ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORDS

INTRODUCTION

Healthcare organisations cannot be lagging behind when every arena of life is dominated by electronic systems. As technology advances, healthcare is progressing towards an online digital platform for all its needs. In the mid 1960’s, Larry Weed mooted the idea of clinical data management. This paved the way for Hospital Information Systems as an integral part of the healthcare industry. As internet became popular in the 1990s, it saw the emergence of EHR as an integral part of patient care.

Computerization has become critical in order to manage the enormous volume of data that medical practices, clinics, and hospitals create and data storage for each patient has become the norm. However it is also important that medical records should focus on the total health of the patient and not merely remain as some random obscure clinical data collected in a particular clinic/hospital setup. It must encompass a broader view on patient care so that the information is shared across healthcare organizations providing physicians a complete look at patients ‘medical history in totality. Therefore in modern times there is simply no escaping the fact that our health records must be recorded in a space where we can access it whenever needed in spite of privacy and security concerns. Rules and regulations surrounding confidentially of medical records are evolving to ensure a sense of ease and comfort for the user. As these systems are relatively new we can expect a few hiccups and we may expect that the loopholes will get plugged as we proceed on this route. Latest software have the added ability to use voice and speech recognition so that information can be entered even faster making EHR more attractive to even the most reluctant users. Prudence dictates that one must evaluate the pros and cons but switching over from a paper-based solution to EHR seems inevitable both from patient and physician point of view.

THE PROS

  1. Digital maintenance of medical records will enable individuals to keep all information in one place.
  2. Time is always valuable when it comes to visiting a doctor in person. Using Electronic health records improves the speed with which care is provided.Having data available will make doctor visits worth the time.
  3. As longevity has increased records from patients are also more detailed and medical data requires a more sophisticated way to store files.
  4. Electronic health records are made for universal access. Records can be accessed on any device connected to the internet.
  5. Sharing of relevant health information at the right time with the health care provider is of paramount importance in delivering quality health care.
  6. Sharing of information almost instantly with other professionals improves patient outcome.
  7. Storage of hard copies is very tedious and maybe lost over long periods of time and untraceable.
  8. Electronic health records are stored in a systematic and secure fashion.
  9. Handwritten documents maybe interpreted wrongly due to illegible handwriting but soft copies are more reliable and easy to comprehend.
  10. EHR eliminates many inconsistencies and standardizes patients’ records.
  11. Consolidating information in one central location will help track effectiveness of previous treatments.
  12. Records of medical history, allergies, etc.help in deciding appropriate course of treatment. It's important for doctors to have a patient's past medical records so they can connect the dots on something elusive.
  13. The medical team can look up a specific medical file on a smartphone or tablet even while away from the office. When dealing with a major medical crisis, being able to access this information from any place will be a great help.
  14. Using EHR systems goes on, even after the patient leaves. They can continue to add information about their health when something comes up. Over time, this creates a thorough patient history that's more comprehensive than you've likely ever had.
  15. Patients can proactively store old clinically relevant information on their own accord to help their doctors better understand personal health concerns and update insurance information.
  16. A universal EHR system brings a closer connection between doctors and their patients.
  17. Creating an e-billing system helps save the trouble and expense of having to mail out paper bills. Patients are more likely to lose bills using the old system.
  18. Ultimately all the above factors will translate into saving time and money for healthcare professionals and the patients.
  19. EHR software brings more clarity in a time when healthcare is more complex and confusing for medical professionals and patients alike
  20. EHR can be share with family and any authorised person in case of emergency.

PROCEDURE INVOLVED

  1. Register and log-in on the website offering the service.
  2. Click pictures of your medical file pages using a camera-phone and upload the images inside the folder
  3. Reports received through e-mail in Pdf format can also be uploaded.
  4. Create and open a folder and label it as surgery, scan, past history, insurance ( mediclaim/policies/vehicle, etc )
  5. Share folders with family and/or friends for use in case of emergency.

THE CONS

  1. Just as any other personal data, we need to be carefol about protecting our health record data too from unauthorized access. The mind-set of one’s personal data being stored in a public domain can be unnerving for some. Cyber safety can be a primary cause for concern which needs to be addressed in all earnestness by the regolatory bodies to dispel imagined and other fears. However the upside is that a cloud based back up can also be viewed as a safe haven as all your data is secure and even during natural calamities when physical files may be lost; this kind of data can be easily retrieved and restored.
  2. Cons of using an EHR include having to protect the data to avoid identity theft and fraud. Keeping your system protected from ransom ware is part of the cost of working with computerized patient data.
  3. One of the crucial components of EHR is constant updating of the software as per current needs as well as conforming to the govt. regolations.

HOW PRIVACY CONCERNS ARE ADRESSED

  1. Data can be completely secured and private unless one decides to share with someone.
  2. Industry standard SSL/TLS 1.2 encryption ensures communications are encrypted to prevent inadvertent snooping.
  3. All medical records can be secured within user accounts and sites to ensure that private information is not published.
  4. However options to share account are also provided to the individual.
  5. Also options to discontinue access whenever an individual wishes and to whomsoever they wish are also possible.
  6. Strict guidelines for protecting privacy are issued from the government of India.