ehr040610.php.
The purpose of this site is to highlight a study that attempts to examine the possible benefit of EHR utilization across several hospital institutions. It takes into account quality measurements to assess improvements prior to EHR installation and after EHR installation.
Value to visitors of this site: Through this study, institutions can evaluate what steps must be taken to improve healthcare through better use/implementation of EHR.
The purpose of this site is as a training resource to help explain the use of the U.S. Military’s EHR, AHLTA. It accompanies information that has already been previously presented to military healthcare workers by presenting tutorials and tips to aid in its use.
The value to visitors is as a resource for manipulating the EHR service for military healthcare workers. If there are any concerns or problems with operating the system, this serves as a valuable resource to learn the proper utilization of the system.
The purpose of this article is to examine the potential legal issues with adopting an EHR. It delves into laws and acts that may prove to be an obstruction to the ideal EHR.
The value to visitors is to provide information on potential legal obstructions to initiating EHR programs into healthcare organizations. This may also help to guide EHR installers into avoiding pitfalls that could limit or prohibit use of certain features. This site could be informative for organizational personnel training to insure privacy.
This website provides a fairly complete overview of Electronic Health Records. It explains the process of EHR adoption, how to obtain HIT and EHRs in a cost efficient manner, what standards are being set for EHRs, and some of the headway being made for Global EHRs. This site also explains usability of EHRs and gives case studies and success stories to show how different health systems have implemented EHRs. This site does not have a synopsis of these topics but gives the reader access to various different publications regarding the above topics through links posted under a Topics & Tools side bar.
In my opinion, this site is an excellent tool to educate those in the health profession about EHRs. Because it does not provide a direct written overview of the topics but forces readers to access and read the actual publications, I feel it would not be a site that would be as beneficial and helpful to the average patient interested in learning more about EHRs.
Website 2:
Indian Health Service – Electronic Health Record
This site was designed solely to provide a look at the EHR design provided by the Indian Health Service. It also provides links to additional information. Clinical overviews are given to see how the IHS works within a clinical practice providing such services as point-of-service entry and data retrieval as an example. Technical overview is given to show the types of specifications needed to operate the EHR software such as a network link to PIMS (a program HSOP formerly used.) It also gives links to documents that can help in preparing other IHS facilities to use EHRs and train personnel in the use of the EHR system. Among other links are a ListServ, a Frequently Asked Questions link, and a Program Contacts link. This site provides a complete look at the IHS EHR system.
In my opinion, this site provides a great example of a working EHR. However, this particular system is designed only for use by IHS. Therefore, this site can only be used as a template for others trying to implement EHRs in a clinical setting. This website would provide a great in-depth look at the EHR for health care professionals but does not provide the overview that an average patient is looking for when trying to learn about the use of EHRs in his or her individual health care.
Website 3:
Palo Alto Medical Foundation – Benefits of EHR
This website provides an overview of the Palo Alto Medical Foundation’s EHR. It gives the benefits of the personal EHR created for each of the foundation’s patients and how these records can be accessed by any provider in the system. This system incorporates everything from documentation of patient interactions, to physician referrals, to flagging of potentially harmful drug interactions. This website also gives a look at how this type of system is the future of health care and states that the Bush Administration ear-marked $125 million for health information technology projects. In addition, this website shows how the recent surge in implementing EHRs is not the first; EHR has been around since the 90s, and PAMF has been using an EHR system since 1999.
This website is a general overview of a successful implementation of an EHR system in a health care network. It is site that is beneficial to patients wanting more information on EHRs since it gives them an easy-read source of information about what an EHR can allow any healthcare provider to do within this particular system. This site also gives the benefits of nationwide EHR implementation so that patients can see how EHRs can work in their favor.
Website 4:
Buzzel.com – 10 Benefits of an Electronic Medical Record
This website article gives ten benefits of using EMRs. It highlights speed, storage, security, support, accessibility, affordability, infrastructure, versatility, efficiency, and manageability as EMRs main selling points. As an example, the article states, “speed equals ability to compete….” Speed also allows for less time problem-solving and more time invested in patient care. The article highlights usability, stating that companies seeking to implement a new EMR program should research the different programs available to see which is the best fit for the particular company, as each program varies in usability and manageability.
This site is a great advocate for EMR usage. It addresses areas that are questionable to both the patient and the healthcare provider and shows how EMRs are a benefit in patient care. By addressing the topic of security, it puts readers at ease about some of the questions raised by having a nationally accessible medical record. The important issue to note with this article is the writer is not employed by one of the companies trying to sell or implement the EMR technology; therefore, his opinion is not biased by trying to make a sale.
Website 5:
MDS Medical Electronic Medical Records Software – Benefits of Electronic Medical Records
This website is designed to give an overview of how EMR software can benefit ambulatory medical practices. The site specifically mentions that the company’s software helps speed delivery of care and helps decrease costs by eliminating the use of paper. It also highlights some of the other benefits such as reduced patient callbacks, increased patient safety, reduced medication errors, and increased patient satisfaction.
This site is primarily aimed at selling EMR software to ambulatory practices. However, they do make the disclaimer that not all systems are alike; therefore, they tailor the message of the website towards pushing EMR implementation rather than just selling their product. They help provide information for health care providers on how EMR can benefit the ambulatory care practice setting in patient satisfaction, efficiency, and profitability. This site is beneficial for a brief overview of the positives of implementing EMRs in healthcare settings.
1) CENTERS FOR MEDICAID AND MEDICARE SERVICES
URL: http://www.cms.gov/EHealthRecords/
Purpose: This website defines Electronic Health Records and links within itself to information on the Economic Recovery Act of 2009. The Economic Recovery Act of 2009 has provisions in it on the adoption of Health Information Technology, and this website describes the specific role Medicaid and Medicare will play in the adoption of Electronic Health Records. This website also provides links to outside sources of information on Electronic Health Records.
Value: This website provides useful information for anyone interested in learning about Electronic Health Records as they pertain to the Economic Recovery Act of 2009 Health Information Technology provisions. It is also a useful resource for practitioners who deal with Medicaid and Medicare patients to learn more about how the use of Electronic Health Records will impact their practice.
2) ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORDS OVERVIEW
URL: http://www.ncrr.nih.gov/publications/informatics/EHR.pdf
Purpose: This website is a document released by the National Institutes of Health’s National Center for Research Resources and provides a complete overview of Electronic Health Records. It not only defines but also provides history on and the components of Electronic Health Records. It describes research finding on key standards, workflow implications, technical and business trends, as well as cost and return on investment.
Value: This website document is a great resource on almost any subject pertaining to Electronic Health Records and their adoption. It is valuable to anyone wanting to know more information on Electronic Health Records and their implications for the future. It is written in a way so that it can be understood by any novice on the concept and still provides valuable information on the subject; even if you are a healthcare expert.
3) INDIAN HEALTH SERVICE
URL: http://www.ihs.gov/CIO/EHR/
Purpose: This website provides general information on Electronic Health Records as well as specific information on how the Indian Health Service is implementing its version, the Resource and Patient Management System. There are many links providing access to numerous sources of information on Electronic Health Records.
Value: This website is a valuable resource for providers considering implementing Electronic Health Records as it provides insight on how an organization the size of the Indian Health Service is implementing its own version. It provides information on the technicalities involved in implementing Electronic Health Records; this even includes information on the training of how to use them. This website is a reliable source of information because it is the website for a federal program devoted to the healthcare of native populations in the United States.
4) HEALTHCARE INFORMATION AND MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS SOCIETY
URL: http://www.himss.org/ASP/topics_ehr.asp
Purpose: This website is primarily designed to provide to its members information on the benefits of implementing health information technology as well as the latest laws, rules, and regulations; with aims to improve the current healthcare system. The website is accessible to anyone who would like to educate themselves on topics related to and the importance of Electronic Health Records. It also provides links to other outside sources of information on Electronic Health Records.
Value: This website is a valuable resource for information about Electronic Health Records and other Healthcare Information Technologies. The information it provides is very in-depth and easy to access. It educates readers on the benefits of adopting Electronic Health Records as well as discussing some technical issues involved in implementing them in the healthcare industry. It also provides multiple links to other sources of information on the subject.
5) OPEN CLINICAL
URL: http://www.openclinical.org/emr.html
Purpose: This website spells out the definition of Electronic Health Records, the benefits of adopting Electronic Health Records, barriers to adopting Electronic Health Records, issues related to Electronic Health Records, and standards for adopting Electronic Health Records. Overall the website is designed to provide information on and promote the adoption of Electronic Health Records.
Value: This website is an excellent source of information for individuals interested in learning about Electronic Health Records. It provides thorough information that any beginner on the subject can grasp. It would be a useful resource for any healthcare provider considering implementation of Electronic Health Records as well as for individual patients taking advantage of the use of their personal Electronic Health Record.
http://www.himss.org/ASP/topics_ehr.asp
The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) is a website focused on providing the best use of information technology (IT) and management systems for healthcare improvement. This section of the HIMSS website focuses on the EHR and has many resources that tell all about it
With a mission of transforming healthcare through the effective use of information technology and management systems, the HIMSS website is useful to inform individuals about the benefits of the EHR. This website is great for individuals wanting some background on the EHR. It informs readers of what the EHR is and what it does. With everything from EHR adoption and standards to tools for professionals, The HIMSS website is a great one stop website for all the background information you would want to know about electronic health records and more. http://www.ihs.gov/cio/ehr/
This website is all about the Indian Health Service’s (IHS) EHR. There is a large amount on information dedicated to the new EHR as well as links to many other helpful websites.
The site is very useful for Indian health care facilities that are thinking about implementing their own EHR. There are clinical and technical overviews aimed at the capabilities of the EHR and hardware needed to operate it. There are links to training pages to help in implementing an EHR service as well as links to new updates. Along with all this are FAQ and a listserv that you sign up for. Overall this is a great website to go to if you are in the IHS and want to implement your own EHR service.
http://www.openehr.org/home.html
The openEHR is an international non-profit foundation’s website that’s ultimate goal is to improve on the informatics of health care by making the EHR a reality.
This website is useful for individuals who want to make the EHR a reality. The website contains open source software and tools that can be used to implement the EHR. There are also news and events links to keep everyone updated and a community site to share ideas. The open source software is easily accessed via the download link and there are also pages about software projects that are in the works. This is a great website for open source software to implement the EHR as well as information about research and advances. http://ehrdecisions.com/
This website was created by the Certification Commission for Health Information Technology (CCHIT) and is aimed at accelerating the adoption of the EHR.
The CCHIT’s goal is to certify EHR systems in the hopes that by helping make purchase decisions more doctors will aim to implement the EHR in their practice. This commission’s goal is to make sure the EHR’s they certify will be interoperable and able to connect and send patient data between other providers while still keeping patient data confidential. On top of this they are also focused on trying to get more financial assistance for providers who implement the EHR. This website is actually the organizations informal website and provides up to date information on EHR’s. http://ehrguy.com/default.aspx
This website is a blog by Michael Planchart. He is an entrepreneur and an Enterprise and Solutions Architect in the Healthcare IT domain. His goal is to provide an educational, informative, and professional blog/website devoted to the EHR.
This website is great for individuals who are more interested in the up to date information presented in blog format. This website has very educational information delivered in a professional way. The website is useful because it contains the EHR guy’s blog as well as links to other bloggers on the subject. There is also news and facts links as well as other links related to informatics. An events calendar along with live instant messaging capabilities makes this an overall great website to find out what is happening with the EHR.
The purpose of Advanced MD is to serve as an online medical billing and electronic health record. The website is promoting the software and hoping to appeal to potential customers. The value of the website is that it provides a description of all the services contained within Advanced MD’s software. In addition, it provides a free demo of the software to allow potential customers to get an actual experience with it before they make the investment. It provides a list of the many benefits of using their software including: maintaining chart electronically and consistently, managing diverse systems and data as one, engaging and informing patients online, and gaining mobile access to patient data.
The purpose of the website is to explain what electronic health records are and what their benefit is to the patient. The value of this to the patient is to explain what kind of information would be contained in the EHR such as labs, past medical history, vital signs, medications, and problem list. It also provides links to several other both within the CMS website and external links that the patients may find useful. It explains what EHRs can do for you, the patient and what you can expect from them now and in the future.
The purpose of the website is to provide a resource for those planning to implement or currently making the transition to electronic health records. There are sites dedicated to EHR adoption, standards that are required, tools for professionals, and some select success stories. There are a multitude of values associated with the different aspects of this site. It provides guidance for adoption of EHR, allowing for an easier transition and information on costs, benefits, and consequences within the pharmacy. The “Usability” section describes all the features that can be utilized with EHR. The standards that must be upheld for EHRs are intense, and the link to information on how to make sure you comply is very informative. The success stories cover a multitude of topics allowing for several perspectives and possible situations that may be encountered.
The purpose of the website is to provide information on their healthcare IT company as well as provide a description of their products and services. There are testimonials, press releases, information on features and benefits of their products and services. The value of this website extends to offering demos of some of the products (i.e. Radiology Information System). It also alerts potential consumers of the fact that they even provide user training. It also gives a listing of their awards and certifications as well as a “why Medinformatix?” section. In addition it provides contact information should you desire further information.
The purpose of the website is to provide advice on at least 46 electronic medical and health record software options to help health care providers select the best one to fit their needs. The value of this website to visitors is to present unbiased evaluations of EMR and EHR software. Along with the synopsis of pros and cons there are screen shots of what the program looks like. It simply states what sets each program apart from the others which would allow you to pick the best option for your practice. Links to demos, pricing information, and asking Software Advice a question are all listed on the same page which gives the consumer easy access to these resources. They have evaluated 46 different software programs! This is an extensive research project that will really cut down on the time providers would have to spend researching.
Open Clinical http://www.openclinical.org/emr.html
This website is geared towards healthcare professionals and anyone interested in learning about management technologies for healthcare. The purpose of this site is to promote the use of electronic medical records to health professionals and the community so as to improve the quality of patient care. Also, this site promotes EMR and the adoption of healthcare knowledge applications in order to ensure more safe, quality and ethical health care.
This website has information including common terms associated with EMR to better understand it and multiple definitions of EMR for those who are unfamiliar with the term. It also includes key capabilities that an EMR does and should possess. It gives in detail lists of benefits and barriers for health professionals considering using EMR in clinical practice.
EMR experts http://www.emrexperts.com/electronic-medical-record-software/index.php
This website is focused on educating the clients of the website that buy EMR for their use in the healthcare profession. It has unbiased information for clients to show them the best options for the personal EMR system and how to use it. They specialize in practice and management software.
This website lists specific types of EMR based on the medical field in which you are purchasing it for. For example, a dermatologist would click on the dermatology EMR link to access that. It also has a place where you can type in your name, email, clinic, and specialty to receive a free trial. The EMR experts promote by promising that they can help you find the right type of EMR for your practice the first time.
CBS News http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/05/19/eveningnews/main5026117.shtml
This website is a news station website and this is an article entitled “Are electronic medical records the future”. Its purpose is to inform those that the EMR will be adopted by American health care in the future. It has an informational video link to the side of the news clip and provides a discussion board for people to discuss the future of EMR.
This article discusses the benefits and limitations of traditional paper-based medical records vs. adopting an EMR. It discusses whether the EMR should be a part of the future of healthcare in U.S. It tells a story of a woman who claims that EMR saved her life by reducing errors.
Health Affairs http://content.healthaffairs.org/cgi/content/abstract/24/5/1103
Health Affairs is one of the leading journals about healthcare and research. This website seeks to inform the public on original research, new proposals, and original analyses of timely health policy issues. This website also offers a blog which provides opportunities for discussion about health care policy.
This website article discusses whether EMR can really transform health care like many people claim that it can. It discusses potential health benefits, savings, and costs comparative to a traditional paper system.
Software Advice http://www.softwareadvice.com/articles/medical/ehr-vs-emr-whats-the-difference/
This website is a medical blog that offers free advice about software including EMR. This is a website for companies to research and find the right software for them.
This website explains the difference between EMR and EHR. It defines the two and tells the difference between them which is oftentimes clouded. It stresses that this difference should influence the decision of the provider as to which they should purchase and who should buy an EMR or an EHR.
Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) is an healthcare-stakeholder organization (members only) whose main goal is to provide global leadership for the most advantageous use in Information Technology (IT) and management systems to help improve the current healthcare status. Since 1961, HIMSS has over 23,000 individual members and over 380 corporate members.
The website’s value to its readers is providing a way to get up to date information regarding healthcare technology all from one trusted, easy to access and utilize site. It can inform and benefit anyone from the most inexperienced reader to the head of IT in different hospitals and clinics. It offers a wide scope of topics from privacy and security to cost and revenue constraints.
Health Level Seven International (HL7) is a developing organization dedicated to providing ‘standards’ to help characterize the principle presentation of clinical information. It is not geared toward a specific vendor, but it provides information allowing each independent system to communicate with one another. These message ‘standards’ provide support which allows for data exchange from one system to another.
This website is will allow users to view different standards, which would help solve clinical interface problems. The standards have been easily adopted, which helps increase the network effect and decreases the cost quickly.
Advanced Data Systems Corporation (ADS) is the major provider of Electronic Health Records (EHR/EMR), along with Practice Management and Radiology Information Systems (RIS/PACS) solution. ADS serves over 30,000 physicians in every medical specialty.
This website is extremely valuable to any company or organization that is interested in purchasing EHR software. Along with being able to purchase the software, the website provides online training seminars for the software.
Software Advice reviews and compares different medical software available and helps select the one that would be most suitable for ones’ specific needs. Software Advice also offers free advice to the buyers.
When one visits this website, they would be able to select all the criteria that they need or want in their software, which then narrows down their list of available products. Those who are seeking to purchase, will also be able to get a free demo of the software(s) prior to buying as well as the cost of the software.
AllScripts provides innovative software, services and clinical information to physicians and other healthcare providers. AllScripts serves over 160,000 physicians, 800 hospitals and thousands of other healthcare providers. AllScripts’ goal is to restore our disengaged healthcare system into an allied system.
This website will allow users to view the different EHR software that AllScripts is offering. AllScripts offers three different types of EHR software and each are geared for a specific environment. This allows physicians and other healthcare providers to decide which would be the most beneficial product for their practice. Along with the products available through AllScripts, healthcare providers will be able to get up to date information on all the current IT news and current studies that are being performed.
The purpose of this website is to educate readers about AHLTA and provides training to the new users of AHLTA system on how to operate AHLTA. The training is provided in the form of guides, manuals, videos and tutorials. AHLTA is the database management system that contains medical and dental information of all military personnel as well as their beneficiaries. AHLTA is a centralized EHR that provides secure access to physicians, nurses and other individuals who are involved in the care and treatment of military personnel and their beneficiaries. This website proves to be valuable for the following reasons. This website provides AHLTA system information as well as the system updates information such as the new AHLTA 3.3 modules. It also provides relevant links to AHLTA and other excellent resources so that readers can learn more about AHLTA as well as topics surrounding AHLTA. This website is valuable to its visitor in that it not only provides thorough information regarding AHLTA system, but it also provides users guide and manual to help users who are new to the AHLTA system This website provides videos, tutorials and user tips for purpose of AHLTA system training so this website would be very beneficial to those who wants more information regarding how to use and operate AHLTA system.
The purpose of this website is to educate readers about EHR and also presents all the issues and topics that relate to EHR. It also describes how EHR can benefit different healthcare organizations and in a way it promotes the use of EHR. This site would be valuable to the general public, all healthcare professionals and healthcare organizations because it provides lots of links and excellent resources that everyone can learn more about EHR and the current topics related to EHR. It is also valuable in that it provides many links such as EHR Usability, Tools for EHR professionals and Standards and Interoperability of EHR and Global EHR. These links and other additional links on the website serve to provide reliable information to the readers. In addition, membership is being offered at affiliate, individual, corporate and organizational level which act to tie and connect all professionals and organizations together. Individuals and organizations who are interested in EHR topic as well as other topics such as Health Care Reforms can join for the purpose of education or social networking. This website is also valuable to those who want to obtain CPHIMS certification (CPHIMS stands for Certified Professional in Healthcare Information and Management Systems) as well as those who seek scholarship opportunities and career development.
The purpose of this website is to educate physicians of various specialties on the use and applications of different Electronic Medical Record Software to help physicians choose the right management software for their practice. This website is valuable because it provides links to many different EMR software that are applicable to Cardiology, Endocrinology, Gastroenterology, Neurology, Pain Management and to many other medical specialties. These links explain the features, benefits, use and application of different EMR software and this would help physicians and healthcare organization to know which EMR software is the best fit for their specialty practice. This website not only provides numerous links to broaden the knowledge of the readers regarding EMR software, it also provides excellent links to current issues related to EMR/EHR. Therefore visitors can obtain a variety of knowledge about EMR/EHR from this website ranging from EMR software to EMR related current issues. Visitors can also sign up to view a free demonstration of Electronic Medical Record and Practice Management Software to see what it is like.
The purpose of this site is to provide information regarding all the different brand of EMR software systems so that buyers can compare the price and the unique features among the different EMR software systems. This website would prove to be valuable to its visitors for the following reasons. For each brand of EMR software system, this website provides detail information regarding features, benefits, its use and application as well as free demo and price quote so that buyer would know which system best fit with their specialty practice. This website is also valuable in that it helps the buyers to narrow down their search. By completing a list of questions that is provides on the website, it brings up a list of specific EMR software that would be most closely matched with the needs of the buyers. There are also additional links that group EMR software according to their application to a specific medical specialty therefore it is very easy for buyers to search for what they want. In addition, if buyers have questions and want to talk to experts in EMR software field, they can call a direct number listed on the site.
The purpose of this website is to advertise Athena Health’s EHR software called athenaClinicals. It describes all the unique features, benefits, use and application of athenaClinicals EHR software to influence buying decision. This website is valuable to its visitors for the following reasons. It provides detail information, unique features and testimonials about athenaClinical EHR software so that potential buyers can learn more about it and determine for themselves whether athenaClinical EHR software would fit with their specialty practice. Potential buyers can also sign up for a free demo of athenaClinical EHR software to see how it works before they decide to purchase it. In addition, this website also has numerous links to EHR related issues, FAQ section as well as descriptions of other management software such as athenaCollector and athenaCommunicator. Overall, this website provides useful information to potential buyers of athenaClinical EHR software.
10au194
Topic chosen electronic health records
I wanted to use a progression them with fist identifying what EHR is and then progress from there.
1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_health_record is the URL and Wikipedia is the site
I love this site because it can give you and over view of what the EHR is and what it means. This is a great site for a person to just begin to search with it gives you a better understanding of what it is and gives you a foundation to build your knowledge of the subject at hand and it is a website that everyone generally knows how to use. This may be the best overall site for anyone to use and get comfortable using. Not only does it give you a since of what you are researching but it also give the resources which may even be more important than the material that you read on the site. If you are researching something this is the first site that you should use
2. http://www.himss.org/ASP/topics_stark.asp is the URL and the website is Himss.org. HIMSS stand for Healthcare Information and Management System Society. This website is based on the principle of giving members the latest updates on the rules and some tax laws for practices wanting to establish collaborative practices and accepting donations for the IT equipment. This site seems like a good place for a company that is thinking of starting an EHR. It like because it gives us the basic rules and regulations for starting and can help you get a better grip on what it is going to take and the way that you should go about getting it started. It doesn’t give much information about what it is or how the EHR can help it is much more beneficial for some who is really considering getting started.
3. http://www.govhealthit.com/?scr=Hweb is the URL and the website is Government Health IT.
This website looks pretty awesome it is actually a magazine but it can also come in the form of a website. It is not solely for the purpose of informing the member of EHR news but also for informing the members of all the other important IT information. I really think this would be great for the person or company that already has accepted or have already implemented their own EHR system and want the latest and greatest news and all the new updates on what is going on and all the information and guide lines they need and the information they need to keep their EHR systems up to date. But it is even more than that it gives you IT buffs all the information or news about the latest and greatest things in the IT world that has to do with health information.
4. http://www.scientificamerican.com/blog/post.cfm?id=moving-forward-with-electronic-heal-2010-02-05 this is the URL and the site is scientific America. This is a blogging site about anything scientific. I think it is important to get a lot of peoples’ perspective on different things and how different people think about them. This certain article is about the latest information about president Obama giving money and tax breaks for hospitals and clinical and private practices that start using EHR to record different things. The main thing about this site though it the fact that it can give many different opinions about different subjects I mean there is no end to what people think and write and I think it is important to be tapped into what and how people think and what they would do to and what problems they encountered when dealing with certain issues.
5. http://www.athenahealth.com/cmp/clinicalsppc/index.php?bmtn=10003289&CMP=10003289&HBX_PK=electronic+health+record&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=electronic%20health%20record&utm_campaign=Clinical%20Driver%20Terms this is the URL but the site is Athena health. This site is for some organization or practice that is ready to make that leap into the EHR world. This site is a do it all site it will get you started on the way to getting your EHR system it is the real way to getting started. It is not quite what you think it is. This website handles getting all of your old information into the format that you need to get it into. This website handles the big question how are you going to get all of the old information into the electronic records that we will use for patients. I think that this will be a huge problem once everyone starts turning to the EHR and this website can help. Even if it is not this particular site you will need someone to convert all of your old files to electronic files.
Site purpose: The purpose of this website is to provide a resource to implement healthcare transformation to insure effective use of health information technology.
Explanation of value: This site provides information and tools to implement electronic healthcare records to improve information technology in healthcare. The website defines what an EHR is and how to implement the program. It also provides update to date links to the progress of healthcare legislation. There is also information on the usability of an EHR. In addition to implementing an EHR, it also provides information on the benefits and problem areas of implementing a global EHR. The tool section for EHR professionals offers technical information to redesign workflows to support information technologies in healthcare.
Site name: CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services)
Site purpose: The purpose if to promote quality of care and provide up to date healthcare coverage.
Explanation of value: This website provides an overview in the position of healthcare. The EHR portion provides an overview by reducing medical errors and improving accuracy. It provides links concerning related to the economic recovery act concerning the implementation of healthcare. The EHR section’s main purpose is to provide links that provide further information on EHR implementation.
Site purpose: The purpose of this site is to provide state-of-the-art physician software for electronic health records.
Explanation of value: This website offers a free information tool kit and live demonstration of how an EHR will work. The product increases efficiency, improved documentation, enhanced security and improved quality of care services. The software has features that include: computer based provider entry, evidence based medicine, e-prescribing software, and full-featured electronic health record software. This website provides a live demonstration of their software.
Site purpose: This site provides comprehensive information on the advantages of an electronic health record.
Explanation of value: The site provides an overview of the advantage of an electronic health record provides for improving quality of care. It discusses eight core functions of an EHR. Those functions include: health information and data, results management, order management, decision support, patient support, administrative processes, reporting, and electronic communication and connectivity. It also compiles frequently asked questions about EHRs. It provides advantages for use in hospitals and physician practices. The site provides an event calendar for promotion of the use of EHRs.
Site purpose: To provide information primarily for HIS, Tribal and Urban Indian health care services for implementation of EHRs.
Explanation of value: This site provides clinical and technical overviews for implementation of EHRs. The clinical aspect provides information on the use of the EHR system and benefits of use. The technical overview provides information on types of hardware and network requirements to run an EHR system. It also provides documentation resources to ease the transition to the system. The website also provides a FAQ section that answers questions about the use and implementation. It also provides a EHR ListServ that allows for users to subscribe and email questions to colleagues about EHR systems.
1. The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS). Electronic Health Records. http://www.himss.org/ASP/topics_ehr.asp This website is home to HIMSS, which is a healthcare-stakeholder membership organization whose goal is to improve health care by promoting, educating and implementing health information technology. This site provides topics relating to electronic health records and clinical informatics as well as providing information about conferences and events being held around the world. This site is valuable to people who would like more information on EHR. It gives an over view of what an electronic health record is and gives the latest news updates on EHR technology. This site would be helpful for any health care provider who is interested in implementing EHR’s in their practice. The site explains the standards for EHR, tools for professionals using EHR and EHR usability. It provides documents submitted from HIMSS’s corporate members that would help someone learn more about EHR’s. The site is also valuable because it share’s success stories and case studies about electronic health records which would make health care professionals more at ease in using EHR’s.
2. Medinformatix. http://www.medinformatix.com/ Medinformatix is a company that provides Electronic Medical Records and Practice Management systems for many different medical fields. This site’s purpose is to explain to its readers what Medinformatix is, what products and services Medinformatix has available, and why health care professionals should choose Medinformatix as their information technology system. This site would be beneficial to any healthcare provider looking to use Medinformatix’s services in their practice. The site provides an overview of Medinformatix’s company information and gives descriptions of their products and services, including Integrated Practice Management and EMR as well as real time support and user training. The site also explains the benefits of using Medinformatix and includes testimonials from health care professionals already using Medinformatix. The site also includes contact information for support and includes current press releases to keep its readers up to date with the latest in health care technology news.
3. Indian Health Services. Electronic Health Record. http://www.ihs.gov/cio/ehr/ This site explains the recent implementation of EHR within the Indian Health Services. The system that the Indian Health Service has created is called Resource and Patient Management System (RPMS). This site is beneficial to the Indian health care facilities that have begun using EHR or is thinking about using EHR. It provides the documents and resources needed for the health facility to begin using EHR. It provides links to EHR clinical overview and technological requirements needed to use EHR. This is helpful because the health facilities can learn the capabilities and technical aspects of EHR and RPMS. It also provides links to EHR training events so the health professionals and their staff can correctly learn how to use EHR. The site also provides presentations, frequently asked questions, and feedback about the electronic health records used in the Indian Health Services.
4. Physicians EHR. http://www.physiciansehr.com/ This site is a female owned and operated HER consultation business. They consult with and help doctors in the USA with managing their electronic health records, electronic medical records along with various other health technology fields for a fee. This site would be beneficial to any physician who has begun using EHR and EMR’s and needs help or advice on managing the EHR. They provide staff training services and EHR vendor support services. The site also provides links to purchase EHR books or involve one’s self in an online conference to help learn more about EHR.
5. Center for Studying Health System Change. Electronic Medical Records and Communication with Patients and Other Clinicians: Are We Talking Less? http://www.hschange.org/CONTENT/1125/ This website contains an article that explains how electronic medical records can be beneficial and harmful for the physician-patient relationship. This site would be helpful for patients and physicians who are worried about their future relationship after EMR’s are implemented in their practice. This site is beneficial because it looks at both sides of the argument. It looks at how implementing EMR’s can allow the physician to have more interaction with the patient because they are not scrambling around looking for a patient’s past medical history but also looks at how having a computer with a patient’s EMR could be distracting to the physician. This site looks at electronic versus live communication between physicians and patients, potential pitfalls of EMR’s, and provides links to other research about EMR’s and how they affect physician communication.
This site is an organizational website, of which name is Healthcare Information and Management systems Society (HIMSS). The organization has more than 23,000 individual members, 380 corporate members and 30 not-for-profit smaller organizations all around the world. The site promotes the use of informational technology in healthcare among the professionals as well as the students pursuing their careers in healthcare.
The site has many links to provide information about news, research, publications, certifications of the organization, and anything related to information technology and management systems in healthcare to serve human well-beings. It updates the latest healthcare IT news everyday to keep its readers up to date with the rapidly changing world of IT.
One of the link of the site is about the Electronic Health record. It provides definition of what EHR is and leads to other links related to EHR
The organization also has scholarship awards to its student members who have achieved academic excellence and demonstrate future leadership in the healthcare information and management systems industry.
The site focuses on the developments in electronic health records in healthcare industry. It provides information and news about hospitals or many places that use EHR in their systems. It also introduces funding sources for the system to be used, product integration as well as standards developments of EHR.
The site has many links to different topics related to EHR. There are also commentary entries where people who have experiences in EHR or are not familiar with the system share their thoughts as well as their own stories about the application of EHR in healthcare. The news are also updated on a daily basis for the readers to keep up with the changing happening every day.
The readers have to sign up to get access to the commentary entries and post their thoughts on the page. They can also subscribe to the latest news related to EHR. The unique characteristic of this site is that it also has a poll section where it changes the question once in a while and ask for opinions of the readers.
The site is a company’s website to promote their services as the Physician Advisor Company. The site describes the importance of the application of EHR in improving hospital revenue integrity and maintaining the best quality of care as well as regulatory compliance. Therefore, their well-trained expert physicians in EHR will be very helpful to achieve these goals.
The site provides full information about what EHR is, how it works and its benefit in health care. It also introduces its staffs as expert physicians who are well trained in this field and can perform spectacular tasks in using EHR. It also has links to the latest news as well as resources of EHR that people might want to discover for more understandings of the system.
Coming to the sites, the readers will have a full understanding of EHR and its benefit in health care. The company also provides career opportunities for any one that is eligible and interested in this field. The readers who work in a hospital or a clinic and want to use the system in their work places, they can contact the company for its services.
The site provides many health services for Indians. One of its sub-categories is about the Electronic Health Record (EHR) system. The purpose of the site is to provide information about EHR to the Indian health care facilities that might want to implement this product.
The site has many direct links to different topics such as EHR clinical and technical overviews, EHR preparation documents and resources, EHR training and presentations. By clicking to any of these links, the site will navigate the readers to these specific topics. This is a government website and the information provided is controlled by the federal authorities with specialty in this field. No one can edit or post comments on it. People can contact and ask questions if they desire to do so.
Not only the Indian healthcare facilities but also the readers will have a full comprehension of the EHR products by going through the topics of the sites. Since it is a data based website of the government, it is not updated every day. One of the advantages of the site is that the readers can count on the credibility of the information provided on the site.
This blog site is a very interesting and extremely helpful website for any one that wants to know about different types of current issues in health care. These issues include healthcare reform, medicine, patient care, nurse and physician wages, healthcare plan, physician behaviors, technology in healthcare, health 2.0, web 2.0, EHR…There are many blog spots that address these issues with many different authors.
The blog entry about the EHR which uses computer to enter the patient information is very interesting. It refers to a psychological disadvantage of EHR application: the imposition of the computer as the third person that interferes with the conversation between the physician and the patient. It is called EHR
Etiquette. The author mentions that if a computer is used, it should be positioned as a “mysterious intruder” which distract the patient’s attention.
The writer of a blog entry can be a PhD, a physician, a nurse or any one that is involved in healthcare related professions. The readers can put their comments below each blog to share their thoughts and opinions. The blog entries are updated every day. The readers can have the broadest overview of the major issues in the health care system.
This website explains what the Electronic Health Record (EHR) is and educates people on the importance of it. It gives a broad overview of the benefits of EHR utilization, what is challenging the implementation, and what is being done to overcome these challenges. The site also has links to other sites so people can be directed to secondary sources to get more facts and information.
I found this site to be extremely beneficial because it gave a very thorough explanation of the EHR and its components, but was very accessible. It explains how forms of an EHR hasve been used in other areas, and how it will help healthcare in the US. The links to other sites are helpful also.
This website explains how the EHR will be specifically applied to the IHS, Tribal, and Urban (I/T/U) Indian health care facilities. It offers a lot of information about how the IHS will develop the EHR. It also has links so users can be directed to additional sites for information.
This site is valuable because it demonstrates how federal programs have a role in the EHR implementation. Also, the links are convenient for users to obtain additional information and formulate a better understanding.
3. EHR Decisions
http://ehrdecisions.com
This website is a blog that keeps users up to date on current information pertaining to the EHR. It focuses on current news and is very detailed. I do not think it is for the everyday reader, but it offers a great site for health care providers and those already very familiar with the EHR. The Certification Commission for Health Information Technology is in charge of the blog.
This site is important because it relays current information about the progress of the EHR. There are additional links listed in the blog, and also video clips. It is frequently updated so users who are aware of the site can rely on this site for pertinent news. Also, the blog informs health care professionals how they can use the EHR.
This website gives physicians information on how to implement an EHR system for their patients. The site is directed at specialties in practice, including: Behavioral Health, Cardiology, Dermatology, Endocrinology, ENT, Family Practice, Gastroenterology, General Surgery, Geriatrics, Internal Medicine, Neurology, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oncology, Orthopedics, Pain Management, Pediatrics, Podiatry, Pulmonology, Urology and Urgent Care. The site also has a software physicians can purchase to help with their office needs and billing.
This site is beneficial because it is specific to different practicing areas of medicine and can appropriately direct physicians in a direction to best implement a system for the patients. Also, the software that is available for a monthly fee can help physicians integrate technology to make their offices more effective and efficient.
This website was specific for people who wanted to actually have an active role in the development of the EHR. They wanted to have a common forum area where they could contribute, form opinions and educate each other on topics. The American National Standards Institute accredited this website.
The site is very accessible and user friendly. There is a broad range for someone who is not informed at all about the EHR to someone who is actively involved in development to have interest in the site. The site also links users to other links to stay informed on current topics regarding the EHR.
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1. Open Clinical (www.openclinical.org/emr.html)
This site is an informational site about electronic medical records. This site contains many definitions and explanations about electronic medical records and their usefulness. It also contains information about the limitations and benefits of electronic medical records.
This site contains references about the information presented. This site also contains links to other sites that include information about EMR. There is a theme of professional and unbiased information. This site would be useful to people who are not informed on what EMR is and how it is used.
2. EMR Experts (http://www.emrexperts.com/electronic-medical-record-software/index.php)
This site is an informational site that is designed to help medical experts to choose the right EMR for their particular specialty. There are links to several articles about different electronic medical record companies. The site also contains information as to which programs are compatible with other programs.
This site would be useful to health professionals which are contemplating adopting EMR, but are not sure which one to pick. It contains information as to which EMR companies are easiest to work with. It also contains user rated reviews of different software.
3. eClinical Works (http://www.eclinicalworks.com/)
This site is a corporate site in which information about their particular products is presented. It contains many links to articles about their products. It contains a product demo that is available for download so that one can try the product before one purchases it.
This site would be useful to businesses who would like to try the product before they purchase it. It contains user testimonials and also contains pricing information.
4. EPIC (http://epic.org/privacy/medical/)
This website is a public interest website that exists to inform the public about certain key hot topics. This site contains information about privacy regarding EMR as well as other issues. It also contains links to laws about health care privacy information.
This website would be useful to anyone wanting to gain information about current health issue debates.
5. Software Advice.com (http://www.softwareadvice.com/medical/electronic-medical-record-software-comparison/?wfvar=wfvard)
This website provides free advice to professionals who are considering implementing EMR. This website was designed to provide health experts with many different companies to choose from. The health expert can choose the right program for his/her specific practice and needs.
This is a valuable site for comparing many different EMR soft ware programs at one time. There are also free experts that are available by phone to answer any questions.
The purpose of this site is to promote an EMR software/technology for a physician or other health care provider to purchase. This is done by using such catch phrases as “effortless-reliable- affordable”, values that all potential EMR purchasers are looking for. This site offered many options for technical support through calling, after hours support, web support, and a web ticketing system. The web ticketing system allows you to send a message conveying you need help in the case of natural disasters at this company’s facility (Florida). This site also included the pricing of their product, which gives potential buyers a good idea of the costs of their services. The site claims to have a “hybrid technology” that is unique, in that they install a server at your premises and this sends the patient information to the billing department, nursing, front desk, and to the physician, so that they are all interlinked and have the same information regarding the patient. The sites’ value to potential its visitors is that is describes the features, benefits, and solutions to current problems. Another value is in listing their pricing to help a physician see if this is something they can afford before too much effort and time has been put into investigating and researching the product. Also, another value is the very detailed and numerous ways in which technical support was displayed and described, which something a physician is will be very interested in, as it is not a case of IF problems occur, but WHEN they will occur. The physician needs to know there is help available when it is needed.
This was an opinion blog from the USA today newspaper. This blog’s focus was on the fact that implementing EMR is expensive and that doctors had to pay the cost upfront. Though the opinion of the writer was that EMR implementation does help decrease medical errors, etc. The author also expressed concerns about continuity between the different EMR software. For example, a patient’s primary care physician may use one version/type/brand of software, whereas the patient’s specialists or emergency room may use other different types. The author was of the opinion that EMR was more efficient when the same type was used, as in the case of the VA. The author estimated that the cost is about 36,000 dollars to implement EMR due to new computer acquirement, software, devices, etc. and that the physician alone was responsible to acquiring and paying for this information. This blog is slightly dated as the author states that neither Presidential nominee (McCain or Obama) have made any proposition to assist doctors in paying for these necessary changes. The author seems pessimistic that EMR will ever materialize completely due to cost, dysfunction, and incompatibility amongst the systems. The purpose of this site/blog was to expose the major challenges facing the EMR implementation across the country. Its purpose was to also point out the major costs facing physicians for such implementation. The value of the site/article was to point out that continuity is needed amongst providers. Another potential value is that if you are a physician and you work closely with another physician or other healthcare provider, establishing the same EMR software/technology may be very beneficial for a smooth transition into EMR usage or this should at least be something that is considered and investigated further.
This primary focus of this article was to point out the great potential for economic gain for EMR software companies and the differences between small and larger EMR software businesses. The major point brought out was big corporations versus smaller corporations offering EMR technology/software and who would win out. The article estimated that there are about 300-400 companies currently offering EMR software in the US. The article pointed to a case of a private doctor who was searching for an EMR company to get EMR established in his practice. He stated that larger companies would either not return his calls or refused to reduce their six-figure start up fee for him. This particular doctor went with a smaller EMR business due to their customer service. When he experienced problems, the cofounder of the company stayed on the phone with him until the problem was resolved. Another private physician is utilizing a free internet version from a company, which is free if the doctor does not mind ads. An ad free version is available for 100 dollars per month, per physician. The article stated that larger corporations should take note of the smaller businesses, as there are a lot of potential earnings for servicing private physicians. Another point made in the article was that smaller businesses had the potential to merge with larger corporations. The conclusion was there is no way to predict who will win out, the small or large businesses, only time would tell. The purpose of this article was to point out the differences between small and large companies and the impact that these companies have on private physicians seeking EMR technology/software to implement into their practices. The value of this site is to demonstrate the many options available for EMR implementation in the private physician setting and the variety of companies large and small there to offer these services.
4. Health Information and Management Society- http://www.himss.org
This sites purpose is to promote and demonstrate the uses of technology in the betterment of healthcare management. It does this by the having podcasts, success stories, tips on how to implement EMR in your practice, etc. This site has lots of articles that you are able to read regarding almost any aspect of EMR/EHR (used interchangeably on this site) that a person could be interested in. It is a site that offers membership; however, non-members are also able to access the information on the site. This site seems to have everything a person could want to know about various topics regarding EMR. The site’s value is that is has a very good amount of relevant information regarding technology’s role in healthcare. It has subsections focusing on various aspects of technology in healthcare, such as EMR/HER. The value of this site is that it offers information on EMR for anyone who is interested in implementing technology, whether it is EMR or not. The focus of this site is on technology in healthcare as a whole, with sub focus on various aspects, which is very useful to get the “big picture” on the role of technology in healthcare management.
The purpose of this site is to provide a non-biased site to provide evidence through research about the current trends in healthcare and the outcomes of such trends. It claims to be a reliable source for information and analysis on various topics regarding healthcare. The sites research seems to be focused on “Insurance Costs and coverage, Access to care, Quality and Care Delivery, and Health Care Markets”. This site offers information about healthcare a whole and concerns and challenges it faces. EMR is the topic of a number of articles and studies. The value of this website is that is offers studies and information regarding EMR and a plethora of other relevant topics, for people planning on implementing EMR technology. One such article that was particularly interesting was focused on whether EMR usages takes away or diminishes communication between a healthcare provider and a patient. This information can be very valuable as a physician might be more aware of the potential decrease in communication and work harder to overcome this potential communication loss. These are the types of valuable information found on this site.
Site Purpose:
HiMSS is a website that titles itself as “Transforming Healthcare Through It.” It explains what exactly EHR is, and its purpose to include all details of a patient’s medical history including all basic information of the individual and the individual’s past medical history including immunizations, drug allergies, vitals, medication records, and others. It expresses the specificity of each patient’s history and the importance of this information.
Site Value:
HiMSS seems to be very valuable in helping one understand the definition of an EHR and the importance of this information to the healthcare setting. This website provides information on how to adopt this medical record system, the tools for an EHR professional, its usability, and global EHR. Another valuable asset includes the standards of the electronic health record.
Site Purpose:
The Indian Health Service website shows that the IHS, Urban, and Tribal healthcare facilities are using electronic health records. Indian Health Service has been implementing EHR and other computer technology in their services for thirty years through RPMS, Resource and Patient Management System. This website is designed for the Indian healthcare facilities, but allows others to view the importance and the knowledge necessary to implement EHR.
Site Value:
This site appears to be very valuable because it provides numerous links to different information pertaining to electronic healthcare records. These links include both a clinical and technical overview, training information, and frequently asked questions. Any healthcare professional interested in learning more about EHR could benefit from this website.
Site Purpose:
Athena Health provides an EHR service titled athenaClinicals. This service is an EHR program that healthcare professionals can adopt and use in their facilities. This website is basically selling itself to providers to buy this EHR system. Athena Health provides a web-based EHR software that is both efficient and effective by staying up to date with government requirements without charging additional fees to the subscriber.
Site Value:
Athena Health is valuable to all healthcare providers looking for an EHR software to use. This software proposes positive results by not being expensive and cutting down on time in the office. This website is valuable by being very informative. Athena Health has links to FAQs, technical information, the actual service provided, and even a link to contact them. In addition, a video is shown on the website and positive comments have been made from others who have personally used this software.
4.Site Name: HHS.gov (Health Information Technology)
Site Purpose:
Health Information Technology came up with an Electronic Health Records Workgroup to provide standards for implementing a certified EHR. This information was recommended by the American Health Information Community. This workgroup is composed of several members to decide on the barriers for adopting EHR. The objective is to maintain a unified standard for all healthcare providers within one year.
Site Value:
HHS.gov provides value by allowing others to see these standards determined. This website shows the names of each member involved in this decision making process, and it also shows the organizations in which the members are associated with. HHS.gov also provides links about the data and technical standards. The main reason for this consistency is to increase efficiency and patient care, which is valuable to all healthcare providers.
Site Purpose:
This site provides numerous data on healthcare topics. This website is very informative and allows those involved in healthcare and others to read up on any current information and data. For example, it provides information on temporary EHR certification, which should become permanent by year 2012. This article also links information on the efficiencies and incentives that are causing an increase in the use of electronic health records.
Site Value:
Health Data Management is valuable to users because of its many services. This website has blogs and discussion boards that people can comment on and express their opinions and knowledge of healthcare. For example, one could write about their experiences with EHR. In addition, one can view web seminars, white pages, Enewsletters, and research. Also, there are resource guides provided, and this includes an EHR resource guide.
1) URL: http://www.himss.org/ASP/topics_ehr.asp
Name: HIMSS
Site Description: The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society’s website is setup to promote the use of electronic information. The organization’s membership is 1/3 healthcare vendors and consultants, the other 2/3 is made up of individual healthcare providers. The website is setup to promote the society and to give resources to its members. There are places on the website to find the newest research the society has conducted, upcoming meetings and conferences relating to electronic health records, and articles for members to learn more about electronic health records.
2) URL: http://www.emrexperts.com/
Name: EMR Experts
Site Description: EMR Experts is a website for healthcare providers that are interested in purchasing electronic medical record software. The website provides articles on all the electronic medical record software that it has available. It offers three different electronic medical record software and allows the healthcare providers to choose their specialty and then shows them all the features their software has to offer that will help them with their practice. It offers demos for its software and testimonials for its products to allow the healthcare providers to see what they are getting before purchasing.
3) URL: http://www.hl7.org/ehr/
Name: HL7 EHR
Site Description: The Health Level Seven’s EHR website is designed to organize people to get involved with the development of standards for electronic health records. The Health Level Seven is accredited by the American National Standards Institute. It was tasked with creating standards and guidelines for electronic health records by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the Veterans Administration. It conducts weekly teleconference meetings and quarterly conferences where members can vote on standards and guidelines. It also has minutes for all of its meetings for any members who could not attend the meeting.
4) URL: http://www.ihs.gov/cio/ehr/
Name: Indian Health Service EHR
Site Description: This website was created by the Indian Health Service to promote the use of electronic health records. It provides documents on all aspects of electronic health records for anyone to look at so that they can familiarize themselves with how electronic health records work. It provides frequently asked questions with answers about every aspect of electronic health records.
5) URL: http://www.omnimd.com/
Name: OmniMD
Site Description: OmniMD is a company that offers electronic medical record and practice management software. Their website provides information about their products for all kinds of aspects of electronic medical records ranging from ePrescribing and medical transcription to patient reminder software and a billing system. The website provides press releases for the company, a demo of the software, and a summary of the American Reconstruction and Recovery Act as it pertains to electronic medical records. The website also sells the software and provides information on why it is financially beneficial to use their software.
1. Site name: HIMSS EHR Association
URL: http://www.himssehra.org/ASP/index.asp
Site purpose: To provide news and event updates as well as serve as a homepage for the association. Potential members can sign up on the site, view newsletters and ask questions. The association provides information about the value of EHRs and validates its role in quality reporting and evidence-based medicine while supporting opportunities for collaboration within the healthcare community.
Value: This site provides a place where healthcare providers can gather to support the EHR software industry and houses valuable information to both members and non-members. I think in a time where both patients and some healthcare providers are fearful of the idea of electronic health records, a site such as this can provide them with information that will help advocate the electronic movement.
2. Site name: CNET Tech News (via CBS)
URL: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/05/19/tech/cnettechnews/main5025516.shtml
Site purpose: The site answers some of the most common question asked about EHR. This includes explaining the purpose of EHRs, their importance, benefits and what is being covered by the stimulus package.
Value: Sites such as this one is very valuable to the public that are skeptical about going electronic with records that contain all their health information. It outlines a family who has had three disruptive data breeches and is unlikely to be cooperative in sharing their records. Those who share a similar opinion as this family likely does can be given trusted information from a reputable news source so they can make a more educated opinion about EHR. In addition, the article summarizes the form EHRs are likely to take such as the “stand alone” model and the “competing” model.
3. Site name: Advanced Data Systems Corp
URL: http://www.adsc.com/ehr_docassistant.asp
Site purpose: To describe the benefits of the companies own EHR system. The site provides information on the software as well as its uses and benefits. The site has a section that details key features in a short narrative form.
Value: A visit to this site can provide a healthcare provider with information on how this particular EHR system works. This would be very valuable to physicians who are seeking a system and may be new to electronic records as this site is very straightforward and easy to follow. Whether this system is right for you or not it still highlights many of the requirements one may seek in an EHR system.
4. Site name: amednews
URL: http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/10/05/bisa1005.htm
Site purpose: To describe how job responsibilities and staffing may be changed with the implementation of EMRs. It also outlines ways to go about determining your staffing needs and responsibilities while meeting your goals as you implement the software.
Value: This site provides beneficial information to healthcare providers who may be thinking about implementing an electronic system soon. This information can be used to decide how staffing may change once the system is implemented and how this may influence your practice.
5. Site name: Software Advice
URL: http://www.softwareadvice.com/medical/web-based-emr-software-comparison/?wfvar=wfvarb
Site purpose: This site provides a list of possible EHR system providers that a potential purchaser may be searching for. It also differentiates between web-based, on premise based and CCHIT certified EHR providers.
Value: This site can be valuable to healthcare providers who wish to have many EHR providers listed in one convenient location. This may make choosing a system easier and will allow the system to be researched based on its category (web-based, on premise based, CCHIT certified). The demos and short descriptions that are offered may also be beneficial in eliminating some of the systems in the research process thus cutting down in the time spent deciding on the system.
1. Site Name:
Health Level Seven: Electronic Health Record
URL: http://www.hl7.org/ehr/
Site Purpose:
This site started out as the home page for a special interest group dealing with information about EHR. As technology has progressed, so has this site. It has expanded to include all the latest news about EHR. This is a very informative and reputable website that offers helpful information to assist people in understanding what an Electronic Health Record is all about. The site is easy to navigate with useful sidebars to direct the user throughout the site.
Explanation of Value:
This site would be very helpful to someone who is not quite sure what an EHR is. This site has a link called “Getting Familiar” that allows you to download educational documents to orient yourself to this new technology. It also offers a way for people to get involved with the efforts to introduce this technology, which I think is a great way to get more people interested in this topic. This website also offers links to press releases so you can stay up-to-date on the latest news pertaining to EHR.
2. Site Name:
Xconomy: Beyond the Electronic Health Record
URL: http://www.xconomy.com/san-diego/2010/04/29/beyond-the-electronic-health-record/
Site Purpose:
This website is a blog that aims to keep people updated about the latest news and updates pertaining to technology and its impact on our economy. One of the most current progressions in technology is dealing with the recent passing of the health care reform bill, so this blog has focused many of its discussions on this topic. This blog is run by a company that is based out of Seattle, Boston, San Diego, and Detroit. It is made up of a team of editors and correspondents who seek out the latest news to report in the blog. In addition, these blog entries are written by professionals who have years of experience in these topics.
Explanation of Value:
I believe this site is very valuable to society because it offers a way to learn about the EHR in an interactive way. Because this site is set up as a blog, it gives people a chance to leave comments and form discussions with other readers. This will serve as an additional way to educate people about the EHR. The site is very easy to navigate and seems accurate and professional. It is also easy to locate other topics related to the EHR, for those that are interested in learning about other areas of health technology.
3. Site Name:
Allscripts Professional EHR
URL: http://www.allscripts.com/products/electronic-health-record/allscripts-professional/default.asp
Site Purpose:
Allscripts is a company that aims to bring innovative technology, services, and software to healthcare providers. This site is focused about this company and all of the services that it offers. One of its main products is the Professional EHR, which they market as “The Right EHR”. The site goes into great detail about the specific features of their EHR software and exactly how it works. They market this product by promoting that it is Intuitive, Affordable, Connected, and Complete.
Explanation of Value:
This site would be very valuable to any physician or healthcare professional looking into purchasing EHR software. This site seems reputable and very knowledgeable on the topic. They offer tons of details about their products, as well as Demos, Case Studies, and Client Stories. I think it is very important to be able to hear the first-hand accounts of others’ experiences with the product. This could easily sway your opinion to buy the product or not. The website is easy to navigate and operate.
4. Site Name:
American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP): How to Select an Electronic Health Record System
URL: http://www.aafp.org/fpm/2005/0200/p55.html
Site Purpose:
This website is run by a large medical organization focused on physicians offering optimal health care for everyone. This group has links to thousands of articles that are aimed at this optimization of health care. One of the articles focuses on how to choose an EHR and how a physician should go about this selection process. Progressing with technology is very important in today’s society and one of the way to enhance patient care is for physicians to begins using EHR’s. Clearly, this site understands the importance of EHR’s in physician practices. It details step-by-step instructions on how to go about finding the appropriate EHR for your individual practice.
Explanation of Value:
This site would be extremely valuable to a physician. This specific article is easy to understand through its use of step-by-step breakdowns throughout the article. This site covers all topics, including: visiting different vendors, ranking each EHR model, demonstrations of the models, negotiating a contract, and making a final commitment. This site would be very useful for someone who does not have much background knowledge on this topic because they are able to simplify a topic which can be rather complicated. This article is also trustworthy because it is coming from a national, well-known medical organization.
5. Site Name:
IHS: Indian Health Service
URL: http://www.ihs.gov/cio/ehr/
Site Purpose:
This site aims to introduce the public to the Indian Health Service’s specific EHR that they have adopted. The new system they have adopted is called the RPMS, which stands for Resource and Patient Management System. This site focuses on educating people about their specific EHR and how it works for them. This site offers in-depth information about their system as well as overviews of the product, templates, and frequently asked questions.
Explanation of Value:
This site is very reputable, as it is run by the Department of Health and Human Services. It is also HON-Code certified, which allows the site user to know that the information is accurate and up-to-date. The website is easy to navigate and offers a detailed look at one site’s specific EHR system. I think this would be useful to other sites that are looking into getting an EHR system and would like more information about it. This offers them a way to see exactly how it works, the training that is involved, and look at pictures of the product. They can also join a listserv to get more information from the IHS as updates arrive.
OpenClinical (www.openclinical.org)
OpenClinical is a website for healthcare professionals interested in the advancement of the health care profession, including health care technology. One of its five main focuses includes a program that allows you to create and maintain a personal health record and to view your EMR. The site provides information on current issues and videos for clinical practice as well. The site is maintained by a non-profit organization and targets all people in the health care field, including researchers, as well as anyone who is interested in the topic. The site encourages people to register and submit relevant articles or material to the site.
HIMSS- Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (www.himss.org)
HIMSS is an organization that provides information for using information technology and management systems. It offers individual, corporate and organization membership. There are various topics and forums in which to discuss relevant issues. Under the EMR section, it provides information on the standards, case studies of EHR and EMR use, as well as tools to be used by professionals. It also provides information on various conferences and events.
NextGen Healthcare (www.nextgen.com)
NexGen Healthcare offers a website targeted at people in the healthcare field, including hospitals and physicians. It provides information on the benefits of EHR use, including information about the stimulus package offered and a calculation system to estimate the company’s potential return on investment . It offers online demos and places for clients to comment on NextGen. The website lists events for doctors and other professionals to attend.
EPIC (epic.org)
EPIC is public interest research center dedicated to providing information on issues centered around civil liberties and protection of privacy. It is not solely focused on privacy in the health care field. One of the main issues is medical privacy. People who visit the site can read about what is going on in Washington DC with health care issues related to privacy, including the use of EHRs and EMRs. You can read about state laws as well. It is targeted at anyone who is interested in issues being debated at a national level.
Electronic Medical Records Information (electronic-medical-record.blogspot.com)
Electronic Medical Records Information is a blog that hopes to help doctors who are transitioning from paper offices to EMR computer based offices. It offers advice and information on various software available to use as well as current news issues related to EMR use. It is targeted at physicians and any health care professionals looking to start using EMRs and EHRs. It also provides links to other EMR blogs and some medical journals.
eClinicalWorks is a software provider focused on providing EMR technology and related services to healthcare providers at lower costs while also enhancing patient care. The company advertises that it has the ability to meet the needs any practice, without regard to size, throughout the US. This website is specifically designed to inform potential and current customers of the current products and services available. The website has demos watch and customer testimonials. There are links to various seminars, information about awards won by the company, and even a customer support link where uses can log on and obtain the help they need with their current software.
Emdeon is a company that promotes its ability to enhance connectivity between payers, providers, and patients through the by managing revenue and payment cycle management services designed to ultimately improve patient care. It advertises simplification of new HIPAA regulations by the use of its services. Customers, whether they be payers, providers, pharmacies or dentists who enroll with this company receive an enewsletter. Additionally this company prides itself on being a single company that provides the services that are typically obtained from multiple partners. The website it designed to promote the company, it’s services, provide product support, and resources to those interested in all that Emdeon has to offer. Additionally, Emdeon partners with EMR vendors to provide ePrescribing services.
This website provides free advice to providers interested in learning more about EMR software. It was designed to match providers with the software best for their practice. To do so, the provider would select from a list of choices to narrow down the specifics of what he is looking for in the software. Then the choices are narrowed down and the provider has a much narrow range of choices to pick from. As a provider I would be leery of biasness from this site. It advertises free services, but ultimately vendors pay for recommendations to their products. The site advertises expert advice and has agents available to help by phone.
This website is an open forum where individuals are able to post their thoughts about all things related to EMR, EHR, HIT, and HIPPA. John, the author of the site posts his thoughts about the use of technology in HC. The site dose not provide a much information about his credentials, but at the bottom of the page I saw that he is affiliated with University Heath Center as a provider of IT support. The site has multiple advertisement on the side, like the one discussed in class, so I would assume that he is making some sort of a profit for providing his thoughts. His posts are up to date and it seems as though he posts daily on a regular basis. Finally, there is a feature where individuals may sign up to automatically receive updates for each post.
This website it made available for HIMSS members and non-members in the hopes of providing useful information about EMR. The website provides links to its advocacy and public policy page, to popular vendors, as well as providing brochures to providers about implementing EMR into their practice. There are many resources available at this website that focus directly on the implementation of EMR in various HC settings, as well as the sustainability of the technology. Ultimately this website is quite useful for obtaining education information about the use of EMR in practice.
EMRConsultant is an EHR database matching service. EMRConsultant uses 100,000 of data points from many Electronic Health Record companies. This information is then used to compare questions that are answered by physicians. EMRConsultant also makes use of other services such as: EHRtv.com, EHRScope.com, and EHR Scope Publication. EHRtv.com is a video analysis that is used to inform the medical community about PHR and EHR businesses. EHRScope.com allows medical providers to receive information regarding the EHR industry. EHR Scope Publication is an EHR magazine that provides answers to physician’s questions and concerns regarding the EHR industry. EMRConsultant claims to be the most sophisticated database matching service for healthcare providers.
This site provides free EHR services for physicians. EMR Consultant is very valuable to physicians and health care providers. I found the website to be beneficial because it allowed me to learn about the software that is available for EHR services. There are many different areas of the EHR that the user can explore with this website. I found all of the information to be very useful.
The Indian Health Service (IHS) is an organization that is a part of the Department of Health and Human Services. One of the goals of IHS is to improve and increase the status of healthcare in the Indian population. They also strive to provide culturally acceptable public health service to this population. IHS provides federal health services to Alaska Natives and American Indians. EHR information is provided in the IHS website for Indian Health Service, Tribal, and Urban Indian health care facilities. There are many forms information regarding EHR and various links to helpful documents. Examples of EHR information include: EHR Clinical Overview, EHR Technical Overview, EHR Preparation Documents and Resources, and many more.
The material covering EHR is very beneficial to the Alaska Natives and the American Indians. The IHS website offers many different web links to allow individuals to understand all that the EHR entails. I think that this website is a good example of how EHR are being using in different areas.
The EHR Software consultants enable physicians and medical providers to convert patient information over to Electronic Health Record software. There are many EHR software programs for a variety of specialties. Some of these are: Oncology, Podiatry, Cardiology, Geriatrics, Endocrinology, and many others. Some of the many EHR software products include: Electronic Health Record Software, Practice Management Software, and Patient Portal Software are among the most popular. EHR Software provides quality consultation to the healthcare community.
This site is valuable because it allows physicians to convert their existing patient information to an updated EHR. I believe that this is crucial in the changing face of health care. Upon visiting this site physicians will be able to choose from a variety of EHR software options to meet their needs. This site provides many different forms of EHR software for the medical community.
Allscripts is an Electronic Health Record Software provider. They also provide services, information, and other connectivity solutions to health care providers. Some of these products offered are Enterprise and Professional Solutions. Enterprise and Professional Solutions provide information on EHR, electronic prescribing, document management and revenue cycle management. Health systems group is another program that provides software regarding emergency department and care management for hospitals and home care for providers.
Allscript services are very beneficial to health care providers. There are many helpful ideas that Allscript offers. One of the things that really stood out to me as being helpful was the demonstrations of their products. I think that is a very crucial aspect of any EHR system software setup. Allscript provides many different software solutions that could be helpful to the medical community.
This website focuses on the most recent information of the Electronic Health Record. It provides answers to the most asked questions of EHR, EHR articles, EHR links, and EHR news. This information is valuable to the public and professionals. Topics include benefits of EHRs, developing EHRs, EHR product information, and many other areas of the EHR. There is also information about different products that can help the initiative of the EHR.
This information is very useful to citizens and the professional community. I think that the way the website is set up for questions is very good. The average citizen can easily ask questions with answers below. This website gives many different examples of just how an EHR can improve the healthcare of patients. EhrCentral is a very good website to learn more about EHR.
Site Purpose:
This website purpose is to explain everything you need to know about Electronic Health Records (EHR). It not only defines what EHR is, but it explains who uses EHR, how it was started, and what EHR is capable of.
Explanation of Value of Site:
This site is very helpful for those who are unfamiliar with EHR, or any health related records in general. It defines other common medical terms so that the content of this site can be understood by everyone, not just health care professionals. EHR is fully defined, plus a background of when and how it began is also described at the site. After defining EHR, examples of early EHRs are given and explained here. Diagrams of the breakdown of EHR are shown to further explain the concept of EHR, the specific healthcare providers who use it, and the components that make up EHR. This website describes in detail the business and cost aspect of implementing EHRs. Lastly, the future of EHR and its impacts on clinical research and healthcare overall are depicted. This website is useful and valuable to all those who access it because it clears up any questions healthcare providers may have about specific components of EHR, as well as explaining what EHR is to non health care professionals.
Site Name:
Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS)
Site Purpose:
HIMSS is not only a website that not only describes the benefits of using technology and management systems in healthcare to both healthcare and non healthcare individuals, but is also an organization who offers membership for healthcare participants. HIMSS encourages and highlights the technological transformations that can be made to advance and better healthcare.
Explanation of Value of Site:
This site is beneficial because it offers a wide range of information about EHR. It provides everything from definitions of EHR, its global use, its standards, and success stories and case studies of EHR. The case studies are a unique aspect of this website, and offer links to connect with other websites that have documented the results and outcomes of using EHR. This site is also helpful because not only does it provide specific examples and definitions for EHR, but it also incorporates terms and standards used in all healthcare aspects, not just electronic. Although this site is valuable to the general public, it is probably more valuable to healthcare providers because it supplies more information about tools used in EHRs, and is a way to connect with other EHR users.
Site Purpose:
This site is established to help prospective software buyers. It also provides a phone number to talk to an expert associated with the site. This site offers 3 simple questions for the website user to check to provide better, more specific information that the website user is looking for. After specifying your medical specialty, number of physicians, type of software you are acquiring information about and how you want to employ your software.
Explanation of Value of Site:
This website is valuable for those clinicians who want to know what EHR program to incorporate. It is valuable because it is basically like consulting with a software specialist. It allows clinicians to easily receive suggestions on what EHR programs to consider based on their needs and practice structure. This website would not provide value to the everyday public, but would be incredibly convenient to physicians. This site provides demos, as well as prices. It also provides brief descriptions of each of the programs to better inform the physician.
Site Purpose:
This site is centered toward how to successfully use EHR. This site also helps enable clinicians to use EHR to make their business as profitable as possible. It provides links to frequently asked questions about EHR so other healthcare providers can see what their colleagues are asking and to perhaps get their own questions answered. It also provides some of the latest news and updates about EHR.
Explanation of Value of Site:
This site is valuable because it explains what EHR are, as well as many of the benefits to incorporate EHR in practice. Although this site defines what EHR is, it is more directed to educate healthcare providers rather than the general public considering the topics it describes. Some of these topics include procedures of how to start, develop, and implement EHR and some of its products. There is also links to attend events and talk to other clinicians who use EHR and to attain more information about how EHR is transforming the medical world. Lastly, this site contains lists and links of organizations who have used and support EHR. This may persuade the clinician to look further into EHR if his/her organization is involved.
Site Purpose:
This site is aimed to support and educate customers about all different types of software. The information on this site is for all services whether it’s accounting, customer management, and human resources, to healthcare. After specifying your search to be about EHR, this site helps those who are unfamiliar with EHR to better understand it. This site also differentiates between EHR and EMR.
Explanation of Value of Site:
This site is valuable because it defines EHR for those who are unsure of what it is, and then after educating what EHR it leads the website user to how to evaluate EHR. It also helps distinguish how EHR is different form EMR. This is unique to this site compared to the other four sites, which do not contain this distinction. This website contains its own newsletter, which updates users to better inform them of EHR. Lastly, this site provides a link to define one’s medical profession such as cardiology, gastroenterology, nephrology, neurology, orthopedics, and pediatrics. This specification better shows how their practices can benefit from EHR and also gives specific examples of EHR.
The purpose of the EMR Daily News blog is to keep readers informed of the current news surrounding the development of Electronic Medical Records. The blog is valuable because it contains relevant updates on the use of EMRs in the real world and on what is happening in EMR development. The blog updates on topics like the use of EMRs in specific clinical settings. Another example of what they report on are changes occurring within the EMR industry and marketplace, such as EMR business mergers and even the new iPhone application that was recently released by meridianEMR, Inc. The blog updates regularly and provides current information. The blog covers such a wide variety of different EMR topics and appears to be largely unbiased, although it does offer EMR software consultations. The authors of the blog work in the Medical Transcription field at My Docs Online. The authors may not be completely unbiased, but the information provided is relevant and helpful.
The purpose of EHRtv is to educate people about Electronic Health Records and Personal Health Records as a response to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which allocated a large fund through the HITECH Act for the development of electronic health records. The website is valuable because it provides videos covering a large variety of topics about EHRs, which are neatly organized into several categories. EHRtv provides videos that include interviews with major EMR, EHR, and PHR developers. This website is valuable because it organizes a large array of relevant topics dealing with EHR development and adoption all in one convenient place. The website is easy to navigate and is well-maintained by EHR Scope. EHR Scope is a company that provides users information on purchasing EHR software. EHR Scope may not be fully unbiased, however, the focus of EHRtv is on education and appears to be unbiased for the most part. EHRtv also includes relevant links to outside blogs which discuss EHR issues and concerns. EHRtv is an organized, rich source of EHR education, which it provides over a more palatable medium, rather than plain text.
The purpose of the “Ending the Document Game” website is to educate the public on the development of electronic health records, which is being overseen by the Commission on Systemic Interoperability. It provides information about why there is a need for electronic health records, explains what is being discussed in Congress about EHR development, and also provides encouraging reports of how electronically interconnecting health care records would improve the lives of patients as well as health care providers. I believe this website is valuable because it explains in clear terms to users what an electronic health record would mean for them and details the current government efforts to develop EHRs. It provides articles about the current health care system, what needs improvement, and what some of the suggested solutions are. There are also articles that explain in detail what EHRs are as well as what EMRs are, and also explain the benefits and limitations of adopting EHRs. Another advantage of the website is that it provides this complex information in a simplified format over many different media forms; there are written articles, diagrams, as well as educational videos. The website is maintained by a reliable source (the National Library of Medicine) and is also affiliated with the National Institutes of Health, as well as Health and Human Services. There may be some bias, as the website tends to emphasize the advantages of EHR systems, although it does recognize the challenges and limitations involved in implementing these systems as well.
Website #4
HIMSS (Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society) – EMR section http://www.himss.org
The purpose of the EMR section of the HIMSS website is to educate people on what EMRs are and to educate readers about the relevant topics surrounding EMRs, such as EHR adoption and EHR usability. The HIMSS website has a strong emphasis on educating and connecting professionals to discuss and learn more about EMRs. This website is valuable because it is a rich source of up-to-date articles surrounding the EHR and EMR topic. It brings together links to relevant websites as well as helpful articles. The article topics have a wide range of different perspectives on EHR advantages and disadvantages. To view some articles, it’s necessary to join HIMSS. The membership is meant to connect the user with other professionals and with a greater amount of useful information regarding EHR implementation. This website includes a category of helpful resources for solving EHR system problems; in addition, networking with health professionals through the membership also offers an opportunity to trouble-shoot EHR system problems. This website is well-organized and well-maintained. It is frequently updated, so the information presented is relevant and current.
The purpose of EHR Decisions is to provide readers with information and current news about electronic health records. The website is a blog that is created and maintained by the Certification Commission for Health Information Technology, which is a non-profit organization that certifies EHR programs. The EHR Decisions blog is oriented toward health care professionals and provides specific information about the certification of EHR systems and also news regarding changes within the EHR industry. This website is valuable because it is a source of information and up-to-date news about EHR systems and also has a unique perspective as an EHR system certifier. Certification is important for having an EHR system that meets the “meaningful use” guidelines in the ARRA (2009). The value of this blog is providing health care professionals with an understanding of how to operate their EHR system under the guidelines set forth in the ARRA and provides this information from an updated, reliable source. This blog is updated on a regular, frequent basis and provides relevant and current information.
This website is for Physicians’ practices and Hospital/ Healthcare systems. It offers software to better help the care of patients. It offers help based on what the problems are, or on the type of clinic each customer offers. It can be set based on the number of physicians or what kind of care is given. Allscripts purpose is to simplify patient care. The website seems very valuable; they have many scheduled demonstrations of their products for users to attend. It also has systems for blackberry, iPods, and windows mobile that would be very convenient for users.
This website is a software site to better improve the ease of patient care. This website seems to have more customers’ that are Physicians, and less of Hospitals. This website seems a lot harder to navigate, there is too much to look through on the home page. The purpose of this site is to sell software, and offer information about new technologies. I found the site to be very overwhelming when first I first found it. They offer membership and technical support that probably would be a benefit to their customers. This website’s benefit is they focus on more than just their products. This site would be very beneficial to any person looking to learn more about the changing technology of Electronic Health Records.
This website is devoted to Electronic Health Records in the Indian Health Service Systems. This site seems very helpful for practitioners who are deciding whether to implement an Electronic Health Record. This site gives a lot of information about Electronic Health Records. This website is not trying to sell any products, just offer information and links to email list serves. It also offers how to implement these programs in the specialized fields of Indian Health Services. This website would be very valuable to limited population.
This website has great resources for all the benefits of Electronic Health and Medical Records. The site offers an online store that sells books and cd’s about informatics to different health professionals that electronic health records may affect. They offer membership, as well as conferences and events. This site also offers links to Research and news that affects Electronic Health Records. This site focuses on the idea that Electronic Health Records span all aspects of healthcare. This site seems helpful, but has a limited amount of information. This site does not offer any software or any other information besides information on general electronic health records.
This site offers free advice on which companies to buy electronic health record software from. They base this information on customer reviews. This site is helpful, because it allows you to search based on the needs that you need from the software. This site also offers demos and pricing for the companies they filter through. There might be some bias from this site, since the company pays this website every time someone buys their software after using this site. This site also offers customer service via phone, which would also be an additional benefit. They also offer specialty guides based on the type of clinical. As long as the user uses other sources as well, I think this site would be very beneficial.
This website’s purpose is to expose the importance of the Electronic Health Record and to introduce people to extra tools available through its use. The EHR software will allow people to keep all the information together. It holds immunizations, lab tests, vital signs, medical history, and medications. In one article on the website it explained the lag time that seems to be present in the United States with the adoption of the Electronic Health Record. One reason for the lag, is due to the costly and time consuming training that is involved in preparing for this change. Also this will force physicians to utilize skills that they are unfamiliar and more complex. A goal to increase the use of EHR is to increase the usability of the programs.
I found this website to be helpful because it explained what could be held by the EHR software. It also explained the reasoning as to why this amazing software has not caught on that fast. If people are educated more on this software I believe this could eventually help with the healthcare in the United States.
The purpose of this website is to provide Electronic Healthcare software information for physicians to easily create an electronic health record for their patients. There is also software available for certain specialties. This allows for more precise information and over-all more detailed information for the patient’s record. This website even offers software that helps with billing and scheduling. The software costs around $300 a month. The goal of this software is to increase revenue, improve patient care, and allows your workday to be more productive.
This is valuable because this website introduces me to software that is available to use as an Electronic Health Record. It also shows the benefits of this technology in the health field and gives you information about the cost of the software. After reading all of the benefits, the advantages definitely outweigh the cost.
The purpose of this website is to answer the many questions people have about the electronic health record. It shows the benefits like the improved health care, the readily available information that could be accessed from various locations, reduce the overall healthcare cost and decrease errors that occur in medical practice. The question and answer format of this website allows your questions to be answered easily. The website provides information about products and strategies that could help with the initiative of the electronic health record. And gave direct links to where you could find these products.
This website was beneficial because it discussed the role the EHR could play with chronic diseases. Since hypertension and hyperlipidemia are on the rise in the United States this software could provide Americans with the top care with these lifelong diseases. Having access to their medical history, medications, and past information this could significantly help many people today. Also what is great about this website is the bulleted list that just show all of the benefits of the Electronic Health Record.
4. Time: Electronic Health Records: What’s Taking So Long?
The purpose of this website is to show the need of the EHR. It does this by explaining the cost of healthcare and even breaks it down to the amount of money it costs per person to use healthcare the way it is now. After emphasizing the amount of money used for health services, this site goes on to explain that the biggest challenge for people using EHRs is money. It also explained that the physicians themselves were also a challenging obstacle. In order for this transition to happen it is important that we get the physicians motivated on the change. They do believe though that the change will be more accepted when money is involved. Between reimbursements and eventually fines for not having EHRs will eventually “persuade” the physicians and healthcare facilities to convert to this overall money saving move.
This site was valuable because it showed the reasons why Electronic Health Records has not been as rapidly growing as some would have thought. Seeing the actual numbers of healthcare is an eye opening experience and should drive people to change the way we handle healthcare. It was also valuable because it gave reasons as to why this transition is necessary, such as illegible handwriting by the healthcare provider.
The purpose of this website is to show all of the benefits that the Electronic Health Record could bring. It also emphasized the perks of having the medical records in the electronic form for easier look up and cut down on the man hours used to review charts. It also brought around the point that by having that template for documentation, this allows for physicians to make all of the proper documentation. It also allows you to do proper coding to allow for reimbursement. It also helps with making documentation for efficient. You also do not have to worry about having storage for all of the health records if you store all of this information electronically.
I found this website valuable because it focused more on the benefits of the Electronic Healthcare record vs. only focusing on the price. By making it appear more efficient it should be more appealing for healthcare providers to use. It also focused on the decrease in errors when you avoid using the chart system.
The purpose of this website is to provide an explanation of what the Federal Health Program for American Indians and Alaska Natives offer in terms of their electronic health record. The site is mainly informational and includes links to an overview of their program, training courses, their current status, presentations, etc. for those who are currently implementing the service or will be in the future. Each link provides a brief introduction and then generally bulleted/listed information about the topic along with additional links to related topics.
This site is important because it represents that a federal program such as the Indian Health Services is involved in implementing an EHR for individuals in our country.
This website makes it easier for buyers who would like to implement EMR/HER services at their facility and do not know what software would be appropriate for them. The site allows you to narrow your search based on what type of software management you need, medical specialty, number of physicians working and how you want the software to be deployed. Then it lists the options you have along with free demos to try out the products.
This site is beneficial for facilities that would like to implement these services and are not sure where to begin but would like to research it on their own.
This website is dedicated to educating people on EHR. On the site you will find tabs which take you to different topics including EHR adoption, HIT and return on investment, standards of EHR, project management, case studies and success stories about EHR.
This site is beneficial for those who are looking for an understanding of not only what EHR is but also how it applies globally and how standards are set for using EHR. Plus it lets you get an idea of how it has been successful for others.
The website is a part of a Dallas, TX news report center and posted an article titled “Children’s Medical Center, Texas Health Resources hospitals can now share records electronically”. They reported how the Children’s Medical Center Dallas now has the ability to upload a patient’s health record and have it linked to all of the thirteen hospitals nearby that are owned by Texas Health Resources Inc. The article states that they are one of the few systems that are linked in North Texas and physicians and patients will benefit from it because unnecessary procedures/tests will be avoided.
This website publishes an actual success story of how sharing electrical health records among institutions has been beneficial and how technology is advancing. In addition, this site is announcing to the general public how much of a positive effect EHRs are having on intuitions.
This website allows people to browse topics based on certain healthcare criteria. This one particular article was found under the Healthcare Information Security Articles and it reports how last January a former UCLA Healthcare System surgeon plead guilty and received a prison sentence for a HIPAA privacy violation. The violation was due to the surgeon gaining information about patients without having a medical need to via electronic health records. He read over two hundred profiles and admitted to reading four post termination.
This site reports a real life event about how easy access to having patients’ health care records by a click of the mouse can cause serious problems for health care providers when they abuse the privilege. Articles like this are useful for gaining recent news about the medical profession and this website provides easy access.
This website can be used by anyone, but it is an organization that offers a membership. This website is a source to describe information technology related to healthcare and how to properly use it to improve healthcare.
This site is a valuable resource that provides a broad overview of Electronic Health Record (EHR). It provides information on the benefits of EHR, the challenges to adopting it, and many other useful EHR facts. This website also provides valuable links to other websites that can guide the user to a proper understanding of EHR.
This website is specific for the Indian Health Service (IHS). It offers not only explicit information about how the IHS is adopting EHR, but also general information about EHR. This website details information about the system, Resource and Patient Management System, that the IHS is still in the process of adopting to be used as their EHR.
This website has great value to those that visit it. It shows that EHR is not just a concept. EHR is being adopted by health systems around the world and this is one example. It also shows that is not something that can be implemented overnight. This is a process that has been in the works for decades. The website also offers other links that allow the user to navigate the many different aspects of EHR and its implementation.
This website offers information on the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH Act). It offers specific information about the role of Medicare and Medicaid regarding adoption of EHR. It describes some of the incentives that are being offered to encourage a more widespread use of EHR, especially for Medicare and Medicaid patients.
This site offers very straightforward information about Medicare and Medicaid concerning EHR. It describes three objectives of the HITECH Act that are of importance to Medicare and Medicaid. This website is of particular importance to those that participate or are caregivers to those that participate in a Medicaid or Medicare program. It provides downloads and links to more information that can be helpful in learning more about the HITECH Act and EHR.
This is a computer software company site that offers EHR/EMR software. It details all of the different aspects of their particular EHR/EMR software and what it has to offer. It provides an overview of the software, as well as detailed information about different specialty software that is also available.
This site provides visitors information on the actual EHR. Visiting this website can provide useful information on how an EHR system actually works in the healthcare system. It details the many benefits EHR can provide to those that choose to implement it in their practice setting. The user can provide their information and receive more specific information on a particular product. One obvious drawback to this kind of site: no information on possible the negative aspects of this software. Because it is a company website, there will only be a one-sided view. However, it can be beneficial to use this website and compare it to other companies that offer EHR software.
This is the website for the healthcare system Kaiser Permanente. This page is a recent press release that describes how Kaiser Permanente is implementing EHR in its system. It describes how they are adopting the EHR and how they plan to be able to connect to other health care systems in order to provide more efficient care to patients.
This is a fantastic website for anyone interested in current information on EHR. It kind of rolls all aspects of EHR into one place. It outlines how EHR is being utilized by a large healthcare organization and offers general EHR information. It provides links to other sources of EHR information that include a YouTube video describing their own EHR.
In my opinion, electronic health records (EHRs) are an improved modification of electronic medical records (EMRs). EMRs are digital records that contain patient medical and treatment history within a clinical practice setting. These records allow health care providers to monitor patient progress and identify patients due for preventive screenings and check-ups, which improves patient quality of care. However, the major draw-back of EMRs is the fact that these records are “location limited”, restricting access to patient information to the site where care was initially provided. This location limitation creates a dissonance among health care providers, which contributes to increased medical errors and medical costs. EHRs are the same as EMRs, with the exception of being site transferable. This means patient information is shared among providers in each stage of the health care process. Therefore, patient information travels from within the hospital to the outpatient clinic to the pharmacy. This allows health care providers to avoid performing unnecessary diagnostic tests and prevents medical errors such as drug interactions and adverse drug events (ADEs).
The implementation of EHRs will dramatically impact the role of pharmacists in health care. These records will allow pharmacists to become collaborative partners in the provision of health care to patients. Pharmacists will have the opportunity to consult with physicians in establishing patient-specific therapeutic options to treat or manage disease states. As the drug experts, pharmacists will be allowed to evaluate the appropriateness of a prescribed drug as it relates to dosage and efficacy in treating a specific disease state. As a result, patients will not be subjected to sub-therapeutic doses or pharmacologic therapy for which there is no reasonable medical indication. Additionally, the availability of patient information will allow pharmacists to recognize and prevent adverse drug events (ADEs) due to drug interactions and patient drug allergies. Collectively, the implementation of EHRs will allow pharmacists to dispel the myth of being mere “dispensers” and step into the forefront as a vital component of the health care process.
The implementation of EHRs will also have a marked impact on the patient’s role in health care. EHRs increase patient accessibility to health information. As a result, patients have the opportunity to view laboratory results and monitor their progress. Positive laboratory results provide patients with an incentive to adhere to drug therapy, which improves therapeutic outcomes and patient quality of life. Additionally, the accessibility of EHRs will allow patients to become proactive partners in the decision making regarding their health care options. Patients will have the opportunity to dispute any incorrect information and address concerns that may arise prior to the administration of medication, which will prevent medical errors and ADEs.
Implementation of EHRs is driven by both limiting and facilitating factors. A primary factor that poses a threat to maximal usage of EHRs is the maintenance of privacy. Once patient information is made available to share among health care organizations, there is the opportunity for breaches in security of this information. Patients may be reluctant to allow information to be transmitted from different facilities. Therefore, measures must be taken to insure the proper health information exchange (HIE). Many organizations may opt out of implementing EHRs due to concerns regarding the costs of training and computer programs to ensure effective, secure health information exchange (HIE). One of the factors driving the implementation of EHRs is the presence of regulatory agencies committed to governing the exchange of health information according to nationally recognized standards. The Health Information Organization serves as the chief organization responsible for ensuring proper health information exchange (HIE). The HIO will provide a support system to help health care facilities transition into the challenge of acquiring the software and standards vital to establishing proper HIE and implementing EHRs. Once a proper balance is attained, EHRs may be effectively implemented to improve the quality of health care and the quality of life for patients.
A national Electronic Health Record (EHR): What are we waiting on?
EHR is long overdue. It’s is my opinion that the lack of a nation EHR system is the single biggest problem in our healthcare system. I wonder how many millions or billions of dollars we waste on repeating tests that have been done, treating adverse drug reactions that could have been prevented, or simply wasted man hours due to not having the entire patient’s information requiring us to call a dozen other offices? Life would be so much easier for every medical professional if we could simply look up the patient and see every symptom, diagnosis, and medication that they had taken since birth. It would make every medical professional’s life simpler. It would make providing care for the patient simpler, safer, and more efficient. It would cut costs of healthcare. It would save everyone money.
There are really only a few problems with such a system. The biggest problem is those that are resistance to change. We have to convince the public that it is safe and beneficial. Everyone likes the fact that their medical records are safe. Everyone, also, knows that nothing is absolutely safe if it is accessed via the internet or any open network. This problem will affect all others. We have to find a way to convince people that, even though there are those security risks, they are paled in comparison to the benefits. I believe most medical professionals would embrace this idea, but there will always be those that resist any change. The size and scale of such a system would require the government to manage. It would require new laws, rules, and regulations. It would literally require an act of congress. After that little problem of government passing such an act, there is the cost. The startup cost would be huge, initially. I couldn’t even guess such a number, but it would pay itself off rather quickly in savings and human lives. The last big problem is converting our entire medical industry to a new system. The new training will be difficult for some. The cost to the medical facilities will be great. There is also the question of how do we achieve all of this? How do we do it? How long should we take? What happens when the system goes down (because we know all computers and networks crash sometime)? What are the backup options?
In the end, I feel all the negatives and other questions are irrelevant. The thought of having a national medical data base that medical professionals can access for information on any patient at anytime makes perfect sense. I doubt anyone can doubt the logic and benefit of such a system. I doubt the can say we would be better off without it. The only thing people can say is: How much is it going to cost? How are we going to do it? How long will it take? And how safe will my private information be in the system?
Trying to stop electronic health records from becoming the standard of practice is like trying to stop a train from barreling down the tracks. Change is coming. For decades the United States health care system has relied on punitive, ineffective, and expensive methods of storing and sharing personal health information. With the advent of the computer and the internet, health care records are poised for a face lift. Once it was only possible to record patient data on paper and share it via physical messenger. However, now it is possible to do these tasks electronically. One enabling factor for this conversion is the fact that computers and the internet are not only pervasive in business but relatively inexpensive. Because computers are everywhere there is a built in infrastructure that is just waiting to be tapped. Additionally, the free market has made this technology cheap through competition. Unfortunately, one hindrance from this becoming reality is that having this technology is a choice. In other words no one can make you have this technological infrastructure. The reason this is important is because this model will not work unless everyone buys into it. Perhaps a way in which this can be brought about in pharmacy is through national organizations urging members to buy into this model.
From my experience, I have seen this technology trying to creep its way into the daily workflow of pharmacy. More and more online patient records are being stored and analyzed in the recent past. This is good for the patients because it provides extra-care for them. Further more, if this information is made accessible to patients it will encourage them to become proactive in their involvement and management of their own health. Pharmacy currently is able to store all drug related information into a company wide database and share it with every other pharmacy within that company. This makes going from one in state chain pharmacy to the same chain pharmacy out of state an easy and smooth process. This system improves patient care, as well as making it easier and more convenient for patients. If this system were to be integrated between all chain and independent pharmacies it would make the entire profession more proficient, profitable, and personal.
The adoption of electronic medical records and electronic health records still has room for improvement in pharmacy. As it stands, only partial electronic health records exist on the pharmacy level. However, some health care providers, like Kaiser Permanente in Atlanta Georgia, are offering complete electronic medical records to patients. Pharmacies must begin to become more like this in order to provide even better patient care. A transformation into a system that has more information will allow a pharmacist to do his or her job better, allowing for better patient care.
The digital age has come upon us and now it is our responsibility to keep up with the movement. Pharmacy is already beginning to take the initial steps toward electronic medical records. The adoption of this would be better for pharmacy and better for the patient. As this oncoming train of electronic medical records is coming ask yourself this, are you on board?
An EHR would be very valuable in the pharmacy field. An EHR is an electronic health record that follows a patient from health professional to another health professional. I have seen while working in pharmacies that many patients do not remember all their past medical history, including surgical histories and past medications. I would like for EHRs to help further transform the pharmacy field into a profession where the pharmacist has more of a role in determining a patients prescription medications. By using an EHR, pharmacists are able to check if the patient has used a medication in the past that did not work and advises the doctor to try a different route of treating a disease state. A downside to the EHR program is that patients cannot help to edit their information. For example, say a patient travels outside of the US and has to go to the hospital. They are treated and given a medication. When arriving back in the US, they go to their primary care physician and inform the doctor of what happened while in another country. However, the patient cannot remember the infection they had nor can they remember the name of the prescription medication they were on. In this situation, the EHR would be incomplete because the patient could not update their medical information while in another country as soon as the infection occurred. Although this may occur, I believe that an EHR would be of great benefit to the patient. This is due to the patient not being required to spend ten minutes filling out a medical history form at each doctor’s office that he/she may visit and the physician will have a more complete history through the EHR than most patients are able to give. A lot of patients have difficulties in remembering all of their past and current medical history, especially if they have numerous disease states and prescription medications for each one.
The impact of EHRs on pharmacists role with other health care providers is ensuring that the prescription history is complete, assuming the patient has always used your pharmacy and no others. Pharmacists will also be able to assist physicians in the prescribing process by giving the physician the best advice possible based on the patient’s medical history. A few limitations exist for this implementation. One is that patients fear their information will be out in the open for anyone to look at. Also, physician are afraid that an EHR will increase their workload because they will have to stay up later at night in order to update all their patients medical records. However, there are also many advantages that enable EHR to be implemented. One such enabler is that physicians will not have to go through the process of asking for a full medical history each time a new patient comes into their office. Also, patients will not have to try to remember every medical problem that they have ever had in their life.
To make the EHR better for patients and physicians to accept this program, I would require a medical ID number be assigned to each patient. This is for the patients anonymity if the information somehow gets stolen. All physicians will be able to know which patient is being discussed because once the physician has signed into the program, the patient’s name is easily found. To make this program easier for physicians to implement, I think that the computer program that they use to keep up with medical records in their office will also have a program that automatically updates the patient’s EHR.
The Harvard Gazette has a published an interesting article regarding Electronic Health Record titled “U.S. lagging in adoption of electronic health records”. This article was published in October, of 2006! An Electronic Health Record, or EHR, has been a topic of political health discussion in the United States at least half a decade to this point. Former President Bush stated, soon before the above article was published, that there was a need for healthcare institutions to implement electronic health records for the majority of patients by 2014. While we, as a country, may well be on track to adapting to the advancements in health information technology and its potential, the overwhelming majority appear to simply wonder how such an enormous and daunting task could be possible to achieve, not to mention the safety issues that go along with electronically “shared” health information. However, despite these apparent difficulties, the reasons for implementing such a system profoundly outweigh the risks that are associated with developing and maintaining a secure Electronic Health Record.
As a pharmacy student, ideas of how the possibilities of what the probable Electronic Health Record could do to change the pharmacy profession excites me, as I hope it would for a great many other health-care professionals. Accessibility to an all in compassing resource pertaining to a specific patient, at a specific time, that is actually complete, would make the job of a pharmacist extremely easier, but also more complete as well. The risk of drug allergies, drug interactions, and other drug related adverse events and adverse reactions would tremendously decrease simply because the pharmacist would no longer need to rely on a patient for pertinent information that he or she may not understand or simply not remember. An appropriate example to demonstrate this idea is when a patient must fill out repetitive information regarding multiple disease states when visiting multiple places to seek medical advice. If this person were part of an Electronic Health Record system, the important information would be easily accessible at all those locations. Consequently the patient’s experience with the overall health care system could be more enjoyable.
Not to be excluded from reality, this task would require economical expenses to be achievable. Although this statement is true, I believe the cost could be balance between the three parties that already have an investment in the patient’s health otherwise. First, the patient themselves could be responsible for a small portion, similar to a tax. Next, the pharmacist, and other health-care providers, could be responsible for another portion due to the fact that they would be benefiting greatly. Finally, insurance and similar institutions could also pay for a portion of the required expense. My reasoning behind these ideas includes the following: the patient receives the benefit of a healthier life, and as a result two things will occur. One, the insurance company assumes less cost for healthcare overall for those patients participating in EHR, and two, health care professionals would require less malpractice insurance due to the decreased risk of slips and accidents with medication during the drug filling process.
You are calmly heading to meet your new physician, then you remember, the seemingly never-ending paperwork. It would be so much more convenient if healthcare providers already had your entire medical/health history instead of you having to imprecisely recreating it. The development and use of Electronic Health Records (EHR) would help with that drastically. An EHR incorporates the health-related information for an individual patient that can be accessed by multiple health care parties. The EHR can include, but is not limited to, an individual’s medical history, immunization records, allergies, medication therapy, vital signs, laboratory information, assessments and notes from providers, and insurance/billing information. EHRs are going to be integral part of medicine and healthcare in the near future. There is not one person who would not benefit from the use EHR. The thought of EHR is that every healthcare provider would have easy, almost instant access to an individual’s entire medical history. The patient’s EHR would be a concise, accurate document providing various details of past and current healthcare. The EHR would allow for more effective healthcare decisions, improve the quality of healthcare, and possibly decrease some of the stress on the healthcare provider and patients. EHRs enable the development of a central system for all healthcare providers. EHR would be immensely valuable for the field of pharmacy. Often times as pharmacists, whether clinical or community, we are not always briefed on a patient’s complete drug therapy or the rationale for drug therapy. This lack of knowledge prevents pharmacists from providing the most proficient pharmaceutical care. Not only does the EHR enhance the relationship and care between the pharmacist and patient, but also the relationship between the pharmacist and physicians, as well as, nurses. EHR would allow for effective collaboration between the various healthcare providers, thus benefiting all involved parties. An individual’s EHR would also allow for the patient to have access to their medical record, this access allows them to keep up with their healthcare and be proactive in their individual healthcare. Additionally, the patient would be able to add information. EHR utilizes modern technology that many people have come to expect in today’s society. EHR allows for the movement of information electronically, thus allowing for quicker updates and retrieval. Many individuals may work worry about the safety and security, but through the use of interoperability, an health information exchange, and the various HIT committees security and privacy can be well controlled. The major advantage of EHR is that is modern technology, but this also the major disadvantage of EHR. Technology is a wonderful tool, but it is not always reliable and predictable. At anytime a glitch could occur and EHR could be inaccessible, this could potentially cause major issues for patients attempting to get healthcare during the time of a glitch. Other concerns are the maintenance of EHRs, the central coordination of all EHRs, time involved in creating and learning the technology, cost, and the need for a constant “back-up” of EHRs. I believe the all persons that receive or provide healthcare will gain from the use of EHRs and we will soon be seeing them across the US, so get ready to say goodbye to that never-ending paperwork required at each new visit.
The electronic health record is an electronic record of a patient’s health related information. It can be accessed by providers across the nation as well as the patient themselves. Paper records have been kept for decades but become a problem when patients are seen by more than one provider. Patients may not always remember exactly what procedures they’ve had done or when they were done, they may not know every medication that they are taking, and they definitely can’t remember every visit to their physician throughout their lives. With the use of electronic health records, all of this information will be kept in one place for easy access. This will greatly impact physicians, pharmacists, and patients.
A big issue for pharmacists right now is the issue of polypharmacy. This is when patients have medications filled at multiple different pharmacies. When this occurs, pharmacists aren’t always aware of every medication a patient is taking. There could be a major drug interaction between two or more of them, but the pharmacist won’t be able to prevent this from occurring if they aren’t aware of every medication being taken. With an electronic health record, pharmacists will be able to see every medication, both past and present, that a patient takes. This ability will drastically improve our capability to properly monitor patients and counsel them on possible issues that may arise.
Patients will also greatly benefit from electronic health records. Not only will their medication regimens be better monitored, thus resulting in improved health outcomes, but they may also be able to save time and money. Many times, diagnostic procedures are performed multiple times because physicians are unaware that they have already been done. This increases costs for patients and slows the process of diagnosis and treatment. With electronic health records, this will no longer be an issue. Physicians will be able to access information regarding past procedures and will know what has already been tried. This will greatly decrease the time and money spent by the patient. In addition, patients can access their health record at any time and make changes to it. This will allow patients to stay informed about their own healthcare and become more involved in it.
One enabler to this new technology is the current use of incentives. Hospitals and physicians are currently being offered monetary incentives to incorporate this technology into their practice. In addition, electronic health records can save physicians a lot of time. They will already have a patient’s medical history when they see them which will cut down on the time used trying to obtain this information. However, with every good comes a bad. This technology will require physicians to learn new technology and may affect workload and flow. Changes will likely need to be made in the way their offices typically function which is sometimes a limitation to incorporating new technology into practice.
I hope that the healthcare industry accepts this new technology and realizes what a great improvement it can make in patient outcomes. I know it will take time for healthcare providers to completely shift from paper to electronic records, but look forward to utilizing electronic records in my future practice.
Implementing the Electronic Health Record has the potential to change our system of healthcare. It’s baffling and somewhat embarrassing in this day in age that record keeping in the healthcare system is still mostly paper based and that the patient’s information, which is essential to providing good care, is not shared between providers. It would just make sense if instead of every provider collecting their own information, the patient could have one record that all the providers can contribute to and use. That way all the doctors, nurses, pharmacists, first responders etc. that are involved with that patient can make decisions using all the latest tests, labs, and medication information. After all, we are supposed to be a team, aren’t we? An EHR would foster the sharing of information that would ultimately benefit the patient and lead to better quality of care.
Having an EHR for patients would be especially helpful for pharmacists. Information such as allergies and medication history could follow the patient no matter what pharmacy they chose to use. When dispensing a medication, it would often be good to know what the doctor is prescribing the medication for in case there is a better medication or if the pharmacist is going to counsel the patient. With pharmacists doing more immunizations these days, patients wouldn’t need to keep up with their immunization record if the pharmacist could access that information from their EHR. This might help in having a more timely administration of vaccines as well as avoiding multiple vaccines due to a lack of information.
I also like the idea of a Personal Medical Record and I think that aspects of that could be incorporated into the EHR. It would be a good idea if patients could contribute as well and their information be stored and shared. Patients could document things like blood pressure readings, glucose readings, weight, or anything that they measure at home that a provider would be interested in. The patients may not need access to all parts of the record, but it would be good if their notes were included as well.
While implementation of an Electronic Medical Health Record system is a positive advancement within the healthcare system, Electronic Medical Health Record-based systems are not without their inherent flaws. Privacy issues come into play with an electronic record that could be easily accessed. Patients will have concerns about who can see their personal information. There will be some initial mistrust when patients no longer see their information locked up in cabinets, but rather it’s floating around in cyber space. With more widespread use of EHRs there may need to be restrictions on what each provider can see. There may be times when every provider doesn’t need all of the patient’s health information. Does your podiatrist need to see the results of your mammogram? Another problem with fully converting to electronic records is that providers will be at their mercy when technology malfunctions as it often does. The doctor may not be able to run his clinic if the internet went down or the software had an issue and he were unable to access his patient’s records.
The implementation of Electronic Health Records (EHRs) has great potential to positively impact health care, offering many benefits to all health care professionals and patients. Mandating EHRs would allow for transparency of patient records among all health care professionals. This transparency would greatly enhance pharmacist’s ability to properly recommend medication adjustments. From my work experience in a retail pharmacy, I think the biggest road block for a pharmacist making medication changes is not knowing the diagnosis and complete medical history of the patient. Most prescriptions do not indicate why the drug was prescribed, so the pharmacist cannot be 100% sure the drug they are dispensing is the most appropriate medication, even though it is what the physician prescribed. The current health documentation system does not allow pharmacists to positively impact patient care to the full potential they are educated to do. The general public is very health ignorant, and therefore the brief medical history patient’s give to a pharmacy is inaccurate and incomplete. These three factors cumulatively hinder a pharmacist’s ability to accurately suggest medication therapy, and would all be avoided with the use of EHRs. One major limitation of EHRs would be the development and cost of software that would allow for the cross communication and compatibility among data from the vast array of health care professionals (interoperability). Purchasing the software would be expensive, and the implementation and use of the software could potentially greatly alter the established workflow in physician’s offices. This high cost and change in workflow may lead physician’s to be resistant to making the change to EHRs. Though implementation of EHRs would require much time, money, and effort from all health care professionals, it would greatly benefit the patients. Implementation would require wide scale, cohesive project management of the entire US health care system, which would be extremely complicated. If health care professionals really are in the profession to better their patient’s lives, the want to help patients in the long run (despite short term struggles) is the biggest enabler to the implementation of EHRs. Today’s health care system is unorganized and uncoordinated, and though implementation of EHRs would initially be hard, the long term patient benefits are extremely high. EHRs would greatly improve patient care, yet the typical patient might not even be aware drastic changes have occurred. EHRs do not require anything extra from patients. However, patients would benefit therapeutically. Patient’s would spend less time filling out multiple medication history forms at every doctor’s office and pharmacy visited, and the accuracy of medication histories would improve because the patient “history” would be created first hand as illnesses and diagnoses occur. EHRs could also enable patient to be more active in their own healthcare. Patients would also have the ability to access their medical records and make comments on the document. Accuracy of the record would not be compromised because patients would only be able to comment, but not alter the document. EHRs would be extremely hard to implement, but would lead to patients receiving better care from all aspects of the health care system. The medical record transparency EHRs would create would allow professionals to focus more on their specialty. Specifically, physicians could focus more on diagnosis and pharmacists could focus more on appropriate medication therapy.
The use of the Electronic Medical Record is quickly becoming the preferred documentation of many doctor’s offices, hospitals, and places of clinical businesses. The Electronic Medical Record provides an overview of care for a particular patient at a particular organization. It is quickly proving itself to be much more efficient and accurate than the paper records of the past, and it is impacting patient care in a positive way.
In the past, paper records have been the standard in tracking patient care. Health care providers were responsible for documenting the care given to patients on paper documents. Paper records, at the time, were the most efficient and accurate way of documentation, but are becoming quickly outdated upon the emergence of Electronic Medical Records (EMR). Paper records can be easily lost, and are not as quickly accessible are EMR. They are also subject to the unintelligible writing of health care providers, and are not subject to controlled medical vocabulary that EMR are.
EMR have made the patient care process much easier. They provide a real time documentation of patient care and also provide an accurate documentation of the person administering a service. This is helpful for a pharmacist to document any services provided to a patient so that they can be billed for later. The EMR is online, so there is not a risk of losing it in natural disasters. Since it is online it is easily accessible by all health care providers for a particular patient at a particular organization. Where there is only one copy of a patient’s paper health record, the EMR can be accessed by all healthcare providers in a particular organization for a patient. This makes it easier for a pharmacist to review a patient’s medication list if they work within the same organization. This also makes it easier for a pharmacist to receive information about a patient from an organization who has EMR. When the pharmacist call’s a physician’s office that uses EMR, the information is accessed much faster and easier than it would be on paper. Online EMR also decrease errors in the medication dispensing process due to unintelligible handwriting. The EMR is also subject to controlled medical vocabulary. Controlled medical vocabulary is a tool used to standardize the reporting of patient care. In the future when everyone moves to EMR, this will make the pharmacist’s role much easier.
Patient also benefit from the use of EMR. Since health care providers have to document patient care in real time, they are much more likely to provide accurate and up to date care. Also, since the providers have access to the patient’s EMR, they are more able to provide the best treatment option considering all the factors that apply to the patient.
One limitation to EMR is implementation. Although EMR can provide faster and more accurate care for a patient, it takes time and money for an organization to transfer all of the paper records to electronic ones. Some organizations may not have the funds or the means to do this. Another limitation would be if the database containing the EMR crashed, they would not be accessible during that time. These are drawbacks, but the EMR enables the healthcare provider and pharmacist to provide the best care possible.
Through my experience in a community retail pharmacy, I continually see the need and importance of the Electronic Health Record (EHR). Although EHR’s aren’t implemented universally, I’ve seen a glimpse of its potential while working as an intern at CVS Pharmacy. Our database is linked centrally to where we can see a patient’s full medication history. The drawback is that it only includes prescriptions, notes, and comments pertaining to CVS, and we all know that many patients use multiple pharmacies, tend to go where the coupons are available, etc. This central linkage is very convenient for us to piece together things a patient can’t tell us specifics on. It’s also very nice when we need to transfer medications for patients who are traveling and just need a one-time fill at our store. I’ve also seen the need for an EHR in my PPE experience. A patient of mine sees multiple physicians and although one is her PCP, she often forgets what she has told to each physician. This has led to duplicate therapy and a few prescriptions that should not be taken together for interaction reasons. I’m so glad that our PPE program is there to catch things like that, but it just shows how much can be avoided if we had an EHR.
I would like to see the EHR have a big impact on the pharmacists practice. We all know that the role of a pharmacist is changing and we are being given more trusting roles in counseling, collaborating, and medication therapy management. To fill these roles effectively, we have to be in the loop. Patients don’t always give us all the information we need and to be honest, we don’t always ask the right questions. If we had an EHR, we could not only be thorough and complete, but also efficient in seeing more patients. I think this would also help pharmacists gain more trust from both physicians and patients. Sometimes pharmacists are simply thought to be “drug dispensers”, but we have a lot of training and knowledge so I think the EHR would enhance what we can do for the health care world. However, I don’t want the impact of the EHR to be centered solely on the pharmacy world. I think that if used correctly, there wouldn’t be any bad impacts, but I don’t want there to be competition between the physician and pharmacy/pharmacists. I believe that we need to set a collaborative and united front to gain the trust of the patient and show them that the implementation of the EHR is a positive step for health care.
Patients would benefit greatly from an EHR. We’ve just learned in lecture how patients are more involved in their healthcare than ever before. There are so many sources on the internet where patients can learn about health conditions, treatments, and medications. We also know that many health complications are lifestyle related and may be prevented by patients taking precautions and staying aware of their health. Physicians don’t always have the time to fully counsel a patient on a condition or medication they prescribe. So many times patients come to the pharmacy and if you ask them what the doctor told them, they simply reply, “He/She told me to come here to you.” Having a EHR could open up the door for the pharmacist to fully explain what the patient has been diagnosed with, counsel on the medication, implement healthy strategies to aid and enhance medication therapy, answer questions, and then follow up later to see the results. We could have such an important role of giving patients an active role and a better understanding of what’s going on. Creating awareness has a wonderful benefit for them!
As I said earlier, it is imperative for physicians and pharmacists to have a good relationship. We as pharmacists are not trying to take over a doctor’s job and overstep boundaries. We are all here to improve patient’s health and collaborate to complete that task effectively. I think that if both sides keep that in mind, it will strengthen the relationship between the pharmacist and physician, especially when we see a positive outcome that may not have occurred without the EHR and collaboration.
There are going to be some limitations to the maximal usage of an EHR. This includes time, money, and the size of health care. There are so many doctors’ offices in Auburn, Alabama and to think of universally putting together records from all the states is a bit overwhelming. This would take a huge amount of time and money that I’m not sure is available at this time or in the near future. I think many people agree that this would be a great thing for our health care, but I’m not sure it’s feasible right now and that’s a big limitation. However, there are enablers that are driving the campaign for an EHR. We talked about Hurricane Katrina in class and how the natural disaster shed light on this situation and the need for an EHR. Little incidences pharmacists see each day also contribute to the need for the EHR, such as duplicate therapy, drug interactions, allergies, and medical conditions. I think the EHR is imperative for where healthcare is going but I also understand the constraints that are making it difficult to take off. The only way I know to handle that would be to phase it in a little at a time. I’m not sure there will ever be full resources available to complete this project all at once so we have to start somewhere!
I believe that a big advancement in health care lies in the electronic health record (EHR). The EHR is a person’s medical record that stays with them for their healthcare. This would allow all healthcare providers to have access to this information that could contain their laboratory values, diagnosis, and medications. With this kind of all inclusive access, the implications for a pharmacist could be huge. A patient can receive better medication management advice from the pharmacist if they have access to this kind of information. An electronic health record could also mean less medication errors due to drug interactions or unreported patient allergies. The pharmacist will also be able to make better assessments for chronic disease states, such as diabetes or dyslipidemia. Patients might not realize the importance of these laboratory values and this way the pharmacist can better know how a patient is doing, without having to have the patient bring them a hard copy of their laboratory values. I think this kind of disease state management is the future for pharmacists. I have seen the potential for this kind of record keeping first hand through my experiences with PPE. I have several patients that are older than 65 years old. This population represents a large demographic of the kind of patients that frequent pharmacies. There have been many times that my patient’s are experiencing consequences of their disease state (i.e. symptoms of low blood sugar in diabetes) and they will have recently gotten their A1c, but they do not remember the reading. If there was a comprehensive electronic health record that could be accessed by care providers wirelessly, then I could have pulled up that information and provided disease state education. I can see the benefits of the electronic health record, but I know there could also some negative impacts. There is always a risk that information can get into the wrong hands. The comprehensiveness of the electronic health record is both a strength and a weakness. There would have to be many privacy protections put into place to ensure that such personal information is accessed by healthcare providers working with that patient. In a pharmacy there are many technicians and interns that all have access to the same workstations. It would be extremely important to have trustworthy employees with such private information. The electronic health record could have a positive impact on the relationship with other providers. This kind of record keeping could open doors for collaboration between different health care providers. The patient’s primary care provider would be able to see if the patient was seen by a specialist and thus they could collaborate with the other provider on what kind of care is best for their patient.
Overall, I think the electronic health record would be a great advancement in the field of pharmacy. It would allow for collaboration with other health care providers and make way for better patient care. The hardest part of the electronic health record would be getting it started. This would be process that would require resources such as money and technology support. I believe that implementation of the electronic health record would also require understanding from the patient that although there might be some extra paperwork for them in the beginning, in the end it could mean better healthcare. I think the process to implement the electronic health record should begin on a small scale with the primary health care providers and pharmacies. The only limitations I can see would be if the health care providers had trouble adapting to the new technologies. This can be overcome with an open mind and good training.
EHR (Electronic Health Record) is a technology that will change all aspects of pharmacy. Pharmacy has always been one of the professions that has always been adapting to changes as technology is changing. Pharmacist’s role and technology is always evolving and it is imperative that pharmacy along with other health care providers, and patients continue to grow and evolve and adapt to all of these changes.
Using electronic health records will significantly impact how pharmacists work. Electronic health records will help streamline pharmacy practice, and decrease the time it takes to fill a prescription. It will help bypass the paper work and help reduce workload. Additionally, it will reduce medication errors due to transcription mistakes. Transcription mistakes are very common in pharmacy and they are deadly, and completely unnecessary. Electronic health records will completely eliminate these fatal errors. Patients forging or tampering with prescriptions would no longer be an issue as well. Therefore, electronic health records will bypass the middleman and reduce the chances for mistakes, tampering, and making the whole prescription filling process more efficient.
Electronic health records will not only change how pharmacist’s jobs are impacted but it will also impact patients. Patients will mainly be concerned with their security. There is always a real concern of companies will have their private health information and sell it to insurance companies or it will get in the hands of people that do not have health care as their primary interest. On the other hand, some patients might like electronic health care because all of their information is accurate and in a location that all of their health care providers can obtain. Therefore, in the case of an emergency for disaster all of the patient’s medication information is easily obtained in one centralized location.
One limitation of electronic health record is cost. Upgrades and implementing the electronic health record program can be very costly and time consuming. This could cause various hospitals and physicians to resist using electronic health record technology. Training all personnel using the technology will also be very expensive. It is also necessary to consider the upkeep and maintenance cost of running the electronic health record system on the daily basis.
Although there are some limitations regarding the implementation of electronic health records being used in pharmacy and health care, there are some ways in which the health care field can enable maximal usage of electronic health records. A way in which to enable this is to ensure electronic health records are accessible. If electronic health records are accessible, I believe being accessible to the authorized people at the right times would be the greatest advantage of electronic health care records. For this to be used by the majority of health care providers and medical facilities it is important for them to accessible.
It is important to consider the strengths and weaknesses of the implementation of electronic health records. It is important that electronic health records are accessible to both patients and providers. Technology in health care is limitless and despite it’s limitations and electronic health records could help reduce medication errors, improve workflow, and enhance patient accessibility to their health documents.
EMRs and EHRs are a computerized digital form of a patient’s health record. Even with the technological advances in today’s age, the most preferred method of recording patient information for most hospitals and other health locations are paper based records. Why? Most of us would agree when I say that it might be due to the convenience of making a data entry on the spot. I have worked in a hospital pharmacy for the past few years, even though electronic records are making their way in practice, I know from personal experience that doctors still write records on paper and fax them to the pharmacy or other places when needed. I know that it’s convenient however, I believe that having an electronic medical record (EMR) and an electronic health record (EHR) is really important for all patients and for the health system overall.
Once computerized this information is stored and is accessible to anyone/anywhere via a network. By making this information accessible through a network would not only benefit the patients, but also every health care system and provider throughout the nation. This technology can be beneficial in many ways such as: reducing errors, keeping records safe, cost efficient, better treatment outcomes for patients, and many more. Misspelling, illegibility, and differing terminologies are just some of the downfalls of hand written records. Making a health record electronic can prevent such errors and lead to better patient health outcomes. Fires, floods, and other natural catastrophes have been known to damage physical health records for years. Electronic records can be stored forever, and can also be useful to keep record of health information that patients forget over time. EHRs are also very efficient as they ensure that all of the patient’s information is stored in one place and eliminates the cost of acquiring previous health records from different locations when needed. This will help patients receive quality care on the spot without having to wait for their records to be acquired. This will also help pharmacists and physicians to provide patients with fast, accurate care by having the complete patient history on site leading to better patient outcomes.
EMR/EHR are very beneficial however, they do have some downfalls. Some of the negatives associated with electronic records are that they may threaten our privacy, lead to a loss of human touch in health care, might not be that efficient, and are not as safe or secure as one might think. They might threaten our privacy in the sense that having one’s entire medical history recorded and digitalized for anyone to see might not be very appealing to everyone. Patient might see this as a treat to their patient confidentiality rights. Critics say that even though electronic records make information ready and accessible this is not a standardized record yet and may not be as efficient as it’s made to sound. One location’s EMR system may not be compatible with others and this may lead to errors and inefficiency. Also, everyone in today’s age has heard about data hacking, and stolen identities. Having your entire medical history electronically with the fear that it might get into the wrong hands or can be used against one is not a very appealing scenario to anyone. This furthers the downfalls against electronic records and is one area that needs to be worked on for this concept to be feasible to patients worldwide.
Even though there are a few downfalls, I believe that this is a great technology that can be beneficial to health care providers and patients alike. As mentioned, it will allow storage of health information in one location. You can even personalize it, as in the patient can decide what information of theirs will be recorded and what won’t be. It will give everyone faster and easier access and also it’s completely free. I believe this can be a great advancement in the medical profession.
There are advantages as well as disadvantages to the development and utilization of Electronic Health Records (EHRs). As this tool comes to fruition, pharmacists and patients will definitely experience its impact.
Pharmacists stand to gain great benefits from EHRs. One such benefit will be the ability to take a more active role in the provision of health care to their patients. As it now stands, very little collaboration with other health care providers is achieved unless pharmacy care is taking place in a clinical setting. Within the retail setting, pharmacists, more often than not, fall into the role of dispenser and are viewed as such by others. In this mode, access to patients’ health and medication histories are limited to what has been entered into the computer systems linking “sister” stores. While this is somewhat helpful, this does not provide the full picture necessary for making the most informed decisions about patient care. For instance, if a patient pays cash for narcotics prescribed by one physician at a retail pharmacy then goes to a competing chain and pays cash for the same narcotic prescription written by a different provider, catastrophic events could occur. In this instance, the insurance company which would have flagged the second prescription has been bypassed. The disconnect between the different prescribers and the two unrelated chains represent additional flaws that allowed this unacceptable fiasco to occur. Enabling all providers to have access to a standard record that profiles the prescriptions and care provided to a patient would be very useful in curtailing such events as the one previously described. From the provider’s standpoint, the disadvantages of such a system are almost nonexistent with the exception of incorporating and supporting access to such a national database once it is fully developed.
Looking at the patient’s perspective, I can see the benefits as well as the drawbacks. On the positive side of things, patients will not have to concern themselves with remembering dates of procedures, diagnoses, and their medication regimens when asked time after time to provide this data when visiting a different provider. With the EHR, this information will be accessible to all and will lessen the chances of recording misinformation. The main drawback involves patients’ reluctance to open up their personal health histories to innumerable amounts of people. Though only providers directly involved in a particular patient’s care should access the files, there is that ever-present human trait of curiosity. While one would hope that professionals would not needlessly access and share their data, the other human trait, paranoia, will most likely prevail in the minds of patients.
I have been on both sides of this issue. As a pharmacy intern, I have had my job made easier by the comprehensive profiles that we have built for our regular patients within our store as well as at our “sister” locations. As a patient, EHRs have allowed me to receive immunizations at various locations within my state while having a single record updated based on the services provided at these different sites.
In summary, if maximally utilized, EHRs can truly revolutionize healthcare. The reluctance of providers and patients to release pertinent information will limit this progress. Identifying adequate software programs with sound security features will allow the EHRs to flourish.
I have had experience with the Electronic Medical Record (EMR) system both in pharmacy practice settings and as a patient. At my physician’s office, my health information and vital signs are inputted directly into an electronic format without any use of paper files. Having health records in an EMR has many advantages to patients, including myself. The EMR program allows physicians to more consistently track patient’s health information, which gives them a better picture of the overall health status of individual patients. This can allow physicians to better analyze health information and communicate it to patients. For example, my physician was able to show me a line graph of my weight over the course of two years (the amount of time the office had been using the EMR). This line graph allowed him, as well as myself, to see how I was progressing which would have been more difficult if he were looking through my chart to compare weights from all of my previous visits. This same idea could be applied to tracking and relaying information on many different disease states, such as blood glucose readings to diabetic patients and blood pressure readings to patients with hypertension. One disadvantage of the EMR, however, is its inability to effectively relay information to other providers. If I see other physicians, they do not have access to my EMR from my primary care physician; this could be a problem because the different physicians must diagnose and treat my condition without having the health information present in my EMR.
As a pharmacy student, I have used the EMR system to keep a continuing record of my patients in the IPPE program; furthermore, there is a limited EMR system at my community pharmacy that I work in. These EMR’s are useful to me as a pharmacy student because they help me understand what a patient’s health and medication history have been at my practice site. Therefore, I can better follow-up with them and make recommendations for therapy because I am more informed than I would be with paper charts. EMR usage in pharmacy has the potential to minimize drug errors through a better sharing of information, such as patient drug allergies and medication history. A major limitation to optimal EMR use that I have seen in practice is the lack of intercommunication between health professionals. Despite having the technology to keep information such as drug allergies in an electronic format, we at my community pharmacy still must ask incoming patients what their allergies are. This lack of connectivity could create confusion and misinformation if the patients are unsure of their medication history. In the future, EMR usage has the potential to change the way pharmacists and other health professionals work. If regulations are enacted that will allow pertinent EMR information to be spread to other sites of care (such as a pharmacy) in the Electronic Health Record (EHR) format, a patient’s crucial health information will be available to the professionals who need it. This will help my work as a pharmacist because I can better ensure a patient’s safety; moreover, I can better analyze their diagnoses and corresponding medications to ensure that they are receiving optimal therapy. Although the expansion of the EMR/EHR system could create more work for pharmacists (in updating and using it to verify information for each patient) I believe that they will be of huge benefit to both pharmacists and to patients because vast improvements in health care can be provided. The improvement to patient health care will be a driving force to the implementation of EMR/EHR system. It will also facilitate providers to work together, which will foster inter-disciplinary relationships that could, in the future, improve the pharmacist role as a drug expert.
The extent of my experiences in pharmacy is limited to the two week summer rotation in a community pharmacy. Yet, I am aware of the implications that adoption of an electronic health record (EHR) for patients will have on medical all practices. Once we began our discussion on the topic of EHRs, I was curious as to why it has taken us so long to adopt such a system. If the founders of KatrinaHealth can pull together thousands of patients’ medical information in 10 days, what’s stopping us from picking up where they left off? EHR would make pharmacists’ and physicians’ jobs much easier. Every blood pressure reading, allergy, x-ray, lab value, etc. would be available for viewing anywhere the patient goes. For the pharmacist, all aspects of a patient’s health could (and should) be easily accessed in order to provide the best comprehensive care possible. The pharmacist would not have to their precious time calling physicians to obtain these values. Adoption of this system would be convenient for the patient as well. Patients will be relieved from the task of having to track down their medical records from one doctor to another. Instead of the patient having to report their allergies to physicians/pharmacists on multiple occasions or having to fill out the same medical information each time they visit a different doctor, everything the physician/pharmacist would need would be located in one centralized site. Additionally, EHRs offer the capability of the patient to interact with their record so that they are more involved in their own care. Many physicians will order repeat lab tests simply because they are unable to locate past results. As we all know, this greatly and unnecessarily increases health care costs. Having an EHR would resolve this problem. Also this benefits the patient so they don’t have to repeat painful procedures. Unfortunately only about 5% of private hospitals have adopted this EHR system. Most VA hospitals, however, do have electronic records. According to an ABC news special on EHRs, VA hospitals have adopted this system because they a strong financial incentive to invest in the technology due to the life-long relationship they have with their patients. Studies have shown that the VA system contributes fewer medical errors, lower costs, effective treatments and patient satisfaction. Also, when asked about their view on EHRs, the physicians and nurses at the VA all agreed that they loved the system, and that it works. The VA’s adoption of EHRs proves that it successful and appreciated. So why haven’t more private hospitals begun to incorporate EHRs into their facilities? I am unsure what the cost will be to implement a technology as complex as an EHR in all hospitals, but I can imagine it’s very expensive. Also, as we learned in class, interoperability is an aspect that needs to be considered. It may be difficult to integrate all the different systems across the United States. While the cost and complexity of implementing a technology such as EHR may initially slow its adoption, I am confident that EHRs will be well worth the trouble. Other than the aforementioned limitation of EHRs, I cannot think of any reason why EHRs should not be executed as soon as possible.
The electronic health record, I believe, will benefit patients, pharmacists, and doctors. The electronic medical record can also contribute to better patient care even though it is not the most efficient. The electronic health record can benefit patients by saving time, mistakes, and by providing better healthcare to avoid future ailments.
In my experience from a summer rotation in an independent pharmacy, the pharmacy did not use an electronic health record. Every time a patient came through the drive thru window or up to the counter and it was their first time visiting, they had to fill out a form. The form asked about their medical history, personal information, and a bunch of other random facts that are probably included on every other healthcare form they fill out at the physician’s office, eye doctor, dentist, and other healthcare providers. However, the pharmacy did seem to use some sort of electronic medical record because when patients that had visited before came back for refills, they pulled up their profile on the computer.
The use of the electronic medical record was useful to the pharmacist to pull up patient information quicker and be able to print off labels more efficiently, but the patient could have benefited more if the pharmacist did have their electronic health record. The benefit to the patient being that care could be improved by providing the pharmacist with as much information as possible so that he/she can make a better judgment on the drug therapy.
There are many more benefits to the patient and pharmacist using an electronic health record. The pharmacist can save time with new patients by not having to get them to fill out forms and enter them into the computer which can cause errors. The pharmacist will have an instant download of the patient’s complete health record which will most likely include more accurate information than what the patient would have written down on the form. This makes the pharmacist’s job easier and allows them to spend more time counseling. By the pharmacist having a more complete history, the patient benefits from avoiding adverse drug reactions or inappropriate therapies. Also, because the pharmacist has more time, the patient is allowed to have a more in depth consult from the pharmacist, which can increase drug compliance.
The electronic health record has its limitations in a few aspects. Limitations to the use of the electronic health record include patient acceptance, standardization of a program, and incorporation by healthcare providers. Patients may not want to have their personal health information out in the matrix of computers that can easily be transferred and hacked by anybody. This concern does not make too much sense though because people still today use online payment methods, online banking, or give their credit card number over the phone to the delivery pizza place. If people can trust those sites and people to keep their information safe, why cannot they trust a site to keep their health information safe? The program must be standardized so the health information is easily transferred from place to place; this can become hard with competing companies. Healthcare providers may not want to change to this program because they are set-in- stone with their ways. All of these are limitations to the electronic health record.
The factors pushing the electronic health record include the push for more efficient patient care and better stability of healthcare information. While paper is great to have patient health information on it, it has its limitations. An electronic version of a patient’s health record offers better security than paper does in that paper can easily be destroyed or lost. Imagine a few huge filing cabinets full of patients’ information, how do you move all that in the case of an emergency? Sending electronic health information is also quicker; a push of the button is all that is needed, no stamp required. Patient care can increase by every healthcare provider having all the right, accurate information. This enables the physicians and pharmacists to make better judgments on therapy and drug selection. There are great opportunities that push towards an electronic health record.
Through the use of the electronic health record there will be an initial resistance, but in the overall long run there will be more acceptances and a realization that it is the better and more efficient way for healthcare.
The electronic health record (EHR) if implanted properly could greatly influence the overall health system in a positive way. The EHR contains specific patient related health information including but not limited to: their current and previous medications, laboratory values, past surgeries and illnesses, as well as current medical diagnosis. The EHR “travels” with the patient, allowing all health care providers they may see have access to this information. By having updated information on a patient this will save the patient time from re-filling out basic forms whenever they go to a new doctor or pharmacy. It will not just save the patient time but also the doctor from having to re go over these conditions each time. The EHR will also allow the doctor the ability to make more accurate and informed decisions regarding treatments and medications for the patient. The doctor will be able to see what has worked in the past or what has caused problems without having to rely on the memory of the patient. For elderly and children this will take a significant burden off their care giver. The care giver will no longer have to remember someone else’s as well as their own medications and medical history.
With pharmacists also having access to this information they can quickly and accurately access any interactions that may occur from a change in medications. If a patient has questions about over the counter medicines the EHR will also allow the pharmacist to determine if they are able to safely add this to their current prescription regimen. While working in the pharmacy I find myself constantly having to call insurance companies because a reject message either is stating filled at another pharmacy or refill too soon. Upon mentioning this to some patients they quickly become aggressive and deny having it filled somewhere else or they become embarrassed. By having access to a patient’s current prescriptions the EHR can help notice pharmacy and doctor hopping immediately without having to call the insurance company. It will also help with controlled substances that are being filled too soon by switching back and forth from pharmacies and prescribers that are not run through insurance. In a pharmacy the EHR will save the pharmacist, pharmacy staff, and patient time by eliminating some additional steps in the fill process.
A patient will benefit knowing that all of their information is accurate and can travel with them wherever they live. It will save the patient time from having to go pick up medical records to take to a new provider or a specialist. If they were to become ill and had to be hospitalized this would provide them safety and security knowing that a physician has access to any allergies, current diagnosis, and medications they may be on. This should take some stress out of the patient with thinking they might have left something out that might detrimentally affect their health.
With all the good that the EHR has there are also limitations to it. First off the system has to be safe and secure since a patient’s confidential information is being shared. Patients are nervous of the safety of this system and need to have guarantees that it is safe, reliable, and secure. Implementing a system to transfer all of this information will take time and is extremely cost limiting which may delay it being implemented. Also people are hesitant to change; they want to stay in their current ways because they feel it is currently working. Patients are afraid of the unknown and the potential problems that may arise. We will need to show the patients the good and benefits that an EHR will provide them. The EHR will enable the physician the ability to see labs and images taken at other sites. It will also cut back on nurses’ time from asking redundant questions that are already in the EHR. Potentially this could save employee time and allow them to devote additional time and care to the patient. This could potentially result in cost savings to both the patient as well as the physician. Patients will also have the ability to view this information, which will provide them additional comforts that the information is accurate and up to date. With patients seeing the benefit and potential cost savings that could result from an EHR they may be more likely to put pressure on their current health care providers to implement the EHR.
In an era of such an explosion of technology with so many different types of industries being made electronic, it seems strange to me that our health care system, proported to be one of the best in the world, is so behind with regards to making health records electronic.
To initiate change, money usually has to be offered as an incentive. I think it is great how the government has taken an active role in being an advocate for change in this area and included as part of the stimulus package an incentive for physicians and hospitals to make the change. In contrast to American health care being thought of as the best, we also tell ourselves that the system is broken. It is inefficient and obtuse and is in the midst of a much needed giant overhaul. I feel that there is almost a sense of urgency with regards to this and the answer to the problem often creates much animosity and resentment when people start to voice their opinions.
The best way to fix a problem is by fixing it. I say get to work and do the best you can do. It is obvious that health records need to be made electronic so this is a great starting place for changing our health care system. I like to imagine how much easier health care professionals jobs would be if patients health and medical records were electronic. The patient could give their code, or maybe have a card, and the healthcare professional pulls up the pertinent information immediately and has access to a full patient history. What a remarkable thing this would be.
With technological advancement and the ability to simplify things and make life easier also comes a way for people to abuse the system and create fraud. But I actually see how making health care records electronic could reduce fraud. There is a problem with patients who “doctor shop” for prescription medication. This could be eliminated with the correct implication of electronic medical records. One patient, one record.
Sometimes patients like to get a second opinion for a diagnosis and this is actually encouraged in the community. I think that this could both create problems with electronic health records, as well as create benefits. It would be easier to see the patient’s last diagnosis and this could create an environment where the new physician could either agree with the previous diagnosis or if there is indeed a discrepancy, to make an alternative diagnosis. I think this could potentially create a logistical nightmare with insurance companies but hopefully the practice of better medicine will actually result.
So I am very excited to see the change happen in this area of our health care system. I think the road to fulfillment of the goal will be difficult, at times, but it absolutely necessary to the advancement of the health care system. With the power of the government and insurance companies behind this massive change, I think it will be accomplished before we even realize it.
For this assignment I will be discussing the benefits and drawbacks of utilizing an electronic health record (EHR) for patient interactions. An EHR would allow pharmacists and physicians to access and update a patient’s general health information. In regards to actually witnessing the EHR in action, this is something I have never witnessed in the pharmacy I work or in PPE. Like we discussed in class, an EHR is not a reality yet in most places. I think it is a tool that can greatly increase the communication between the pharmacist and physician in order to improve the care and outcomes of patients in the United States and throughout the world.
When we process a prescription at the pharmacy, pharmacists are able to generally know what the medication is prescribed for because of its mechanism of action and drug class. But, the prescription fails to point out a diagnosis for the patient. If pharmacists were able to access an EHR that provided information regarding the patient’s visit to the doctor’s office, this would be a great step forward. Pharmacists would be able to better assess the efficacy of drug selection if we knew the patient’s diagnosis. I think this would be one way that could impact the pharmacist’s job. We could access previous medical decisions to make sure a therapy tried by another doctor is not being attempted for this prescription fill. We could also see if patients are using several doctors to get multiple prescriptions for things like pain medications. I believe this could allow pharmacists to be more confident in counseling patients if we were able to utilize an EHR system.
Hopefully, utilizing an EHR system would change how patients see the healthcare system, and particularly how they see pharmacists. I believe it would be a great idea to incorporate the EHR system with a personal health record (PHR) that patients can see. I would not necessarily grant them access to physician’s notes from visits but allow them to see their entire health record. This could allow patients to better manage their healthcare and be more informed about their medications. As we discussed in class, one problem that patient’s might have with an EHR is the privacy and security factor. Steps would have to be taken to ensure that patient’s health records stay secure. I personally would feel safer and know that I would be provided with the best possible health care if all my physicians could access my health records through an EHR. To me, this is light years ahead of every physician holding ‘paper’ records and not communicating with other physicians. I will give the analogy of older patients in the pharmacy still writing checks to pay instead of using a credit card. We just have to convince patients that an EHR will benefit them and increase their quality of care.
There are some limitations and driving forces to utilization of an EHR. I think the main limitation would be the price. It would be costly to start and integrate a nationwide system that any physician and pharmacist can utilize. Insurance providers (or whoever would fund the system) would have to be convinced that in the long run, they would see a return on their investment and health care costs would decrease. Another limitation would be finding a system that every physician and pharmacist could agree on or integrating multiple different systems. To counter that, I think the number one driving force would be profit. Companies who design systems for EHR’s would want to know that they can make a profit. For health care providers, the biggest driving force of all would be the chance to open the doors of communication in order to achieve the most paramount goal – improved patient outcomes.
Electronic Health Records have the potential to significantly improve the quality of patient care. EHRs enable health care professionals to share information more easily so that they may have a better understanding of patient health statuses. They allow each of a patient’s health care providers to see the exact same information and draw conclusions that are based on a more complete and accurate picture of a patient’s current and previous health status. If a provider does not have a complete picture, then mistakes may be made and a patient’s health may suffer. Patients benefit from EHRs because they receive better care and providers benefit because they are able to make more informed decisions.
EHRs are beneficial for patients because they help keep important information from slipping through the cracks. For example, an unconscious patient may not be able to inform a physician of a severe drug allergy, but an EHR would. Also, a patient may be unaware of an upcoming booster that is needed, but a diligent health care provider may take notice of this in an EHR. To err is human, and physicians, pharmacists, and other providers are no exception. Essential information is occasionally overlooked or missed by HCPs and unfortunately patients often suffer because of it. As EHRs give providers a more complete picture of a patient’s health status and medical history, it is less likely that important information will slip through the cracks unnoticed.
Additionally, EHRs have the potential to help pharmacists perform their jobs better and more efficiently. Viewing a patient’s EHR would allow a pharmacist to see why a particular medication was prescribed. Often pharmacists are left in the dark about why a medication is ordered for a patient. For example, a diuretic could be prescribed for kidney disease, heart failure, hypertension, or another ailment. A pharmacist would have to rely on the patient for this information, and sometimes patients are not 100% sure about a medications indication. Additionally, because this record is complete and consolidated, pharmacists save time by having to look no further for information than the EHR. EHRs allow pharmacists to collect patient information in a more streamlined fashion. This process allows patients to receive better care and better service.
One limitation EHRs face is that of patient acceptance. There is a great deal of concern in healthcare with privacy issues. Many patients may be unwilling to have their health information condensed into an EHR because they may be afraid of a loss of privacy. All of their health information would be transmitted and available for each of their HCPs to see. Patients may also fear that an unauthorized person may gain access to their health information.
One of the more enabling aspects of implementing EHRs is simply the potential benefit that they hold for those involved. Patients may become more receptive to the idea of an EHR if they are educated about the benefits that EHRs allow, such as better health care, more efficient services, and more informed health care providers. EHRs are not intended to get all of a patient’s information in one place simply for faster care. It is for better care. This is crucial for patients and providers to understand to enable widespread implementation of EHRs.
In my opinion, an electronic health record (EHR) is critical in changing our current failing health system. A lot of money could be saved by having all medical information in one easily searchable document. When a patient goes from doctor to doctor, it would decrease the need to reorder test that might have already been taken. The doctor would also be able to look at the patient’s complete medical history to get a better idea of what is going with the patient. Any pharmacist would be able to easily manage the patient’s medications. It would prevent patients from seeing multiple doctors and having multiple medications for the same medical problem. The doctors would also be able to see if the patient was already on a medication for the patient’s current complaint. The EHR would help the medical profession provide more comprehensive care for the patients and save money by prevent serious medical mistakes or misdiagnoses.
The EHR is crucial for pharmacist. I think it is crazy that pharmacist do not know why a patient is receiving a medication in the first place. Prescriptions should have the indication written on them so the pharmacist would be able to double check and make sure this was the best medication for the patient. An EHR would provide the pharmacist with important information to make sure the patient is on the correct drug therapy. They would be able to make sure there are no duplicate medications, drug interactions, and disease interactions. The patient could use multiple pharmacies if they so pleased and the pharmacist would still be able to provide the patient the best service possible because they would have all the patients information in front of them.
The only limitation is the fear of losing privacy. Unfortunately, I think we are have already lost a lot of freedom and privacy. The government already tracts a lot of your daily activities. Some people post their whole entire lives on the internet. I can understand some people not wanting their information out there for all medical personal to access because even though we are all HIPA certified and have regulations to follow, not everyone follows the rules about privacy. I think more people would benefit from an EHR then the few that would be negatively affected by it.
A central location for these documents would also have to be created. In my opinion the medical field should all use the same computer programs anyways. Instead of companies competing with each to sell their programs, they should all work together to build the best system for the country. We restrict our technology and ability to provide the best care possible with money. If we as a country did not care about making the most money, but instead focused on providing the best care, we would all be a lot better off. If the same computer system was in every hospital, pharmacy, and doctors office, any medical personal could walk into any facility and provide care for the patients. It would also make it easy to share information between providers.
I believe that electronic health records could change the healthcare system that we are used to. If pharmacists and physicians could have access to the same records, both groups of people could do their jobs better. If physicians were aware of what their patients were already taking, they could be more careful about prescribing a mediation that would interact. If the pharmacist could see what the patients are taking, even prescriptions filled at other pharmacies, this would insure that the pharmacist has the information needed to make an educated decision about the patients health care. This would also prevent patients from seeing multiple doctors for the same illness. There is a huge problem with patients seeing multiple doctors complaining of something that would require pain medication to treat. The doctors are hesitant to give prescriptions for pain medications if they are questioning the patients intentions, but at the same time they want to make sure they are not letting anyone suffer with extreme pain. If this electronic health record was implemented, it would prevent patients from being able to see multiple doctors seeking pain medications.
Pharmacists need the diagnosis code in order to provide our patients with the best care. When an antibiotic is prescribed, we must tell the patients what the side effects are and how to take the drug, but we cannot verify whether or not it is the appropriate drug for the illness. Pharmacists could help physicians in many ways if they knew the diagnosis. If a patient cannot afford their medication, the pharmacist will call the doctor to see if they can change to a cheaper medication, but cannot suggest anything until he finds out what the drug is being used for. This would help patients be able to come to pharmacists as the complete resource to their drugs and conditions. This would take some of the weight off of the physicians so they can focus on diagnosis new disorders rather than maintaining treatment for already diagnosed patients.
Confidentiality would be a concern I have about the electronic health record. I am not sure how they would keep this information secure. With the internet the way it is today, most things can be hacked into. I would not want my electronic health record on the internet available for anyone to see. I would not want people to be able to use my health record against me when considering me for a job or for a loan. If an employer, for example, knew you had a condition that could impact your job status, they might not hire you for that position.
The electronic health record is something I see happening in the near future. Pharmacists need this information to do their job better, and I am sure patients would agree since it would better their care with the most accessible health care professionals. Patients always look to us for knowledge, and this can only increase the amount of help we can provide our patients. It could change the way health care operates.
An electronic health record (EHR) could help change American health care in a positive direction. EHRs are a digital collection of patient information that can include medical history, allergies, vital signs and laboratory results. This record can then be shared among different health care providers including pharmacists. An electronic health record could impact the way a pharmacist works on a daily basis. By having full access to a patient’s full medical and medication history, a pharmacist would be able to improve the quality of care that patients can receive. Pharmacists would be able to determine any interactions that may occur with a patient’s medications or disease states especially with over the counter medications. It would be easier to for a pharmacist to recommend a product to a patient if he was able to have access to the patient’s allergy information and any other condition that could interact with many over the counter medications.
Electronic health records would also greatly benefit the patients. Many patients today may prefer to get second opinions on any major medical diagnosis. The availability of an electronic health record would make this process easier. Doctors would be able to access a patient’s previous lab results without having to rerun tests. Patients also would not have to try and get any paperwork or labs to be sent to other doctors. Many times this can take several days to weeks to happen. With an EHR a patient can receive a second opinion faster and at a lesser expense due to not having to have duplicate tests run. Patients would also not have to fill out family history or past medical history paperwork at each doctor that they visit. All of that information would be included in each patient’s electronic health record that the doctor could access. Patients would probably appreciate this benefit of EHRs because it would save them time and possibly headaches at every new doctor visit.
One limitation that may prevent the full implementation of electronic health records is unwillingness to change. Many health care providers may not want to have to switch to a new system of record keeping. A switch to a new system would take a great deal of time to learn how to use. All persons that would have to use the system would need to be instructed on how to use the system. Health care providers may be hesitant in switching over to an electronically based health record because of the time it would take to learn an entirely new system when it is just easier to stay with the current way.
One driving factor that could help facilitate the use of EHRs is that the information would not be lost in a natural disaster. Like with Hurricane Katrina, the recent outbreaks of severe weather have destroyed doctor’s offices and pharmacies. Many patients’ medical records have been lost including what medications they take. If patients’ records were kept electronically, they would not have to worry about losing all information to natural disasters or fire. EHRs would help to preserve their medical histories from any form of destruction allowing patients to be helped quicker after any tragedy.
In management class this semester we discussed the future implementation of electronic medicals records (EMR) and electronic health records (EHR). These are records that contain specific patient health information such as labs, diagnosis, allergies, past and current medications. An EMR only contains patient health information that was obtained or performed at that site and the EMR is owned by that hospital or clinic. This information does not stay with the patient if the patient chooses to be seen by physicians or pharmacists at another hospital or clinic. An EHR contains all of the specific health information that has been obtained or performed on that patient at any hospital or clinic. This information stays with patient no matter which hospital or clinic they visit and the patient owns the information.
An EMR simply requires physicians to transfer their paper copy of patient information into an electronic database. Although this process will be time consuming, once completed it should serve to be very beneficial. Having all of the patient’s information in one central location so that all physicians and pharmacists in that specific site can access this information will help physicians make informed decisions when providing care to the patient. Most of the time pharmacists only see prescriptions for a drug, they do not get information on why that drug was prescribed. If a pharmacist is able to view a patient’s record then they will be more able to do their job as the drug expert in determining if the best drug was prescribed for that patient or if there is a better option.
Forming an EHR for every patient is much more complex since this requires gathering information from each physician and pharmacist that the patient visits. There also must be a network set up that allows for the protected flow of this information from one site to another. Once these records have been created, then I think that we will see a huge decrease in health care cost and an increase in quality of patient care. Physicians will be able to see all of the tests and lab findings that were performed on that patient at other sites so there will be no need for patients to be receiving the same tests multiple times. It will also make it easier for physicians and pharmacists to track patient’s diagnosis and medication history, which will improve disease monitoring and management. Also with an EHR patients are able to view their information and append any information that they believe to be untrue. This allows for patient involvement in their own health care.
Implementing these records is going to take a lot of time and is going to be met by a lot of resistance from physicians, pharmacists and patients are unwilling to make the change. However it is time for the US health care to make these necessary changes. It only takes one disaster such as Hurricane Katrina or the tornadoes that caused massive destruction in many cities of the southern states on April 27, 2011, to scatter and destroy a patient’s paper health information record. If a patient has an EHR then they can take their health information with them even if they are forced to relocate and see new physicians and pharmacists.
When it comes to healthcare the United States prides its self on being one of the leaders in technology in healthcare, having some of the world’s greatest doctors, and innovators of cutting edge procedures and research that is of great benefit to the entire world. Now with a country where you have the option to get treated by the best doctors and receiving the most technologically profound procedure, why is the transmission of patient health information still in the 1980’s? If we promote to provide the best healthcare to a patient, wouldn’t the first step be to make sure you had all the information about that patient at one given moment, instead of having to call every doctor that the patient has ever seen to get that information? To truly be a leading nation in healthcare, our healthcare system desperately needs to implement a system of electronic health records so that any healthcare provider would know everything they would need to know about that patient before even treating them. A system like this would greatly improve efficiency of workflow, prevent redundancy, and ultimately decrease the cost of healthcare for everyone.
It would seem very obvious on how an electronic health record would benefit physicians or other healthcare providers who are directly treating the patients, but the benefits for pharmacist may be more difficult to see initially. Everyday pharmacists receive countless prescriptions for patients, and for the most part do not have a clue to why the doctor prescribed a certain medication or what disease state this medication is being used to treat for the patient. So when a pharmacist is trying to counsel a patient on their medication, we are unable to tailor the details about the medication specifically for each patient. If patients had electronic health records that pharmacists had access to then pharmacists would be able to discuss in better detail with the patient what the medication is for and how it is beneficial to whatever disease state that they have. It would give us the chance to properly counsel a patient on their medication and address any concerns that they had about a given medication.
As being a patient, there are numerous benefits to having an electronic health record. From personal experience, there have been countless times where I have seen a doctor and the nurse has to ask me the same questions that I just answered for a previous doctor, or there have been times that they have asked me questions about things that happened years ago such as when did I have chicken pox or when did I receive a certain vaccination. A lot of the time I didn’t remember these things and had to simply guess or give a time range of when something occurred. It would be easier on patients, if they had an electronic health record that already had majority of the information that was needed, so that we as patients wouldn’t have try to remember every medical encounter we have had. It would also be beneficial to patients in times of devastation. If a patients’ primary care doctor’s office were to be damaged and all of the files lost, most patients would not be able to remember everything that was in their record. If there were a system in place where all of these things were electronic then these things wouldn’t have to be a concern for patients.
I feel that the biggest hindrance of having an electronic health record would be actually starting a system like this. Since forever, everything has pretty much been in paper format, and if we were to switch to an electronic system then that would mean that all of the stuff that is on paper would have to be entered in for each patient. This process would take a lot of time and additional work to gather all information for one patient from all locations, and in the process information could be lost. It would also be a very costly process. To first find a system for all healthcare providers to buy into, then to integrate it with the workflow of a particular location, and update it with all patient information, would be a process that would be costly in the since of employee time and what cost it is to the business.
On the other hand, if we were to get such a system running then future cost would be prevented and it could greatly improve workflow. Prevention of redundant lab test could be avoided because the information needed about a particular test would already be available. Monitoring of efficacy of medication could be properly done because you would have the information on when a certain medication was started and could chart the progress of the patient on the medication. For nurses instead of spending time asking the patient questions about things they may not remember, nurse would already have what they need and if any additional information is needed from the patient the exact question that needs to be asked would be known.
Overall I feel that having an electronic health record is something that would in the long run benefit everyone and help our health system to provide the best healthcare to everyone.
I personally feel the development, implementation, and proper use of an Electronic Health Record (EHR) would benefit not only the medical health professionals, but the pharmacy realm as well. As the role of a pharmacist in a patient’s care continues to evolve and gain more and more responsibility, the pharmacist’s input into the EHR will be vital as well as the pharmacist’s ability to access this information. Currently the “revolutionary” standardization process of prescription legibility is the only thing pharmacy really has going for it. This is not allowing us to maximize our training. Yes, making prescriptions more legible will aid us in picking the correct medication and reviewing all potential ADRs in addition to counseling, but without knowing what disease/condition the drug was written for, how can we possible even know the correct drug is being given? We simply can’t unless the patient actually knows and tells us what it is supposed to be for. As students and interns, we already see how difficult it is to interact with a patient and get a detailed enough answer to determine either what is wrong with them or what drug they are taking. Going into nursing homes to review a patient’s chart, you see how untidy, not up to date, or accurate the patient’s current record is. It is always in a different format, with information in different areas than other establishment’s records which takes time to decipher. This would all be reduced by simply having everything in a standardized format including all records and details done at different sites into one location. This would allow the pharmacist to see what the patient has been through at different points in time, medication and diagnosis wise, to ensure they are receiving optimal therapy for them. The doctor would also be able to ensure that medication his patient is receiving is the best choice and has not been altered from what he thinks is best. It would allow for a professional system of checks and balances to ultimately provide the minimal level of adverse events while maintaining the highest level of care. This will reduce overall health costs in the long run as well as influence a better health care system. The patient will see reduced insurance costs, physician waiting times, and increase in their overall safety.
One limitation to this system is software compatibility. Since multiple software can be used to input health data in different formats, there is a problem with being able to accurately accumulate this data into one source without creating a mad jumble of information that would actually take longer to decipher than traditional ways, especially while still attempting to perform daily functions such as prescription filling and checking. There have been standards created and implemented aimed at preventing this, but it still looks to be a major hindrance to the quick and efficient incorporation of this type of system into all health care settings. As well as, health care staff and professionals lack of interest or ability to operate such systems in an effective manner. It may require much training for some.
A major driving force for this type of EHR system is currently the government. It is very beneficial at this point in time to begin to implement these types of systems for financial compensation. Also, pharmacies have long since been removed from the purely paper world and have been relying on computer programs to aid in prescription filling and checking for some time, so simply adding one more software program to the system would not necessarily mean a complete over haul of the entire workflow or training process.
I think the key to making all of this a success, is for large institutions to not necessarily jump on the first functional system that is developed, but to make sure to pick a system that will allow for the greatest ease of use and clarity in the long run.
The implementation of Electronic Health Records (EHRs) in America’s health system would be revolutionary to patient care in all aspects. In my opinion, one of the largest problems in our health system is the lack of collaboration between providers. We have countless healthcare professionals (HCPs), filled with knowledge and wisdom in their specialty, but no way of documenting treatment provided or to collaborate with other HCPs that have provided treatment to the same patients. This will make a huge impact on pharmacy, and therefore me in my future practice. Logically, it is insane that we treat patients without a credible patient history. With the EHR, we would be able to access our patient files and view disease states, treatment history, medication history, indications for therapy, allergies, drug interactions, specific lab results, etc. Given all of this information, this would allow us to apply our knowledge and maximize patient care. It would also give us opportunities to collaborate with other HCPs if needed, discuss what treatment was provided, and possibly make recommendations and interventions for the patient. Since the EHR would be electronic and quickly accessible, it would save HCPs time because they would not have to input all of the information. There are also several advantages for the patient. Every time a patient visits a HCP, they have to go through the mundane process of filling out papers. The EHR would help reduce this task for the patient. It also would add credibility to a patient record versus asking the patient to recall everything about their medical history at one time. It would also save money for the patients and insurance companies. There are numerous instances where additional visits could be avoided if proper treatment was provided to begin with. Lastly, they would be receiving optimal care, and more appropriate and accurate treatment overall. One major limitation to the EHR is standardization across the nation. It would be ideal for one standard EHR system to be available for all data to be inputted, that way there are no inconsistencies to what is required and the format of the record. If this were the case, it would have to be some type of internet network for all HCPs to access quickly; this introduces the problem of security for patient. The only other solution would be for every HCP to have the same software program in real-time, and this is not very practical initially. One of the major enablers for the implementation of the EHR is the reduction in healthcare costs. Healthcare costs are a huge predicament in our country today, and I believe that the system and our country are willing to do whatever it takes to reduce the costs. Just some of the methods in which EHR would reduce costs include decreasing time for patient visits from beginning to end, decreasing transcribing time for nurses and other healthcare staff, decreasing unnecessary treatment, and decreasing the time HCPs spend trying to find out all of the information that would be contained in an EHR. All in all, EHR would be a great step to taking our healthcare system to the next level. Especially with the technology capabilities we have, it is distressing that we have not taken this initiative already. Not only will it reduce healthcare costs and lift burdens from patients and HCPs, but it will also give pharmacists and other HCPs an opportunity to provide the utmost patient care possible.
People may say that George Bush doesn’t care about the people, but his push for electronic health records (EHR) suggests otherwise. Most people don’t know what computerizing health records means for them. If I didn’t know better, I would imagine it means all my private information is out in space for hackers to get in and tell everybody I know. Maybe people wouldn’t be so worried about their security of their health information if our culture didn’t stigmatize so many illnesses, but that’s not the topic for today.
Anyway, an EHR is a centralized place to put all of your medical information from cradle to grave. If you broke your arm in Indiana when you were seven, it’s there. If you had the flu in New York when you were twenty two, it’s there. All of your diagnoses and medications and allergies, there they all are in one place. Can’t imagine how that would help you? I know how it could have helped me. I know I had the chicken pox when I was little, but I couldn’t get the medical records to prove it so I had to have blood drawn. That cost time, money, and blood. I forgot I’d already had two Hepatitis B shots, so instead of just one more I had three more shots. That cost me time, money, and pain. (It hurt!) Don’t forget about all the forms you have to fill out every time you see the doctor, especially if it’s a new one. With the EHR being used, most of that information would already be there. So EHR can save time and money – not to mention the discomfort of additional testing.
EHR could also reduce errors and increase safety. By having your allergies and medical conditions readily available, it should be easier for the doctor to choose the right drug for you. Even if he ignores your history of anaphylaxis after taking penicillin and prescribes it to you anyway and you take the prescription to a pharmacy you’ve never been to before, if the pharmacist has access to your EHR, she will be able to check your allergies and make sure you don’t take that drug.
Speaking of pharmacy, having an EHR would have a substantial impact on the quality of care that pharmacists provide. During my experience in both the community and the hospital setting, the prescription/order arrives to the pharmacy in basically the same way. A drug, dose, and schedule are scribbled on a piece of paper. After interpreting the physician’s handwriting, the pharmacist makes sure the drug won’t kill the patient and makes sure the right drug goes out. I’m not saying that part’s not important, but imagine if the drug and regimen came to the pharmacy with a diagnosis. With the EHR available to the pharmacist, he or she could see why the patient was put on the drug in the first place along with all of their other relevant medical conditions. The pharmacist could use his or her many years of training to evaluate if this drug is appropriate. It would really help with the misuse of prescription drugs, a very expensive problem in a time when reducing costs is so important.
I understand that implementing an EHR would be a huge undertaking. It would require developing the software, actually entering all of the information, and then storing the massive amount of data. It would not be cheap. However, the cost would be balanced out by the money it would save and the increased quality of care it would provide.
Electronic Health Record
The development of Electronic Health Records (EHRs) has the potential to drastically change the healthcare professions. Imagine being able to go to any hospital, doctor’s office or pharmacy and not have to fill out a plethora of forms before being seen. If only a few basic identifiers were required to gain access to a complete database of all your healthcare information, patients would be less frustrated by filling out duplicate forms and trying to remember all the information, doctors would have a much more complete vantage point when diagnosing and prescribing, and pharmacists would be able to see your diagnosis and lab values and counsel you more appropriately. As a pharmacist, I would find it a huge help to be able to see if patients are doctor shopping or pharmacy hopping. It can be quite a chore to call insurance companies and other pharmacies and multiple doctors’ offices to determine if I should fill this prescription for a controlled substance. Having all that information at my fingertips would save countless precious man-hours. A comprehensive database will also allow pharmacists more complete information to make decisions regarding drug-drug interactions and drug-disease contraindications. Quality pharmaceutical care requires that pharmacists have comprehensive information available. The pharmaceutical care model that is currently being promoted by pharmacy organizations and schools of pharmacy nationwide encourages pharmacists to be responsible for the outcomes of medication related therapies. Practically, we can only be as responsible as we are informed. You cannot hold a pharmacists accountable for dispensing a drug a patient is allergic to if the pharmacist is not given the opportunity to speak with the patient and it is not noted on the chart. That is often the reality in retail pharmacies. The patient’s parent, spouse, sibling or co-worker is often dropping off their prescriptions and their teenage child picks it up later. The EHR eliminates a lot of guesswork in healthcare. While patients may be relieved to reduce the paper trail burden, the implementation of the EHR may be limited by concerns about the privacy and security of patients’ personal health information. Currently, a name and date of birth is all that is typically required to access medical records. The privacy level could be increased to require a social security number, insurance ID number, or a patient specified PIN to grant initial access by an institution to the EHR. Subsequent inquiries or additions to the EHR could be made by the name and date of birth system currently in place. In the event that a patient arrives unconscious and alone to an emergency department, access to an EHR could be life-saving. In this situation, the social security number or insurance ID number, rather than a PIN, would be a more appropriate means of granting access to the institution as these are likely found in the patient’s wallet or purse. The EHR should be unable to be altered except by medical personnel. In addition to protection in the event of identity theft, deceptive patients may wish to delete certain items from the EHR. As an added security measure, a picture of the patient could be taken at annual check-ups to help deter identity theft or insurance fraud. Overall, I support the development and implementation of an electronic health record and look forward to seeing how it progresses the world of healthcare.
I believe that if implemented properly, Electronic Health Records (EHRs), would be of great benefit to pharmacists, other healthcare providers, and, most importantly, patients. One large benefit of EHRs is the time they would save. Currently, each different health care provider has their own, individual record of a patient’s medical history—this means that each time a patient encounters a new provider (a new physician, a different pharmacy, etc), they have to take the time to provide this information. With an EHR, this information would be “centralized” across various medical providers, so that whenever a patient encountered a new one, all they would have to provide would be their name/identifier, and then an employee could look it up. EHRs would also save healthcare providers time because they would be electronic; this means that they would be legible to everyone and be in a standardized format—certain information would always be in a certain order, meaning that once healthcare providers were familiar with said format, they could easily locate the information they needed to find. For instance, a pharmacist could immediately find the section detailing a patient’s medication information. Finally, because of the time they would save, EHRs would be benefitial in emergency situations. When a patient is admitted to the ER, they likely do not want and/or do not have time to provide their medical history; likewise, nurses would probably prefer to spend their time in other ways than transcribing information. With EHRs, they would not have to take the time to do this. One limitation to this situation would be if the patient was unconscious and did not have any identification on their person; in this case, obtaining medical history would still be near impossible. However, overall, EHRs would save time for both patients and healthcare providers.
Another advantage provided by EHRs would be increased safety for patients—this is especially true in the case of pharmacies. If a patient were to have a centralized record of their drug allergies, as well as all the medications they are currently taking, more drug interactions could be prevented. With the system we have currently, the only way a “new” pharmacy (i.e., one a patient has never been to before) has of knowing if a patient is allergic to a medicine or if the prescription they bring in may interact with another medication they are taking, is what the patient tells them. Some patients are taking a lot of medications—for instance, some of the patients for my PPE team are taking at least twenty medications. Thus, it is definitely likely a patient may forget to mention a drug they are taking, which could lead to a potential for drug interactions. With an EHR that was updated each time a new medication was started, all the pharmacy would have to do would be to look up this information, and then determine if it had any bearing on the patient’s newly prescribed medication. This would not only increase patient safety, but also reduce pharmacists’ liability due to preventable drug interactions.
In the age we live in today, in which technology is advancing and an increasing number of people are familiar with how to use it, I believe EHRs are very feasible. This advance in technology (as well as in knowledge of how to use it) enables implementation of an EHR system. The major limitation to such a system is protection/safety of this private information; even with all the ways we have developed to combat access to restricted information, there are likely still people who would be able to “hack” the system and gain access to these records. Therefore, those developing such a system need to make sure they have put as many barriers in place as possible to prevent this, and should have a plan in place for what they would do if the system does get violated. Thus, it will likely take more time until EHRs can be successfully implemented. However, I very much hope that it does become a reality. I do have reservations about protecting the information, but overall believe the benefits of such a system outweigh the negatives. EHRs will save time for both patients and healthcare providers, reduce the liability of healthcare providers, and increase patient safety.
The Electronic Heath Record
I truly believe that there is nothing more important to the future of health care than the implementation of an Electronic Health Record (EHR). Many people may already be familiar with this but an EHR holds all of an individual’s health information and can be managed from more than just one location by authorized health professionals. An EHR is a subtype of the Electronic Medical Record (EMR). An EMR is an electronic version of the patient health record at a single institution and cannot be shared across institutions, whereas an EHR can be viewed across all the patient’s health institutions from any location. Obviously, in order for EHRs to work they must be interoperable from one institution to another. Therefore, these must have nationally recognized standards of language, diagnosis, formats, etc. Given the huge amount and gravity of the information that will be exchanged, it is essential that it flows smoothly.
I think the biggest motivator for implementing an EHR is the need to reduce the cost of health care. There would be an initial cost to implementing this system but over the long-term I think it could save the health care system billions. By implementing an electronic system we could cut down on the cost of using paper. It would also save health care workers a lot of time. Think of how much time is spent in the community pharmacy setting calling back physicians to verify a prescription or how much doctors have to call each other to verify information. In the health care industry time is money. This system would decrease errors caused by miscommunication between doctors and other health professionals which could translate into saving money that would be spent on correcting these errors.
If the pharmacist had a health record of a patient it would allow them to make a better decision regarding their therapy. They would be more informed and less apt to make a mistake. There have been numerous times when I have worked in a community pharmacy that I wish that I had a profile of all the patient’s medical conditions and allergies. Many times a patient may not remember all of their drug allergies or know why they are taking a certain medication when they come up to the counter. I think that by having a centralized electronic record of each patient that it would greatly benefit the pharmacist. It could potentially decrease the amount of errors and would decrease the amount of time the pharmacist spends on the phone with the physician verifying if the information is correct.
From a patient perspective, an EHR would improve their care and decrease the time spent on a patient history. Personally, I get tired of having to repeat the same information every time I go visit a new doctor. I also know there have been times when I have forgotten to tell them some pertinent information. As a patient, it is difficult to go back years later and recall specifically every surgery, every medication, every condition, and the outcomes of all these things. An EHR would help eliminate some of this headache.
There are some limitations and hurdles to overcome to implement an EHR. In my opinion, the biggest limitation is the risk of a patient’s privacy being breached. Personal health information can be a very sensitive topic and most people are hesitant about sharing this to just anyone. Just the thought of all that private information being managed in one system or one record is kind of scary, especially knowing that people can hack into almost anything these days. However, I believe that as we prove that this information can be kept safe and secure people will grow to the idea of an EHR.
I think the implementation of an electronic health record would drastically change and improve the practice of medicine. As of now, there is no way to link any part of a patient’s medical history. A patient’s medical history consists of hundreds of sheets of documentation that are scattered throughout different hospitals, doctor’s offices, pharmacies, and health settings which could even be in several different states. Several organizations have started applying the use of electronic medical records. I believe that EMRs at an organizational level are the first steps towards the creation of an EHR. While an EMR is very helpful, it is only beneficial if a patient sees the same doctor or is seen by the same organization that owns that EMR. I think in order to optimize health care and get the most out of medical records, an EHR will have to be created that allows any healthcare provider to obtain a comprehensive medical history of a patient.
Having an EHR would surely impact pharmacy practice. An EHR would allow pharmacists to work in a much more efficient manner. As of now, pharmacists have no idea what other medications a patient is on or what disease states they have unless the patient has always gotten all of their prescriptions from the same pharmacy. An EHR would allow the pharmacist to access all of the patient’s medications to ensure that they are getting adequate care and that nothing they are on is interacting with one another. It would also allow the pharmacist to ensure patients are getting the most efficacious therapy. It would help pharmacists to catch any problems in drug therapy that could lead to adverse events. Medication Pathfinder, the EMR that HSOP uses now, is a tremendous help to student pharmacists. It allows us to effectively evaluate patients. It allows entering P1s to access a patient’s records and understand previous treatment prior to their interactions with the patient.
Ultimately, an EHR would significantly improve patient’s medical care and eventually improve their outcomes and quality of life. Yes, an EHR would be a tremendous help to health care providers, but in the end patients would be the ones who benefited the most. By having an EHR, patients would be able to go to any health care provider, and the health care provider would be able to access their full medical history. This would allow the provider to more effectively treat the patient. Therefore, the patient would get the most out of their medical care. Adverse outcomes could be prevented. It could also save the patient from having to fill out the same forms over and over at every doctor’s visit.
There are factors that would hinder the initiation of an EHR. One such limitation would be the fear of patient privacy. This is a very valid fear and problem to consider with the development of an EHR. As we talked about in class, there are insurance and safety nets with the possible hacking of a person’s bank account. However, with personal private health information, there is no way to recover information that is leaked. Once private health information is made public, there is no way to restore this information. When an EHR is developed, there will have to be a way to ensure that there is no possible way for private information to be disclosed without the patient’s permission.
Even though there are limitations to EHR implementation, there are also factors that support its development and usage. We live in an age that is driven by technology. We have come to communicate and find almost all of our information through electronic means. An EHR makes sense to use at this time because it would conform to our technological society. It would make patient care much more effective and would make it easier on health care providers to work with an electronic system. An electronic health record would easily be accepted as an efficient way for medical records to be obtained and would lead to maximal practice and implementation by all.
Electronic Health Record will equip health care providers with an advantage not available before in treating patients. It is a tool that grants access to all information relevant in effectively and efficiently caring for a patient. After it is implemented it will lower health care cost by decreasing medication errors, decreasing the amount of redundant labs and tests run, and improve outcomes.
Electronic Health Record will make a pharmacist’s job a little easier, along with all other health care providers. Having access to all of the patient’s history including allergies and reactions to previous medications taken, harmful drug adverse reactions can be avoided. Pharmacists can also view past and present therapy for a patient; this is helpful in many ways. They can observe therapies tried by the patient to control a disease and from there make a better judgment on what should be used next, not repeating a class that proved ineffective. Also, being able to monitor all medications a patient is taking they can ensure one is not decreasing the effectiveness of another, or possibly causing more harm than good, and that they are not taking more than one medication for the same problem outside of guidelines. This would also prevent narcotic abusers from being able to see multiple physicians and fill at multiple pharmacies. Pharmacists will be able to monitor a patient’s adherence to their therapy and intervene if an issue arises. Overall, this enables the pharmacist with the tools needed to optimize pharmaceutical care by ensuring patients receive medications that are safe, most effective for them individually and that they are on regimens that provide the most benefit.
Personally, as a patient, I think this is great! Each time you visit a new doctor you fill out paperwork, it is often the same type of questions you answered a year ago when you had to go to Urgent Care and the same type of questions you answered five years ago before you moved, and now you’re answering them again, but you cannot remember all the dates of your surgeries, you are not sure if your grandfather had cancer because he passed away when you were young, you cannot answer any of the questions about your father because you hardly know him and mom is not picking up the phone to help you. Well this is often my experience. A Personal Health Record would save me, and the doctor’s office, time and I would feel more confident about being treated because I have provided all of my medical history and it is accurate. With the amount of technology we have today, there should be an app for that. If I could download the software onto my phone and update it when I go back home and see my mom, grandparents and pay my absent father a visit I could get answers to those questions and permanently have them stored. I am sure I am not the only person that cannot remember everything when I visit the doctor. If patients only had to keep up with one system and they could update it at their leisure with both past and present issues this would be an easier and a more complete file than what is currently collected. Providing the health care team with complete, accurate, and detailed information will help them make more knowledgeable decisions so each patient receives the unique therapy they need. Also, the earlier a patient has access to this software the better, if I could enter all my info now and keep it updated throughout my life, if one day I am a elderly person in the nursing home with amnesia the health care staff will be able to take better care of me with access to all of my information.
A few challenges Electronic Health Record faces is cost and the time it takes to install, convert to, and implement this new system. But as more hospitals, doctor’s offices, pharmacies and patients utilize it the more cost effective it will become. It will lower overall health cost by decreasing medication errors, improve earlier diagnosis, reduce redundant tests and labs, improve workflow and efficiency of doctor visits. Currently ARRA authorizes the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to provide incentives to those physicians and hospitals that adopt the Electronic Health Record and prove “meaningful use”. Adoption should be considered as early as possible because the incentives are front loaded, they are given incentives the first few years but after the cutoff point there are penalties.
Electronic Health Records
I believe the idea of EHR will only help build our current health care system. The concept as you may already know is that each individual has an electronic record of health related information that is nationally recognized and can be utilized by clinicians and staff. To me this would be great for any health care professional who sees multiple patients each day. The doctor will have more information about the patient and has it recorded so that he can make appropriate medication choices which in the long run allows for pharmacist to focus more on consulting with the patients about their medication. As a pharmacist, if we had the ability to use a patients EHR, it would allow for us to know more about their disease states and medical history so that we also could give a hundred percent of our efforts into providing the best help possible. We could see what medications were tried in the past, allowing us to choose a medication that would prevent future resistance. Or we could be able to share more drug and disease state information to our patients that maybe the doctor didn’t have time to share. I believe this tool would have a huge impact on a pharmacists role in helping patients with their current medications. Most of the time, the patients may not even know what their current problem is. The EHR gives the pharmacist insight into everything that the doctor knows as well.
Some might ask how else this electronic health record help, for instance how would it effect the patients. When I think of all my customers that visit the pharmacy I immediately think of how close to none of them actually know what medications they are on. They completely trust pharmacists and doctors to know which drugs they are on and actually need. EHRs should allow the patients to feel more relaxed and more trusting about what medications they are taking and that both the doctor and pharmacists are on the same page. There could be a down side to some patients, seeing as how some people may not want their personal information shared between pharmacists, doctors and all the technicians or assistances. But for the majority of patients the benefits our weigh the risks and should help on the patients portion of the health care system.
When reading the positive aspects mentioned above, it easy to imagine how all this can help save money for patients, doctors, pharmacists, and help the American economy. Yes one limitation might be that every doctors office and pharmacy and hospital will have to get the technology implemented into their practice. However, the amount of medication errors that will be decreased, the decrease in wrong drug regimen, and the improved overall patient care will be unbelievable. With every decision made for our country and for each individual patient we have to weigh the pros and the cons, and to me the pros are doubled compared to the cons. Besides better patient care, saving money for each party involved is by far the biggest reason this should be implemented into the current health care.
Electronic Health Record (EHR)
Having an electronic health record that can be accessed by any provider in the United States would be ideal. I feel that although we have the technology and capability, a truly nationwide acceptance of this system seems farfetched in the next few years. Although the EHR is forecasted to save the government money in the long run, there are more pertinent issues at hand to be addressed. I have had experience with an EMR at a local hospital. I found it very convenient to be able to access patient information from a hospital-physician network system when evaluating patients and their drug therapy. If the patients used an in network provider we had access to years of laboratory values, medications and patient history. This proved very beneficial in providing efficient pharmaceutical care when rounding with the physicians. Bringing this type of access to information into every pharmacy, especially in the community, would greatly impact patient care. Most community pharmacists are working with limited information about their patients’ medical history and disease states. Increased access to patient information will give pharmacists an opportunity to evaluate drug therapy based on diagnosis and laboratory values rather than just by a prescription and verbal information from the patient. I think that having an EHR will greatly benefit the patient as well. I find it very frustrating to tell my medical history to every new doctor I see. This would allow the patient to feel content about the decisions his/her health care providers are making. Most patients see more than one provider for medical care. The EHR will help the patient to transition between physicians without leaving out important information. EHR will also improve relationships between healthcare providers. I feel like there will be more collaboration between physicians and pharmacists for continuity of patient care. There are many limitations to creating a nationwide EHR including: cost, privacy/security and getting everyone on board. There may also be resistance from patients in of fear disclosure of sensitive medical information. I feel that it will take many years to perfect this system. There are also monetary incentives from CMS to adopt the EHR early on. Most providers should choose to implement the EHR to reap some of the benefits before it becomes a requirement. I feel like the government should develop the software required for an EHR rather than a dozen independent companies. The government or specific agency can monitor the privacy/security issues that the people will be concerned with. There will need to be a primary party responsible for each EHR such as a primary care provider. The EHR can then be added to by other providers and amended by the patient. I think the patient should also have access to his/her medical records at all times. From personal experience, it can be very difficult to obtain your own medical records without monetary fees, days of waiting and hassle. I was appalled when my primary care physician’s office asked for a $50 annual fee for things like copies and refill requests. If I had an EHR I would not be subjected to such nonsense. Ultimately, I do not know what would make a perfect EHR, but I am glad the government is behind progressing towards this idea.
I’d like to suggest EMR Software Pro be added to the list of resources. The site helps you compare EMR software systems and EMR vendors. Lots of articles about EHR options for Clinics and Hospitals that want to meet meaningful use.
Best Software Downloads and Reviews. the most comprehensive source for free-to-trysoftware downloads on the WebBEST 4 DOWNLOADS
1. EHR Adoption
http://www.centerforhit.org/online/chit/home/ehr-adoption.html
AAFP Center for Health Information Technology
Purpose: This website was founded by the American Academy of Family Physicians to relay information about health information technology. The guiding principles of the group are affordability, compatibility, interoperability, and data stewardship.
Value: This site offers resources for EHR adoption, including preparation, selection, implementation, and maintenance.
2. CHIME Offers Input on Electronic Health Record Certification Plans
http://www.ihealthbeat.org/articles/2010/5/3/chime-offers-input-on-electronic-health-record-certification-plans.aspx
iHealthBeat: Reporting Technology’s Impact on Health Care
Purpose: iHealthBeat is a free, daily news digest that posts the latest information about technology’s impact on health care.
Value: The College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME) gave their feedback about the certification for EHR. In this article CHIME gives their opinion about what should be changed in EHR certification.
3. Groups Back Proposed Electronic Health Record Definition
http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20100316_5115.php?oref=search
Nextgov: Technology and the Business of Government
Purpose: This site is a spin-off of GovernmentExecutive.com and provides coverage and commentary on the management of information technology in the federal government.
Value: This article mentions how the Obama administration affects EHR and what certain groups think about it.
4. Supporting Progress Toward an EHR
http://www.ahima.org/e-him/progress.asp
American Health Information Management Association
Purpose: AHiMA is a group that manages health information technology in the US. Here the latest information is provided about the EHR.
Value: This site offers information about what is currently being done about the EHR and what needs to be done to further progress its acceptance.
5. Kaiser Permanente Completes Electronic Health Record Implementation
http://xnet.kp.org/newscenter/pressreleases/nat/2010/030310ehrcomplete.html
Kaiser Permanente
Purpose: This site is about a group that currently uses the EHR and provides information about the effects they have seen with its use.
Value: This article cites detail about how KP implemented the EHR and the advantages or disadvantages that have been noticed.
-Allscripts Solutions: Electronic Health Record
-http://www.allscripts.com/products/electronic-health-record/default.asp
-This is a great website that offers EHR Solutions for many different sizes and types of medical businesses that provide patient care. They have demos for the different solutions they offer so you can see how they would work for you. They also have a mobile remote component so that they work with PDA’s and Smartphones. They have easily accessible customer service through their website and as a plus, they are CCHIT certified.
-athenaClinicals: the low-investment, high return electronic health record (EHR) solution
http://www.athenahealth.com/cmp/clinicalsppc/index.php?bmtn=10003289&CMP=10003289&HBX_PK=electronic+health+record&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=electronic%20health%20record&utm_campaign=Clinical%20Driver%20Terms
-This is an electronic health record solution that is web-based, so there is no software or hardware to be downloaded or purchased for use of the program. It allows global access since it is web-based. This solution is also CCHIT certified. They also offer a demo, so you can see how the system looks and works to see if you think it could work for you. The website is very simple to view and use, but maybe a little too simple. To get more information, you have to fill out a form and wait for them to send it to you. They also offer enhanced e-prescibing with their solution.
-National Institutes of Health National Center for Research Resources: Electronic Health Records Overview
-www.ncrr.nih.gov/publications/informatics/EHR.pdf
-This report covers everything you would ever want to know about EHRs. It would be highly informative for any health professional or member of the general public. It defines what EHRs are, how they work, what they can do for your practice and your patients, and even has a debate section to help decide if you should buy an EHR solution or build up your own. It defines all the components that make up EHRs and even looks forward by discussing past, current, and future trends in EHRs. This would be a good document to read before looking at the individual websites for EHR solutions offered by businesses.
-Electronic Medical Records vs.Electronic Health Records: Yes, There is a Difference
-www.himssanalytics.org/docs/wp_emr_ehr.pdf
-This is a wonderful document to read if you don’t know what an EMR or an EHR is, and if you don’t know the difference between the two. It also describes the different stages of implementing EMRs within your practice, so that you can move towards participating in EHRs. It has very good charts and pictures to explain everything, such as what all is included in the EMR. This document also gives data on how many hospitals/etc. are in each stage of using EMRs and the different types of institutions also, such as their size, whether or not they are academic, and whether or not they’re general medical. It emphasizes the importance of having EMRs established before we can successfully move on to EHRs.
-MedicsDocAssistant Electronic Health Records by Advanced Data Systems Corporation
-http://www.adsc.com/ehr_docassistant.asp
-This website is another that offers an EHR product for purchase by institutions to use. However, it also claims that it is an EMR as well. The webpage is easily navigable to see the different services that this product offers. It has snapshots of how it looks on the computer screen so that you can see how it is formatted and operates. To receive more information about this product, you must call a number. This product is also CCHIT certified. There is also a handy link to FAQs and answers about the ARRA of 2009.
1) National Institutes of Health, http://www.ncrr.nih.gov/publications/informatics/EHR.pdf
The National Institutes of Health is a government organization charged with the task of bringing health research together with health practices. It also monitors as any government agency does. The website provides a PDF report that was done by the agency that defines and outlines the EHR system and even delves into the business aspect of the whole venture. The website provides a fairly concise but thorough overview of what the EHR system is, where it came from, and what it could mean for businesses, practitioners and patients. It is a handy and easily printed source of information.
2) Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, http://www.cms.gov/ehealthrecords/
This site is a subsite of the US department of health and human services. It provides general info on EHR’s and their impact on the Medicare and Medicaid programs. It is basically a copy and paste job of the NIH report, but there are some links that can get you to info that has a national impact on implementing EHR in the two health programs. The information is not very specific though and is only useful as a generalization tool. But what government website is otherwise.
3) HIMSS, http://www.himss.org/ASP/topics_ehr.asp
The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society is a healthcare organization that is dedicated to its namesake…research and development of healthcare information and healthcare management systems. The members of the organization are mainly healthcare workers and vendors so the point of view is more practical and business oriented rather than governmental regulations, although, you can read about those too. The site provides general information about EHR’s and promotes the widespread implementation of the systems. The most useable and unique feature of this site is the link to case studies and success stories relating to EHR implementation. There is also current news and information available for the world of Health IT
4) EHR Safety Institute, http://www.ehrsafety.org/
This website was started by a group of physicians and clinicians. The purpose is to identify safety and security issues for both patients and providers inherent in EHR systems and attempt to find solutions to those issues. The website includes a list of their staff and advisors and also includes a detailed mission statement that helps define their point of view/origin.
I feel this website is helpful in a few ways. First and foremost it demonstrates some of the pitfalls associated with widespread EHR adoption in the early phases. All anyone ever hears about is how wonderful and utopic EHR’s will make everything, this website gets you thinking proactively about safety issues that come along with the technology. Other than that it seems to be a marketing tool for an EHR consulting firm.
5) Indian Health Service, http://www.ihs.gov/CIO/EHR/
This is a subsite of the Indian Health Service that is tax funded and dedicated to bringing medical services to native American and Alaskan Indians. The website provides detailed information on the HIS’s own EHR system branded RPMS. Everything you wish to know as a practitioner involved with HIS can be found here from definitions to training to implementation forms and applications. This website is gives the same overview info as most others but its value to us lies in that it shows you a little more of the implementation process the government uses, because that is who is going to be watching us from now on.
1. athenahealth
http://www.athenahealth.com/
athenahealth is a company that sells a variety of software services designed to help physicians run their businesses more efficiently and effectively. The purpose of their site is to promote their business and highlight their services. One of the services they offer is a web-based EHR program called athenaClinicals.
Value: It is a very professional looking site, easy to navigate, and does a convincing job of explaining the benefits of implementing EHR. There is also a software demo available on the site. There is a blog that is updated by various members of the company, including the CEO, as well as links to several “recommended reading” health care related blogs. I think this would be a very beneficial site for someone looking to implement or learn more about EHR.
2. Ingenix
http://www.ingenix.com/ehr/ehrhome/
This site is another company, called Ingenix, providing EHR services. The site allows potential buyers to learn about the federal stimulus program, “compare EHRs”, see a demo of the services, and review the costs versus potential savings.
Value: Judging by the website, this seems to be a much larger company than the last and the site feels much less personal. While athenahealth mentioned “stimulus dollars guaranteed”, this site has a much larger focus on the federal stimulus program, discussing deadlines, payouts, and other details of the program, which would be very helpful to someone looking to learn more about the program. The page that lets you “compare EHRs” only compares their service, CareTracker, to “traditional EHRs”, and I can’t help but feel it’s a little misleading. The first ‘non-traditional’ benefit they boast of is “web-based” and I already mentioned that athenahealth is also web-based. This site is very nicely designed and clearly a lot of time and money went into its creation.
3. A Resource On EMR
http://emrresource.com
This site is a blog run by McKesson that serves a resource to help practitioners and hospitals get the most out of their EMR.
Value: The site provides related articles and case studies all pertaining to EMR. Visitors are able to comment on blog posts and view the comments of others. Widgets are shown below each post to allow users to share the blog with others through various outlets. A ‘hotline’ is provided for users to contact someone from McKesson in regards to questions about EMR and the Federal Stimulus program. The site is pretty basic but it provides a lot of good information.
4. EMR and HIPAA
http://www.emrandhippa.com/
This site is a blog that, in its own words, is “an open forum for EMR, EHR, HIT, HIPPA related information.” The author blogs about a variety of issues dealing with EMR and related topics. It tells us nothing (that I could find) about who the author is or his intentions. Visitors can comment on the posts and view the comments of others.
Value: I’m sure there is a lot of good information found in this blog but I found the site to be rather difficult to navigate. Advertisements take up nearly as much space on the page as the actual content does, which makes the site rather annoying, in my opinion. There are links along the side of categories, to allow users to search among the blog posts to read about a particular topic. That feature would be wonderful, except for the fact that it’s hidden among all the advertisements (many of which are in the exact same font). Overall I feel like this website may have value. But who wants to waste their time trying to find it?
5. Dr. Griever’s EMR
http://drgriever.blogspot.com/
This site is a blog written by a family physician in Canada. It is a ‘diary’ of her experiences since she first decided to implement EMR in her practice in 2006.
Value: This blog is the polar opposite of the last one I described above. This site is clean and professional looking, with no advertisements and extremely easy to navigate. I think this blog would be an interesting read and probably quite helpful to another physician who is currently in the process of implementing EMR in their own practice. There are also some links to related articles and sites.
Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_health_record
This website is a broad-spectrum search engine for volumes of knowledge regarding limitless fields of interest, one of them being EHR. The value of this site is that it seamlessly allows students, teachers and novices alike to all be able to find useful information free of charge, with an emphasis on providing a readable, easily understood description of the service and how it influences the health care field. Wikipedia is used by millions of people all over world to provide its users with a better than average description of their topic. This site is not intended to be an exhaustive source for the desired topic, but it does provide quick, somewhat reliable and easily accessible for those seeking to further their knowledge of a certain subject.
Health Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS)
http://www.himss.org/ASP/topics_ehr.asp
This site seems to be dedicated to the advancement of thought and implementation of new techniques in the medical field. It claims to better the health care field by being a leader at providing the best use of information technology. This site is useful because it describes why HIMSS has been exceedingly beneficial and how it has helped to improve the overall field of medicine. It also has use because it has a “FAQs about HIMSS” link to lay out the demographic data regarding societal history, the Board of Directors and differences this group has made in medical advances.
Practice Fusion
http://www.ehrbloggers.com/2010/02/should-fda-regulate-ehr-safety.html
The purpose of this site is to provide a location for physicians to discuss the benefits of EHR as it pertains to their health care practice. Within the Practice Fusion website, the link “EHR Bloggers” is just one of the headings for a site whose purpose is to allow the repeated discussion of popular healthcare “IT topics”. This site has a great deal of value because the physicians that drop by to discuss in this forum are the same that are influential decision makers in the future of health care practices. Sites like these allow health care providers to come voice their opinions and bounce ideas off of each other that may lead to advancements in their field of practice. By voicing their opinions on sites like these, organizations such as the FDA are forced to step in and monitor EHR to see if it is making a distinct difference and whether it is worth stricter regulation and advancement.
Emrexperts
http://www.emrexperts.com/
EMR Experts is a website that was developed in order to supply unbiased reports discussing various EMR software programs that are available to professionals needing assistance in making a decision on the EMR software best suited for his/her practice. The site visitor can look up information about EMR software that is specific for a variety of specialized areas of medicine. Various articles and quick links can be found on the left side of website that aim to promote the benefits of EMR for anyone who is considering making the transition to electronic medical records. The clear value of this website is to better inform the public about EMR in order to help in the decision making process of choosing a software program best suited for a particular practice. This company also insures assistance in other areas that may be time consuming for their clients such as hardware selection and hardware installation. EMR Experts promotes EMR by giving potential clients assurance that they can save time and money by utilizing both the site’s resources as well as the company’s installation services.
HealthTechnologyReview.com
http://www.healthtechnologyreview.com/
HealthTechnologyReview.com was created to supply resources regarding health information technology in order to better inform the site visitor on this topic. Information on medical devices, job opportunities in the healthcare profession, as well as computer technology can be found on this website. Various software reviews are available for those professionals who are trying to make an informed decision about the software program best suited for their practice. There is also a list of websites related to EMR and EHR that is given in order to supply additional resources regarding the benefits of the utilization of electronic health records in the medical field. The obvious value of this website is that EMR/EHR information is consolidated to one site in order to save potential client’s time wasted searching for various resources as well as to inform those interested in incorporating electronic medical records into their practice.
Website 1: Advanced MD
URL: http://www.advancedmd.com/products-solutions/emr-ehr/
Description: Advanced MD provides software that allows physicians to have a web-based EHR. They describe it as a ‘comprehensive and integrated web-based solution for clinical and financial management, designed for independent practices.’ Their software contains ability to gain mobile access to patient data, the ability to communication with patients online, e-prescribing capabilities, “health watcher” automated alerts, ability to get test results and orders wirelessly, and many more.
Site’s value: This site would be valuable to physicians interested in EHR. It provides more than enough information and explanations about their product. They claim they will even walk the physician through the set up and provide demos teaching them how to get the most out of the software.
Website 2: Wikipedia
URL: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_health_record
Site’s Description: This article basically describes an EHR. They touch topics such as advantages and disadvantages, privacy concerns, standards, costs and implementations, and even describe what is being done in other countries (England, Australia, and Canada) regarding EHR.
Site’s Value: This site has some value to people who want just basic and general information regarding EHR. Since it is a “wiki” site it should not be used for health care professionals. Overall, if someone just wanted general information about EHR’s they could find it here.
Website 3: eClinicalWorks
URL: http://www.eclinicalworks.com/eclinicalworks8/features.html
Site’s Description: This website also provides clinical software for physicians (eClinicalWorks8.0). They provide an EMR much like the first website I described. Their software contains CDSS, order capabilities, ePrescribing, and progress notes that can be given to the patient in SOAP format.
Site’s Value: This site is helpful to physicians looking to purchase EHR software. Unlike my first website discussed, there website is not as appealing to the eye nor is it very easy to find what you are looking for. They are very vague on the information they give about their software. In addition, the home page (eclinicalworks.com/index.php) is very busy and has many distractions on the sides of the page. The only thing that I really found helpful is they provided snapshots of the actual software while it was being used, however, if I was a physician I would much rather prefer the first website described above.
Website 4: iPractice
URL: https://www.ipractice.com/wps/portal/EMR?WCM_GLOBAL_CONTEXT=/iPractice+wcm+library/iPracticePortal/Tools/EMRInvestment&WT.mc_id=EM00075&WT.srch=1
Site’s Description: This particular link provides insight for a return on EMR investment. It compares purchase and implementation costs to potential savings. Purchase and implementation costs include software system (including licenses), hardware needed, estimated annual costs, implementation costs, and other temporary costs. Potential saving include annual costs of supplies (paper charts and storage), annual cost of medical records staff, and three others. They provide slots to insert your estimated amount into the positions and then it calculates the potential return. It does mention that the calculation is for financial assessment demonstrations only.
Site’s Value: This site is for health care professionals only and you must register and have a username and password, however, anyone is able to use this calculator to see what their return on investment might be purchasing EMR software. In my opinion this is somewhat useful but, it does not look at the positives and negatives regarding patient care. It also doesn’t add in the idea that you could get back more on your investment by purchasing the software, being more prepared and organized, therefore, possibly increasing the number of patients seen a day or in the physicians practice. In all, I don’t think this is very valuable.
Website 5: buzzle.com
URL: http://www.buzzle.com/editorials/7-14-2005-73154.asp
Site’s Description: This is an article that describes 10 benefits of an EMR. The ‘10 benefits’ listed are speed, storage, security, support, accessibility, affordability, infrastructure, versatility, efficiency, and manageability.
Site’s Value: This article can be used for both someone trying to find out more information about EMR’s and are weighing their options and it also can be used for physicians. The 10 benefits I found are well described and accurate (from what I learned in management). At the end of the article the author, Joe Miller (an author of informational articles and online advertisements), gives a word of advice to the reader mentioning that there are many results found on a search engine when EMR is searched. He added to use this information to find the right software for the reader. However, after reading the article one can find a plug for AdvancedMD.com where it says that EMR information is available at that site. I feel that he somewhat contradicts himself after noticing that plug. Although, this is mentioned I still feel like this article is valuable to the reader.
In visiting Clinic Tools at https://www.clinictools.org I found that they offer EMR services for mental health services, physician’s offices, or home health care. If one were to be in the market for an EMR I would recommend this site. They offer training on how to use the site, and also convenience of having all your health related records in one place. They also offer online payments for all services rendered no matter where they were performed.
Allscripts (http://www.allscripts.com/products/electronic-health-record) offers EMR for physicians of all different practices, big or small, narrow or wide. They have their focus on physicians and how to make their lives easier. It seems like a trusted site. They say they are CCHIT certified and have plenty of experience. The site is very easy to navigate depending on what type of practice the physician is in. If I were a physician I would find this site very helpful. The overall tone of the site is also inviting. It appears knowledgeable but not boastful .
At e-Clinical works (http://www.easemd.com/patients) EMR are also offered. They also are CCHIT certified and offer training on how to use the site. They also seem to offer more ideas for physicians to increase valuable time with the patient. This includes having a form that patients fill out like a scantron. This information is scanned and uploaded so subjective information doesn’t have to be received by the physician it is already loaded. They also offer lots of other higher technological amenities that will increase processing time of patient and physician as well. They have added things that make life easier for the doctor as well. As long as they have cellular service they can have access to the patients chart through their eclincal mobile appliacation. This site by far has been the most user friendly and most informative of the EMR sites I have been too.
When I went to gloStream at http://www.glostream.com/ I was a little disappointed compared to some of the other sites I have visited. They offer EMR services sponsored by Microsoft. It was not as user friendly as other sites. It also seemed as if they were trying to sell Microsoft products and services more than the EMR as compared to other sites. They offer similar services as other sites and are CCHIT certified. I did not find this site to as friendly to physicians or patients who might be interested. When I was reading throughout the page Microsoft was mentioned more than health related services or even physicians or even the EMR. I got the impression it was just a sales add for Microsoft. I did not find this site to be as helpful as others.
NextGen healthcare information systems at http://www.nextgen.com/ is an extremely user friendly site. It focuses on physicians and patients and doesn’t appear to be selling me anything. They offer EMR services to online clinical and managerial products as well. They even offer a place where physicians can communicate with patients online. I think the services they offer are useful for physicians. Although I found this site to be user friendly and has a lot to offer I felt that other sites had a more “caring attitude” than this one. I did not feel it was trying to sell me something but it lacked a personal trait that I think patients would relate to.
1. Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS)
http://www.himss.org/ASP/topics_ehr.asp
The purpose of this site is to provide global leadership for the optimal use of information technology and management systems for the betterment of healthcare to health care stakeholders.
The value to site visitor is to get valuable resources regarding Electronic Health Records. The visitor obtains education about public healthcare policy and industry practices, and there are lots of opportunities for professional development. You will also be able to find resources to best use IT and management systems for the betterment of healthcare.
2. Advanced Data Systems Corporation(ADS)
http://www.adsc.com/ehr_docassistant.asp
site purpose: To provide Electronic Health Records, Practice Management and Radiology Information Systems software solutions to physicians and healthcare providers in every medical specialty and practice size.
The value to site visitor is to find all the software necessary to implement electronic health records system that is highly efficient and is HIPAA compliant. The site is easy to navigate and the corporation installs and configures each new system to your needs and offers you onsite training at your location.
3. Open Clinical
http://www.openclinical.org/home.html
This site is supposed to be a aid in learning about and tracking developments on advanced knowledge management technologies for healthcare.
This site is beneficial to the visitor in that it offers a lot of resources regarding Electronic Medical Records. It also provides information on the clinical, technical and political context to the field of computer-based clinical knowledge management and decision support.
4. Sequel systems Healthcare Solutions
http://www.sequelmed.com/Products/electronic_medical_records.aspx
This site sells Electronic Medical Records and offers training services on the same. This site would benefit the visitor by offering software products and training services. It is also easy to navigate and find desired information.
5. Software Advice
http://www.softwareadvice.com/medical/electronic-medical-record-software-comparison/?wfvar=wfctrl
This site offers free advice to buyers of medical software. This site would benefit the visitor by giving advice on the benefits and disadvantages of specific software offered by different companies and their ability to meet your Electronic Health/Medical Records software needs. It has an easy to follow solutions narrowed to your desired needs.
1. Health Information and Management Systems Society(HIMSS)
http://www.himss.org/ASP/topics_ehr.asp
The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) is a healthcare-stakeholder membership organization that includes an array of leaders throughout the healthcare system. The primary goal of HIMSS is to improve health information technology and management systems and encourage health care professionals to make effective use of the available technology.
I feel that this is a good website and is useful regarding the importance of health information technology and basic explanations such as electronic health record (EHR) or healthcare reform. However, I feel limited on the amount of information I can obtain because of the membership factor. The website does offer web seminars which are a great educational tool, but the viewer would have to be a member in order to participate.
2. American Psychiatric Association (APA)
http://www.psych.org/default.aspx
The American Psychiatric Association (APA) is a membership directed website. The primary focus is advocacy of patients, but moreover entails scientific findings and links that pertain to this particular field of practice.
This is not a website I would seek out to find information concerning a specific topic such as electronic health records (EHR). When given an option to view information on this subject it automatically brought up the login screen. Although it is membership oriented, it did give various sources and links to go to concerning the subject matter. I do not feel this is a useful site for non-members.
3. e-MDs Solution Series
http://www.e-mds.com/
E-MDs Solution Series is comprised of on-staff professionals such as physicians, nurses, pharmacists, etc. that provides technology/software and services that are tailored to the specific needs of medical practices. This company strives to improve patient care, save time, and increase practice revenue by developing the highest quality software solutions for existing and future clientele.
This is an excellent website that explains what their purpose is , but also goes into detail about EHR/EMRs and allows viewer to understand the importance of existing problems within the healthcare system pertaining to technology and how this company can assist in alleviating some of the hassles by the software and services they provide. E-MDs site offers testimonials, face book, twitter, and EHR discussions. I feel that this site is successful with their positioning strategy from the color scheme to all the information it provides to the user.
4. Sage
http://www.sagehealth.com/Pages/default.aspx
Sage is a software company that engages in providing tools to medical practices in numerous areas of interest such as electronic health records (EHR), practice management, community health, and radiology. The company focuses on implementing the goals of its business partners and provides opportunities which allow medical practices to have interaction with company representatives to help motivate and strengthen their clinical business.
I feel that this is a great website that offers a vast amount of information concerning health care and not just information about their company. They offer face book, twitter, you tube, and LinkedIn. One thing that does stand out is that they offer a demo video of how their software is utilized which is a great way to promote their EHR/EMR product. The site is a bit “busy” but overall I think it is educational.
5. Allscripts
http://www.allscripts.com/products/electronic-health-record/default.asp
Allscripts is a computer software company that provides services nationwide to physicians, hospitals, and other providers to deliver effective and easy-to-use solutions in everyday practice. The mission of this company is to grant physicians the technology needed to improve the focus and health of their patients.
This website was helpful, but not as useful and easy as compared to other websites. It took clicking on more tabs to get to the information I wanted to get to. I am sure this is a great site, but it is not appealing which personally deterred me from wanting to continue my search. The colors and format are boring and not eye catching.
1. Electronic Medical Records: Real Life Physician Experiences
http://www.electronicmedicalrecords-emr.com/
It provides a blog for EMR topics and discussion about other healthcare related subjects. It offers full screen shots of an EMR so you can evaluate the software for yourself. It also offers a host of information for the consumer, such as estimated cost savings and links to articles about various EMR topics. This site seems to be very convenient for physicians looking into purchasing an EMR. It is clearly the opinion of one person, but I believe other’s opinions are extremely important when buying software. It allows one to branch off from this site for further exploration of the subject matter.
2. Everything for EMR/HER Selection and Advice
http://www.myemrchoice.com/
This site provides a glossary of terms related to EMRs for those who are new to this concept. It also gives a list of links to other sites for more research. For those who are interested in more information, a survey is on the home page. After completion, an IT specialist will call you and discuss EMR options based upon your responses. The blog is very informative in that it discusses up-and-coming technology that can be used with EMRs. It also provides helpful consumer information such as what features and components an EMR should have for highest efficiency. This site is valuable to consumers in that it allows one to talk to representatives for answers to question that are not answered directly on the site or on any other sites. The advantage of this site is the option of talking to a live representative. More benefit can be gained this way.
3. RevenueXL: EMR & EHR Blog for Physicians
http://www.revenuexl.com/blog/
This site is a blog that discusses the importance of EMRs and why research and adoption needs to begin now. It explains that it takes time to find the best EMR for each practice and this is why ample research is important. It includes links to related topics within each entry that supports claims made by the author. Readers have the option of commenting on the entries, which allows for further insight into the topics discussed. Readers can interact with each other and collectively revolutionize healthcare. Tags are also available for the narrowing of topics and ease of site navigation. Because of the ability to interact with fellow physicians and IT experts, this site can prove to be very valuable. Other’s opinions can be extremely helpful and it allows one to gain different views on topics.
4. EHRcompare
http://www.ehrcompare.com/compare
This site allows physicians to compare and contrast different EHR systems and their components. Because so many are available, it conveniently categorizes them by the type of practice. It gives very thorough comparisons that range from the many costs involved to capabilities of the software. It also includes how often updates are available and how many practices currently use each program. In addition, links to live demos are available. When available, one can see ratings for each EHR. This site is valuable because it compares multiple aspects of each program and opinions from current users. The compilation of details given in this one site offers efficiency when trying to decide what program to purchase. The amount of information offered is a huge benefit for those trying to get the most out of their money.
5. HIMSS: EHR
http://www.himss.org/ASP/topics_ehr.asp
This site explains the idea of EHRs and how they better healthcare. Its purpose is to promote the improvement of healthcare nationwide and worldwide. It does this by offering podcasts and presentations related to innovative health topics, including EHRs. Another feature is that it provides case studies on the use of EHRs and how they have been successful in practices. Those who are involved in this site are executives of companies who support this revolution and are helping to lead the changes involved in it. This site is very valuable in that it allows a place for those in healthcare to learn more about EHRs and make connections with influential and powerful leaders in the healthcare field.
1. HIMSS – Electronic Health Records (http://www.himss.org/ASP/topics_ehr.asp)
HIMSS is short for Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society. It is a healthcare-stakeholder membership organization that has offices in the U.S. as well as in other parts of the world. The website’s purpose is to provide and encourage a spread of knowledge of how healthcare can be advanced and improved globally through using the best information technology and management systems. The site provides links to a multitude of topics involved in healthcare information technology including Electronic Health Records. The page about EHR includes access to frequently asked questions, case studies and success stories, usability of EHR, adoption of EHR, and an award is given to healthcare systems who have successfully implemented EHR. There is also information on upcoming events held by HIMSS as well as up-to-date news on what is going on with healthcare information technology and research. The organization’s board members are top executives of vendors and healthcare provider systems. Members that make up the organization are for the most part working in patient care settings. The organization also collaborates with other members of healthcare organizations. So, the value of this site is beneficial when wanting information on up-to-date healthcare information technology.
2. EMR and EHR Forum (http://www.emrandehr.com/)
This site is a forum for discussion of EMR and EHR and anything related to these subjects. One person, John, is an IT tech support for a university health center who is the main blogger of this forum. He posts blogs of articles and his opinion and anyone is able to comment on each post. There is an archive of the posts where they are separated by subject and by date. Blogs are posted almost every day and links to other sites about EMRs and EHRs are provided. Even though this is one person blogging on the topics of EMR and EHR, links are provided to different articles, webinars, and wikis to expand on the information discussed within the post. This is a valuable site for seeking information about what other people’s opinions are and also as a way to access other sites.
3. EHR Scope – Connecting Healthcare to Technology (http://www.ehrscope.com/about)
This site’s purpose is to provide a place for a comparison of all the EHR and EMR software that is available as well as how to implement the software successfully. There are multiple articles available as well as testimonials from people who have used EHR Scope in the past. This site is valuable for having a one stop shop for choosing the correct EHR and how to set it up. There are hundreds of EHRs to choose from and an algorithm is set up to help make the best decision as well as demos of the various options.
4. AdvanceWeb.com – Electronic Records: EMR vs. EHR
(http://health-care-it.advanceweb.com/editorial/content/editorial.aspx?cc=203986)
This site is an on-line access to the magazine Advance for Health Information Executives. The site provides monthly articles about the ever-changing and evolving information technology in the healthcare world written by leading healthcare executives and consultants. An article was published about a year ago explaining the difference between an EMR and EHR. There are many more articles that discuss EMRs and EHRs that can be accessed by searching the archives. So, this site is a valuable tool for people who may not quite understand what an EHR and EMR are and want to find out more information about them.
5. A Resource on EMR (http://emrresource.com/)
This site is a McKesson sponsored blog on information about EMRs. The blog includes articles, differing perspectives, case studies, and links to related sites all pertaining to EMR. The site is valuable because it provides blogs of various information about EMRS as well as links to multiple sites on information varying from EMR standards to EMR-HIPPA with just the click of the mouse. There is even an option to follow this blog on Twitter as well as an option to have updates sent of posts and comments.
GE Healthcare https://www2.gehealthcare.com/portal/site/usen/menuitem.d9d1e5260a507013d6354a1074c84130/?vgnextoid=fef1c555ff930210VgnVCM10000024dd1403RCRD
The purpose of this site is to provide information and education about GE’s innovative programs and services that can greatly help healthcare providers better prevent, diagnose, and treat patient illnesses and positively contribute to the health of the world. Visitors of this website will gain a better understanding of what Electronic Health Record is and how it can significantly impact their personal healthcare and the healthcare of the nation as a whole. People who view this site can discover that an EHR would provide a complete health record for each patient that could be available to all of the healthcare providers that a particular patient interacts with.
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services http://www.cms.gov/EHealthRecords/
The overall purpose of this website is to provide all necessary information about the services and use of Medicare and Medicaid. It serves as a source of information about the agency, as well as providing current information about healthcare in the U.S. Visitors of this website will find a concise overview of what an Electronic Health Record is, along with specific examples of how an EHR can improve patient care. In addition, the website provides links to several related topics.
HIMSS (Healthcare Information and Management Systems Socity) http://www.himss.org/ASP/topics_ehr.asp
The purpose of this site is to educate about and advocate for the transformation of healthcare by using health information technology in order to provide quality care to patients. People who visit this site will find the most recent information about technology improvements in healthcare. There is a great focus on EHR, with numerous links about what EHR is, tools to implement it, studies conducted about it, and much more. People will find data about both positive and negative outcomes of an EHR.
HL7 Electronic Health Record
http://www.hl7.org/ehr/
The site was originally developed to begin creating standards of an EHR. This website now serves to not only present information about the development of standards for an EHR, but also offers opportunities to get involved in this project. Visitors to this website can find general information, and numerous documents and presentations about EHR. The work that has already been done by the organization creators to implement EHR standards, and directions about attending HL7 meetings and participating in other events is also available to those who visit the site.
Open Clinical
http://www.openclinical.org/emr.html
This site was created to encourage implementing additional technology in healthcare in order to provide patients with the highest quality care. The site provides education and knowledge about the most advanced technologies available for use in healthcare systems. Visitors to the site can gain an understanding about an Electronic Health Record through the site’s detailed content. The site provides basic definitions often used in EHR discussions or articles. It presents information about the possible benefits and barriers to an EHR, the standards of an EHR, interoperability, and several links to related subjects.
1. Indian Health Services: Electronic Health Record
http://www.ihs.gov/cio/ehr/
The purpose of this website is to inform and teach people that are primarily involved in HIS, Tribal, and Urban Indian health care facilities. It is provides explanations about the purpose of an EHR, training courses about how to use EHR software and other useful tools to help professionals learn to use the system.
Value: In my opinion, I believe this site would be very useful for a health care professional working for the HIS, or any other related organization. I do not feel that it would be helpful for a patient who was searching the Internet for further explanation about EHRs.
2. Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_health_record
The purpose of this article is to give a broad overview of what an EHR is. It goes into detail about all the various aspects involving EHRs, including its pros and cons, costs, software and how it is also used in various other countries.
Value: In my opinion, I feel that this is a helpful resource for the average patient who is googling EHR in search of an explanation of its purpose. All the information in the article is unbiased and allows the reader to form their own opinion about the adoption of EHRs. This would not be a useful resource for a healthcare professional if they were seeking information or help regarding EHR software.
3. Emrexperts
http://www.emrexperts.com/
This website helps Healthcare professionals choose what type of EMR software they will use in their office. They offer free demos of EMR software and also have a section where Doctors can find EMR software that is more customized to their specialty.
Value: This website is very helpful for healthcare professionals who are searching for EMR software to use in their office. Healthcare professionals are able to use this site to compare various EMR software available and make an educated decision of what would be best in their office setting. It would not be useful for patients who are seeking information about EMR.
4. EMR/EHR Done Right
The purpose of this video is to show patients exactly how EMR works and how it would be an asset to have in a Physicans office. It shows how it can make all aspects of a doctors visit much easier from making an appointment from your home computer to checking lab results after you have left the doctors office. It also shows how the medical records can be backed up in various ways and how they would not be lost if something were to happen to the doctors office or computer.
Value: I feel that this video would only be helpful for a patient who was looking for more information about what exactly an EMR is and how it can be used. I think that this video is vary biased and pro-EMR, and does not address any of the negative issues surrounding EMR. I would not recommend this video to a patient who was looking for an unbiased explanation of EMR. This video would not be very helpful to physicians researching EMR, because it only is an overview of the system and does not address important aspects of EMR that should be considered.
5. Electronic Medical Records’ Benefits Still to Be Seen http://www.businessweek.com/lifestyle/content/healthday/637825.html
This article is about what has been seen since healthcare professionals have started to use EMRs. It addresses hot topics such as its effects on costs and impact on patients’ lives.
Value: This article would be valuable to a patient who is researching EMR, and trying to form an opinion on it. This would not be helpful to health care professionals seeking information about EMR, such as software, problems and other important topics related to it.
-Athena Health
http://www.athenahealth.com
This is a website of a company that sells Electronic Medical Records, electronic medical billing, and a live, automated patient communication system, and a payer viewer. This site, offers its services for physician offices of all sizes, and allows customers to preview the different services they may be interested in. The website also offers videos of testimonials for their services, webinars to offer information and support about using and adopting their programs, and there is a monthly e-newsletter available for subscription. They also provide links to case studies done, showing the different benefits for different size practice sites.
This site is most beneficial to physician groups who are interested in updating their current medical records; medical billing, ways to track payers, and a new way to communicate live with their patients. This website offers a personalized trial offer for the services any group may be interested in, which is very practical, and allows prospective customers to work with their programs before purchasing such a large investment. Athena Health’s website is extremely valuable to anyone looking to purchase these types of systems, to compare the quality of services for different companies.
-Fox Meadows Software
http://www.foxmeadows.com
This website is for a company that sells single database EMR, HER, and practice management software. This website offers more than just medical records including a Healthcare Portal that allows patients to access their own healthcare records. From this website it is also possible to view different screens incorporated in the systems, including patient visit notes, billing and scheduling, fax management, web portal, auto check-in kiosk, dispensary and inventory controls, and bar-coded ID cards with many more. This company seems to offer different services with alternative features.
Fox Meadows Software website is very useful for any company who is looking to upgrade or add to their current healthcare technology, or software. This website also has an option to see how this system would be beneficial in different specialty settings, and allows a sample to be viewed or a live demonstration to be scheduled. It shows multiple aspects of use for individual specialties, which allows prospective clients to get an idea of how this system could help their practice.
-HIMSS-Transforming Healthcare Through IT
http://www.himss.org/asp/topics-ehr.asp
This website is full of information. It gives multiple IT uses in the health field, and offers conferences and presentations how to use technology. It offers information on EHR adoption, HIT and return on investment, Global EHR, EHR usability, and provides case studies with success stories. There is also a link to see what information is currently in the news, and even a link to Healthcare Reform information.
This site seems to be helpful in learning the importance of EHR, and how it will be beneficial for the healthcare system. This is a good website to get an overview of the benefits of incorporating EHRs. HIMSS also offers a membership which provides local connection, communities and networking, education, publications and industry news and other services. This website is a useful resource for anyone in the health profession, or anyone who wants to learn more about EHRs.
-Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
http://www.cms.gov/EHealthRecords/
Center for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) offer an overview of EHR, and describes many of the benefits of EHR. There are also multiple related links they provide within the CMS and outside the CMS. This site just offers a brief description of EHR, which is probably only beneficial for the general public. This site does not offer any useful information for healthcare providers.
-Open Clinical
http://www.openclinical.org.emr.html
This website offers a wide variety of information. It includes a brief history of how medical record systems have been utilized in the past, then provides a list of terms with acronyms and explains what they stand for. Most importantly it gives the pros and cons for EMR. Overall the benefits of EMRs are the same as other websites, but for once this list the “barriers” and “issues” of implementing EMRs. Open Clinical describes eight core capabilities that EHRs should contain: Health information and data, result management, order management, decision support, electronic communication and connectivity, patient support, administration processes, and reporting, and provides a description for each of these. This site also provides information on EMR/EHR standards and work in progress.
This website could be a great benefit to seeing the whole picture of implementing EMR/EHR systems. Open Clinical offers links to other HIT pages regarding technology adoption, programs and plans, and links to information about personal health records and other E-health sites. This site would be extremely valuable however it has not been updated since 2005, so the information may no longer be valid.
1. Centers for medicare and medicaid services.
http://www.cms.gov/EHealthRecords/
The purpose of this site is to provide information about electronic medical records. A detailed description is given about what all is included in an EHR, such as providers, progress notes, problems, medications, vital signs, past medical history, immunizations, laboratory data, and radiology reports.
This site would be of value to those individuals who are interested in finding out more about electronic medical records. There are also links to sites that deal with related topics, such as the Economic Recovery act of 2009.
2. Scientific American
http://www.scientificamerican.com/blog/post.cfm?id=moving-forward-with-electronic-heal-2010-02-05
The purpose of this site is to provide some insight into the implementation of electronic health records almost a year after president Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009. The site explains why this implementation is largely still in the development and research phase.
This site would be valuable to people who are not only curious as to when EHRs will be an integral part of modern health care, but why the process is taking so long.
3. Ezine Articles
http://ezinearticles.com/?Advantages-of-Electronic-Health-Record-System&id=2720601
The primary purpose of this site is to give a list of the advantages of EHRs. These advantages include better documentation, lower cost, better storage, easier retrieval of information, reduced malpractice insurance premiums, increased level of medical care, and accurate record keeping.
This site would be valuable to both patients and health care providers in that it lists advantages for both parties. For patients, lower cost and increased level of medical care would be desirable outcomes. For providers, these advantages would provide better quality of care in general, and less cost to practice.
4. Suite 101
http://healthfieldmedicare.suite101.com/article.cfm/electronic_health_records
The purpose of this site is to provide a nurse’s perspective on the implementation of EHRs. The nurse that wrote the article gives information on the content, advantages, disadvantages and practicality of use of EHRs.
This site would primarily be of value to nurses who want to know more about the impact that EHRs would make on their profession.
5. Businessweek
http://bx.businessweek.com/electronic-health-records/jobs/
This is a site that is devoted to helping people find employment, and in this particular search, to finding jobs related to EHRs. The site gives a long list of available jobs, and then gives a description of these jobs.
This would be a valuable site to someone who has an interest in working with EHRs, but just does not know exactly how one could turn such an interest into a career.
HiMSS
http://www.himss.org/ASP/topics_ehr.asp
Site purpose: The purpose of this site is to make sure health information technology is used appropriately by serving as a resource for the best use of information and management systems.
Explanation of Value: HiMSS works to better the healthcare system by providing valuable tools and resources to optimize the use of information technology within the healthcare system. HiMSS works as an advocate to the use of health information technology, while ensuring quality patient care. Not only does the website provide a definition of an EHR, it also provides details of the effectiveness, efficiency, and satisfaction of its implantation.
EMR Experts
http://www.emrexperts.com/
Site purpose: This site serves as a resource for healthcare professionals to help them select the Electronic Medical Record that best fits their healthcare setting.
Explanation of Value: EMR Experts offers a full range of Electronic Medical Record and Practice Management Software solutions specific for various medical specialties. EMR Experts provide unbiased information and works to save healthcare professionals hours of research time and thousands of dollars. They will also help one select the appropriate hardware, and offer installation, training, and maintenance assistance.
Physicians EHR
http://www.physiciansehr.org/index.asp
Site Purpose: This site serves to provide advice to physicians on electronic health records, electronic medical records, and with other aspects of healthcare such as privacy and security implementation strategies.
Explanation of Value: Physicians EHR offers guidance from certified consultants who provide assistance and support through the entire EHR and PMS implementation. Physicians EHR collaborates with medical professionals to save them money on hardware and software purchases. Physicians EHR will review the facilities, specialties, and documentation practices of each setting. These consultants also provide other services such as writing an initial implementation plan, coordinate hardware and software installations, and review and provide information to better the EHR implementation. These individuals are also available to work part-time when needed, which helps to save from having to hire a full-time staff to manage the implementation.
Allscripts
http://www.allscripts.com/products/electronic-health-record/allscripts-enterprise/default.asp
Site purpose: This website provides clinical EHR software of choice for various specialty and multi-specialty health settings. Allscripts strives to meet the specific needs of physicians, while maintaining an award-winning package at a reasonable price.
Explanation of Value: With a client base of 4,000 clinics and 40,000 physicians, Allscripts makes every effort to be an industry leader in EHR software implementation. This website offers easy-to-use, fast software solutions in which clients can build a firm EHR foundation. Allscripts also offers additional add-on solutions in order to further enhance the EHR experience and to help revolutionize the way physicians practice medicine.
EHR Scope
http://www.ehrscope.com/
Site purpose: This site serves as a resource to physicians and health professional clientele, providing information and updates about healthcare technology. Because selecting the right EHR software solution can be extremely time-consuming, EHR Scope provides assistance with this process, so that their clients make the best software decision.
Explanation of Value: EHR Scope provides the latest Health Information Technology (HIT) news to clients and future clients. This website offers insight to medical professionals on selecting the right EHRs/EMRs, and provides testimonials and reviews from recent consumers. EHR Scope also offers an EMR magazine, which addresses physicians’ concerns, and features articles on the current news and trends pertaining to EHRs/EMRs.
1. HIMSS – http://www.himss.org/ASP/topics_ehr.asp
The purpose of this site is to provide pharmacists with information on Electronic Health Records. It provides background information, tools, usability as well as case studies and success stories to describe EHR’s. The value of this site to those visiting this site is the amount of information that’s provided. The information is up to date and there are numerous links to different publications. Also there are resources from corporate members that provide those visiting the site with their first hand opinions. I feel this is great for those trying to find information about EHR and the benefits it can provide to healthcare.
2. Open Clinical – http://www.openclinical.org/emr.html
The purpose of this site is to provide in depth information on EHR and EMR in a way that separates it into different components. It provides a background, many definitions, benefits, barriers, issues that may arise as well as interoperability and standards that are currently in the works. It also has links to public reports and different topics that include EHR and EMR. I feel this site is very valuable to have a complete understanding of EHR and EMR because it includes every aspect of it. Also the amount of information is vast and it seems to provide an unbiased view because it includes not only benefits but any barriers or issues that could arise with EHR and EMR. I think it’s helpful that it provides suggestions to different areas that are associated with this topic because you can learn more about informatics and different technologies.
3. E.H.R. Home – http://www.hl7.org/ehr/
The purpose of this site is to provide information on the HL7’s EHR system standards development. The HL7 EHR work group is a special interest group that was created in 2001 to begin developing EHR standards, now HL7 is considered a Technical Committee because the importance of EHR has increased. It gives viewers different announcements as well as links to information on EHR and ways to get involved with the committee. There are also links to different documents and a calendar of events. I feel it through these features it is a very valuable site for those interested in being involved with developing EHR standards. Also valuable for those who just want to know how the standards are being developed because it provides up to date information and documents.
4. Better Health – http://getbetterhealth.com/the-achilles-heel-of-electronic-medical-records-systems/2009.05.26
This site provides blogs and this particular one was submitted by KevinMD in the Better Health Network. The purpose of these blogs is to provide an opinion and insight on developing healthcare technologies. The value to the reader is a well developed opinion and view on how EMR could take away from the doctor patient communication. It gives the reader a different point of view on EMR to help them develop their own opinion on EMR and to possibly encourage the reader to submit a blog of their own. Also there are links to different submissions that may interest the reader that are related to the topic.
5. McCombs Today – http://blogs.mccombs.utexas.edu/mccombs-today/2010/04/professional-values-and-uncertainty-linked-to-physicians-use-of-electronic-health-records/
This site provides News from the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas at Austin. This blog is to highlight research that was going to be discussed at the Innovation in Heath Care Delivery Systems Symposium. The article discusses the research on physician’s use of EMR’s and how they are still able to instill their professional values. This gives those reading it the physician’s opinions on EMR as well as research on the use of EMR’s. It also encourages those who are seeking more information to attend the Symposium. For those who cannot attend it could spark interest and discussion as a hot topic in healthcare.
Ihealthbeat.org
The purpose of the website is to give up-to-date information about technologies impact on health care. It gives reports on different studies that are looking into the use and value of technology in the health care field. It has different topics to choose from including electronic health records (EHR) and personal health records (PHR). The EHR and PHR topic has articles about different studies that are looking into the use of EHR.
The values and views of the website seem very unbiased and factual. The website contains articles and podcasts giving information about different research studies regarding health information technologies, governmental discussions about the use of these different technologies, and the public’s opinion about the use of technology in health care. All of the information is updated daily or almost daily.
http://www.ihealthbeat.org/ehrs-and-phrs.aspx?tab=1
American Medical Informatics Association
The purpose of the website is to connect all people interested in the use of informatics in the medical field. It is contains podcast, articles and job search information about using technology in the medical field. The AMIA also wants to promote the use and understanding of EHR in health care.
The website contains many links and articles about why using technology in health care is important. The information on this website is updated as new information or opinions become relevant. It only uses information relevant to the support of using technology in health care, so I would say that the information on this website, while being factual, is biased. The website has twitter so people can follow the organization as new information is updated to the site.
https://www.amia.org/content/got-ehr
Sage Health
This is a website for a company who creates software for electronic health records. This website promotes and gives detailed information about how EHR works. This company designs software for the health industry including both practice management software as well as an infrastructure for electronic data interchange, a service that connects physicians, payer, pharmacies and labs together. The integrity of this company can be questioned considering the fact that they design software for health care systems so they will be biased towards electronic health software and in particular their products.
Although this website sells software for health care systems, it still gives a lot of information about what EHR is as well as the other services and products that they offer. If someone is unsure as to what EHR is, it gives a good explanation and detailed information about what EHR is and how it works. It gives a demonstration of how the software works as well, so a physician or health system can see what the product can do before making a commitment to buying the product. I found this website interesting because it is the first website that I have come across that actually sells a product for EHR. The product is also certified by CCHIT so it is guaranteed to work with the future information exchange network that the government hopes to set up.
http://www.sagehealth.com/products/ehr/intergy_ehr/Pages/intergy_ehr_overview.aspx
MD Synergy
This is another company that designs software for health care providers. However, instead of developing an EHR for an entire health care system, they have developed an EMR for clinics or an office of health care providers. It allows the physician to do all of the same things as an EHR except link to other health care providers. It allows for ePrescribing, order labs and practice management but is only linked to the particular office it is installed in. The EMR product however cannot run without other software, the Practice management software. It also does not provide a demonstration of how the product works before signing up with the company to request information.
This website is for physicians shopping for software and already knows what type of system they are looking for. The website does not give information as to what EHR/EMR is or what it does. This website is user friendly, however, only if you know what you are looking for. The website is not for information about what EMR is but to simply purchase the software. The products on this website are not CCHIT certified, so there is no guarantee that the products will work with the government’s future information exchange network.
http://mdsynergy.com/pro-solutions/emr/
e-MD
This is another website for a company that designs software for health care systems. The company has up-to-date news about how informatics is being adopted in the health care world. It seems to be interested in letting people know not just about their products but how the medical world and government are implementing technology into health care. Some of the news is based on different health systems signing contract with them to use the company as its electronic health records vendor. It also has information about how the government wants electronic information to be implemented and the incentives that are being offered.
The website is very open about promoting the use of electronic software for the management of patient care and the office. The website seems to be for physicians but I believe that patients could use the website as a means of learning about new technology to make their physician visits better and more effective. The company also offers a list of the features that the software is capable of performing and what the software will look like by offering screen shots of the software in use. The software is also CCHIT certified so it is guaranteed to work with the government’s future information exchange network.
http://www.e-mds.com/index.html
1.athenaClinicals. http://www.athenahealth.com/cmp/clinicalsppc/index.
This website is a sales pitch for athenaClincals EHR program. It explains the features of their system which CCHIT certification, exchange and submission of clinical data, enhance e-prescribing and other features. What makes this site interesting is that you can send them some information about your company and you can view a demo of their system. It also contains links to drive in what is guaranteed with their program, including stimulus money.
This site can be valuable for companies who are looking for new EHR systems if they are upgrading or are getting a system for the first time.
2.Electronic Health Records Jobs Roles and Responsibilities. http://www.electronichealthrecordsjobs.com/index.html
This website explains what an EHR is and how they work in a quick overview. It also gives an overview of what job and careers are available because of the EHR systems that are being developed. For example, one job opportunity is a programmer/analyst. You can also look into being a data specialist or senior data architect and many others. Senior architects collect data in meetings, interview and other information gathering techniques and develop business models based on this information. This website is a good value to those who are interested in what opportunities career-wise are now available because of EHR development.
3.Electronic Health Records, American Psychiatric Association. http://www.psych.org/___
This website is a webpage that links to outside resources about electronic health records. It’s there to help people become educated in the field. It has links to EHR reviews, the privacy and security of the software, other resources, technical standards and other aspects that might be associated to electronic health records.
This website is good for people (who are a part of the APA, since they are the only ones that can get to the links, apparently) who want to quickly review the many aspects and issues that are associated with electronic health records.
4.Details of Obama’s EMR Stimulus Package http://bx.businessweek.com/electronic-health-records/view?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.emrandhipaa.com%2Femr-and-hipaa%2F2009%2F01%2F24%2Fdetails-of-obamas-emr-stimulus-package%2F
This page is a link from a busnessweek.com webpage that collects information details concerning electronic health records and electronic medical records. This link in particular is about Obama’s EMR stimulus package. It explains the details involved with the package which include the provision of $40,000 in incentives to use EHR, creation of HIT Extension Programs that would facilitate regional adoption efforts, provisions of funds to states to coordinate such incentives, creation of grant and loan programs, acceleration of the development of the National Health Information Network, among other things.
This site is an opinion as well about what the Stimulus Package is. This site could be valuable because it does have the quick overview and it gives some insight about what other people think about what is going on in health care today.
5.Electronic Medical Records vs. Electronic Health Records. http://www.himssanalytics.org/docs/wp_emr_ehr.pdf
This webpage is a 14 page pdf file that explains the difference between EMRs and EHRs. It was last updated in 2006, but it still seems to be helpful for people who want to learn more about the two systems. EMR “is the legal record created in hospitals and ambulatory environments that is the source of data for the EHR”. The EHR “represents the ability to easily share medical information among stakeholders and to have a patient’s information follow him or her through the various modalities o care engaged by that individual”. It later goes on and explains that without reliable EMRs, a valuable EHR will never be fully in place.
This webpage is valuable for people who want to know what is going on in this field and shows how important it is for health businesses get more involved in the EMR/EHR movement for all of this to work. It is very important to learn all the background so that a system/program can be more successful.
Website 1
New England Journal of Medicine: “Stimulating the Adoption of Health Information Technology”
David Blumenthal, M.D., M.P.P.
(http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/360/15/1477)
This article was written by Dr. Blumenthal, and covers the basics of how the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) effects the healthcare system, and the incentive for physicians and hospitals to adopt the EMR software during the timeline allotted by the government, to take part in the $17 Billion being offered to these participants.
The benefit of looking at this site and article is a shortened but thorough description of the act, and the stimulus plan. Dr. Blumenthal also gives his personal pros and cons on the EMR/EHR program, and his thoughts on the act.
Website 2
Allscripts (www.allscripts.com)
Allscripts is a technological company that currently provides 160,000 physicians and 800 hospitals in the US with their software, with the purpose of connecting healthcare systems. They have software that is able to accommodate most types of healthcare practices, even homecare agencies.
The benefit a healthcare provider would receive from visiting this website is gaining knowledge about the different technology programs available for EMR/EHR. Allscripts also offers a payment plan for purchases, with no payments for the first six months, and assistance to physicians applying for the Medicaid and Medicare stimulus incentives for physicians using EHR technology.
Website 3
PubMed
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12714130
“A Cost-benefit analysis of Electronic Medical records in Primary care”
The group that performed this study wanted to determine the financial benefit or cost of implementing EMR systems in primary care. The reference for comparison was traditional paper-based patient records, and they measured for a 5 year period. They estimated a net financial benefit of 86,400 dollars per provider for using an EMR system verses paper records. They attributed this gain to “savings in drug expenditures, improved utilization of radiology tests, better capture of charges, and decreased billing errors”. They concluded that investment on EMR technology can result in a positive financial return.
The benefit of looking at this study is that a patient may be encouraged that their healthcare spending will be decreased and more effective, and a provider will feel confident in their investment and the positive outcome for their patients and business.
Website 4
CMS Centers for Medicare and Medicaid services (http://www.cms.gov/EHealthRecords/)
This website gave a good definition and explanation of what an EHR actually is, and what is included in an EHR, verses an EMR. It told that EMR’s are inevitable for our nation’s healthcare systems, and told the benefits to patients and providers.
The benefit of someone visiting this website would be to clear up any confusion about the use of the words, since they are so commonly used in the media interchangeably, but they are actually not the same thing. An EMR is part of a EHR, and the two are owned by different people/ providers.
Website 5
CNET news (http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-10161233-38.html)
“U.S. stimulus bill pushes e-health records for all” by Declan McCullagh
This article was written on February 10, 2009 when the senate initially approved the $838 billion stimulus bill. The author presents some concerns he has with an electronic health record, and that whether or not a patient wants their information available electronically, where it is searchable, they do not really have the option to “opt out”.
This article is of benefit to the reader because it presents some views that I personally had not thought about, and would are useful to know, if given the opportunity to voice their concerns about EMRs. It is clear when this article was written that the details of EMR/EHRs were not “hammered out” yet, and I’m not quite sure that they still are. It’s definitely still a work in progress.
1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hq-1zsKPO1c
YouTube: Electronic Medical Record (EMR/EHR) Best Practice
YouTube is a social media and Web 2.0 site that allows users to share videos. This specific page focuses on Electronic Medical Records. The video is a Close Up news coverage segment about Microwize Technologies and how they are implementing electronic medical records. The user can watch the video and post comments, and the site also suggests related videos to watch. The news cast looks at one company’s solution to updating antiquated paper medical record keeping. This is especially valuable for physicians because it discusses the importance of having thorough and streamlined records that will improve patient care and save valuable time. The records can also be shared between doctors’ offices for uninterrupted patient care. Having an efficient documentation system can also help doctors with insurance audits. It is important to have access to records at all times, and the availability of IT help and backup systems are discussed. Microwize executives and physicians who have used the EMR software talk about their experiences with the technology. Microwize is “delivering the practice of the future today.”
2. http://www.athenahealth.com/our-services/athenaClinicals.php?open=20
athenaClinicals: the low-investment, high return electronic health record (EHR) solution
athenaClinicals is a page on the website for the company athenahealth. There are tabs for company information, services, blog, and alliances. This page gives an overview of the company’s EHR, the web-based software and rules database, and service agreements. Visitors to the site can watch videos about the software and view a demonstration to see how it works. There are also videos about physician and hospital testimonials. You can also subscribe to a monthly e-newsletter and find out about guaranteed federal stimulus dollars for EMR adoption. Contact information for athenahealth is provided so healthcare professionals can learn more about adopting the technology to improve patient care. Especially valuable tools on the site are case studies and webinars. The case studies include: Harness Network-Based Services, Added Revenue with Integrated Services, and Easy Adoption and Control Over Performance. The Webinars include: Our Federal Stimulus Bonus Payment Guarantee Program, Cracking the Code of Successful EHR Design, Successful EHR Adoption, and Growing Your Practice with athenahealth.
3. http://www.cms.gov/EHealthRecords/
CMS: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
This page is created by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. The site provides an overview of Electronic Health Records and a link to CMS information related to the Economic Recovery Act of 2009. There are also links to resources outside of CMS: American Health Information Community (AHIC), Certification Commission for Health Information Technology, Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS), and Health Level Seven (HL7). This page explains to the user why it is important to implement EHRs and the impact the technology will have on patient care. It provides resources for both healthcare providers and health information technology companies about complying with new government policies regarding healthcare technology.
4. http://www.imedicalapps.com/2010/05/apple-flash-electronic-health-records/
iMedicalApps: iPad & iPhone medical app reviews by health care professionals
“How Apple’s Position on Flash Could Turn Many Medical Professionals Back to Android” is a blog on a site that allows healthcare professionals to review medical applications on PDAs, specifically iPad and iPhone. In addition to viewing related blogs, the site allows comments. While there are apps like medpage today mobile for the iPhone, this blog discusses the disadvantage of Apple devices (iPhone and iPad) for accessing web-based EHRs. Many web-based EHRs such as CareCloud and Practice Fusion are Flash-based (Adobe) and are not compatible with Apple devices. Apps must be created for the iPhone and iPad to be able run a web-based EHR. The site contrasts Android technology to Apple. This blog could help healthcare providers decide on what kind of PDA or other hand held technology to invest in.
5. http://healthcarebloglaw.blogspot.com/2010/05/ocr-request-for-information-hipaa.html
Health Care Law Blog: Keeping an eye on health care law. Thoughts and comments on the health care industry, privacy, security, technology and other odds and ends.
This site blogs about healthcare law, and the specific blog “OCR Request for Information: HIPAA Privacy Rule Accounting of Disclosures under HITECH” is written by Bob Coffield, a healthcare lawyer. The blog discusses a recent statement from the Office of Civil Rights about new legislation regarding HIPAA and provides a link to the OCR website for more information. The OCR wants comments on the pending legislation from both consumers and providers of healthcare about disclosing private health information and the administrative requirements of accounting for disclosures. There are nine questions to comment on, and the blog lists them. This blog shares information about legislation requiring time limited action for busy healthcare providers who otherwise might be unaware of the developments in Washington. It is important for healthcare providers to be able to comment on legislation that will affect the way they practice. According to HIPAA, patient information needs to be protected, implementing EHRs/EMRs will require safeguarding information transfers between healthcare providers, deciding what information is allowed to be shared, and regulating who has access to patient information.
HIMSS (Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society). http://www.himss.org/ASP/topics_ehr.asp
The purpose of this website is to provide the benefits of utilizing information technology and management systems in the healthcare setting. The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) believes that by utilizing these tools, healthcare will be transformed and quality care will be ensured to all patients. The website has obvious values for anyone who is interested in learning about health information technology. Some of these values include: the latest news in health information technology, upcoming conferences and events regarding this topic, and also membership information for any health professional who is interested. Job opportunities are also discussed, as well as publications for those interested to gain further knowledge on health information and management systems.
Sequel Systems Healthcare Solutions http://www.sequelmed.com/Products/electronic_health_records.aspx
This website was designed to promote a current EHR software program called SequelMed. Product promotion includes listing program benefits such as built in alerts to assist in decision-making and optimization of workflow to improve patient care. The website gives testimonials and customer success stories, both of which further assist in promoting SequelMed over competitors. The value of this website is to assist healthcare professionals that are interested in utilizing electronic health records to make an informed decision on a software program. SequelMed is also linked to social media networks such as twitter and facebook in order to promote the advantages of the program.
Emrexperts
http://www.emrexperts.com/
EMR Experts is a website designed to give unbiased reports regarding the various EMR software programs that are available to healthcare professionals. The site visitor can look up information about EMR software for a variety of specialized areas of medicine such as cardiology, neurology, or orthopedics. There is also a list of articles promoting the benefits of EMR for anyone considering making the transition to electronic medical records. The value of this website is to help the site visitor in the decision making process of choosing an EMR software program. EMR Experts will also assist in hardware installing and training to ensure a smooth transition for their clients.
HealthTechnologyReview.com
http://www.healthtechnologyreview.com/
This is a site created to give information regarding health information technology to the site visitor. Information on medical devices, healthcare jobs, and internet/computer technology can easily be found on this website. There are also software reviews for professionals who are interested in analyzing the benefits of choosing one software program over another. Recommended websites and popular pages regarding EMR and EHR are also given in order to provide the site visitor with additional resources regarding the use of electronic health records. The obvious value of this website is that information regarding EMR and EHR is consolidated in order to minimize time searching for various resources as well as promote the use of electronic health records.
Open Clinical: knowledge management for medical care
http://www.openclinical.org/emr.html
OpenClinical is a website that was designed to provide information to healthcare professionals, computer scientists, or any others interested in learning about advanced knowledge management technologies. The website is divided into several different “zones” such as the community, background, and research zones. The “Background Zone” provides information on topics such as evidence-based medicine, electronic medical records, and personal health records. There is also an opportunity to register to become a member of OpenClinical in order to receive the latest information regarding a particular interest. The value of OpenClinical to the site visitor is to provide resources on advanced knowledge management and technologies in order to better his/her understanding.
1. OmniMD: Physician Empowered (http://www.omnimd.com/)
This site sells products and services for an Electronic Medical Record (EMR) for physicians. It boasts the product’s ease of use and ability to be adapted to the needs of the buyer. These products include applications like ePrescribing, appointment scheduler, lab order integration, and medical calculators. To further persuade physicians to purchase these products, the site offers a demonstration to those who register.
This website allows physicians the opportunity to learn more about this EMR software and how easy it is to use. On this site, physicians can discover how these products and services will add value to their practices and help them do their jobs more efficiently through links to the various applications and demonstration of the product.
2. Software Advice (http://www.softwareadvice.com/medical/electronic-medical-record-software-comparison/?wfvar=wfvard)
This site compares the leading providers of EMR software. Users can get a free quote and a free demonstration of each product. This site matches software buyers with software vendors and collects a fee from the vendor. For those customers who need more assistance they offer a toll free number where they can speak to an expert and a free guide on the 10 steps to selecting the right medical software. In addition, the site offers testimonials from satisfied customers.
When deciding which EMR software to buy, physicians can use this site to compare several different products on one site instead of visiting several different sites for each of these products. On this site, potential buyers can also learn more about the benefits of EMR in their practices. They can request a free quote and free demonstration of each vendor’s software. If they are still unsure, the site offers additional help from experts in making a decision.
3. ElectronicMedicalRecords-emr.com (http://www.electronicmedicalrecords-emr.com/)
This site provides links to a blog, demonstration slides, cost savings, articles, and advantages of EMR. Although this site claims to offer demonstrations, it is not interactive but provides pictures of screens. This site provides a newsletter to help physicians decide on the software best for them through its newsletter. Moreover, it offers news about EMR, like collaborating with a hospital on the same EMR software. This site provides both strengths and weaknesses of this proposal.
This site offers links to articles and the advantages of EMR software to those who are still skeptical or who just want more information before making a purchase. With this site, physicians can receive helpful information throughout the entire process, from researching different types of EMR software to implementing it in their practice. For instance, it offers the advantages and disadvantages of various options associated with choosing and buying EMR software.
4. The Informatics Group (http://www.theinformaticsgroup.com/otheremrehrjobs.html)
This site defines EMR and gives some background information on the subject. In addition, describes many job opportunities, such as EMR Project Manager, EMR Trainer, EMR Business Analyst/Systems Analyst, and EMR Application Specialist/Tester. The Informatics Group offers these consultants to healthcare providers who are wishing to implement EMR software in their practice to help facilitate the process.
Users of this site can learn about novel job opportunities in the health informatics field related to EMR use. They are looking for people who are skilled in these areas and offer prospective employees the opportunity to email their resumes. In addition, physicians can receive support in implementing this new software. Therefore, this site matches EMR professionals with healthcare providers wishing to apply this EMR.
5. PC Science: EMR Science for the PC (http://www.pcscience.net/index.htm)
This site offers resources to help physicians decide on purchasing EMR software. For instance, the site provides testimonials from satisfied customers, descriptions of the limitations of certain features, links to information on government acts, and definitions of terms like EMR. This site devotes more space to promoting EMR in general instead of the company’s own product. In addition, this site focuses on helping the consumer make an informed choice by emphasizing the need to research options before choosing the right software.
Users of this site will be able to learn more about EMR if they have limited knowledge on the subject. In addition, any healthcare provider will be equipped with valuable information to begin the process of selecting EMR software. Since this website did not focus specifically on the company’s software, users will be able to see the importance of researching all possible options before making a decision.
1) http://www.cms.gov/EHealthRecords/
The Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services website provides a brief overview of Electronic Health Records. They describe how an EHR contains many key items of clinical data for a patient and lists many of these items. They describe how implementing and using Electronic Health Records could benefit clinicians and streamline workflow, and they also give a list of reasons how EHRs can improve patient care. This website also seems to be advocating the nationwide adoption of the EHR system, and provides a link to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 so that readers can see how EHR was involved.
This could be a useful website for anyone who wishes to find out exactly what is an Electronic Health Record. It could be useful to clinicians who visit so that they could see how it might affect their daily workflow. It also is useful to them, as well as non-clinicians, who want to know what role the EHR subject played in the Recovery Act that President Obama signed in 2009.
2) http://www.himss.org/ASP/topics_ehr.asp
This website belongs to Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society. It begins by offering a description of an EHR and what it contains and involves. This website exists to provide valuable information to clinicians who might be adopting this system of health records. It provides a series of links to documents that are very beneficial to anyone looking for more detailed information. It could help a clinician with information about everything from what it will take for them to adopt EHR to what kind of returns they can expect on their investment.
This site is valuable to anyone who might visit it. It links the user to documents related to the following categories: EHR adoption, Return on Investments, Standards and the Electronic Health Record, Global EHR, Tools for EHR Professionals, EHR Usability, Project Management, and others. I followed some of the links and a lot of the information seemed very valuable, while other links were difficult to follow. Also some of the documents were not available to users that weren’t registered with HIMSS. Overall, I think anyone who visits this website can learn about many of the issues facing EHR such as barriers to use, usability of EHR, and reasons to implement EHR.
3) http://www.ihs.gov/cio/ehr/
This site seems to be designed specifically for use by the Indian Health Service facilities. It is a tool for their healthcare facilities who have implemented EHR services, those who are in the process of implementing them, and those who may be doing so soon. This site, like the others, offers a broad overview of EHR. It geared more specifically to the Indian Health Services, though, and offers preparatory processes to their clinics and clinicians who are using it. It also provides other resources to the IHS employees such as EHR training, EHR frequently asked questions, key contacts for EHR issues, and presentations that may help answer any questions about EHR.
This website is probably very valuable to all of the IHS clinicians and employees who are involved in changing over to EHR, or preparing to change over. This website seems to be of greater value than the other sites because it offers actually experience with the EHR system. Anyone in the Indian Health Services system can access the links on this webpage to find answers to their questions. For people not involved with IHS, they can have an outsiders look at how EHR works, and see what kind of experiences the Indian Health Service has had with it.
4) http://www.omnimd.com/
From what I can tell, OmniMD is a company that provides medical sowftware products and services relevant to clinical use. They describe themselves as “a developer of HIPAA compliant Internet-based enterprise clinical solutions, designed to fully automate the work-flow of contemporary healthcare organizations.” The purpose of their website is to market their products and services and provide a description of them. Regarding EHR, they have a link to a page so that the user can read the benefits and features of the system and what implications it will have on their workflow.
I don’t see this website having much value to anyone other than potential clients. Someone who is looking for a company that offers the EHR system could use this website as a resource to find out what this specific company offers. They could also use this webpage to find contact information to get more information about the product or find out about pricing and what would be involved with implementing this tool. I suppose that this website would also be valuable to existing clients of OmniMD, as a troubleshooting avenue or to answer other questions.
5) http://www.healthmgttech.com/
This is a website that offers current news as well as solutions to healthcare management technology. It covers technology issues across the board. It has links for people using or looking for information about EMR, links for Hospital based news, links to news involving group practices, and other news articles too. The EMR page, specifically, is a page that offers an array of articles involving the Electronic Medical Record system. The website even has a forum where you can go and read about questions or problems that people have had, or where you can go to ask a question to others that might have experience with the problem at hand.
This website might be the most useful of the five websites we have discussed. I followed the link to the EMR and found some articles that would be very helpful in learning about EHR/EMR. It would be a valuable page to any person with any level of experience with this system. For people that know very little about it, there is enough information to gain a solid understanding of its place and purpose in practice. And for the people that have plenty of experience with EHR, this is the perfect website to visit to keep watch for the latest news.
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1) Healthcare information and Management system society (HIMSS)
http://www.himss.org/ASP/topics_ehr.asp
Purpose of the site:-Provide global leadership on Information technology related to the use of electronic medical record and its management. Having offices in a few countries in the world such as Singapore, Brussels and a few states in the United States, they have about 23,000 individual members who are the beneficiary on the health care information exchange between countries or states in the United States. When those members go those places and seek care, their information follow them so that they get better treatment than individuals who doesn’t have an integrated health record available for physician to see.
The site is valuable to visitor because it encourage people to become the member of the national health care network and share their medical information electronically. Their medical information will be available in the time of need and be useful in health care information exchange whenever they travel in those countries of the world and be in a situation to receive health care.
2) Advanced data system corporation (ADS)
http://www.adsc.com/ehr_docassistant.asp
Purpose of the Site:-To indicate that ADS came up with the ultimate electronic medical record software that is very important in today’s health care management than the traditional paper based documentation of personal health records.
The site is valuable to visitor because it communicates clearly how superior electronic medical care is and lists the benefits of using electronic health record. It also tells people that unlike other software, the EMR software is not going to be purchased separately and installed in their computers. Instead it can be directly accessed online. It also shows what the EMR software will look like on their webpage in a way to encourage users how easy it would be to upload their medical information without the need of filling out forms. Patients also will have capability to fill out automated questioners about their medical recorded in advance to arrival to the practice site. The corporation also strive to find a software solutions that links patient health record with i-phone and allow care provider obtain up to date information from patients which will be available on the tip of their finger during the time of care giving. They also worked on developing software products for example a computer based provider order entry (CPOE) that us absolutely important in health care information exchange that is proven to free up care providers’ time and reduces costs.
3) OmniMD
http://www.myemrstimulus.com/about/
Purpose of site:-To develop the HIPPA complaint standard on EMH usage. They are leaders in e-business development and internet consultant. They also have products such as EMR software Medical billing software and give services such as Medical transcription, medical document management etc.
The site is valuable to visitor in that it lists summary of the key and critical factors in the implementation of CPOE. It also provides education why e-prescribing is important and how it works. They also have several products that are typically focused on improving the medical care via IT management of HER. Therefore, one learns about terminologies on electronic health care process and show how they work in a brief summary.
4) Wikipedia-The free encyclopedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_health_record
Purpose of site:-To educate people about electronic health record by giving description, definitions and examples on what EMR mean.
The site is valuable for any person to get the first hand educational information on EMR. In addition it also lists advantage and disadvantages associated with using EMR.
5) My medical records.com
http://www.mymedicalrecords.com/aboutUs.jsp
Purpose of site:-They provide solution that is secure and easy to use in addition to the web-based storage solution to consumers, care providers, insurances, employers, professional organizations etc. Using file upload, fax, phone, e-mail etc they make an electronic exchange of sensitive documents among prescriber, pharmacy and consumer only through a security enabled system that uses the application of passwords. The major aim is also to reduce the complexity of health care record keeping process for prescribers and making prescribing both time and cost effective.
The site is valuable to visitor in that one can learn about the important alternatives of electronic medical recording and prescribing systems targeting in the improvement of the health outcome of the patient via using electronic information sharing systems available today. One can also learn that this company gives at the top of their list in order to increase confidence among users especially prescribers.
1. MarketWatch: Electronic Health Records prepare for their close-up
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/cashing-in-on-electronic-health-records-2010-04-13.
The purpose of this article is to inform patients and healthcare providers of new regulations that would impact the evolving medical records system which is fast moving towards EHR. This article examines the perceived benefit of EHR to patients and healthcare providers. It examines the use of EHR systems globally compared to the U.S. and explains potential benefits and pitfalls.
The value to visitors of this site would be gaining information to form an opinion on EHR. This could explain the potential benefit or harm that EHR may present in healthcare to concerned patients and healthcare providers who must adopt this new system.
2. Allscripts EHR – The Right EHR
http://www.allscripts.com/products/electronic-health-record/allscripts-enterprise/.
The purpose of this site is to sell the EHR system that Allscripts offers. They are targeting physicians in private practices, hospitals, and community organizations to adopt the EHR system they sell by illustrating its main benefits.
The value to visitors of this site would be evaluating the benefits, and obtaining prices for adoption of this EHR program.
3. Electronic health record alone may have limited ability to improve quality, costs of care – Eurekalert!
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-04/mgh-ehr040610.php.
The purpose of this site is to highlight a study that attempts to examine the possible benefit of EHR utilization across several hospital institutions. It takes into account quality measurements to assess improvements prior to EHR installation and after EHR installation.
Value to visitors of this site: Through this study, institutions can evaluate what steps must be taken to improve healthcare through better use/implementation of EHR.
4. Defense Health Information Management Systems (DHIMS): About AHLTA
http://dhims.health.mil/userSupport/ahlta/index.aspx.
The purpose of this site is as a training resource to help explain the use of the U.S. Military’s EHR, AHLTA. It accompanies information that has already been previously presented to military healthcare workers by presenting tutorials and tips to aid in its use.
The value to visitors is as a resource for manipulating the EHR service for military healthcare workers. If there are any concerns or problems with operating the system, this serves as a valuable resource to learn the proper utilization of the system.
5. Electronic Health Records and Privacy Law
http://www.law.com/jsp/lawtechnologynews/PubArticleLTN.jsp?id=1202431306531.
The purpose of this article is to examine the potential legal issues with adopting an EHR. It delves into laws and acts that may prove to be an obstruction to the ideal EHR.
The value to visitors is to provide information on potential legal obstructions to initiating EHR programs into healthcare organizations. This may also help to guide EHR installers into avoiding pitfalls that could limit or prohibit use of certain features. This site could be informative for organizational personnel training to insure privacy.
Website 1:
Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) – Electronic Health Record
http://www.himss.org/ASP/topics_ehr.asp
This website provides a fairly complete overview of Electronic Health Records. It explains the process of EHR adoption, how to obtain HIT and EHRs in a cost efficient manner, what standards are being set for EHRs, and some of the headway being made for Global EHRs. This site also explains usability of EHRs and gives case studies and success stories to show how different health systems have implemented EHRs. This site does not have a synopsis of these topics but gives the reader access to various different publications regarding the above topics through links posted under a Topics & Tools side bar.
In my opinion, this site is an excellent tool to educate those in the health profession about EHRs. Because it does not provide a direct written overview of the topics but forces readers to access and read the actual publications, I feel it would not be a site that would be as beneficial and helpful to the average patient interested in learning more about EHRs.
Website 2:
Indian Health Service – Electronic Health Record
http://www.ihs.gov/CIO/EHR/
This site was designed solely to provide a look at the EHR design provided by the Indian Health Service. It also provides links to additional information. Clinical overviews are given to see how the IHS works within a clinical practice providing such services as point-of-service entry and data retrieval as an example. Technical overview is given to show the types of specifications needed to operate the EHR software such as a network link to PIMS (a program HSOP formerly used.) It also gives links to documents that can help in preparing other IHS facilities to use EHRs and train personnel in the use of the EHR system. Among other links are a ListServ, a Frequently Asked Questions link, and a Program Contacts link. This site provides a complete look at the IHS EHR system.
In my opinion, this site provides a great example of a working EHR. However, this particular system is designed only for use by IHS. Therefore, this site can only be used as a template for others trying to implement EHRs in a clinical setting. This website would provide a great in-depth look at the EHR for health care professionals but does not provide the overview that an average patient is looking for when trying to learn about the use of EHRs in his or her individual health care.
Website 3:
Palo Alto Medical Foundation – Benefits of EHR
http://www.pamf.org/ehr/benefits/
This website provides an overview of the Palo Alto Medical Foundation’s EHR. It gives the benefits of the personal EHR created for each of the foundation’s patients and how these records can be accessed by any provider in the system. This system incorporates everything from documentation of patient interactions, to physician referrals, to flagging of potentially harmful drug interactions. This website also gives a look at how this type of system is the future of health care and states that the Bush Administration ear-marked $125 million for health information technology projects. In addition, this website shows how the recent surge in implementing EHRs is not the first; EHR has been around since the 90s, and PAMF has been using an EHR system since 1999.
This website is a general overview of a successful implementation of an EHR system in a health care network. It is site that is beneficial to patients wanting more information on EHRs since it gives them an easy-read source of information about what an EHR can allow any healthcare provider to do within this particular system. This site also gives the benefits of nationwide EHR implementation so that patients can see how EHRs can work in their favor.
Website 4:
Buzzel.com – 10 Benefits of an Electronic Medical Record
http://www.buzzle.com/editorials/7-14-2005-73154.asp
This website article gives ten benefits of using EMRs. It highlights speed, storage, security, support, accessibility, affordability, infrastructure, versatility, efficiency, and manageability as EMRs main selling points. As an example, the article states, “speed equals ability to compete….” Speed also allows for less time problem-solving and more time invested in patient care. The article highlights usability, stating that companies seeking to implement a new EMR program should research the different programs available to see which is the best fit for the particular company, as each program varies in usability and manageability.
This site is a great advocate for EMR usage. It addresses areas that are questionable to both the patient and the healthcare provider and shows how EMRs are a benefit in patient care. By addressing the topic of security, it puts readers at ease about some of the questions raised by having a nationally accessible medical record. The important issue to note with this article is the writer is not employed by one of the companies trying to sell or implement the EMR technology; therefore, his opinion is not biased by trying to make a sale.
Website 5:
MDS Medical Electronic Medical Records Software – Benefits of Electronic Medical Records
http://www.mdsmedicalsoftware.com/benefits-electronic-medical-records.php
This website is designed to give an overview of how EMR software can benefit ambulatory medical practices. The site specifically mentions that the company’s software helps speed delivery of care and helps decrease costs by eliminating the use of paper. It also highlights some of the other benefits such as reduced patient callbacks, increased patient safety, reduced medication errors, and increased patient satisfaction.
This site is primarily aimed at selling EMR software to ambulatory practices. However, they do make the disclaimer that not all systems are alike; therefore, they tailor the message of the website towards pushing EMR implementation rather than just selling their product. They help provide information for health care providers on how EMR can benefit the ambulatory care practice setting in patient satisfaction, efficiency, and profitability. This site is beneficial for a brief overview of the positives of implementing EMRs in healthcare settings.
1) CENTERS FOR MEDICAID AND MEDICARE SERVICES
URL: http://www.cms.gov/EHealthRecords/
Purpose: This website defines Electronic Health Records and links within itself to information on the Economic Recovery Act of 2009. The Economic Recovery Act of 2009 has provisions in it on the adoption of Health Information Technology, and this website describes the specific role Medicaid and Medicare will play in the adoption of Electronic Health Records. This website also provides links to outside sources of information on Electronic Health Records.
Value: This website provides useful information for anyone interested in learning about Electronic Health Records as they pertain to the Economic Recovery Act of 2009 Health Information Technology provisions. It is also a useful resource for practitioners who deal with Medicaid and Medicare patients to learn more about how the use of Electronic Health Records will impact their practice.
2) ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORDS OVERVIEW
URL: http://www.ncrr.nih.gov/publications/informatics/EHR.pdf
Purpose: This website is a document released by the National Institutes of Health’s National Center for Research Resources and provides a complete overview of Electronic Health Records. It not only defines but also provides history on and the components of Electronic Health Records. It describes research finding on key standards, workflow implications, technical and business trends, as well as cost and return on investment.
Value: This website document is a great resource on almost any subject pertaining to Electronic Health Records and their adoption. It is valuable to anyone wanting to know more information on Electronic Health Records and their implications for the future. It is written in a way so that it can be understood by any novice on the concept and still provides valuable information on the subject; even if you are a healthcare expert.
3) INDIAN HEALTH SERVICE
URL: http://www.ihs.gov/CIO/EHR/
Purpose: This website provides general information on Electronic Health Records as well as specific information on how the Indian Health Service is implementing its version, the Resource and Patient Management System. There are many links providing access to numerous sources of information on Electronic Health Records.
Value: This website is a valuable resource for providers considering implementing Electronic Health Records as it provides insight on how an organization the size of the Indian Health Service is implementing its own version. It provides information on the technicalities involved in implementing Electronic Health Records; this even includes information on the training of how to use them. This website is a reliable source of information because it is the website for a federal program devoted to the healthcare of native populations in the United States.
4) HEALTHCARE INFORMATION AND MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS SOCIETY
URL: http://www.himss.org/ASP/topics_ehr.asp
Purpose: This website is primarily designed to provide to its members information on the benefits of implementing health information technology as well as the latest laws, rules, and regulations; with aims to improve the current healthcare system. The website is accessible to anyone who would like to educate themselves on topics related to and the importance of Electronic Health Records. It also provides links to other outside sources of information on Electronic Health Records.
Value: This website is a valuable resource for information about Electronic Health Records and other Healthcare Information Technologies. The information it provides is very in-depth and easy to access. It educates readers on the benefits of adopting Electronic Health Records as well as discussing some technical issues involved in implementing them in the healthcare industry. It also provides multiple links to other sources of information on the subject.
5) OPEN CLINICAL
URL: http://www.openclinical.org/emr.html
Purpose: This website spells out the definition of Electronic Health Records, the benefits of adopting Electronic Health Records, barriers to adopting Electronic Health Records, issues related to Electronic Health Records, and standards for adopting Electronic Health Records. Overall the website is designed to provide information on and promote the adoption of Electronic Health Records.
Value: This website is an excellent source of information for individuals interested in learning about Electronic Health Records. It provides thorough information that any beginner on the subject can grasp. It would be a useful resource for any healthcare provider considering implementation of Electronic Health Records as well as for individual patients taking advantage of the use of their personal Electronic Health Record.
http://www.himss.org/ASP/topics_ehr.asp
The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) is a website focused on providing the best use of information technology (IT) and management systems for healthcare improvement. This section of the HIMSS website focuses on the EHR and has many resources that tell all about it
With a mission of transforming healthcare through the effective use of information technology and management systems, the HIMSS website is useful to inform individuals about the benefits of the EHR. This website is great for individuals wanting some background on the EHR. It informs readers of what the EHR is and what it does. With everything from EHR adoption and standards to tools for professionals, The HIMSS website is a great one stop website for all the background information you would want to know about electronic health records and more.
http://www.ihs.gov/cio/ehr/
This website is all about the Indian Health Service’s (IHS) EHR. There is a large amount on information dedicated to the new EHR as well as links to many other helpful websites.
The site is very useful for Indian health care facilities that are thinking about implementing their own EHR. There are clinical and technical overviews aimed at the capabilities of the EHR and hardware needed to operate it. There are links to training pages to help in implementing an EHR service as well as links to new updates. Along with all this are FAQ and a listserv that you sign up for. Overall this is a great website to go to if you are in the IHS and want to implement your own EHR service.
http://www.openehr.org/home.html
The openEHR is an international non-profit foundation’s website that’s ultimate goal is to improve on the informatics of health care by making the EHR a reality.
This website is useful for individuals who want to make the EHR a reality. The website contains open source software and tools that can be used to implement the EHR. There are also news and events links to keep everyone updated and a community site to share ideas. The open source software is easily accessed via the download link and there are also pages about software projects that are in the works. This is a great website for open source software to implement the EHR as well as information about research and advances.
http://ehrdecisions.com/
This website was created by the Certification Commission for Health Information Technology (CCHIT) and is aimed at accelerating the adoption of the EHR.
The CCHIT’s goal is to certify EHR systems in the hopes that by helping make purchase decisions more doctors will aim to implement the EHR in their practice. This commission’s goal is to make sure the EHR’s they certify will be interoperable and able to connect and send patient data between other providers while still keeping patient data confidential. On top of this they are also focused on trying to get more financial assistance for providers who implement the EHR. This website is actually the organizations informal website and provides up to date information on EHR’s.
http://ehrguy.com/default.aspx
This website is a blog by Michael Planchart. He is an entrepreneur and an Enterprise and Solutions Architect in the Healthcare IT domain. His goal is to provide an educational, informative, and professional blog/website devoted to the EHR.
This website is great for individuals who are more interested in the up to date information presented in blog format. This website has very educational information delivered in a professional way. The website is useful because it contains the EHR guy’s blog as well as links to other bloggers on the subject. There is also news and facts links as well as other links related to informatics. An events calendar along with live instant messaging capabilities makes this an overall great website to find out what is happening with the EHR.
1. Advanced MD http://promo.advancedmd.com/lp/ehr-3.php?source=Google_EMR-EHLTHREC&lsid=496817&kw=electronic%20health%20record&cr=5427246855&gclid=CI-MzPuyt6ECFQqbnAodGnNGAw
The purpose of Advanced MD is to serve as an online medical billing and electronic health record. The website is promoting the software and hoping to appeal to potential customers. The value of the website is that it provides a description of all the services contained within Advanced MD’s software. In addition, it provides a free demo of the software to allow potential customers to get an actual experience with it before they make the investment. It provides a list of the many benefits of using their software including: maintaining chart electronically and consistently, managing diverse systems and data as one, engaging and informing patients online, and gaining mobile access to patient data.
2. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Overview of Electronic Health Records
http://www.cms.gov/EHealthRecords/
The purpose of the website is to explain what electronic health records are and what their benefit is to the patient. The value of this to the patient is to explain what kind of information would be contained in the EHR such as labs, past medical history, vital signs, medications, and problem list. It also provides links to several other both within the CMS website and external links that the patients may find useful. It explains what EHRs can do for you, the patient and what you can expect from them now and in the future.
3. HIMSS (Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society)
http://www.himss.org/ASP/topics_ehr.asp
The purpose of the website is to provide a resource for those planning to implement or currently making the transition to electronic health records. There are sites dedicated to EHR adoption, standards that are required, tools for professionals, and some select success stories. There are a multitude of values associated with the different aspects of this site. It provides guidance for adoption of EHR, allowing for an easier transition and information on costs, benefits, and consequences within the pharmacy. The “Usability” section describes all the features that can be utilized with EHR. The standards that must be upheld for EHRs are intense, and the link to information on how to make sure you comply is very informative. The success stories cover a multitude of topics allowing for several perspectives and possible situations that may be encountered.
4. Medinformatix
http://www.medinformatix.com/
The purpose of the website is to provide information on their healthcare IT company as well as provide a description of their products and services. There are testimonials, press releases, information on features and benefits of their products and services. The value of this website extends to offering demos of some of the products (i.e. Radiology Information System). It also alerts potential consumers of the fact that they even provide user training. It also gives a listing of their awards and certifications as well as a “why Medinformatix?” section. In addition it provides contact information should you desire further information.
5. Software Advice: EMR and EHR
http://www.softwareadvice.com/medical/electronic-medical-record-software-comparison/?wfvar=wfvara2
The purpose of the website is to provide advice on at least 46 electronic medical and health record software options to help health care providers select the best one to fit their needs. The value of this website to visitors is to present unbiased evaluations of EMR and EHR software. Along with the synopsis of pros and cons there are screen shots of what the program looks like. It simply states what sets each program apart from the others which would allow you to pick the best option for your practice. Links to demos, pricing information, and asking Software Advice a question are all listed on the same page which gives the consumer easy access to these resources. They have evaluated 46 different software programs! This is an extensive research project that will really cut down on the time providers would have to spend researching.
Open Clinical
http://www.openclinical.org/emr.html
This website is geared towards healthcare professionals and anyone interested in learning about management technologies for healthcare. The purpose of this site is to promote the use of electronic medical records to health professionals and the community so as to improve the quality of patient care. Also, this site promotes EMR and the adoption of healthcare knowledge applications in order to ensure more safe, quality and ethical health care.
This website has information including common terms associated with EMR to better understand it and multiple definitions of EMR for those who are unfamiliar with the term. It also includes key capabilities that an EMR does and should possess. It gives in detail lists of benefits and barriers for health professionals considering using EMR in clinical practice.
EMR experts
http://www.emrexperts.com/electronic-medical-record-software/index.php
This website is focused on educating the clients of the website that buy EMR for their use in the healthcare profession. It has unbiased information for clients to show them the best options for the personal EMR system and how to use it. They specialize in practice and management software.
This website lists specific types of EMR based on the medical field in which you are purchasing it for. For example, a dermatologist would click on the dermatology EMR link to access that. It also has a place where you can type in your name, email, clinic, and specialty to receive a free trial. The EMR experts promote by promising that they can help you find the right type of EMR for your practice the first time.
CBS News
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/05/19/eveningnews/main5026117.shtml
This website is a news station website and this is an article entitled “Are electronic medical records the future”. Its purpose is to inform those that the EMR will be adopted by American health care in the future. It has an informational video link to the side of the news clip and provides a discussion board for people to discuss the future of EMR.
This article discusses the benefits and limitations of traditional paper-based medical records vs. adopting an EMR. It discusses whether the EMR should be a part of the future of healthcare in U.S. It tells a story of a woman who claims that EMR saved her life by reducing errors.
Health Affairs
http://content.healthaffairs.org/cgi/content/abstract/24/5/1103
Health Affairs is one of the leading journals about healthcare and research. This website seeks to inform the public on original research, new proposals, and original analyses of timely health policy issues. This website also offers a blog which provides opportunities for discussion about health care policy.
This website article discusses whether EMR can really transform health care like many people claim that it can. It discusses potential health benefits, savings, and costs comparative to a traditional paper system.
Software Advice
http://www.softwareadvice.com/articles/medical/ehr-vs-emr-whats-the-difference/
This website is a medical blog that offers free advice about software including EMR. This is a website for companies to research and find the right software for them.
This website explains the difference between EMR and EHR. It defines the two and tells the difference between them which is oftentimes clouded. It stresses that this difference should influence the decision of the provider as to which they should purchase and who should buy an EMR or an EHR.
HIMSS – Electronic Health Record (EHR) –
http://www.himss.org/ASP/topics_ehr.asp
Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) is an healthcare-stakeholder organization (members only) whose main goal is to provide global leadership for the most advantageous use in Information Technology (IT) and management systems to help improve the current healthcare status. Since 1961, HIMSS has over 23,000 individual members and over 380 corporate members.
The website’s value to its readers is providing a way to get up to date information regarding healthcare technology all from one trusted, easy to access and utilize site. It can inform and benefit anyone from the most inexperienced reader to the head of IT in different hospitals and clinics. It offers a wide scope of topics from privacy and security to cost and revenue constraints.
Electronic Health Record/ Personal Health Record – http://www.hl7.org/implement/standards/ehrphr.cfm
Health Level Seven International (HL7) is a developing organization dedicated to providing ‘standards’ to help characterize the principle presentation of clinical information. It is not geared toward a specific vendor, but it provides information allowing each independent system to communicate with one another. These message ‘standards’ provide support which allows for data exchange from one system to another.
This website is will allow users to view different standards, which would help solve clinical interface problems. The standards have been easily adopted, which helps increase the network effect and decreases the cost quickly.
Electronic Health Records software EHR Electronic Medical Records – http://www.adsc.com/ehr_docassistant.asp
Advanced Data Systems Corporation (ADS) is the major provider of Electronic Health Records (EHR/EMR), along with Practice Management and Radiology Information Systems (RIS/PACS) solution. ADS serves over 30,000 physicians in every medical specialty.
This website is extremely valuable to any company or organization that is interested in purchasing EHR software. Along with being able to purchase the software, the website provides online training seminars for the software.
Electronic Medical Records (EMR) Software – http://www.softwareadvice.com/medical/electronic-medical-record-software-comparison/?wfvar=wfvarb
Software Advice reviews and compares different medical software available and helps select the one that would be most suitable for ones’ specific needs. Software Advice also offers free advice to the buyers.
When one visits this website, they would be able to select all the criteria that they need or want in their software, which then narrows down their list of available products. Those who are seeking to purchase, will also be able to get a free demo of the software(s) prior to buying as well as the cost of the software.
Electronic Health Record – http://www.allscripts.com/products/electronic-health-record/default.asp
AllScripts provides innovative software, services and clinical information to physicians and other healthcare providers. AllScripts serves over 160,000 physicians, 800 hospitals and thousands of other healthcare providers. AllScripts’ goal is to restore our disengaged healthcare system into an allied system.
This website will allow users to view the different EHR software that AllScripts is offering. AllScripts offers three different types of EHR software and each are geared for a specific environment. This allows physicians and other healthcare providers to decide which would be the most beneficial product for their practice. Along with the products available through AllScripts, healthcare providers will be able to get up to date information on all the current IT news and current studies that are being performed.
1. Military Health System (MHS) Electronic Health Record
http://dhims.health.mil/userSupport/ahlta/about.aspx
The purpose of this website is to educate readers about AHLTA and provides training to the new users of AHLTA system on how to operate AHLTA. The training is provided in the form of guides, manuals, videos and tutorials. AHLTA is the database management system that contains medical and dental information of all military personnel as well as their beneficiaries. AHLTA is a centralized EHR that provides secure access to physicians, nurses and other individuals who are involved in the care and treatment of military personnel and their beneficiaries. This website proves to be valuable for the following reasons. This website provides AHLTA system information as well as the system updates information such as the new AHLTA 3.3 modules. It also provides relevant links to AHLTA and other excellent resources so that readers can learn more about AHLTA as well as topics surrounding AHLTA. This website is valuable to its visitor in that it not only provides thorough information regarding AHLTA system, but it also provides users guide and manual to help users who are new to the AHLTA system This website provides videos, tutorials and user tips for purpose of AHLTA system training so this website would be very beneficial to those who wants more information regarding how to use and operate AHLTA system.
2. HealthCare Information and Management Systems Society
http://www.himss.org/ASP/topics_ehr.asp
The purpose of this website is to educate readers about EHR and also presents all the issues and topics that relate to EHR. It also describes how EHR can benefit different healthcare organizations and in a way it promotes the use of EHR. This site would be valuable to the general public, all healthcare professionals and healthcare organizations because it provides lots of links and excellent resources that everyone can learn more about EHR and the current topics related to EHR. It is also valuable in that it provides many links such as EHR Usability, Tools for EHR professionals and Standards and Interoperability of EHR and Global EHR. These links and other additional links on the website serve to provide reliable information to the readers. In addition, membership is being offered at affiliate, individual, corporate and organizational level which act to tie and connect all professionals and organizations together. Individuals and organizations who are interested in EHR topic as well as other topics such as Health Care Reforms can join for the purpose of education or social networking. This website is also valuable to those who want to obtain CPHIMS certification (CPHIMS stands for Certified Professional in Healthcare Information and Management Systems) as well as those who seek scholarship opportunities and career development.
3. EMR Experts
http://www.emrexperts.com/electronic-medical-record-software/index.php
The purpose of this website is to educate physicians of various specialties on the use and applications of different Electronic Medical Record Software to help physicians choose the right management software for their practice. This website is valuable because it provides links to many different EMR software that are applicable to Cardiology, Endocrinology, Gastroenterology, Neurology, Pain Management and to many other medical specialties. These links explain the features, benefits, use and application of different EMR software and this would help physicians and healthcare organization to know which EMR software is the best fit for their specialty practice. This website not only provides numerous links to broaden the knowledge of the readers regarding EMR software, it also provides excellent links to current issues related to EMR/EHR. Therefore visitors can obtain a variety of knowledge about EMR/EHR from this website ranging from EMR software to EMR related current issues. Visitors can also sign up to view a free demonstration of Electronic Medical Record and Practice Management Software to see what it is like.
4. Software Advice
http://www.softwareadvice.com/medical/electronic-medical-record-software-comparison/?wfvar=wfctrl
The purpose of this site is to provide information regarding all the different brand of EMR software systems so that buyers can compare the price and the unique features among the different EMR software systems. This website would prove to be valuable to its visitors for the following reasons. For each brand of EMR software system, this website provides detail information regarding features, benefits, its use and application as well as free demo and price quote so that buyer would know which system best fit with their specialty practice. This website is also valuable in that it helps the buyers to narrow down their search. By completing a list of questions that is provides on the website, it brings up a list of specific EMR software that would be most closely matched with the needs of the buyers. There are also additional links that group EMR software according to their application to a specific medical specialty therefore it is very easy for buyers to search for what they want. In addition, if buyers have questions and want to talk to experts in EMR software field, they can call a direct number listed on the site.
5. Athena Health
http://www.athenahealth.com/our-services/athenaClinicals.php?open=20
The purpose of this website is to advertise Athena Health’s EHR software called athenaClinicals. It describes all the unique features, benefits, use and application of athenaClinicals EHR software to influence buying decision. This website is valuable to its visitors for the following reasons. It provides detail information, unique features and testimonials about athenaClinical EHR software so that potential buyers can learn more about it and determine for themselves whether athenaClinical EHR software would fit with their specialty practice. Potential buyers can also sign up for a free demo of athenaClinical EHR software to see how it works before they decide to purchase it. In addition, this website also has numerous links to EHR related issues, FAQ section as well as descriptions of other management software such as athenaCollector and athenaCommunicator. Overall, this website provides useful information to potential buyers of athenaClinical EHR software.
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Topic chosen electronic health records
I wanted to use a progression them with fist identifying what EHR is and then progress from there.
1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_health_record is the URL and Wikipedia is the site
I love this site because it can give you and over view of what the EHR is and what it means. This is a great site for a person to just begin to search with it gives you a better understanding of what it is and gives you a foundation to build your knowledge of the subject at hand and it is a website that everyone generally knows how to use. This may be the best overall site for anyone to use and get comfortable using. Not only does it give you a since of what you are researching but it also give the resources which may even be more important than the material that you read on the site. If you are researching something this is the first site that you should use
2. http://www.himss.org/ASP/topics_stark.asp is the URL and the website is Himss.org. HIMSS stand for Healthcare Information and Management System Society. This website is based on the principle of giving members the latest updates on the rules and some tax laws for practices wanting to establish collaborative practices and accepting donations for the IT equipment. This site seems like a good place for a company that is thinking of starting an EHR. It like because it gives us the basic rules and regulations for starting and can help you get a better grip on what it is going to take and the way that you should go about getting it started. It doesn’t give much information about what it is or how the EHR can help it is much more beneficial for some who is really considering getting started.
3. http://www.govhealthit.com/?scr=Hweb is the URL and the website is Government Health IT.
This website looks pretty awesome it is actually a magazine but it can also come in the form of a website. It is not solely for the purpose of informing the member of EHR news but also for informing the members of all the other important IT information. I really think this would be great for the person or company that already has accepted or have already implemented their own EHR system and want the latest and greatest news and all the new updates on what is going on and all the information and guide lines they need and the information they need to keep their EHR systems up to date. But it is even more than that it gives you IT buffs all the information or news about the latest and greatest things in the IT world that has to do with health information.
4. http://www.scientificamerican.com/blog/post.cfm?id=moving-forward-with-electronic-heal-2010-02-05 this is the URL and the site is scientific America. This is a blogging site about anything scientific. I think it is important to get a lot of peoples’ perspective on different things and how different people think about them. This certain article is about the latest information about president Obama giving money and tax breaks for hospitals and clinical and private practices that start using EHR to record different things. The main thing about this site though it the fact that it can give many different opinions about different subjects I mean there is no end to what people think and write and I think it is important to be tapped into what and how people think and what they would do to and what problems they encountered when dealing with certain issues.
5. http://www.athenahealth.com/cmp/clinicalsppc/index.php?bmtn=10003289&CMP=10003289&HBX_PK=electronic+health+record&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=electronic%20health%20record&utm_campaign=Clinical%20Driver%20Terms this is the URL but the site is Athena health. This site is for some organization or practice that is ready to make that leap into the EHR world. This site is a do it all site it will get you started on the way to getting your EHR system it is the real way to getting started. It is not quite what you think it is. This website handles getting all of your old information into the format that you need to get it into. This website handles the big question how are you going to get all of the old information into the electronic records that we will use for patients. I think that this will be a huge problem once everyone starts turning to the EHR and this website can help. Even if it is not this particular site you will need someone to convert all of your old files to electronic files.
Site name: HiMSS (Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society
URL: http://www.himss.org/ASP/topics_ehr.asp
Site purpose: The purpose of this website is to provide a resource to implement healthcare transformation to insure effective use of health information technology.
Explanation of value: This site provides information and tools to implement electronic healthcare records to improve information technology in healthcare. The website defines what an EHR is and how to implement the program. It also provides update to date links to the progress of healthcare legislation. There is also information on the usability of an EHR. In addition to implementing an EHR, it also provides information on the benefits and problem areas of implementing a global EHR. The tool section for EHR professionals offers technical information to redesign workflows to support information technologies in healthcare.
Site name: CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services)
URL: http://www.cms.gov/EHealthRecords/
Site purpose: The purpose if to promote quality of care and provide up to date healthcare coverage.
Explanation of value: This website provides an overview in the position of healthcare. The EHR portion provides an overview by reducing medical errors and improving accuracy. It provides links concerning related to the economic recovery act concerning the implementation of healthcare. The EHR section’s main purpose is to provide links that provide further information on EHR implementation.
Site name: Advanced Data Systems Corporation
URL: http://www.adsc.com/ehr_docassistant.asp
Site purpose: The purpose of this site is to provide state-of-the-art physician software for electronic health records.
Explanation of value: This website offers a free information tool kit and live demonstration of how an EHR will work. The product increases efficiency, improved documentation, enhanced security and improved quality of care services. The software has features that include: computer based provider entry, evidence based medicine, e-prescribing software, and full-featured electronic health record software. This website provides a live demonstration of their software.
Site name: ehrCentral @ The Provider’s Edge
URL: http://www.providersedge.com/index.html
Site purpose: This site provides comprehensive information on the advantages of an electronic health record.
Explanation of value: The site provides an overview of the advantage of an electronic health record provides for improving quality of care. It discusses eight core functions of an EHR. Those functions include: health information and data, results management, order management, decision support, patient support, administrative processes, reporting, and electronic communication and connectivity. It also compiles frequently asked questions about EHRs. It provides advantages for use in hospitals and physician practices. The site provides an event calendar for promotion of the use of EHRs.
Site name: Indian Health Service
URL: http://www.ihs.gov/cio/ehr/
Site purpose: To provide information primarily for HIS, Tribal and Urban Indian health care services for implementation of EHRs.
Explanation of value: This site provides clinical and technical overviews for implementation of EHRs. The clinical aspect provides information on the use of the EHR system and benefits of use. The technical overview provides information on types of hardware and network requirements to run an EHR system. It also provides documentation resources to ease the transition to the system. The website also provides a FAQ section that answers questions about the use and implementation. It also provides a EHR ListServ that allows for users to subscribe and email questions to colleagues about EHR systems.
1. The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS). Electronic Health Records. http://www.himss.org/ASP/topics_ehr.asp This website is home to HIMSS, which is a healthcare-stakeholder membership organization whose goal is to improve health care by promoting, educating and implementing health information technology. This site provides topics relating to electronic health records and clinical informatics as well as providing information about conferences and events being held around the world. This site is valuable to people who would like more information on EHR. It gives an over view of what an electronic health record is and gives the latest news updates on EHR technology. This site would be helpful for any health care provider who is interested in implementing EHR’s in their practice. The site explains the standards for EHR, tools for professionals using EHR and EHR usability. It provides documents submitted from HIMSS’s corporate members that would help someone learn more about EHR’s. The site is also valuable because it share’s success stories and case studies about electronic health records which would make health care professionals more at ease in using EHR’s.
2. Medinformatix. http://www.medinformatix.com/ Medinformatix is a company that provides Electronic Medical Records and Practice Management systems for many different medical fields. This site’s purpose is to explain to its readers what Medinformatix is, what products and services Medinformatix has available, and why health care professionals should choose Medinformatix as their information technology system. This site would be beneficial to any healthcare provider looking to use Medinformatix’s services in their practice. The site provides an overview of Medinformatix’s company information and gives descriptions of their products and services, including Integrated Practice Management and EMR as well as real time support and user training. The site also explains the benefits of using Medinformatix and includes testimonials from health care professionals already using Medinformatix. The site also includes contact information for support and includes current press releases to keep its readers up to date with the latest in health care technology news.
3. Indian Health Services. Electronic Health Record. http://www.ihs.gov/cio/ehr/ This site explains the recent implementation of EHR within the Indian Health Services. The system that the Indian Health Service has created is called Resource and Patient Management System (RPMS). This site is beneficial to the Indian health care facilities that have begun using EHR or is thinking about using EHR. It provides the documents and resources needed for the health facility to begin using EHR. It provides links to EHR clinical overview and technological requirements needed to use EHR. This is helpful because the health facilities can learn the capabilities and technical aspects of EHR and RPMS. It also provides links to EHR training events so the health professionals and their staff can correctly learn how to use EHR. The site also provides presentations, frequently asked questions, and feedback about the electronic health records used in the Indian Health Services.
4. Physicians EHR. http://www.physiciansehr.com/ This site is a female owned and operated HER consultation business. They consult with and help doctors in the USA with managing their electronic health records, electronic medical records along with various other health technology fields for a fee. This site would be beneficial to any physician who has begun using EHR and EMR’s and needs help or advice on managing the EHR. They provide staff training services and EHR vendor support services. The site also provides links to purchase EHR books or involve one’s self in an online conference to help learn more about EHR.
5. Center for Studying Health System Change. Electronic Medical Records and Communication with Patients and Other Clinicians: Are We Talking Less? http://www.hschange.org/CONTENT/1125/ This website contains an article that explains how electronic medical records can be beneficial and harmful for the physician-patient relationship. This site would be helpful for patients and physicians who are worried about their future relationship after EMR’s are implemented in their practice. This site is beneficial because it looks at both sides of the argument. It looks at how implementing EMR’s can allow the physician to have more interaction with the patient because they are not scrambling around looking for a patient’s past medical history but also looks at how having a computer with a patient’s EMR could be distracting to the physician. This site looks at electronic versus live communication between physicians and patients, potential pitfalls of EMR’s, and provides links to other research about EMR’s and how they affect physician communication.
1. HIMSS: Transforming healthcare through it
http://www.himss.org/ASP/indIntellHome.asp
http://www.himss.org/ASP/topics_ehr.asp
This site is an organizational website, of which name is Healthcare Information and Management systems Society (HIMSS). The organization has more than 23,000 individual members, 380 corporate members and 30 not-for-profit smaller organizations all around the world. The site promotes the use of informational technology in healthcare among the professionals as well as the students pursuing their careers in healthcare.
The site has many links to provide information about news, research, publications, certifications of the organization, and anything related to information technology and management systems in healthcare to serve human well-beings. It updates the latest healthcare IT news everyday to keep its readers up to date with the rapidly changing world of IT.
One of the link of the site is about the Electronic Health record. It provides definition of what EHR is and leads to other links related to EHR
The organization also has scholarship awards to its student members who have achieved academic excellence and demonstrate future leadership in the healthcare information and management systems industry.
2. EHR Watch
http://ehrwatch.com/
The site focuses on the developments in electronic health records in healthcare industry. It provides information and news about hospitals or many places that use EHR in their systems. It also introduces funding sources for the system to be used, product integration as well as standards developments of EHR.
The site has many links to different topics related to EHR. There are also commentary entries where people who have experiences in EHR or are not familiar with the system share their thoughts as well as their own stories about the application of EHR in healthcare. The news are also updated on a daily basis for the readers to keep up with the changing happening every day.
The readers have to sign up to get access to the commentary entries and post their thoughts on the page. They can also subscribe to the latest news related to EHR. The unique characteristic of this site is that it also has a poll section where it changes the question once in a while and ask for opinions of the readers.
3. The Physician Advisor Company
http://www.ehrdocs.com/
The site is a company’s website to promote their services as the Physician Advisor Company. The site describes the importance of the application of EHR in improving hospital revenue integrity and maintaining the best quality of care as well as regulatory compliance. Therefore, their well-trained expert physicians in EHR will be very helpful to achieve these goals.
The site provides full information about what EHR is, how it works and its benefit in health care. It also introduces its staffs as expert physicians who are well trained in this field and can perform spectacular tasks in using EHR. It also has links to the latest news as well as resources of EHR that people might want to discover for more understandings of the system.
Coming to the sites, the readers will have a full understanding of EHR and its benefit in health care. The company also provides career opportunities for any one that is eligible and interested in this field. The readers who work in a hospital or a clinic and want to use the system in their work places, they can contact the company for its services.
4. Indian Health Service
http://www.ihs.gov/cio/ehr/
The site provides many health services for Indians. One of its sub-categories is about the Electronic Health Record (EHR) system. The purpose of the site is to provide information about EHR to the Indian health care facilities that might want to implement this product.
The site has many direct links to different topics such as EHR clinical and technical overviews, EHR preparation documents and resources, EHR training and presentations. By clicking to any of these links, the site will navigate the readers to these specific topics. This is a government website and the information provided is controlled by the federal authorities with specialty in this field. No one can edit or post comments on it. People can contact and ask questions if they desire to do so.
Not only the Indian healthcare facilities but also the readers will have a full comprehension of the EHR products by going through the topics of the sites. Since it is a data based website of the government, it is not updated every day. One of the advantages of the site is that the readers can count on the credibility of the information provided on the site.
5. The Health Care blog
http://www.thehealthcareblog.com/the_health_care_blog/2010/04/ehr-etiquette.html
This blog site is a very interesting and extremely helpful website for any one that wants to know about different types of current issues in health care. These issues include healthcare reform, medicine, patient care, nurse and physician wages, healthcare plan, physician behaviors, technology in healthcare, health 2.0, web 2.0, EHR…There are many blog spots that address these issues with many different authors.
The blog entry about the EHR which uses computer to enter the patient information is very interesting. It refers to a psychological disadvantage of EHR application: the imposition of the computer as the third person that interferes with the conversation between the physician and the patient. It is called EHR
Etiquette. The author mentions that if a computer is used, it should be positioned as a “mysterious intruder” which distract the patient’s attention.
The writer of a blog entry can be a PhD, a physician, a nurse or any one that is involved in healthcare related professions. The readers can put their comments below each blog to share their thoughts and opinions. The blog entries are updated every day. The readers can have the broadest overview of the major issues in the health care system.
1. Healthcare Information Management System Society (HIMSS): Electronic Health Record:
http://www.himss.org/ASP/topics_ehr.asp
This website explains what the Electronic Health Record (EHR) is and educates people on the importance of it. It gives a broad overview of the benefits of EHR utilization, what is challenging the implementation, and what is being done to overcome these challenges. The site also has links to other sites so people can be directed to secondary sources to get more facts and information.
I found this site to be extremely beneficial because it gave a very thorough explanation of the EHR and its components, but was very accessible. It explains how forms of an EHR hasve been used in other areas, and how it will help healthcare in the US. The links to other sites are helpful also.
2. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Indian Health Service
http://www.ihs.gov/cio/ehr/
This website explains how the EHR will be specifically applied to the IHS, Tribal, and Urban (I/T/U) Indian health care facilities. It offers a lot of information about how the IHS will develop the EHR. It also has links so users can be directed to additional sites for information.
This site is valuable because it demonstrates how federal programs have a role in the EHR implementation. Also, the links are convenient for users to obtain additional information and formulate a better understanding.
3. EHR Decisions
http://ehrdecisions.com
This website is a blog that keeps users up to date on current information pertaining to the EHR. It focuses on current news and is very detailed. I do not think it is for the everyday reader, but it offers a great site for health care providers and those already very familiar with the EHR. The Certification Commission for Health Information Technology is in charge of the blog.
This site is important because it relays current information about the progress of the EHR. There are additional links listed in the blog, and also video clips. It is frequently updated so users who are aware of the site can rely on this site for pertinent news. Also, the blog informs health care professionals how they can use the EHR.
4. EHR Software Consultant
http://www.ehr-software.net/
This website gives physicians information on how to implement an EHR system for their patients. The site is directed at specialties in practice, including: Behavioral Health, Cardiology, Dermatology, Endocrinology, ENT, Family Practice, Gastroenterology, General Surgery, Geriatrics, Internal Medicine, Neurology, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oncology, Orthopedics, Pain Management, Pediatrics, Podiatry, Pulmonology, Urology and Urgent Care. The site also has a software physicians can purchase to help with their office needs and billing.
This site is beneficial because it is specific to different practicing areas of medicine and can appropriately direct physicians in a direction to best implement a system for the patients. Also, the software that is available for a monthly fee can help physicians integrate technology to make their offices more effective and efficient.
5. Health Level Seven: Electronic Health
http://www.hl7.org/ehr/
This website was specific for people who wanted to actually have an active role in the development of the EHR. They wanted to have a common forum area where they could contribute, form opinions and educate each other on topics. The American National Standards Institute accredited this website.
The site is very accessible and user friendly. There is a broad range for someone who is not informed at all about the EHR to someone who is actively involved in development to have interest in the site. The site also links users to other links to stay informed on current topics regarding the EHR.
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1. Open Clinical (www.openclinical.org/emr.html)
This site is an informational site about electronic medical records. This site contains many definitions and explanations about electronic medical records and their usefulness. It also contains information about the limitations and benefits of electronic medical records.
This site contains references about the information presented. This site also contains links to other sites that include information about EMR. There is a theme of professional and unbiased information. This site would be useful to people who are not informed on what EMR is and how it is used.
2. EMR Experts (http://www.emrexperts.com/electronic-medical-record-software/index.php)
This site is an informational site that is designed to help medical experts to choose the right EMR for their particular specialty. There are links to several articles about different electronic medical record companies. The site also contains information as to which programs are compatible with other programs.
This site would be useful to health professionals which are contemplating adopting EMR, but are not sure which one to pick. It contains information as to which EMR companies are easiest to work with. It also contains user rated reviews of different software.
3. eClinical Works (http://www.eclinicalworks.com/)
This site is a corporate site in which information about their particular products is presented. It contains many links to articles about their products. It contains a product demo that is available for download so that one can try the product before one purchases it.
This site would be useful to businesses who would like to try the product before they purchase it. It contains user testimonials and also contains pricing information.
4. EPIC (http://epic.org/privacy/medical/)
This website is a public interest website that exists to inform the public about certain key hot topics. This site contains information about privacy regarding EMR as well as other issues. It also contains links to laws about health care privacy information.
This website would be useful to anyone wanting to gain information about current health issue debates.
5. Software Advice.com (http://www.softwareadvice.com/medical/electronic-medical-record-software-comparison/?wfvar=wfvard)
This website provides free advice to professionals who are considering implementing EMR. This website was designed to provide health experts with many different companies to choose from. The health expert can choose the right program for his/her specific practice and needs.
This is a valuable site for comparing many different EMR soft ware programs at one time. There are also free experts that are available by phone to answer any questions.
1. http://www.emr-electronicmedicalrecords.com/index.htm – Doctor’s Partner
The purpose of this site is to promote an EMR software/technology for a physician or other health care provider to purchase. This is done by using such catch phrases as “effortless-reliable- affordable”, values that all potential EMR purchasers are looking for. This site offered many options for technical support through calling, after hours support, web support, and a web ticketing system. The web ticketing system allows you to send a message conveying you need help in the case of natural disasters at this company’s facility (Florida). This site also included the pricing of their product, which gives potential buyers a good idea of the costs of their services. The site claims to have a “hybrid technology” that is unique, in that they install a server at your premises and this sends the patient information to the billing department, nursing, front desk, and to the physician, so that they are all interlinked and have the same information regarding the patient. The sites’ value to potential its visitors is that is describes the features, benefits, and solutions to current problems. Another value is in listing their pricing to help a physician see if this is something they can afford before too much effort and time has been put into investigating and researching the product. Also, another value is the very detailed and numerous ways in which technical support was displayed and described, which something a physician is will be very interested in, as it is not a case of IF problems occur, but WHEN they will occur. The physician needs to know there is help available when it is needed.
2. http://blogs.usatoday.com/oped/2008/10/why-doctors-sti.html (www.usatoday.com)
This was an opinion blog from the USA today newspaper. This blog’s focus was on the fact that implementing EMR is expensive and that doctors had to pay the cost upfront. Though the opinion of the writer was that EMR implementation does help decrease medical errors, etc. The author also expressed concerns about continuity between the different EMR software. For example, a patient’s primary care physician may use one version/type/brand of software, whereas the patient’s specialists or emergency room may use other different types. The author was of the opinion that EMR was more efficient when the same type was used, as in the case of the VA. The author estimated that the cost is about 36,000 dollars to implement EMR due to new computer acquirement, software, devices, etc. and that the physician alone was responsible to acquiring and paying for this information. This blog is slightly dated as the author states that neither Presidential nominee (McCain or Obama) have made any proposition to assist doctors in paying for these necessary changes. The author seems pessimistic that EMR will ever materialize completely due to cost, dysfunction, and incompatibility amongst the systems. The purpose of this site/blog was to expose the major challenges facing the EMR implementation across the country. Its purpose was to also point out the major costs facing physicians for such implementation. The value of the site/article was to point out that continuity is needed amongst providers. Another potential value is that if you are a physician and you work closely with another physician or other healthcare provider, establishing the same EMR software/technology may be very beneficial for a smooth transition into EMR usage or this should at least be something that is considered and investigated further.
3. “The next tech goldmine: Medical records”- http://money.cnn.com/2010/03/05/smallbusiness/electronic_medical_records/index.htm ( CNNmoney.com)
This primary focus of this article was to point out the great potential for economic gain for EMR software companies and the differences between small and larger EMR software businesses. The major point brought out was big corporations versus smaller corporations offering EMR technology/software and who would win out. The article estimated that there are about 300-400 companies currently offering EMR software in the US. The article pointed to a case of a private doctor who was searching for an EMR company to get EMR established in his practice. He stated that larger companies would either not return his calls or refused to reduce their six-figure start up fee for him. This particular doctor went with a smaller EMR business due to their customer service. When he experienced problems, the cofounder of the company stayed on the phone with him until the problem was resolved. Another private physician is utilizing a free internet version from a company, which is free if the doctor does not mind ads. An ad free version is available for 100 dollars per month, per physician. The article stated that larger corporations should take note of the smaller businesses, as there are a lot of potential earnings for servicing private physicians. Another point made in the article was that smaller businesses had the potential to merge with larger corporations. The conclusion was there is no way to predict who will win out, the small or large businesses, only time would tell. The purpose of this article was to point out the differences between small and large companies and the impact that these companies have on private physicians seeking EMR technology/software to implement into their practices. The value of this site is to demonstrate the many options available for EMR implementation in the private physician setting and the variety of companies large and small there to offer these services.
4. Health Information and Management Society- http://www.himss.org
This sites purpose is to promote and demonstrate the uses of technology in the betterment of healthcare management. It does this by the having podcasts, success stories, tips on how to implement EMR in your practice, etc. This site has lots of articles that you are able to read regarding almost any aspect of EMR/EHR (used interchangeably on this site) that a person could be interested in. It is a site that offers membership; however, non-members are also able to access the information on the site. This site seems to have everything a person could want to know about various topics regarding EMR. The site’s value is that is has a very good amount of relevant information regarding technology’s role in healthcare. It has subsections focusing on various aspects of technology in healthcare, such as EMR/HER. The value of this site is that it offers information on EMR for anyone who is interested in implementing technology, whether it is EMR or not. The focus of this site is on technology in healthcare as a whole, with sub focus on various aspects, which is very useful to get the “big picture” on the role of technology in healthcare management.
5. Health System Change- http://www.hschange.org/
The purpose of this site is to provide a non-biased site to provide evidence through research about the current trends in healthcare and the outcomes of such trends. It claims to be a reliable source for information and analysis on various topics regarding healthcare. The sites research seems to be focused on “Insurance Costs and coverage, Access to care, Quality and Care Delivery, and Health Care Markets”. This site offers information about healthcare a whole and concerns and challenges it faces. EMR is the topic of a number of articles and studies. The value of this website is that is offers studies and information regarding EMR and a plethora of other relevant topics, for people planning on implementing EMR technology. One such article that was particularly interesting was focused on whether EMR usages takes away or diminishes communication between a healthcare provider and a patient. This information can be very valuable as a physician might be more aware of the potential decrease in communication and work harder to overcome this potential communication loss. These are the types of valuable information found on this site.
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1.Site Name: HiMSS – Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society
Site URL: http://www.himss.org/ASP/topics_ehr.asp
Site Purpose:
HiMSS is a website that titles itself as “Transforming Healthcare Through It.” It explains what exactly EHR is, and its purpose to include all details of a patient’s medical history including all basic information of the individual and the individual’s past medical history including immunizations, drug allergies, vitals, medication records, and others. It expresses the specificity of each patient’s history and the importance of this information.
Site Value:
HiMSS seems to be very valuable in helping one understand the definition of an EHR and the importance of this information to the healthcare setting. This website provides information on how to adopt this medical record system, the tools for an EHR professional, its usability, and global EHR. Another valuable asset includes the standards of the electronic health record.
2.Site Name: Indian Health Service
Site URL: http://www.ihs.gov/CIO/EHR/
Site Purpose:
The Indian Health Service website shows that the IHS, Urban, and Tribal healthcare facilities are using electronic health records. Indian Health Service has been implementing EHR and other computer technology in their services for thirty years through RPMS, Resource and Patient Management System. This website is designed for the Indian healthcare facilities, but allows others to view the importance and the knowledge necessary to implement EHR.
Site Value:
This site appears to be very valuable because it provides numerous links to different information pertaining to electronic healthcare records. These links include both a clinical and technical overview, training information, and frequently asked questions. Any healthcare professional interested in learning more about EHR could benefit from this website.
3.Site Name: Athena Health
Site URL: http://www.athenahealth.com/our-services/athenaClinicals.php?open=20
Site Purpose:
Athena Health provides an EHR service titled athenaClinicals. This service is an EHR program that healthcare professionals can adopt and use in their facilities. This website is basically selling itself to providers to buy this EHR system. Athena Health provides a web-based EHR software that is both efficient and effective by staying up to date with government requirements without charging additional fees to the subscriber.
Site Value:
Athena Health is valuable to all healthcare providers looking for an EHR software to use. This software proposes positive results by not being expensive and cutting down on time in the office. This website is valuable by being very informative. Athena Health has links to FAQs, technical information, the actual service provided, and even a link to contact them. In addition, a video is shown on the website and positive comments have been made from others who have personally used this software.
4.Site Name: HHS.gov (Health Information Technology)
Site URL: http://www.hhs.gov/healthit/ahic/healthrecords/
Site Purpose:
Health Information Technology came up with an Electronic Health Records Workgroup to provide standards for implementing a certified EHR. This information was recommended by the American Health Information Community. This workgroup is composed of several members to decide on the barriers for adopting EHR. The objective is to maintain a unified standard for all healthcare providers within one year.
Site Value:
HHS.gov provides value by allowing others to see these standards determined. This website shows the names of each member involved in this decision making process, and it also shows the organizations in which the members are associated with. HHS.gov also provides links about the data and technical standards. The main reason for this consistency is to increase efficiency and patient care, which is valuable to all healthcare providers.
5.Site Name: Health Data Management
Site URL: http://www.healthdatamanagement.com/channels/electronic_health_records.html
Site Purpose:
This site provides numerous data on healthcare topics. This website is very informative and allows those involved in healthcare and others to read up on any current information and data. For example, it provides information on temporary EHR certification, which should become permanent by year 2012. This article also links information on the efficiencies and incentives that are causing an increase in the use of electronic health records.
Site Value:
Health Data Management is valuable to users because of its many services. This website has blogs and discussion boards that people can comment on and express their opinions and knowledge of healthcare. For example, one could write about their experiences with EHR. In addition, one can view web seminars, white pages, Enewsletters, and research. Also, there are resource guides provided, and this includes an EHR resource guide.
1) URL: http://www.himss.org/ASP/topics_ehr.asp
Name: HIMSS
Site Description: The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society’s website is setup to promote the use of electronic information. The organization’s membership is 1/3 healthcare vendors and consultants, the other 2/3 is made up of individual healthcare providers. The website is setup to promote the society and to give resources to its members. There are places on the website to find the newest research the society has conducted, upcoming meetings and conferences relating to electronic health records, and articles for members to learn more about electronic health records.
2) URL: http://www.emrexperts.com/
Name: EMR Experts
Site Description: EMR Experts is a website for healthcare providers that are interested in purchasing electronic medical record software. The website provides articles on all the electronic medical record software that it has available. It offers three different electronic medical record software and allows the healthcare providers to choose their specialty and then shows them all the features their software has to offer that will help them with their practice. It offers demos for its software and testimonials for its products to allow the healthcare providers to see what they are getting before purchasing.
3) URL: http://www.hl7.org/ehr/
Name: HL7 EHR
Site Description: The Health Level Seven’s EHR website is designed to organize people to get involved with the development of standards for electronic health records. The Health Level Seven is accredited by the American National Standards Institute. It was tasked with creating standards and guidelines for electronic health records by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the Veterans Administration. It conducts weekly teleconference meetings and quarterly conferences where members can vote on standards and guidelines. It also has minutes for all of its meetings for any members who could not attend the meeting.
4) URL: http://www.ihs.gov/cio/ehr/
Name: Indian Health Service EHR
Site Description: This website was created by the Indian Health Service to promote the use of electronic health records. It provides documents on all aspects of electronic health records for anyone to look at so that they can familiarize themselves with how electronic health records work. It provides frequently asked questions with answers about every aspect of electronic health records.
5) URL: http://www.omnimd.com/
Name: OmniMD
Site Description: OmniMD is a company that offers electronic medical record and practice management software. Their website provides information about their products for all kinds of aspects of electronic medical records ranging from ePrescribing and medical transcription to patient reminder software and a billing system. The website provides press releases for the company, a demo of the software, and a summary of the American Reconstruction and Recovery Act as it pertains to electronic medical records. The website also sells the software and provides information on why it is financially beneficial to use their software.
1. Site name: HIMSS EHR Association
URL: http://www.himssehra.org/ASP/index.asp
Site purpose: To provide news and event updates as well as serve as a homepage for the association. Potential members can sign up on the site, view newsletters and ask questions. The association provides information about the value of EHRs and validates its role in quality reporting and evidence-based medicine while supporting opportunities for collaboration within the healthcare community.
Value: This site provides a place where healthcare providers can gather to support the EHR software industry and houses valuable information to both members and non-members. I think in a time where both patients and some healthcare providers are fearful of the idea of electronic health records, a site such as this can provide them with information that will help advocate the electronic movement.
2. Site name: CNET Tech News (via CBS)
URL: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/05/19/tech/cnettechnews/main5025516.shtml
Site purpose: The site answers some of the most common question asked about EHR. This includes explaining the purpose of EHRs, their importance, benefits and what is being covered by the stimulus package.
Value: Sites such as this one is very valuable to the public that are skeptical about going electronic with records that contain all their health information. It outlines a family who has had three disruptive data breeches and is unlikely to be cooperative in sharing their records. Those who share a similar opinion as this family likely does can be given trusted information from a reputable news source so they can make a more educated opinion about EHR. In addition, the article summarizes the form EHRs are likely to take such as the “stand alone” model and the “competing” model.
3. Site name: Advanced Data Systems Corp
URL: http://www.adsc.com/ehr_docassistant.asp
Site purpose: To describe the benefits of the companies own EHR system. The site provides information on the software as well as its uses and benefits. The site has a section that details key features in a short narrative form.
Value: A visit to this site can provide a healthcare provider with information on how this particular EHR system works. This would be very valuable to physicians who are seeking a system and may be new to electronic records as this site is very straightforward and easy to follow. Whether this system is right for you or not it still highlights many of the requirements one may seek in an EHR system.
4. Site name: amednews
URL: http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/10/05/bisa1005.htm
Site purpose: To describe how job responsibilities and staffing may be changed with the implementation of EMRs. It also outlines ways to go about determining your staffing needs and responsibilities while meeting your goals as you implement the software.
Value: This site provides beneficial information to healthcare providers who may be thinking about implementing an electronic system soon. This information can be used to decide how staffing may change once the system is implemented and how this may influence your practice.
5. Site name: Software Advice
URL: http://www.softwareadvice.com/medical/web-based-emr-software-comparison/?wfvar=wfvarb
Site purpose: This site provides a list of possible EHR system providers that a potential purchaser may be searching for. It also differentiates between web-based, on premise based and CCHIT certified EHR providers.
Value: This site can be valuable to healthcare providers who wish to have many EHR providers listed in one convenient location. This may make choosing a system easier and will allow the system to be researched based on its category (web-based, on premise based, CCHIT certified). The demos and short descriptions that are offered may also be beneficial in eliminating some of the systems in the research process thus cutting down in the time spent deciding on the system.
1. Site Name:
Health Level Seven: Electronic Health Record
URL:
http://www.hl7.org/ehr/
Site Purpose:
This site started out as the home page for a special interest group dealing with information about EHR. As technology has progressed, so has this site. It has expanded to include all the latest news about EHR. This is a very informative and reputable website that offers helpful information to assist people in understanding what an Electronic Health Record is all about. The site is easy to navigate with useful sidebars to direct the user throughout the site.
Explanation of Value:
This site would be very helpful to someone who is not quite sure what an EHR is. This site has a link called “Getting Familiar” that allows you to download educational documents to orient yourself to this new technology. It also offers a way for people to get involved with the efforts to introduce this technology, which I think is a great way to get more people interested in this topic. This website also offers links to press releases so you can stay up-to-date on the latest news pertaining to EHR.
2. Site Name:
Xconomy: Beyond the Electronic Health Record
URL:
http://www.xconomy.com/san-diego/2010/04/29/beyond-the-electronic-health-record/
Site Purpose:
This website is a blog that aims to keep people updated about the latest news and updates pertaining to technology and its impact on our economy. One of the most current progressions in technology is dealing with the recent passing of the health care reform bill, so this blog has focused many of its discussions on this topic. This blog is run by a company that is based out of Seattle, Boston, San Diego, and Detroit. It is made up of a team of editors and correspondents who seek out the latest news to report in the blog. In addition, these blog entries are written by professionals who have years of experience in these topics.
Explanation of Value:
I believe this site is very valuable to society because it offers a way to learn about the EHR in an interactive way. Because this site is set up as a blog, it gives people a chance to leave comments and form discussions with other readers. This will serve as an additional way to educate people about the EHR. The site is very easy to navigate and seems accurate and professional. It is also easy to locate other topics related to the EHR, for those that are interested in learning about other areas of health technology.
3. Site Name:
Allscripts Professional EHR
URL:
http://www.allscripts.com/products/electronic-health-record/allscripts-professional/default.asp
Site Purpose:
Allscripts is a company that aims to bring innovative technology, services, and software to healthcare providers. This site is focused about this company and all of the services that it offers. One of its main products is the Professional EHR, which they market as “The Right EHR”. The site goes into great detail about the specific features of their EHR software and exactly how it works. They market this product by promoting that it is Intuitive, Affordable, Connected, and Complete.
Explanation of Value:
This site would be very valuable to any physician or healthcare professional looking into purchasing EHR software. This site seems reputable and very knowledgeable on the topic. They offer tons of details about their products, as well as Demos, Case Studies, and Client Stories. I think it is very important to be able to hear the first-hand accounts of others’ experiences with the product. This could easily sway your opinion to buy the product or not. The website is easy to navigate and operate.
4. Site Name:
American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP): How to Select an Electronic Health Record System
URL:
http://www.aafp.org/fpm/2005/0200/p55.html
Site Purpose:
This website is run by a large medical organization focused on physicians offering optimal health care for everyone. This group has links to thousands of articles that are aimed at this optimization of health care. One of the articles focuses on how to choose an EHR and how a physician should go about this selection process. Progressing with technology is very important in today’s society and one of the way to enhance patient care is for physicians to begins using EHR’s. Clearly, this site understands the importance of EHR’s in physician practices. It details step-by-step instructions on how to go about finding the appropriate EHR for your individual practice.
Explanation of Value:
This site would be extremely valuable to a physician. This specific article is easy to understand through its use of step-by-step breakdowns throughout the article. This site covers all topics, including: visiting different vendors, ranking each EHR model, demonstrations of the models, negotiating a contract, and making a final commitment. This site would be very useful for someone who does not have much background knowledge on this topic because they are able to simplify a topic which can be rather complicated. This article is also trustworthy because it is coming from a national, well-known medical organization.
5. Site Name:
IHS: Indian Health Service
URL:
http://www.ihs.gov/cio/ehr/
Site Purpose:
This site aims to introduce the public to the Indian Health Service’s specific EHR that they have adopted. The new system they have adopted is called the RPMS, which stands for Resource and Patient Management System. This site focuses on educating people about their specific EHR and how it works for them. This site offers in-depth information about their system as well as overviews of the product, templates, and frequently asked questions.
Explanation of Value:
This site is very reputable, as it is run by the Department of Health and Human Services. It is also HON-Code certified, which allows the site user to know that the information is accurate and up-to-date. The website is easy to navigate and offers a detailed look at one site’s specific EHR system. I think this would be useful to other sites that are looking into getting an EHR system and would like more information about it. This offers them a way to see exactly how it works, the training that is involved, and look at pictures of the product. They can also join a listserv to get more information from the IHS as updates arrive.
OpenClinical (www.openclinical.org)
OpenClinical is a website for healthcare professionals interested in the advancement of the health care profession, including health care technology. One of its five main focuses includes a program that allows you to create and maintain a personal health record and to view your EMR. The site provides information on current issues and videos for clinical practice as well. The site is maintained by a non-profit organization and targets all people in the health care field, including researchers, as well as anyone who is interested in the topic. The site encourages people to register and submit relevant articles or material to the site.
HIMSS- Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (www.himss.org)
HIMSS is an organization that provides information for using information technology and management systems. It offers individual, corporate and organization membership. There are various topics and forums in which to discuss relevant issues. Under the EMR section, it provides information on the standards, case studies of EHR and EMR use, as well as tools to be used by professionals. It also provides information on various conferences and events.
NextGen Healthcare (www.nextgen.com)
NexGen Healthcare offers a website targeted at people in the healthcare field, including hospitals and physicians. It provides information on the benefits of EHR use, including information about the stimulus package offered and a calculation system to estimate the company’s potential return on investment . It offers online demos and places for clients to comment on NextGen. The website lists events for doctors and other professionals to attend.
EPIC (epic.org)
EPIC is public interest research center dedicated to providing information on issues centered around civil liberties and protection of privacy. It is not solely focused on privacy in the health care field. One of the main issues is medical privacy. People who visit the site can read about what is going on in Washington DC with health care issues related to privacy, including the use of EHRs and EMRs. You can read about state laws as well. It is targeted at anyone who is interested in issues being debated at a national level.
Electronic Medical Records Information (electronic-medical-record.blogspot.com)
Electronic Medical Records Information is a blog that hopes to help doctors who are transitioning from paper offices to EMR computer based offices. It offers advice and information on various software available to use as well as current news issues related to EMR use. It is targeted at physicians and any health care professionals looking to start using EMRs and EHRs. It also provides links to other EMR blogs and some medical journals.
Website #1
eClinicalWorks: a EMR software provider
http://www.eclinicalworks.com/index.php
eClinicalWorks is a software provider focused on providing EMR technology and related services to healthcare providers at lower costs while also enhancing patient care. The company advertises that it has the ability to meet the needs any practice, without regard to size, throughout the US. This website is specifically designed to inform potential and current customers of the current products and services available. The website has demos watch and customer testimonials. There are links to various seminars, information about awards won by the company, and even a customer support link where uses can log on and obtain the help they need with their current software.
Website #2
Emdeon: Manages connectivity between providers
http://www.emdeon.com/
Emdeon is a company that promotes its ability to enhance connectivity between payers, providers, and patients through the by managing revenue and payment cycle management services designed to ultimately improve patient care. It advertises simplification of new HIPAA regulations by the use of its services. Customers, whether they be payers, providers, pharmacies or dentists who enroll with this company receive an enewsletter. Additionally this company prides itself on being a single company that provides the services that are typically obtained from multiple partners. The website it designed to promote the company, it’s services, provide product support, and resources to those interested in all that Emdeon has to offer. Additionally, Emdeon partners with EMR vendors to provide ePrescribing services.
Website #3
Software Advice: provides free advice about EMR software
http://www.softwareadvice.com/medical/electronic-medical-record-software-comparison/?wfvar=wfvarb
This website provides free advice to providers interested in learning more about EMR software. It was designed to match providers with the software best for their practice. To do so, the provider would select from a list of choices to narrow down the specifics of what he is looking for in the software. Then the choices are narrowed down and the provider has a much narrow range of choices to pick from. As a provider I would be leery of biasness from this site. It advertises free services, but ultimately vendors pay for recommendations to their products. The site advertises expert advice and has agents available to help by phone.
Website #4
EMR and Hippa Blog
http://www.emrandhipaa.com/
This website is an open forum where individuals are able to post their thoughts about all things related to EMR, EHR, HIT, and HIPPA. John, the author of the site posts his thoughts about the use of technology in HC. The site dose not provide a much information about his credentials, but at the bottom of the page I saw that he is affiliated with University Heath Center as a provider of IT support. The site has multiple advertisement on the side, like the one discussed in class, so I would assume that he is making some sort of a profit for providing his thoughts. His posts are up to date and it seems as though he posts daily on a regular basis. Finally, there is a feature where individuals may sign up to automatically receive updates for each post.
Website #5
HIMSS: Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society http://www.himss.org/ASP/topics_FocusDynamic.asp?faid=158
This website it made available for HIMSS members and non-members in the hopes of providing useful information about EMR. The website provides links to its advocacy and public policy page, to popular vendors, as well as providing brochures to providers about implementing EMR into their practice. There are many resources available at this website that focus directly on the implementation of EMR in various HC settings, as well as the sustainability of the technology. Ultimately this website is quite useful for obtaining education information about the use of EMR in practice.
1. EMR Consultant
http://www.EMRconsultant.com
EMRConsultant is an EHR database matching service. EMRConsultant uses 100,000 of data points from many Electronic Health Record companies. This information is then used to compare questions that are answered by physicians. EMRConsultant also makes use of other services such as: EHRtv.com, EHRScope.com, and EHR Scope Publication. EHRtv.com is a video analysis that is used to inform the medical community about PHR and EHR businesses. EHRScope.com allows medical providers to receive information regarding the EHR industry. EHR Scope Publication is an EHR magazine that provides answers to physician’s questions and concerns regarding the EHR industry. EMRConsultant claims to be the most sophisticated database matching service for healthcare providers.
This site provides free EHR services for physicians. EMR Consultant is very valuable to physicians and health care providers. I found the website to be beneficial because it allowed me to learn about the software that is available for EHR services. There are many different areas of the EHR that the user can explore with this website. I found all of the information to be very useful.
2. Indian Health Service
http://www.ihs.gov/Cio/EHR/index.cfm
The Indian Health Service (IHS) is an organization that is a part of the Department of Health and Human Services. One of the goals of IHS is to improve and increase the status of healthcare in the Indian population. They also strive to provide culturally acceptable public health service to this population. IHS provides federal health services to Alaska Natives and American Indians. EHR information is provided in the IHS website for Indian Health Service, Tribal, and Urban Indian health care facilities. There are many forms information regarding EHR and various links to helpful documents. Examples of EHR information include: EHR Clinical Overview, EHR Technical Overview, EHR Preparation Documents and Resources, and many more.
The material covering EHR is very beneficial to the Alaska Natives and the American Indians. The IHS website offers many different web links to allow individuals to understand all that the EHR entails. I think that this website is a good example of how EHR are being using in different areas.
3. EHR Software consultants
http://www.ehr-software.net/
The EHR Software consultants enable physicians and medical providers to convert patient information over to Electronic Health Record software. There are many EHR software programs for a variety of specialties. Some of these are: Oncology, Podiatry, Cardiology, Geriatrics, Endocrinology, and many others. Some of the many EHR software products include: Electronic Health Record Software, Practice Management Software, and Patient Portal Software are among the most popular. EHR Software provides quality consultation to the healthcare community.
This site is valuable because it allows physicians to convert their existing patient information to an updated EHR. I believe that this is crucial in the changing face of health care. Upon visiting this site physicians will be able to choose from a variety of EHR software options to meet their needs. This site provides many different forms of EHR software for the medical community.
4. Allscripts
http://www.allscripts.com/products/electronic-health-record/ehrdemo.asp?src=GoogleAd&_kk=allscripts%20health&_kt=d3d0924e-71eb-4341-9ef5-ae8f8d455f2a&gclid=CIy97vjer6ECFQqbnAodGnNGAw
Allscripts is an Electronic Health Record Software provider. They also provide services, information, and other connectivity solutions to health care providers. Some of these products offered are Enterprise and Professional Solutions. Enterprise and Professional Solutions provide information on EHR, electronic prescribing, document management and revenue cycle management. Health systems group is another program that provides software regarding emergency department and care management for hospitals and home care for providers.
Allscript services are very beneficial to health care providers. There are many helpful ideas that Allscript offers. One of the things that really stood out to me as being helpful was the demonstrations of their products. I think that is a very crucial aspect of any EHR system software setup. Allscript provides many different software solutions that could be helpful to the medical community.
5. ehrCentral
http://www.providersedge.com
This website focuses on the most recent information of the Electronic Health Record. It provides answers to the most asked questions of EHR, EHR articles, EHR links, and EHR news. This information is valuable to the public and professionals. Topics include benefits of EHRs, developing EHRs, EHR product information, and many other areas of the EHR. There is also information about different products that can help the initiative of the EHR.
This information is very useful to citizens and the professional community. I think that the way the website is set up for questions is very good. The average citizen can easily ask questions with answers below. This website gives many different examples of just how an EHR can improve the healthcare of patients. EhrCentral is a very good website to learn more about EHR.
Site Name:
National Institutes of Health National Center for Research Resources
URL:
Click to access EHR.pdf
Site Purpose:
This website purpose is to explain everything you need to know about Electronic Health Records (EHR). It not only defines what EHR is, but it explains who uses EHR, how it was started, and what EHR is capable of.
Explanation of Value of Site:
This site is very helpful for those who are unfamiliar with EHR, or any health related records in general. It defines other common medical terms so that the content of this site can be understood by everyone, not just health care professionals. EHR is fully defined, plus a background of when and how it began is also described at the site. After defining EHR, examples of early EHRs are given and explained here. Diagrams of the breakdown of EHR are shown to further explain the concept of EHR, the specific healthcare providers who use it, and the components that make up EHR. This website describes in detail the business and cost aspect of implementing EHRs. Lastly, the future of EHR and its impacts on clinical research and healthcare overall are depicted. This website is useful and valuable to all those who access it because it clears up any questions healthcare providers may have about specific components of EHR, as well as explaining what EHR is to non health care professionals.
Site Name:
Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS)
URL:
http://www.himss.org/ASP/topics_ehr.asp
Site Purpose:
HIMSS is not only a website that not only describes the benefits of using technology and management systems in healthcare to both healthcare and non healthcare individuals, but is also an organization who offers membership for healthcare participants. HIMSS encourages and highlights the technological transformations that can be made to advance and better healthcare.
Explanation of Value of Site:
This site is beneficial because it offers a wide range of information about EHR. It provides everything from definitions of EHR, its global use, its standards, and success stories and case studies of EHR. The case studies are a unique aspect of this website, and offer links to connect with other websites that have documented the results and outcomes of using EHR. This site is also helpful because not only does it provide specific examples and definitions for EHR, but it also incorporates terms and standards used in all healthcare aspects, not just electronic. Although this site is valuable to the general public, it is probably more valuable to healthcare providers because it supplies more information about tools used in EHRs, and is a way to connect with other EHR users.
Site Name:
Software Advice
URL:
http://www.softwareadvice.com/medical/electronic-medical-record-software-comparison/?wfvar=wfctrl
Site Purpose:
This site is established to help prospective software buyers. It also provides a phone number to talk to an expert associated with the site. This site offers 3 simple questions for the website user to check to provide better, more specific information that the website user is looking for. After specifying your medical specialty, number of physicians, type of software you are acquiring information about and how you want to employ your software.
Explanation of Value of Site:
This website is valuable for those clinicians who want to know what EHR program to incorporate. It is valuable because it is basically like consulting with a software specialist. It allows clinicians to easily receive suggestions on what EHR programs to consider based on their needs and practice structure. This website would not provide value to the everyday public, but would be incredibly convenient to physicians. This site provides demos, as well as prices. It also provides brief descriptions of each of the programs to better inform the physician.
Site Name:
The Provider’s Edge
URL:
http://www.providersedge.com/ehr_overview.htm
Site Purpose:
This site is centered toward how to successfully use EHR. This site also helps enable clinicians to use EHR to make their business as profitable as possible. It provides links to frequently asked questions about EHR so other healthcare providers can see what their colleagues are asking and to perhaps get their own questions answered. It also provides some of the latest news and updates about EHR.
Explanation of Value of Site:
This site is valuable because it explains what EHR are, as well as many of the benefits to incorporate EHR in practice. Although this site defines what EHR is, it is more directed to educate healthcare providers rather than the general public considering the topics it describes. Some of these topics include procedures of how to start, develop, and implement EHR and some of its products. There is also links to attend events and talk to other clinicians who use EHR and to attain more information about how EHR is transforming the medical world. Lastly, this site contains lists and links of organizations who have used and support EHR. This may persuade the clinician to look further into EHR if his/her organization is involved.
Site Name:
SAGE
URL:
http://www.sagehealth.com/products/ehr/Pages/understanding_electronic_health_records_ehr.aspx
Site Purpose:
This site is aimed to support and educate customers about all different types of software. The information on this site is for all services whether it’s accounting, customer management, and human resources, to healthcare. After specifying your search to be about EHR, this site helps those who are unfamiliar with EHR to better understand it. This site also differentiates between EHR and EMR.
Explanation of Value of Site:
This site is valuable because it defines EHR for those who are unsure of what it is, and then after educating what EHR it leads the website user to how to evaluate EHR. It also helps distinguish how EHR is different form EMR. This is unique to this site compared to the other four sites, which do not contain this distinction. This website contains its own newsletter, which updates users to better inform them of EHR. Lastly, this site provides a link to define one’s medical profession such as cardiology, gastroenterology, nephrology, neurology, orthopedics, and pediatrics. This specification better shows how their practices can benefit from EHR and also gives specific examples of EHR.
Website #1
EMR Daily News
http://emrdailynews.com
The purpose of the EMR Daily News blog is to keep readers informed of the current news surrounding the development of Electronic Medical Records. The blog is valuable because it contains relevant updates on the use of EMRs in the real world and on what is happening in EMR development. The blog updates on topics like the use of EMRs in specific clinical settings. Another example of what they report on are changes occurring within the EMR industry and marketplace, such as EMR business mergers and even the new iPhone application that was recently released by meridianEMR, Inc. The blog updates regularly and provides current information. The blog covers such a wide variety of different EMR topics and appears to be largely unbiased, although it does offer EMR software consultations. The authors of the blog work in the Medical Transcription field at My Docs Online. The authors may not be completely unbiased, but the information provided is relevant and helpful.
Website #2
EHRtv
http://www.ehrtv.com
The purpose of EHRtv is to educate people about Electronic Health Records and Personal Health Records as a response to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which allocated a large fund through the HITECH Act for the development of electronic health records. The website is valuable because it provides videos covering a large variety of topics about EHRs, which are neatly organized into several categories. EHRtv provides videos that include interviews with major EMR, EHR, and PHR developers. This website is valuable because it organizes a large array of relevant topics dealing with EHR development and adoption all in one convenient place. The website is easy to navigate and is well-maintained by EHR Scope. EHR Scope is a company that provides users information on purchasing EHR software. EHR Scope may not be fully unbiased, however, the focus of EHRtv is on education and appears to be unbiased for the most part. EHRtv also includes relevant links to outside blogs which discuss EHR issues and concerns. EHRtv is an organized, rich source of EHR education, which it provides over a more palatable medium, rather than plain text.
Website #3
Ending the Document Game (Commission on Systemic Interoperability)
http://endingthedocumentgame.gov
The purpose of the “Ending the Document Game” website is to educate the public on the development of electronic health records, which is being overseen by the Commission on Systemic Interoperability. It provides information about why there is a need for electronic health records, explains what is being discussed in Congress about EHR development, and also provides encouraging reports of how electronically interconnecting health care records would improve the lives of patients as well as health care providers. I believe this website is valuable because it explains in clear terms to users what an electronic health record would mean for them and details the current government efforts to develop EHRs. It provides articles about the current health care system, what needs improvement, and what some of the suggested solutions are. There are also articles that explain in detail what EHRs are as well as what EMRs are, and also explain the benefits and limitations of adopting EHRs. Another advantage of the website is that it provides this complex information in a simplified format over many different media forms; there are written articles, diagrams, as well as educational videos. The website is maintained by a reliable source (the National Library of Medicine) and is also affiliated with the National Institutes of Health, as well as Health and Human Services. There may be some bias, as the website tends to emphasize the advantages of EHR systems, although it does recognize the challenges and limitations involved in implementing these systems as well.
Website #4
HIMSS (Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society) – EMR section
http://www.himss.org
The purpose of the EMR section of the HIMSS website is to educate people on what EMRs are and to educate readers about the relevant topics surrounding EMRs, such as EHR adoption and EHR usability. The HIMSS website has a strong emphasis on educating and connecting professionals to discuss and learn more about EMRs. This website is valuable because it is a rich source of up-to-date articles surrounding the EHR and EMR topic. It brings together links to relevant websites as well as helpful articles. The article topics have a wide range of different perspectives on EHR advantages and disadvantages. To view some articles, it’s necessary to join HIMSS. The membership is meant to connect the user with other professionals and with a greater amount of useful information regarding EHR implementation. This website includes a category of helpful resources for solving EHR system problems; in addition, networking with health professionals through the membership also offers an opportunity to trouble-shoot EHR system problems. This website is well-organized and well-maintained. It is frequently updated, so the information presented is relevant and current.
Website #5
EHR Decisions
http://ehrdecisions.com
The purpose of EHR Decisions is to provide readers with information and current news about electronic health records. The website is a blog that is created and maintained by the Certification Commission for Health Information Technology, which is a non-profit organization that certifies EHR programs. The EHR Decisions blog is oriented toward health care professionals and provides specific information about the certification of EHR systems and also news regarding changes within the EHR industry. This website is valuable because it is a source of information and up-to-date news about EHR systems and also has a unique perspective as an EHR system certifier. Certification is important for having an EHR system that meets the “meaningful use” guidelines in the ARRA (2009). The value of this blog is providing health care professionals with an understanding of how to operate their EHR system under the guidelines set forth in the ARRA and provides this information from an updated, reliable source. This blog is updated on a regular, frequent basis and provides relevant and current information.
Allscripts: http://www.allscripts.com/
This website is for Physicians’ practices and Hospital/ Healthcare systems. It offers software to better help the care of patients. It offers help based on what the problems are, or on the type of clinic each customer offers. It can be set based on the number of physicians or what kind of care is given. Allscripts purpose is to simplify patient care. The website seems very valuable; they have many scheduled demonstrations of their products for users to attend. It also has systems for blackberry, iPods, and windows mobile that would be very convenient for users.
eClinicalWorks: http://www.eclinicalworks.com/index.php
This website is a software site to better improve the ease of patient care. This website seems to have more customers’ that are Physicians, and less of Hospitals. This website seems a lot harder to navigate, there is too much to look through on the home page. The purpose of this site is to sell software, and offer information about new technologies. I found the site to be very overwhelming when first I first found it. They offer membership and technical support that probably would be a benefit to their customers. This website’s benefit is they focus on more than just their products. This site would be very beneficial to any person looking to learn more about the changing technology of Electronic Health Records.
Indian Health Service: Electronic Health Record: http://www.ihs.gov/cio/ehr/
This website is devoted to Electronic Health Records in the Indian Health Service Systems. This site seems very helpful for practitioners who are deciding whether to implement an Electronic Health Record. This site gives a lot of information about Electronic Health Records. This website is not trying to sell any products, just offer information and links to email list serves. It also offers how to implement these programs in the specialized fields of Indian Health Services. This website would be very valuable to limited population.
Healthcare Information Management System Society (HIMSS): Electronic Health Record: http://www.himss.org/ASP/topics_ehr.asp
This website has great resources for all the benefits of Electronic Health and Medical Records. The site offers an online store that sells books and cd’s about informatics to different health professionals that electronic health records may affect. They offer membership, as well as conferences and events. This site also offers links to Research and news that affects Electronic Health Records. This site focuses on the idea that Electronic Health Records span all aspects of healthcare. This site seems helpful, but has a limited amount of information. This site does not offer any software or any other information besides information on general electronic health records.
Software Advice: Electronic Health Records: http://www.softwareadvice.com/medical/electronic-medical-record-software-comparison/?wfvar=wfvarb
This site offers free advice on which companies to buy electronic health record software from. They base this information on customer reviews. This site is helpful, because it allows you to search based on the needs that you need from the software. This site also offers demos and pricing for the companies they filter through. There might be some bias from this site, since the company pays this website every time someone buys their software after using this site. This site also offers customer service via phone, which would also be an additional benefit. They also offer specialty guides based on the type of clinical. As long as the user uses other sources as well, I think this site would be very beneficial.
Electronic Health Record
1. HIMSS- Electronic Health Record
http://www.himss.org/ASP/topics_ehr.asp
This website’s purpose is to expose the importance of the Electronic Health Record and to introduce people to extra tools available through its use. The EHR software will allow people to keep all the information together. It holds immunizations, lab tests, vital signs, medical history, and medications. In one article on the website it explained the lag time that seems to be present in the United States with the adoption of the Electronic Health Record. One reason for the lag, is due to the costly and time consuming training that is involved in preparing for this change. Also this will force physicians to utilize skills that they are unfamiliar and more complex. A goal to increase the use of EHR is to increase the usability of the programs.
I found this website to be helpful because it explained what could be held by the EHR software. It also explained the reasoning as to why this amazing software has not caught on that fast. If people are educated more on this software I believe this could eventually help with the healthcare in the United States.
2. EHR Software Consultant
http://www.ehr-software.net/
The purpose of this website is to provide Electronic Healthcare software information for physicians to easily create an electronic health record for their patients. There is also software available for certain specialties. This allows for more precise information and over-all more detailed information for the patient’s record. This website even offers software that helps with billing and scheduling. The software costs around $300 a month. The goal of this software is to increase revenue, improve patient care, and allows your workday to be more productive.
This is valuable because this website introduces me to software that is available to use as an Electronic Health Record. It also shows the benefits of this technology in the health field and gives you information about the cost of the software. After reading all of the benefits, the advantages definitely outweigh the cost.
3. The Provider’s Edge: Electronic Health Record Frequently Asked Questions
http://www.providersedge.com/ehr_faqs.htm
The purpose of this website is to answer the many questions people have about the electronic health record. It shows the benefits like the improved health care, the readily available information that could be accessed from various locations, reduce the overall healthcare cost and decrease errors that occur in medical practice. The question and answer format of this website allows your questions to be answered easily. The website provides information about products and strategies that could help with the initiative of the electronic health record. And gave direct links to where you could find these products.
This website was beneficial because it discussed the role the EHR could play with chronic diseases. Since hypertension and hyperlipidemia are on the rise in the United States this software could provide Americans with the top care with these lifelong diseases. Having access to their medical history, medications, and past information this could significantly help many people today. Also what is great about this website is the bulleted list that just show all of the benefits of the Electronic Health Record.
4. Time: Electronic Health Records: What’s Taking So Long?
http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1887658,00.html
The purpose of this website is to show the need of the EHR. It does this by explaining the cost of healthcare and even breaks it down to the amount of money it costs per person to use healthcare the way it is now. After emphasizing the amount of money used for health services, this site goes on to explain that the biggest challenge for people using EHRs is money. It also explained that the physicians themselves were also a challenging obstacle. In order for this transition to happen it is important that we get the physicians motivated on the change. They do believe though that the change will be more accepted when money is involved. Between reimbursements and eventually fines for not having EHRs will eventually “persuade” the physicians and healthcare facilities to convert to this overall money saving move.
This site was valuable because it showed the reasons why Electronic Health Records has not been as rapidly growing as some would have thought. Seeing the actual numbers of healthcare is an eye opening experience and should drive people to change the way we handle healthcare. It was also valuable because it gave reasons as to why this transition is necessary, such as illegible handwriting by the healthcare provider.
5. ChartLogic EMR
http://www.chartlogic.com/electronic-health-records.php
The purpose of this website is to show all of the benefits that the Electronic Health Record could bring. It also emphasized the perks of having the medical records in the electronic form for easier look up and cut down on the man hours used to review charts. It also brought around the point that by having that template for documentation, this allows for physicians to make all of the proper documentation. It also allows you to do proper coding to allow for reimbursement. It also helps with making documentation for efficient. You also do not have to worry about having storage for all of the health records if you store all of this information electronically.
I found this website valuable because it focused more on the benefits of the Electronic Healthcare record vs. only focusing on the price. By making it appear more efficient it should be more appealing for healthcare providers to use. It also focused on the decrease in errors when you avoid using the chart system.
Website #1:
Indian Health Service: Welcome to the RPMS Electronic Health Record Website
http://www.ihs.gov/cio/ehr/
The purpose of this website is to provide an explanation of what the Federal Health Program for American Indians and Alaska Natives offer in terms of their electronic health record. The site is mainly informational and includes links to an overview of their program, training courses, their current status, presentations, etc. for those who are currently implementing the service or will be in the future. Each link provides a brief introduction and then generally bulleted/listed information about the topic along with additional links to related topics.
This site is important because it represents that a federal program such as the Indian Health Services is involved in implementing an EHR for individuals in our country.
Website #2:
Software Advice: free advice for software buyers
http://www.softwareadvice.com/medical/electronic-medical-record-software-comparison/?wfvar=wfvara1
This website makes it easier for buyers who would like to implement EMR/HER services at their facility and do not know what software would be appropriate for them. The site allows you to narrow your search based on what type of software management you need, medical specialty, number of physicians working and how you want the software to be deployed. Then it lists the options you have along with free demos to try out the products.
This site is beneficial for facilities that would like to implement these services and are not sure where to begin but would like to research it on their own.
Website #3:
Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS)
http://www.himss.org/ASP/topics_ehr.asp
This website is dedicated to educating people on EHR. On the site you will find tabs which take you to different topics including EHR adoption, HIT and return on investment, standards of EHR, project management, case studies and success stories about EHR.
This site is beneficial for those who are looking for an understanding of not only what EHR is but also how it applies globally and how standards are set for using EHR. Plus it lets you get an idea of how it has been successful for others.
Website #4:
The Dallas Morning News: dallasnews.com
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/bus/stories/DN-HealthIT_28bus.ART.State.Edition1.3d541bf.html
The website is a part of a Dallas, TX news report center and posted an article titled “Children’s Medical Center, Texas Health Resources hospitals can now share records electronically”. They reported how the Children’s Medical Center Dallas now has the ability to upload a patient’s health record and have it linked to all of the thirteen hospitals nearby that are owned by Texas Health Resources Inc. The article states that they are one of the few systems that are linked in North Texas and physicians and patients will benefit from it because unnecessary procedures/tests will be avoided.
This website publishes an actual success story of how sharing electrical health records among institutions has been beneficial and how technology is advancing. In addition, this site is announcing to the general public how much of a positive effect EHRs are having on intuitions.
Website #5:
Healthcare Info Security: HIPPA Violation Leads to Prison Term
http://www.healthcareinfosecurity.com/articles.php?art_id=2470
This website allows people to browse topics based on certain healthcare criteria. This one particular article was found under the Healthcare Information Security Articles and it reports how last January a former UCLA Healthcare System surgeon plead guilty and received a prison sentence for a HIPAA privacy violation. The violation was due to the surgeon gaining information about patients without having a medical need to via electronic health records. He read over two hundred profiles and admitted to reading four post termination.
This site reports a real life event about how easy access to having patients’ health care records by a click of the mouse can cause serious problems for health care providers when they abuse the privilege. Articles like this are useful for gaining recent news about the medical profession and this website provides easy access.
1. Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society
http://www.himss.org/ASP/topics_ehr.asp
This website can be used by anyone, but it is an organization that offers a membership. This website is a source to describe information technology related to healthcare and how to properly use it to improve healthcare.
This site is a valuable resource that provides a broad overview of Electronic Health Record (EHR). It provides information on the benefits of EHR, the challenges to adopting it, and many other useful EHR facts. This website also provides valuable links to other websites that can guide the user to a proper understanding of EHR.
2.U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Indian Health Service
http://www.ihs.gov/cio/ehr/
This website is specific for the Indian Health Service (IHS). It offers not only explicit information about how the IHS is adopting EHR, but also general information about EHR. This website details information about the system, Resource and Patient Management System, that the IHS is still in the process of adopting to be used as their EHR.
This website has great value to those that visit it. It shows that EHR is not just a concept. EHR is being adopted by health systems around the world and this is one example. It also shows that is not something that can be implemented overnight. This is a process that has been in the works for decades. The website also offers other links that allow the user to navigate the many different aspects of EHR and its implementation.
3.U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
http://www.cms.gov/Recovery/11_HealthIT.asp
This website offers information on the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH Act). It offers specific information about the role of Medicare and Medicaid regarding adoption of EHR. It describes some of the incentives that are being offered to encourage a more widespread use of EHR, especially for Medicare and Medicaid patients.
This site offers very straightforward information about Medicare and Medicaid concerning EHR. It describes three objectives of the HITECH Act that are of importance to Medicare and Medicaid. This website is of particular importance to those that participate or are caregivers to those that participate in a Medicaid or Medicare program. It provides downloads and links to more information that can be helpful in learning more about the HITECH Act and EHR.
4.Advanced Data Systems Corporation
http://www.adsc.com/ehr_docassistant.asp
This is a computer software company site that offers EHR/EMR software. It details all of the different aspects of their particular EHR/EMR software and what it has to offer. It provides an overview of the software, as well as detailed information about different specialty software that is also available.
This site provides visitors information on the actual EHR. Visiting this website can provide useful information on how an EHR system actually works in the healthcare system. It details the many benefits EHR can provide to those that choose to implement it in their practice setting. The user can provide their information and receive more specific information on a particular product. One obvious drawback to this kind of site: no information on possible the negative aspects of this software. Because it is a company website, there will only be a one-sided view. However, it can be beneficial to use this website and compare it to other companies that offer EHR software.
5.Kaiser Permanente
http://xnet.kp.org/newscenter/pressreleases/nat/2010/030310ehrcomplete.html
This is the website for the healthcare system Kaiser Permanente. This page is a recent press release that describes how Kaiser Permanente is implementing EHR in its system. It describes how they are adopting the EHR and how they plan to be able to connect to other health care systems in order to provide more efficient care to patients.
This is a fantastic website for anyone interested in current information on EHR. It kind of rolls all aspects of EHR into one place. It outlines how EHR is being utilized by a large healthcare organization and offers general EHR information. It provides links to other sources of EHR information that include a YouTube video describing their own EHR.