Electronic health records have been in the making for well over a decade, but with new requirements of the Affordable Care Act, the timetable for going electronic has moved from "someday" to "now." The 2009 Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH) has placed a 2015 deadline for medical providers to move from paper records to electronic. To compensate for the time and money involved in the three-stage transition, the government has offered $20 billion in incentive payments to physicians and hospitals to encourage the adoption of electronic health records. About 3,500 hospitals and 150,000 physicians have registered for the program, according to U.S. News and World Report.
With electronic health records soon to be federally mandated, healthcare professionals need to take care in choosing the one that suits them best
By: Shannon Dauphin Lee
Electronic health records have been in the making for well over a decade, but with new requirements of the Affordable Care Act, the timetable for going electronic has moved from "someday" to "now." The 2009 Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH) has placed a 2015 deadline for medical providers to move from paper records to electronic. To compensate for the time and money involved in the three-stage transition, the government has offered $20 billion in incentive payments to physicians and hospitals to encourage the adoption of electronic health records. About 3,500 hospitals and 150,000 physicians have registered for the program, according to U.S. News and World Report.
Reuters reports that 93 percent of all doctors use some form of electronic record-keeping, whether simple patient notes or billing. However, only 45 percent of those doctors use their electronic programs to access other information, such as looking up lab results. Those who have already moved into electronic medical record-keeping have faced another dilemma: software that isn't compatible with other programs chosen by hospitals and fellow providers, even within the same healthcare system.
In addition, the various competing systems for electronic health records mean that doctors might not stay with one particular software. Seventeen percent of physicians plan to move to new software in 2013, according to Black Book Rankings, a technology market research firm. That change means even more muddled waters when it comes to implementing electronic health records on a broad scale.
Electronic health records don't guarantee seamless care
Electronic health records, also known as EHR, have a few very clear advantages. Once a system is in place, the accuracy and clarity of patient records means fewer medical errors. By making all patient information readily available to any medical professional who taps into the system, the odds of duplicate procedures or delays in treatment are reduced, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
In addition, it gives patients more control of their own medical situation, as they can access their records at times that are convenient for them. This means lab results are speedier, prescriptions are more readily available, and filling out long forms with a new physician's office or hospital could be a thing of the past.
But problems can arise when the software doesn't mesh. For example, a hospital system that uses a particular EHR program might not be able to accept the electronic records from physician who uses software that isn't compatible. And while many hospitals are on track to move to electronic health records for every patient, there are some hospitals, offices and facilities that are not up to speed just yet. That discrepancy in compliance can mean serious problems with transferring records in a timely manner. It could also lead to costly or dangerous mistakes.
Making electronic health records more effective
The problem with seamless electronic health records has been noted by the government and major technology companies, both of whom are pushing for innovation that will make transfer of records safer, easier and faster. The Office of Standards and Interoperability at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has been tasked with encouraging simple solutions for interoperability of electronic health records across all platforms. Key standards include the ease of communication between systems, consistency in how information is processed and managed, applications that make using the system easier (such as the ability to prescribe medications electronically), and the importance of making electronic health record systems compatible with mobile devices, tablets, PCs and the like.
Some organizations are already making headway toward those goals. The EHR/HIE Interoperability Workgroup is a coalition of 19 states and dozens of vendors dedicated to the smooth implementation of electronic medical records that can be accessed and transferred by any health professional or patient, anytime, anywhere.
Though electronic health records are finding a foothold in the medical world, the implementation still leaves something to be desired in the coming years. Therefore, patients must do their part to help doctors and other healthcare professionals ensure their information is accurate. Patients should be advised to carry pertinent information with them to every health appointment, such as insurance information and a list of medications they are currently taking. The physician should then double-check the information to make certain there are no discrepancies. Patients can also take advantage of accessing their records online and flagging any potential problems in recording for discussion with their health professionals at the next office visit.
In the meantime, healthcare professionals should take care in choosing the electronic health records program that suits not only their business model and patient needs, but is also compatible with the widest range of systems. Acceptance of electronic medical records in the health world is gaining speed, and the seamless transition of records should follow.
About the Author
Shannon Dauphin Lee has been writing professionally for two decades on a wide variety of topics, including medical and health issues, education, home repair, and relationships.
