Communication and Information Technology

Communication and Information Technology

Holly B. Fannin

HCA 320

May 2, 2011

Sharon W. Williams

Communication and Information Technology

Health care has been greatly transformed by modern communication technology. Electronic medical records are the computerized medical records of a patient established and kept by an organization such as hospital, physician offices or other health care centers. Electronic medical records are widely seen by healthcare policy makers and service managers alike as a key step in the achievement of more efficient and integrated healthcare services (Hartswood, Proctor, Rouncefield & Slack, 2003). Electronic medical records were designed to enhance the ability to communicate patient records from one health care entity to another in a shorter amount of time and with more accuracy. Providing comprehensive, accurate, timely and accessible patient to every member of a patient’s health care team has always been a challenge in the best of situations. This paper will examine how efficient and effective this method is, the advantages and disadvantages, the financial impact on organizations short-term and long-term. This paper will also consider improvements if any that could be made to this system and make recommendations.

Advantages and Disadvantages

Advantages

The most obvious advantage of EMRs is the lack of need for paper-based systems that calls for physical storage space. Records that once took several files cabinets to hold can now be held in a small database system. Electronic records not only reduce the need for storage, but also decrease usage of paper. Accessibility by any member of a health care team at any time can help reduce un-necessary repeat tests. This same accessibility is available from remotely by several people at the same time. There are some EMR systems that can also provide medical alerts and reminders. Some even have built in intelligence factors that can recognize abnormal lab results or...