Assessing IT Systems for Health Information Management (HIM)

Assessing IT Systems for Health Information Management (HIM)

 

Introduction

Electronic health records

Electronic health records (EHRs) have gradually replaced the more archaic paper charts that formerly accompanied each patient (EHR). Electronic health records (EHRs) are digital versions of paper medical charts kept up-to-date electronically and made available to doctors and other medical professionals safely and reliably. Although EHRs include patients’ medical and treatment histories, their scope is meant to extend well beyond the standard clinical data collected in a provider’s office, allowing for a more all-encompassing picture of a patient’s care to be gleaned from the information(Corey et al.,2020). This is because EHR systems are intended to serve a far broader purpose than only collecting clinical data. Electronic health records (EHRs) are an essential and challenging part of health information technology because they contain a patient’s medical history, diagnoses, prescriptions, treatment plans, immunization dates, allergy information, radiographic images, and laboratory and diagnostic test results (IT).

Electronic health records give doctors easy access to decision-making tools founded on evidence and allow them to treat their patients. Electronic health records allow providers to automate their business workflow and improve efficiency. Authorized medical professionals can create and maintain patient health data in a digital format that can be shared with other physicians from various healthcare organizations. Electronic health records are designed to provide information to locations such as pharmacies, emergency departments, laboratories, specialists, medical imaging facilities, and clinics located in schools and workplaces.

Organizational needs

There is a possibility that the application of EHRs, often known as electronic health records, will improve medical care. Electronic health records, often known as EHRs, can facilitate more accessible access to medical care for patients and practitioners (Simonsen & Hertzum, 2023). Electronic health records (EHRs) can benefit patients and their doctors. Quicker access to patient records from in-hospital and off-site locations; improved and more concise decision support; clinical alerts, reminders, and medical information; tools to boost performance; real-time quality reporting; comprehensible and comprehensive documentation; accurate coding and billing; interfaces with labs, registries, and other EHRs; safer, more dependable prescribing; and less need to fiddle all contribute to better coordination, effectiveness, and efficiency in patient care.

The primary benefits of utilizing an electronic health record system are reducing operational expenses and enhancing the overall quality of medical care(Cerchione et al.,2023). Every piece of software has a unique collection of features and capabilities that assist it in its tasks. The number of features an electronic health record needs will determine how much it will cost to build and install the EHR. Personal health information (PHI), also known as medical history, name, address, phone number, social security number, and information regarding insurance coverage, is stored in electronic health record systems. This information is safeguarded per the HIPAA Privacy Rule. For a piece of software to be lawful, it needs multiple levels of security if it may access protected health information (PHI). Included in the list of security features are multifactor authentication, access control, password verification, data backups, and encryption of data both while it is at rest and while it is being sent. There are several steps involved in implementing EHRs.

Phases of SDLC

Software Development Life Cycle SDLC comprises five phases: planning, system analysis and requirements, development, implementation, operation, and maintenance. Many processes are involved at the beginning of the EHR system implementation process. It is necessary to design a plan for the implementation(Aldawood & Skinner, 2019). Putting together a crew, settling on a spending plan, and devising a plan for the underlying infrastructure is necessary. Education on the system must be provided to all personnel using it during the second phase of the implementation process. The functionality of EHRs will be evaluated in the second stage of the process. Post-implementation enhancements, also known as post-implementation support and enhancements, were the focus of the project’s third stage. During this stage, relevant people were provided with support.

When implementing an EHR system, a number of necessary processes are outlined in detail in a step-by-step guide. Installation of an EHR system involves both time and careful preparation. If you are a healthcare provider or want to establish an electronic h

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