The transition from traditional paper charts to electronic health record (EHR) systems has proven to be a significant step towards improving efficiency and effectiveness in healthcare. This topic holds great relevance for healthcare practitioners as they navigate the increasingly digital landscape of patient care.
By 2024, the digital health technology market, which includes EHRs, is expected to exceed $379 billion. While their adoption promises enhanced healthcare delivery, the practical implementation and integration of EHRs pose certain challenges that need to be addressed. This article discusses the adoption history, benefits, and challenges associated with EHR systems to help you easier navigate through the process of selecting the right electronic health record system to integrate with.
History of EHR adoption and key EHR functions
The history of EHR software predates the digital age, with roots in the 1960s. The Mayo Clinic was among the first healthcare organizations to adopt an EHR system. However, these early EHRs were cost-prohibitive, and their use was typically limited to larger health organizations, often in partnership with the government.
Back then, a new approach to medical records started to take shape, known as the “problem-oriented”. In contrast to the previously common practice of recording only the diagnosis and treatment provided to a patient, this approach emphasized a broader collection of patient data, including more detailed histories. This methodology would eventually evolve into the modern EHRs we are familiar with today.
EHRs have seen widespread adoption since the passage of the HITECH Act in 2009. This act provides reimbursements to hospitals and healthcare provider practices for adopting certified EHR technology and meeting meaningful use requirements. The adoption of EHR systems among office-based physicians has significantly increased as a result, shaping the growth of the global EHR market.
EHR system development or integration plays a pivotal role in managing healthcare data. They help identify and maintain patient records, manage patient demographics, and handle problem lists for individual patients as well as broader systems. EHRs contain a patient’s history of diagnoses, prescriptions, lifestyle habits, chronic diseases, allergies, medical images, and laboratory results.
Benefits of EHR system integration for a modern medical practice
Improving the quality of care. With comprehensive patient information at their fingertips, healthcare providers can make well-informed care decisions promptly, thanks to expert guidance in healthcare IT consulting. This accessibility of information aids in checking for medication conflicts, illuminating safety risks and significantly impacting emergency care. For example, EHRs reduce adverse drug events by 52% by managing medications more efficiently. Several studies have also demonstrated an improved perception of care quality among patients due to EHRs.
Increasing efficiency. EHRs enhance efficiency at the healthcare organization by helping medical staff reduce manual administrative work and human error. The ability to store and instantly retrieve information like radiology results contributes to this efficiency.
Enhancing patient-centered care. Another EHR business advantage is enabling a more inclusive view of a patient’s care, going beyond the data collected by the single healthcare provider only. This comprehensive overview empowers patients, allowing them access to their health information through patient portals and encouraging active participation in their care.
Automating and streamlining provider workflow. EHRs play a pivotal role in automating and streamlining provider workflow. They can track patient data over time, identify patients due for preventive screenings, and monitor patients with chronic conditions, among other things.
What are the potential challenges of EHR integration?
Despite the multiple benefits, EHR implementation faces technical and administrative challenges. The main complexity lies in the fact that EHRs have not been designed to support real-time, emergency clinical decisions and analyze patient data received from many data sources. To facilitate this, healthcare practices can consider integrating their EHR systems with a wide range of internal and third-party systems.
Interoperability is a fundamental requirement for successful EHR integration. It facilitates aggregation and accumulation of the data produced by other EHRs, data analysis systems, and many other digital healthcare systems, improving the patient treatment process. Lack of interoperability combined with the heightened administrative burden for physicians and strict rules on data input, can hinder the flexible, multidisciplinary collaboration that EHRs aim to foster.
Solutions for successful EHR implementation
Based on the information obtained from the given resources, there are several essential components and strategies for successful EHR (Electronic Health Record) implementation that can be expanded upon in more detail:
Understanding and improving workflows. Implementing EHR systems requires an in-depth understanding of existing institutional workflows in each department. Identifying areas of inefficiency or data silos in the current processes can guide the customization of the EHR system to the unique needs of the organization. In addition, mapping out these workflows can aid in developing training materials for staff and allow the leadership team to anticipate potential issues before the full-scale launch.
Training and readiness evaluation. Staff training and readiness evaluation are key factors in ensuring the successful implementation of EHRs. This includes educating staff about the functionality and benefits of the EHR system, establishing a testing protocol to identify areas of potential confusion, and providing continuous support post-implementation to enhance user satisfaction and productivity. Regular feedback collection from staff can help inform necessary refinements to the EHR system and training programs.
Prioritizing interoperability. Interoperability, or the ability for EHR systems to seamlessly integrate and communicate with one another and other software systems at the healthcare organization, is vital for the effective delivery of healthcare. The lack of universal interoperability can lead to the fragmentation of patient data, impacting patient safety and quality of care. Therefore, choosing an EHR system that prioritizes interoperability can enhance collaboration across healthcare providers and departments and improve patient outcomes.
Data integrity. Ensuring the confidentiality, availability, and integrity of patient health information data is crucial in the selection and implementation of an EHR system. This involves adopting strategies to protect the EHR system from threats such as data manipulation or theft, which can pose significant health risks to patients and liability issues for healthcare providers. A suggested method for maintaining data integrity in healthcare is the use of blockchain technology, which ensures the secure and immutable recording of patient data.
Coordinated use of EHRs. This involves promoting organizational, technical, and behavioral changes that foster trust in the EHR system and enhance collaboration among healthcare professionals. Using a shared EHR platform can improve the speed and accuracy of information exchange, reduce duplication of diagnostic tests, and provide a more holistic view of a patient’s health status.
Regulatory compliance. Compliance with regulatory requirements, such as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Meaningful Use requirements in the United States, is a crucial aspect of EHR implementation. Non-compliance can result in financial penalties, while compliance can enhance patient care and enable access to financial incentives for healthcare providers.
Robust technical infrastructure. Overcoming the technical challenges of integration requires robust technical infrastructure. This involves integrating technical hardware, software, and data technologies, which are designed to withstand the challenges and demands of processing large volumes of health data. A crucial element of this infrastructure is the Application Programming Interfaces (APIs). APIs ensure software healthcare systems can communicate with each other and exchange data when necessary. Such infrastructure ensures that the EHR system is reliable, scalable, and capable of handling large volumes of health data securely and efficiently.
By focusing on the above aspects of successful EHR implementation, healthcare institutions can minimize potential risks, increase satisfaction among healthcare workers, improve patient care, and ensure regulatory compliance.
The adoption and integration of EHRs into healthcare operations present both challenges and opportunities for healthcare business owners. The key to successful implementation lies in a thorough understanding of the system’s capabilities and limitations, proper planning, and a commitment to addressing the technical and administrative hurdles that may arise during the process. Despite the challenges, the potential for improved patient care, enhanced collaboration among healthcare professionals, and operational efficiencies make EHR integration a worthy pursuit.
