Electronic Health Records

Technology has become a significant part of improving the healthcare sector. An Electronic Health Record (EHR) system is an IT-based information system expected to improve healthcare services by making them more efficient and reducing clinicians' workload while preventing medical errors. The use of information systems in the healthcare system has taken its course in past decades, leading to physicians' improved healthcare and service provision. Electronic Health Records (EHR) contain critical information concerning the health status and history of patients. It provides security and reliability of clinical information for patients and allows safe sharing of health records. EHR improves patient care, leading to an increase in life expectancy and quality of life. The paper will analyze the electronic health records (EHR) system as a significant technological innovation in improving healthcare services' efficiency, illustrating the significance of the information-based system in the same nursing practice.

Electronic Health Records (EHRs) are information systems that enable healthcare facilities to store and retrieve patient information, improving efficiency and service provision (HealthIT.gov n.d.). These systems have transformed healthcare to a better level of patient care and information storage and retrieval. EHR has benefited the healthcare system and nursing practice in several ways. Nurses have improved their service level through this IT-based system, which allows them to perform their activities with improved accuracy, leading to improved patient outcomes. First, an electronic health record system leads to better care for the patients. It improves safety by ensuring the information nurses use to provide medication and other medical services is relevant. Besides, this system improves communication and efficiency, leading to improved patient outcomes and effectiveness (HealthIT.gov n.d.). Time management is another critical factor in better health care facilitated by this system. Additionally, EHR improves health care efficiency and costs by improving coordination in health care service provision and reducing redundant tests that may lead to waste. The system enables physicians to make better decisions by integrating patient information from multiple sources. It increases patient information accuracy by preventing the alteration or loss of sensitive data and eliminating errors by doing away with paperwork (HealthIT.gov n.d.). EHR allows physicians to timely update patient information, providing other professionals with up-to-date and accurate information.

Literature Review

Numerous studies have been conducted concerning electronic health records, focusing on the topic's different dimensions and elements. Mathai, Shiratudin, & Sohel (2017) conducted a study on the management of the EHR system, investigating users' expectations, issues related to its development and implementation, and the challenges physicians face in developing it. The study found that EHR increases the feasibility and convenience in the healthcare system's administration process, although most patients question the integrity and confidentiality of their information. The EHR is associated with data breaches because most authorized physicians use the same devices to share personal information. Physicians face numerous challenges when using the EHR system, such as productivity issues, lack of support, and increased costs (Mathai, Shiratudin, & Sohel, 2017). They find it a challenge when switching between screens. However, the authors concluded that EHR prevents double testing because it enables professionals in different organizations to use the same system, enabling them to function as a unit.

Another research conducted by Schopf et al. (2019) focused on the significance of electronic health records in supporting nurses and other health care professionals in providing services to patients. The article states that many professionals expect EHR to improve healthcare efficiency and quality. According to Schopf et al. (2019), additional functionalities have been made in the EHR system to improve communication and decision-making among physicians. However, the new functionalities have not proven their reliability in improving the system. The authors concluded that most physicians seek improvements in particular functionalities, such as medication and workflow, within the clinical setting. Besides, there needs to be a greater focus on the stability, reliability, and instructions found in the EHR. Since the EHR improves patient records' quality and efficiency in a health care setting, there needs to be significant developments on the system to improve satisfaction and its usefulness (Schopf et al., 2019).

Privacy and security are a significant focus of the electronic health record system. The system seeks to improve patient information safety and confidentiality through set limits that allow only authorized personnel to access it. Kumar & Wambugu (2016) stated that privacy and security are critical aspects of ensuring patient confidentiality, which requires healthcare organizations to adopt health informatics standards. The authors asserted that electronic health records yield significant benefits when security and privacy issues are addressed. They argued that nurses and other healthcare professionals are responsible for safeguarding patient information security and privacy through the EHR. Regulations and organizational policies are critical tools that help protect EHR data to ensure confidentiality by addressing security and privacy issues within health care organizations (Kumar & Wambugu, 2016). According to the study, poor management and controls over EHR systems lead to breaches of patient information.

The development of any information system follows specific standards provided by the law that governs its operations. Gurevich (2020) researched to explore the legal process governing the development and implementation of electronic health records. Through the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the law grants patients greater control and access to health data. Besides, the American regulations require the development of the EHR following specific standards that prevent blockage of authorized services to patients, restricting patients from accessing authorized treatment and other services (Gurevich, 2020). The regulation provides certification for EHRs that prohibit developers from engaging in information blocking and from limiting specific communications concerning health IT utilization. The rule also increases the accessibility of the EHR system by allowing patients to access third-party applications of their choice by connecting them to the application programming interface (Gurevich, 2020). Finally, the law requires the system users to provide the necessary information concerning a patient through the system to enhance efficient communication.

Quality standards should be a key aspect in the development and utilization of the EHR system. Based on Winter et al. (2017), there is a problem in assessing the EHR quality since the simple key performance indicators are not available for measuring the standards and performance of the system. Besides, the EHR system's quality assessment should be done by the entire socio-technical system through management planning. The key performance indicators should compare real-life EHRs and their immediate environments (Winter et al., 2017). Therefore, KPIs are critical in ensuring the quality performance of the EHR system.

Discussion

Management of the EHR

The EHR is a tool that allows nurses and other healthcare professionals to manage patient records electronically. Users of the system can access the information they need concerning a particular patient. Besides, the system allows patients to follow their medical schedules, leading to improved health care. Although the EHR system provides numerous benefits to a healthcare system and patients, it has numerous issues that need critical management to enhance the success of expected outcomes and achievements. The EHR system provides nurses with relevant patient information, enabling them to provide the necessary care and medication, thereby improving patient outcomes. EHR increases the feasibility and convenience of the administration process (Mathai, Shiratudin, & Sohel, 2017). However, most patients fear that the confidentiality and integrity of their information will be compromised by the system. 

Management of the EHR is critical to the healthcare sector since it contains numerous vulnerabilities. First, Balestra (2016) stated that there are high chances of a patient data breach since professionals who handle patient information use the same devices to connect to the internet and share data, which poses a significant threat to patient information. Besides, Schopf et al. (2019) found that health care professionals expect EHR to improve efficiency and information quality. It improves communication and decision-making among health care professionals. However, there is a need to enhance the EHR system's development by improving specific functionalities to improve the patient records' efficiency and quality.   

Privacy, Security, and Confidentiality

The EHR aims to improve health record-keeping by enhancing patient information accuracy, privacy, and confidentiality in health care facilities. This aspect aims to improve patient care by increasing life expectancy and improving the quality of life by allowing professionals to update timely and accurate information, which enables other users to obtain timely and relevant information. As a result, patients receive the necessary medical services, leading to improved health care and outcomes. The system should provide adequate security and privacy to patients' information, which guarantees the safety of critical health information (Balestra, 2016). Patient privacy and safety can be guaranteed by restricting the accessibility of the system to specified personnel authorized to handle patient records. According to Kumar & Wambugu (2016), privacy and security are critical aspects for enhancing patient information confidentiality. 

To ensure patient information confidentiality, healthcare facilities need to observe specific health informatics standards when implementing the ER system. Addressing privacy and security issues within the system yields greater benefits for patients, nurses, and other professionals. These professionals, including nurses, are responsible for safeguarding the privacy and ensuring patient information security through proper management of patients' records in the EHR. Additionally, regulations and organizational policies play a critical role in protecting data in EHR, leading to improved confidentiality by controlling the handling of patient information within an organization. Patient data breaches can occur due to poor management and control over EHR systems in a healthcare organization.

Legal and Quality Requirements

The development and implementation of the EHR system are done under the law and should follow specific standards set by the governing bodies. According to Gurevich (2020), the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) controls health informatics. It works closely with HHS, which controls the functioning of the EHR system. The HHS provides significant control of health data accessibility to patients. For increased control concerning the EHR system development, the American regulations limit IT developers from engaging in information blocking, limiting patients from accessing authorized treatments and other medical services. Additionally, the regulation prohibits developers from restricting communication about health IT use. It allows patients to use third-party applications to access their information and requires professionals to provide necessary information to other institutions and professionals concerning a patient through the system. In the same case, quality assessment is essential for the EHR system to ensure it meets the set quality standards (Winter et al., 2017). Key performance indicators help ensure the EHR meets the expected standards.       

Relevance to Nursing

Electronic health records allow nurses to manage patient information without the use of paperwork. It eliminates errors found in hard copy records. The system is limited to a few personnel authorized to handle it, leading to minimal patient data loss, which leads to improved patient outcomes (HealthIT.gov n.d.). EHR provides nurses with accurate, up-to-date information about patients, enabling them to provide high-quality care by providing complete data on patients' requirements and health information. Besides, EHR allows nurses to gain quick access to patient records through proper coordination and patient care efficiency. This improves the performance and satisfaction of nurses in their daily practice.

Additionally, electronic health records increase efficiency and effectiveness in diagnosing patients, leading to reduced medical errors and improved patient care (Health IT.gov n.d.). EHR improves communication among nurses and improves the health care system by enhancing integration among nurses and other health care professionals. It also allows nurses to share electronic information with other healthcare facilities and concerned patients. Prescription is another critical aspect that nurses benefit from the EHR since it increases the reliability of prescriptions (HealthIT.gov n.d.). In the same case, nurses can improve productivity and meet their career goals when using the EHR system.   

Conclusion

Technology has taken a significant course in the health care sector, which has led to improved patient care and outcomes. Besides, healthcare professionals, such as nurses, have benefited significantly from healthcare systems, which enable them to improve their performance and satisfaction. Electronic health records (EHR) enable health care organizations to manage patient data effectively and share it with other health care professionals. EHR has led to improved performance and quality of health care, leading to improved patient outcomes. However, the system has some downfalls, such as privacy and security issues caused by a patient data breach. This gap is controlled through organizational policies and regulations, which govern the development and implementation of the EHR system. Due to increased control, EHR has benefitted nurses by enabling them to improve their service since it provides accurate and timely data, enabling professionals to provide the right service to a patient at the right time.