Role of electronic health records in healthcare (Essay Sample)

Electronic Health Records Name Course Institution Professor Date Electronic Health Records Electronic Health Records (EHRs) have become a central part of modern healthcare systems and have greatly improved patient treatment quality, safety, and effectiveness. EHRs are computerized, patient-centered records that are actual accounts of the traditional paper-based patient charts and are real-time. EHR represents a qualitative shift from paper-based systems and offers a host of advantages that enhance both clinical and clerical activities One of the main benefits of EHRs is that they enhance the quality of care that providers deliver. With EHRs, relevant data is always with the healthcare professional and is current, which is helpful in decision-making (Mayer et al., 2020). With the help of electronic health information, doctors could instantly pull up a patient's diagnosis, medications, treatment plan, immunization dates, allergies, and radiology images and complete laboratory results. This integrated approach to patient data assists in the minimization of medical mistakes, the safety of patients, and the smooth continuity of care in various facilities. EHRs also have a critical function of improving the effectiveness of healthcare delivery. They cut on time spent on paperwork and other administrative procedures to increase the time spent attending to patients. For example, EHRs allow easy access to patient charts, reducing the time that would otherwise be spent searching for paper-based documents (Mahajan et al., 2023). EHRs facilitate alerts for subsequent medical management and preventive care, which enhances patient care. This efficiency is complemented by features such as electronic prescribing, which minimizes the possibility of prescription mistakes and enhances medication administration. Another advantage of EHRs is interoperability. They facilitate sharing health information between various healthcare organizations and systems, promoting care integration (Mayer et al., 2020). Interoperability means patient data can be transferred promptly and seamlessly across primary care physicians, specialists, hospitals, and other providers. This connectivity is especially important in emergencies when access to data about a concrete patient may be a matter of life and death (Mayer et al., 2020). It also encourages the continuity of care and ensures that all healthcare givers involved in the patient's care have the same information to avoid contradictory tests or differential diagnoses. Furthermore, EHRs improve patient education and self-management. A common feature in most EHR systems is patient portals, where people can view their medical records, make appointments, request prescription renewals, and even converse with healthcare providers through the Internet (Mahajan et al., 2023). This enhances the patient-physician relationship since patients are involved in managing their health. In this way, patients receive all the necessary information about their health and are more likely to follow the prescribed treatment. Lastly, EHRs have remarkable impacts on public health as well. They help compile and process health information, which is crucial in...