Electronic Patient Record

Firstly, what is an electronic patient record for all layperson readers?

An electronic patient record is a system that is computer based recording system for patients and their personal patient information, and is often used by hospitals. An electronic patient record makes is easy for medical staff using it to look up patient data at a number of different locations, or for insurance companies to process claims that are accurate, for drug and allergy issues which can be automatically by an electronic patient record, for clinical notes, electronic prescriptions, scheduling appointments and looking at electronic patient record stats for sending and viewing lab tests.

What should an electronic patient record system do for health providers?

It has been said that in terms of the electronic patient record, there are about eight points that should be covered by the electronic patient record in order to perform effectively. This would then therefore ensure a higher level of safety, integrity and efficient service in delivering health care to patients using an electronic patient record. These eight capabilities that the electronic patient record should encompass are:

1. The electronic patient record should be effective with health information and data and be able to give instant access to important information for staff. This should include the diagnoses of patients, allergy requirements, results from laboratory testing and medication that they may be on. The electronic patient record should improve the medical staff's job to be able to make informed decisions based on the electronic patient record in an efficient way.

2. Management of the results generated in the electronic patient record. This electronic patient record should be able to allow all members of staff involved in patient care to go in multiple settings and look at present and past results from tests in a quick and easy manner. The electronic patient record would then be augmenting the levels of patient's safe keeping in the establishment and raise the efficiency of care for patients.

3. The managing of orders on the electronic patient record. Medical staff using the electronic patient record should be able to enter and store information and orders for things such as prescriptions for medicine or tests or other things that are useful to access. This electronic patient record should increase the level of quality and legibility or information and limit problems such as duplication of data. The electronic patient record should speed up searching for data and for processing orders.

4. Supporting decision making and running of staff. The electronic patient record should be able to help staff by providing things like reminders and other electronic alerts that are effectively computerised support systems. The electronic patient record will help in this way with compliance and also the best practice of medical staff for medical practices. Regular screenings can be put into place and preventative measures can be implemented using the electronic patient record. There can be the identification of drug interactions and potential problems with this and help with diagnoses and treatments.

5. Electronic patient record system will aid communication between people. It should be a fast and effective system that is both secure but also simple to access. The electronic patient record will help to aid communication with service providers and patients and give a better sense of continuity in the level of care provided to patients. It will be quicker for the diagnosing of illness and treating it while also minimising negative events.

6. Interactivity to help with patient support. The electronic patient record will enable patients to have access to their records and give a kind of interactive nature that can give a form of education. Using the electronic patient record, monitoring of progress at home will be possible and testing oneself, which can be useful for patients with problems such as diabetes.

7. Useful for administration. The electronic patient record helps with administration and is great for systems for scheduling and giving a more efficient service to those patients who visit the medical centres and hospitals.

8. Supplying accurate reports. The electronic patient record will give an form of electronic data storage that will adhere to certain data standards and allow the medical centre or hospital to respond better to investigations from government or private sectors. The electronic patient record will allow them to be transparent as these organisations look for patient safety and provide disease surveillance.