EHR, an acronym for electronic health record, is a system that contains complete and reliable patient information, which is easily accessible to qualified users. In comparison with other recording systems, patient records in this system provide more comprehensive facts about a patient's health. Instead, electronic health record also includes information from everyone who are part of the team assigned to care for the patient, such as specialists or laboratory technicians. With the electronic health record system, medical professionals from different practice or organization can add, update and get vital patient information.
Adopting an EHR system is advantageous to both patients and providers. Patients can have access to it wherever they go, even if they switch healthcare providers, hospitals and specialists, or even if they change state or country. Members of the team involved in giving care to a patient can easily get the information they need or share the information they have securely through this system. Since everyone has better access to information, communication channels are open and this encourages better coordination when it comes to providing care.
Information is power, and medical providers can utilize EHR to know everything they need to know about the patient's health history, and give him quality care. Coordination, when it comes to information, facilitates coordination in patient treatment and care as well. Importance of having access to information is best exemplified on emergency instances in which the attending physician can simply look at the electronic health record to get information about a patient's medicine allergy, and this is particularly useful especially when the patient is unconscious. A patient can also use this system to monitor his own health progress. A patient can easily view his records irrespective of where he is or what time of the day it is. By being able to see his records and monitor his own progress, he can adjust his lifestyle accordingly.
Another benefit of this system is that it prevents pointless tests. A healthcare provider does not have to schedule similar tests simply because he can simply refer to the records and get the information from there. Electronic health record helps promote smooth shift from one health care provider to another or from one care environment to another.
Through Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act or HITECH Act, health care providers passing eligibility requirements can qualify for incentive payments by Medicare and Medicaid when they adopt a qualified technology. To qualify for the payments, medical professionals and hospitals must meet the guidelines of EHR meaningful use.
Adopting an EHR system is advantageous to both patients and providers. Patients can have access to it wherever they go, even if they switch healthcare providers, hospitals and specialists, or even if they change state or country. Members of the team involved in giving care to a patient can easily get the information they need or share the information they have securely through this system. Since everyone has better access to information, communication channels are open and this encourages better coordination when it comes to providing care.
Information is power, and medical providers can utilize EHR to know everything they need to know about the patient's health history, and give him quality care. Coordination, when it comes to information, facilitates coordination in patient treatment and care as well. Importance of having access to information is best exemplified on emergency instances in which the attending physician can simply look at the electronic health record to get information about a patient's medicine allergy, and this is particularly useful especially when the patient is unconscious. A patient can also use this system to monitor his own health progress. A patient can easily view his records irrespective of where he is or what time of the day it is. By being able to see his records and monitor his own progress, he can adjust his lifestyle accordingly.
Another benefit of this system is that it prevents pointless tests. A healthcare provider does not have to schedule similar tests simply because he can simply refer to the records and get the information from there. Electronic health record helps promote smooth shift from one health care provider to another or from one care environment to another.
Through Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act or HITECH Act, health care providers passing eligibility requirements can qualify for incentive payments by Medicare and Medicaid when they adopt a qualified technology. To qualify for the payments, medical professionals and hospitals must meet the guidelines of EHR meaningful use.
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