Communication Paper

Communication Paper: Electronic Health Record

University of Phoenix, Dallas Campus

HCS-490

Ogochukwu Okafor

03/03/2014

Introduction

Electronic health record, (EHR) is a medical record containing individual patient diagnoses that can be shared among many health institutions including research organizations, health centers, and laboratories. Electronic Medical Record contains patient data that can be made available to assist physicians and other healthcare providers’ do they work much easier. The EHR contains patient’s health information such as adverse effect of medications, progress notes, problems, vital signs, past and present medical history, immunizations, laboratory data, and diagnostic reports. This communication paper will focus on the importance of electronic medical records (EHR) for patients, institutions where such records are created, and healthcare provider.

Mode of communication

These modes of communication enables healthcare providers distribute patient information bearing in mind that patients have trust in them to keep their medical information secured. The EMR is currently being used by healthcare providers to easily access patient data. The ability to access this data has enabled physicians and other clinicians improve efficiency and patient’s outcome, quality of care, and reduce costs. Efficiency has improved because paper records that require a lot of space to store have been eliminated. In the past patient records often become damaged, misplaced, and cost healthcare fortune. EMR is often stored electronically and can be retrieved at any time when the need arises. It helps nurses and other healthcare givers protect individual patient information from others who are not directly involve in the patient’s care. Institution and research agencies can update and share information such as documents, medical imaging results by electronic mail or fax to different healthcare organization without...