An EHR system is an electronic health records system that stores all the medical information about a patient. The system is a digital version of keeping records that can be located at any moment. When accessed, the system will show the medical journey of a patient, from a previous diagnosis, allergies, the medication they have been given and the laboratory test results. Because of this, the system helps in promoting the management of the risks that occur with errors on medication. In addition, the systems operate on a digital network that makes it easy for any healthcare to access information about a patient at any time. It is managed by a set of providers that have the authority to give the information when necessary.
EHRs greatest advantage over the paper system of recording is the accessibility the system provides. The records can be found at any juncture and can be shared with different health cares (Walker, Walker, Bieber, & Richards, 2005). Therefore, a person can be given fast medical care that is effective since their file can provide information on their history. It can record thousands of patient files in a systematic way, and one can access their information when their names are typed. The simplicity that comes with it is unlike the paper system. The paper system requires manual searching of information that is time-consuming and unreliable. In addition, EHR system keeps the records safe. The system acts as a risk manager for the hospitals. Only authorized people can get the information that is not the case with a paper system. The papers can be misplaced or get lost. Such instances would make them easily accessible to anyone, which is unsafe. The system considerably cuts on medication errors if they are handled properly. It has records of all the medication the patient has received, which influences the kind of treatment a person will be given. Issues of allergies to certain medication are also covered. Therefore, it helps reduce risks of administering the wrong medication.
Even so, the EHR system has a couple of challenges threatening its operation. Many doctors have complained about the inputting of information in the systems being stumbling block. The doctors sometimes use their language to write prescriptions and medical examination tests. Such language is very effective on paper. It becomes problematic to use a keyboard and mouse to record such medical history. The doctors identified paper as being simple and fast. One simply writes as they go. Fumbling with a keyboard is too cumbersome for people who are always busy. Instructing a nurse to handle the recording sometimes leads to confusion and improper recording. In addition, the system is prone to breakdowns, it always needs to be updated and is sometimes too slow (Shortliffe & Cimino, 2006). Most hospitals in the USA are, usually, rendered helplessly when the system breaks down; therefore, making paper records effective. In addition, the hospitals still use paper records since it is effective in a busy environment. In EHRs, mobility is limited since people are stationed in one zone. Paper recording is good for a busy environment because the staff can move. They also do not distract patients. The presence of computers everywhere might be distracting to patients who need an extremely serene environment to recover.
E-prescribing is coupled with a prescriber sending a pharmacy a prescription. The prescription is free of errors, precise and emanates from the point of care (Goundrey-Smith, 2013). In this case, a healthcare sends a patient’s prescription to a pharmacy using electronic means. E-prescribing reduces the errors that occur when the prescription is carried to the pharmacy manually. It is precise, clear and increases accuracy in prescriptions. Because the medicine world is dynamic, new medications are being adopted every day. There is, therefore, a heavy load of medications to give, which increases the amount of errors that can occur when prescribing medication. It is difficult for health care staff to keep up with the detection of errors in the medications they recommend. The electronic method eliminates such errors because it has the medical history of patients. It increases safety by reducing miscommunication, increasing and risk management techniques since it has alert signs that warn of wrong prescriptions.
A medication error is a mishap that occurs in the dispensation of medicine to patients. The concept can also be broadened to include any error that is made during treatment procedures, caregiving, labeling of medication and the monitoring of patient progress. In essence, any mistake that is afforded in the procedural medical operation that will inhibit or cause complications in the recovery of patients is a medical error. Medical errors can be severe and have had fatal result in the most serious cases. Some have left patients paralyzed or bedridden. Such errors can change someone’s life and the course of recovery. Medical errors, therefore, substantially reduce the safety of patients (Byers & White, 2004). Patient safety is where the patient is secure and protected from any form of harm. Patient safety incorporates the provision of an environment that is free from any errors. From the time they visit the hospital for treatment, their safety is determined by the professionals until they fully recover. The inconsistencies that occur in this period that threaten their well-being amount to safety issues. Even though, there are many factors that contribute to the safety of patients, medical errors are most severe threats. The patients, therefore, need an environment in which the risk of medical errors occurring is considerably reduced. Such an en environment is promoted by risk management that EHRs seek to undertake. The EHRs is a risk manager tool for the healthcare.Only then can a healthcare boast of providing a safe environment for its patients. Most medical errors are accidental, but some are fuelled with pure negligence. Putting measures in place to increase patient safety is crucial in a health facility.
Pharmacy staff was trained on how to use EHRs to access the medical history of patients. The staff was also taught on how to comply with all the legal requirements of the system so as not to compromise on the safety of the patients. In addition, the training was centered on how to ensure that there is accuracy in the information since they will be liable in cases of errors during the prescription. They were taught on how to avoid negligence by being careful with the records of patient. The center of the training was on carefulness in storing and keeping the records. Furthermore, the training included aspects of measures that they could adopt to ensure the safety of patient information. General operation and maintenance was also incorporated in the training manuals. The staff was used to the manual way of doing things. Changing manual prescription to electronic prescriptions was like overhauling the system with which they were comfortable. Therefore, the training was coupled with a lot of resistance from those who felt that the EHR system was too complex for their use. A number of them complained that they did not comprehend the process, while some affirmed that their previous method of accessing records and prescriptions was better. The resistance was not because of the system, but due to the change involved. Changing a concept can be hard for the staff and might take some period before they adapt to it. Making the staff understand the advantages of prescribing medicine was also a challenge. The system required open minded individuals who would appreciate the advantages. Most of the staff chose to see the easier method involved in their previous methods of accessing files during prescriptions. It was, therefore, challenging to make them appreciate the merits involved.
References
Byers, J. F., & White, S. V. (2004). Patient safety: Principles and practice. New York, NY: Springer.
Goundrey-Smith, S. (2013). Information technology in pharmacy: An integrated approach. London: Springer.
Shortliffe, E. H., & Cimino, J. J. (2006). Biomedical informatics: Computer applications in health care and biomedicine. New York, NY: Springer.
Walker, J. M., Walker, J. M., Bieber, E. J., & Richards, F. (2005). Implementing an electronic health record system. London: Springer.
