As a committed nursing advocate within our healthcare organization’s policy subcommittee, I fervently champion adopting a policy that revolutionizes our approach to patient care — implementing mandatory electronic health records (EHR). This policy represents a fundamental change toward improved care coordination and simplified information management, not just a technical update. My position on the subcommittee feeds my enthusiasm for pushing policies that directly influence nursing practice as we traverse the complicated healthcare environment. I hope to explain the importance of requiring EHRs in my advocacy policy brief, highlighting how it may enhance patient outcomes, raise the standard of care, and establish our company as a leader in the rapidly changing field of healthcare innovation.
Healthcare Policy and The Background of The Problem
With the primary objective of switching from paper-based to digital record-keeping, the healthcare policy promotes the required use of electronic health records (EHR) at our medical institution. Achieving uniform information interchange, promoting better care coordination, and raising the level of patient care are among the policy goals. A gradual adoption strategy for EHRs is outlined in specific requirements, guaranteeing smooth integration with the slightest disturbance to current processes (Yeng et al., 2023). The focus is interoperability and data exchange across healthcare departments beyond individual patient contacts. This policy aims to provide a state-of-the-art healthcare system that minimizes mistakes, improves care delivery, and establishes our company as a pioneer in healthcare innovation. The difficulties with the present paper-based record system, such as the fragmented care coordination, increased risk of documentation mistakes, and delayed access to vital patient information, make this policy necessary. The increasing complexity of patient cases and the industry-wide move toward digital healthcare solutions are the reasons for the urgency. In order to overcome these obstacles and usher in a new age of patient-centric, technologically enhanced healthcare practices, the adoption of EHR is essential.
Relevance to Nursing Practice
As a nurse passionate about providing adequate healthcare and putting patients first, the requirement to use electronic health records (EHRs) is quite pertinent to what I do. The adoption of EHRs has a direct influence, facilitating instant access to thorough patient data, encouraging more informed decision-making, and enhancing overall coordination of care. The shift to digital means that important information is always available, streamlining processes and permitting a more comprehensive approach to patient care. This policy supports my dedication to providing high-quality nursing care. It improves my capacity to make collaborative, well-informed decisions that promote patient well-being and, in the end, promote a more patient-centred and effective nursing practice.
Impact at Different Levels
One key tactic impacting healthcare procedures on several levels is the mandated use of electronic health records (EHR). The policy covers the need for uniform record-keeping procedures locally within our healthcare institution (Yeng et al., 2023). By switching from paper-based methods to a digital platform, we can improve speed and consistency in patient care documentation while streamlining information management. The strategy promotes improved interoperability at the state level, which is essential to contemporary healthcare. The adoption of EHRs facilitates smooth data interchange across various healthcare organizations and providers, dismantling organizational silos and fostering a collaborative atmosphere across boundaries. Enhanced interoperability guarantees easy access to relevant patient data, facilitating efficient care coordination. This improves the standard of healthcare provided in our state and adds to the more extensive network of integrated health systems.
Impact on Healthcare and Nursing Practice
The use of EHRs has a significant impact on nursing practice and healthcare in general, going beyond administrative effectiveness. Adopting electronic health records (EHRs) helps reduce medication mistakes and adverse events. Studies published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) provide strong evidence of this. By adding a layer of accuracy and precision, the digitalization of health records reduces the hazards associated with manual record-keeping and improves patient safety overall. Moreover, the benefits also penetrate the domain of nursing practice teamwork and care coordination. EHRs give healthcare workers instant access to complete data by acting as a real-time conduit for patient information (Hansen & Baroody, 2023). This facilitates more informed decision-making at the point of care while streamlining operations. When different teams have access to a single, coherent patient record, the collaborative aspect of healthcare delivery is strengthened, encouraging a multidisciplinary approach necessary for delivering comprehensive, patient-centred care.
Implementation Strategies
Implementing the mandated electronic health records (EHR) policy requires a diversified strategy. Training programs will be essential to providing healthcare workers with the skills they need to properly navigate and use the new digital systems. This covers instruction on the broader effects of EHR adoption for better patient care and technical training. Engaging stakeholders through open communication channels is equally important to resolve issues, get input, and gain support (Johansson, 2023). A staggered deployment strategy guarantees a seamless transition, reducing interruptions to regular business activities and enabling real-time modifications based on user experiences. This methodical approach facilitates the organizational transition from paper to electronic records and cultivates a climate of flexibility and ongoing enhancement.
Role of a Nurse Advocate
My responsibility as a nurse advocate goes beyond the policy subcommittee in promoting the use of EHRs. My goal is to make all healthcare team members adept in using and navigating digital systems by encouraging EHR literacy among them. This entails setting up training sessions, writing approachable manuals, and offering continuing assistance to deal with difficulties. Beyond the technical, it is critical to promote an excellent cultural transformation (Johansson, 2023). I will actively participate in discussions emphasizing the advantages of adopting an EHR, stressing how it can improve patient safety, care coordination, and the standard of healthcare. My advocacy will be based on working with stakeholders, such as frontline employees, administrators, and IT specialists. We can resolve issues, improve implementation tactics, and guarantee everyone is committed to this game-changing policy’s success.
Conclusion
Accepting that electronic health records (EHRs) must be used is more than a policy change; it is a revolutionary experience that puts our company at the forefront of a digitally enabled healthcare environment. This policy is in complete harmony with our steadfast dedication to providing excellent, patient-centered care. Implementing EHRs becomes a strategic requirement as we traverse the complexity of contemporary healthcare, increasing care coordination, boosting information management, and raising the bar for healthcare delivery. This is the perfect time for our company to take the lead in putting this progressive policy into practice, significantly improving patient outcomes, healthcare delivery, and the development of a more robust and technologically savvy healthcare system.
References
Yeng, P., Fauzi, M. A., Yang, B., Diekuu, J. B., Nimbe, P., Holik, F., … & Sun, L. (2023, October). SecHealth: Enhancing EHR Security in Digital Health Transformation. In Proceedings of the 8th International Conference on Sustainable Information Engineering and Technology (pp. 538-544).
Hansen, S., & Baroody, A. J. (2023). Beyond the boundaries of care: Electronic health records and the changing practices of healthcare. Information and Organization, 33(3), 100477.
Johansson, F. (2023). Digital transformation in the healthcare sector: Drivers for adoption of digital healthcare technologies (Master’s thesis).
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