Healthcare remains one of the most important elements of living because it determines the quality of life, our interactions, and other aspects like access to resources and other aspects ensured by a well-functioning body. The healthcare landscape is always evolving which is characterized by a transition from the use of paper-based storage or medical storage to the use of electronic systems which facilitate the collection and storage of patient information on computers guided by legislative acts like the Healthcare Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act of 2009 which aims to enhance the quality, safety, and efficiency by promoting the use of latest technology to store health information hence securing it from unauthorized access and use.
Electronic records can be described as digital versions of the paper charts in a clinical office as they contain information such as a patient’s medication history, including diagnoses, medications, and proposed treatment plans, as well as vital information like radiology images, allergies, or laboratory tests.
Electronic Health Records (EHRs) are more comprehensive as they include deeper aspects of a patient’s history, including the medical records from one practice and information from other healthcare providers. This allows for a more holistic approach to patient care by seamlessly sharing information among different healthcare entities (Bhardwaj, 2015).
Personal Health Records, on the other hand, refer to information about a patient that is stored by the patients themselves, including any information on allergies, medication, medical history, and others. The patient manages these records, and hence, they are empowered to participate actively in part of their healthcare management.
Selected Electronic Health Records Functions
- Interoperability ensures that different healthcare systems and software can communicate, exchange data, and use information effectively. It facilitates comprehensive patient care by making it easy and seamless for healthcare providers to share information.
- Clinical Decision Support– refers to assisting healthcare providers in making informed decisions by providing important clinical information and alerts, which ensures informed decisions and improved quality of care.
- Patient engagement refers to engaging patients in their healthcare, which is essential for improved health outcomes; this includes allowing patients to access their health information, communicating flawlessly with healthcare providers, and positively participating in making important decisions regarding their care (Patient Engagement for Patient Safety, 2023).
The chosen functions are more important because they help patients and clinical healthcare providers address the key aspects of modern healthcare, like the seamless sharing of patient information, which allows for evidence-based decision-making and active patient participation, improving the quality of patient care.
Part 2: Health Care Information Systems (HCIS) in Population Health Management
Assigned Health Care Entity: Population health management involves understanding and addressing a specific population’s health needs for analysis; the discussion considers a health care entity called the “Community Health Partnership” (CHP).
Health Information Technology (HIT) in CHP: A significant HIT inside CHP is the execution of a complete Electronic health record (EHR) framework, which should not just catch individual patient information but also total and dissect population health information to distinguish patterns, risk variables, and valuable opportunities for preventive interventions.
How the Identified HIT Should be Used: The EHR framework ought to be used to follow and deal with the strength of the whole local area served by CHP, which ought to empower medical care suppliers to recognize high-risk populaces, carry out designated mediations, and measure the viability of preventive wellbeing programs (Mijwil et al., 2023).
Impacts on Patient Care, Accreditation, and Financial Status: If CHP lacks an effective HCIS, patient care might be compromised due to insufficient data for informed decision-making, which risks accreditation as healthcare standards increasingly involve the use of technology for data-driven care while financially, CHP may miss out on potential cost savings and revenue generation opportunities linked to efficient population health management.
References
Bhardwaj, P. (2015). Electronic medical records. Latest in Healthcare Management, 265-265. https://doi.org/10.5005/jp/books/12551_19
Mijwil, M., Aljanabi, M., & Ali, A. H. (2023). Chatgpt: Exploring the role of cybersecurity in the protection of medical information. Mesopotamian Journal of Cybersecurity, 2023, 18-21.
Patient engagement for patient safety. (2023). OECD Health Working Papers. https://doi.org/10.1787/5fa8df20-en
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