Introduction
Technological developments in the recent past have brought a lot of developments and transitions in different sectors.
One area that is not left behind is the health sector that has transitioned from the use of paper in keeping records to electronic record keeping.
The most commonly used application for this purpose includes personal health Records (PHR), Electronic Health Records (EHR) and Electronic Medical Records (EMR).
In this regard, the paper seeks to examine EHR, PHR, and EMR in regards to their differences, functions, strengths, and weaknesses.
Slide One (EHR)
Electronic Health Record refers to “real-time, patient-centered records that make information available instantly and securely to authorized users.”
It is used by laboratories, specialists and physicians in the documentation and review of medical information of patients.
EHR contain such information as progress notes, problems, vital signs, immunizations, medications, radiology results, laboratory results, past medical histories, and demographics.
(As a digital version of health records, EHR seeks to document patients records thus making patients care more efficient and effective by reducing errors. Notably, the records can be viewed by the care providers and thus eliminating delays in interventions and treatments.)
Slide Two (Electronic Medical Records (EMR))
Electronic Medical Records refers to “an electronic record of health-related information on an individual that can be created, gathered, managed, and consulted by authorized clinicians and staff within one health care organization.”
In the past, EMR and EHR have interchangeably been used since they perform more or less the same functions.
In this regard, EMR stores such information as family history, patient chart, lab reports and images, prescriptions and medications, and vaccinations.
Slide Three (Personal Health Records (PHR)).
Personal Health Records regards an individual’s collection of health information. In this regard, these records are owned and stored by patients and not the healthcare providers or physicians.
In most cases, PHR is regarded as patients’ portals as they serve similar functions.
Patients can retrieve from PHR such information as medications, allergies, immunizations, laboratory results, recent doctor’s visits, and discharge summaries.
Slide Four (How EHR is different from EMR and PHR)
As opposed to both EMR and PHR, EHR has a broader view of patients’ care as it goes beyond the collected clinical data.
EHR contains the information gathered from all the clinicians that are involved in offering care to a particular patient. The involved clinicians can have access to the patient’s health information as contained by EHR.
EHR also share a patient’s information with other care providers such as specialists and laboratories.
In other words, EHR follows patients- to the nursing home, the hospital, or the specialist,
(The primary difference that distinguishes EHR from EMR and PHR regards the people who access the stored health information and its purpose. As opposed to PHR and some extent, EMR, the information provided by EHR can be accessed by all the care providers involved in offering services to a patient. Similarly, as opposed to EMR, EHR goes beyond the storage of medical data as it performs other superior functions as the integration of other information from different healthcare service providers.)
Slide Five (How EMR is different from EHR and PHR)
The significant difference existing between EMR and the two regards the function and who can have access to the stored health information.
As opposed to EHR and PHR, EMR is majorly used in the storage and tracking of patient’s information as it is “digital version” of paper charts previously used by the care providers to track a patient’s medical history.
The information contained by the EMR can only be accessed by the hospitals, clinics, and clinicians’ offices but not the patients as they are the ones who store the information.
(EMR being digital means of storing patients’ medical records, they differ from PHR and EHR in terms of the function played. Notably, this is because PHR and EHR do more than just normal storage. They are also different in regards to access since as opposed to the two, care providers are the only ones who can have access to the information contained by the EMR.)
Slide Six (How PHR is different from EHR and EMR)
PHR contains similar information as those provided by EHR and EMR.
However, they are different in terms of who can have access to the information stored.
As opposed to both EHR and EMR whose contents are majorly accessed by care providers, PHR is managed and accessed by patients. Notably, this is a significant difference.
(While the information contained by EHR and EMR are managed and stored by the care providers, those stored by the PHR are managed and accessed by patients only.)
Slide Seven (Clinical Information System)
A clinical information system (CIS) “is an information system designed specifically for use in the critical care environment, such as in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU).”
CIS is mostly used in the modern hospitals in drawing of information from various computer systems with which it networks.
CIS is used in capturing, recording and collating clinical measurements electronically thus saving time and reducing the risk of errors.
Slide Eight (Administrative Information System AIS)
Administrative Information System refers to “refers to a computer-based system that provides managers with the tools to organize, evaluate and efficiently manage departments within an organization.”
These systems record such information as legal or reimbursement data, statistical data, billing, case-mix of physicians’ specialty, activity measurements among others.
As the name suggests, the system primary conducts healthcare providers’ administrative functions.
Slide Nine (Differences between CIS and AIS)
The significant difference between CIS and AIS is in regards to their functions.
While CIS are majorly used in the critical care environment in the retrieval and tracking of the medical history of a patient, AIS is used for administrative purposes such as billing.
In other words, CIS directly helps in the provision of medical services or care to the patients whereas AIS indirectly supplements the provision of healthcare; it helps providers in carrying out their administrative functions such as billing.
Slide Ten (The System Being Utilized at my Organization)
Currently, in our organization, we are using Medical Health Records (MHR).
The system is majorly used in keeping and tracking of the clients’ medical health information/history.
Remarkably, the use of the system has made medical operations become more efficient and effective and thus has improved the quality of services provided by the organization.
Slide 11 (Rating the Information-Technology Status of My Organization)
Out of ten, I would give the organization seven.
Notably, this is because, even though the organization has already transitioned to the electronic storage of medical records, there is still a need for various improvements.
First, they need to connect EMR to other organizational systems to enable the authorized staffs to access the information stored by the central computer. It would reduce the staff movements within the organization.
Slide 12 (Cont’d)
Secondly, the organization needs to put more stringent measures to safeguard the patients’ information as currently, even some unauthorized individuals can access the data.
Besides, there is the need to train more staff in the use of EMR to ensure paperwork is eliminated.
Moreover, the organization should seek to support other systems such as Electronic Health Records and Personal Health Records to ensure it accords the patients a memorable/quality experience.
Slide 13 (Strengths of EMR)
Electrical Medical Recordsvariousstrengths, the two major ones include the following.
First, it reduced unwanted hand transcribed errors as there are no more cases of misplaced or lost patients’ files.
Secondly, it has considerably reduced medical errors.
(Apart from reducing the cases of misplaced or lost patients’ files, EMR’s strengths also include a reduction in the medical errors as physicians within the organizational setting can access or retrieve medical information at their convenience)
Slide 14
The significant weaknesses experienced by the system include among others the following:
Potential Security and Privacy Issue as the information stored in the system may be accessed by unauthorized individuals.
Inaccurate Information as the information in the system needs updating after every patient’s visit.
(Security/privacy issues and inaccurate information are the major shortfalls of EMR. The system needs constant updating for accurate information and also stringent security measures to ensure the safety and correct use of the stored medical data)
Slide 15 (Conclusion)
From the discussion, it is apparent that while EHR, EMR, and PHR have in the past been used interchangeably, the three are different.
The significant difference between the three is in regards to purpose and access.
All of them keeps medical information regarding the patient. However, as opposed to PHR, EHR and EMR allow care providers to have access to the stored information. PHR only allows the patients to manage their data.