This article covers NUR 514 Brief Paper on Emerging Technology.
Permalink: https://premiumacademicaffiliates.com/nur-514-brief-paper-on-emerging-technology
premiumacademicaffiates.com has the top and most qualified writers to help with any of your assignments. All you need to do is place an order with us.
Comprehensive Essay on Emerging Technology in Healthcare
Emerging Technology Brief NUR 514
Emerging Technology Brief
Description:
New health care innovations provide an opportunity for advanced registered nurses to use emerging technologies in practice to improve quality and patient outcomes. Research an emerging health care technology that you believe has the potential to overcome current or emerging barriers to care for this assignment.
Emerging Technology Brief Paper
A primary concern in healthcare practice today is the inefficiency and human errors in medical and health processes like surgery and other intensive care interventions. Medical errors emanating from human issues lead to increased delays, limited access to health care services and more mortality and morbidity rates. These issues have necessitated the development of autonomous and semi-autonomous medical equipment like robots through the use of artificial intelligence. The main purpose of artificial intelligence is to make computers more useful in generating solutions to problematic health care issues (Secinaro et al., 2021). The purpose of this paper is to discuss artificial intelligence as a healthcare technology that has the potential to address the emerging barriers in healthcare provision.
Overview of the Emerging Technology and Its Role in Health Care
Artificial intelligence makes computers more essential in solving problematic health care issues as they allow providers to interpret data to diagnose different chronic conditions like diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease and various types of cancers. Using AI for trial reasons will assist the healthcare sector in the future to develop biomarkers to detect different types of conditions like cancers during the screening process. AI allows healthcare providers to interpret data, for instance, on the fight against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The development of next generation of radiology tools is through artificial intelligence (AI). Studies show that brain-computer interfaces can enhance drastically the quality of life for patients with terminal conditions like Alzheimer’s disease, strokes and individuals with spinal cord injuries across the world (Secinaro et al., 2021). Deep learning models can assist in prediction of old and new drugs and treatments that may be effective on COVID-19. Institutions are using AI to develop prototype vaccines and treatment for COVID-19. Therefore, AI is a critical aspect of tackling the COVID-19 pandemic.
Artificial Intelligence has the potential to enhance access to care and promote patient safety and quality. AI leverages on interpretation of data to ensure that health care providers make better decisions and take optimal actions to offer the best care and minimize medical errors. With more computer-based tools and interventions, many patients can access care from remote locations, especially those suffering from terminal conditions like diabetes and strokes (OECD, 2020). Information from COVID-19 tracing apps and applications like DeepMind demonstrate how AI can offer interventions for quality care delivery for patients and health organizations tackling the pandemic.
Ethical and Legal Issues in Incorporation of Artificial Intelligence
The use of AI as a powerful technology brings a whole new set of ethical and legal issues concerning different aspects like safety, privacy and preferences. Patients may not embrace this technology since it means that their information and data is accessible and can be interpreted for different purposes without their explicit authorization. Many patients are still apprehensive of the current COVID-19 monitoring and tracking apps that different health organizations and governments are using to access their movement. There will be some limits of patients who full do not understand how AI can help improve their health and confer benefits (OECD, 2020). The implication is that there is need for increased awareness among providers and patients on the critical role of AI in healthcare and how it can help in reducing adverse events for those with chronic conditions like diabetes. The legal aspects of AI also require streamlining to ensure that patients’ health information is not comprised and used for purposes other than health care improvement and quality care.
Informatics Nurse’s Role Concerning Artificial Intelligence
The informatics nurse plays a critical role in information dissemination and use of health information technologies for effective care delivery and innovation models. The use of artificial intelligence (AI) in health care is a demonstration of innovative models that providers and organizations are leveraging to enhance quality care outcomes for patients, especially at this pandemic time (Pee et al., 2018). Therefore, informatics nurses are experts who provide advice to their organizations and help in setting up systems to incorporate the AI technology for quality care and better services. The nurse informatics role is to ensure that facilities leveraging on AI adhere to the existing legal protocols and laws as well as embrace ethical values to protect patient information (Booth et al., 2021). Nurse informaticsts have a duty to use the most appropriate channels to offer better software and hardware to ascertain that AI works for patients and organizations based on the set goals and objectives.
Role of Workflow Analysis, Human Factors & User-Centered Design Concepts
Workflow analysis and human factors are critical to the overall success of artificial intelligence in health care. The analysis of the workflow allows providers to identify areas that need improvement and can benefit from AI technologies while human factors like human resource availability ensure that facilities have requisite abilities and expertise to roll out better technologies to improve care provision. The user-centered design concept means that AI should confer benefits to the users, especially patients and not the healthcare providers alone (Islam et al., 2021). In this case, the ultimate focus should be increased benefits for all stakeholders based on the features that AI provides when integrated into the health system and network.
Conclusion
Emerging technologies in healthcare are essential to enhancing quality care and patient outcomes. These technologies like artificial intelligence are revolutionizing the overall care experience for patients and helping nurse practitioners and other professionals to offer better interventions and enhance accessibility. Informatics nurses have a duty to ensure that they help in the implementation of artificial intelligence in their practice settings to enhance overall care delivery as innovative models in healthcare.
References
Booth, R., Strudwick, G., McMurray, J., Chan, R., Cotton, K., & Cooke, S. (2021). The Future of
Nursing Informatics in a Digitally-Enabled World. In Introduction to Nursing Informatics (pp. 395-417). Springer, Cham.
Islam, M., Poly, T., Alsinglawi, B., Lin, M., Hsu, M. and Li, Y. (2021). A State-of-the-Art
Survey on Artificial Intelligence to Fight COVID-19. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 10(9), p.1961. https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/10/9/1961/htm
Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) (2020). OECD Policy
Responses to Coronavirus (COVID-19): Using artificial intelligence to help combat COVID-19. https://www.oecd.org/coronavirus/policy-responses/using-artificial-intelligence-to-help-combat-covid-19-ae4c5c21/
Pee, L. G., Pan, S. L., & Cui, L. (2019). Artificial intelligence in healthcare robots: A social
informatics study of knowledge embodiment. Journal of the Association for Information Science and Technology, 70(4), 351-369.
Secinaro, S., Calandra, D., Secinaro, A., Muthurangu, V., & Biancone, P. (2021). The role of
artificial intelligence in healthcare: a structured literature review. BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making, 21(1), 1-23. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12911-021-01488-9
Write a 500-750 word brief. Include the following:
1. Provide an overview of the emerging technology and its role/function in health care. Consider its potential for improving access to care and promoting patient safety and quality.
2. Describe ethical or legal issues that would accompany the incorporation of the technology.
3. Explain the nurse’s informatics role in regard to the technology. Provide examples of the roles and job functions.
4. Outline the role of workflow analysis, human factors, and user-centered design concepts for your chosen technology example.
Refer to the study materials for samples and resources to help you construct your brief.
You are required to cite three to five sources to complete this assignment. Sources must be published within the last 5 years and appropriate for the assignment criteria and nursing content.
Complete the “APA Writing Checklist” to ensure that your paper adheres to APA style and formatting criteria and general guidelines for academic writing. Include the completed checklist as an appendix at the end of your paper.
Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center.
This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.
You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite. A link to the LopesWrite technical support articles is located in Course Materials if you need assistance.
Topic 6 DQ 1
Description:
In what ways can informatics help health care providers overcome current or emerging barriers to care and increase access to safe, quality health care? Include a discussion of the value and challenges of clinical provider order entry (CPOE) and clinical decision support systems (CDSS) in providing safe patient care in your response. Why are heuristic principles (human factors/usability/user centered design) important for efficient clinical information systems such as CPOE and CDSS?
Topic 6 DQ 2
Description:
Discuss the importance of interoperability between EHRs and other disparate systems and the impact on improving quality and access to care. How can workflow analysis be used to identify issues related to interoperability?
Topic 6: Improving Access and Quality Care through Health Care Informatics and Health IT
Description
Objectives:
1. Analyze the role of health information technology and informatics in improving access to care and promoting patient safety and quality.
2. Analyze the critical role of health information and technology standards and interoperability in improving access to care and the exchange of health information.
3. Discuss best practice for implementing informatics technologies that impact advanced practice nursing and the delivery of care, including clinical provider order entry (CPOE) and clinical decision support systems (CDSS).
4. Evaluate the role of workflow analysis, human factors, and user-centered design concepts in developing health information technologies.
Study Materials
Advanced Practice Nursing: Essential Knowledge for the Profession
Description:
Read Chapters 12-14 in Advanced Practice Nursing: Essential Knowledge for the Profession.
Nursing Informatics and the Foundation of Knowledge
Description:
Read Chapters 2, 9-11, and 13 in Nursing Informatics and the Foundation of Knowledge.
EMR vs EHR – What Is the Difference?
As you continue, premiumacademicaffiates.com has the top and most qualified writers to help with any of your assignments. All you need to do is place an order with us. (NUR 514 Brief Paper on Emerging Technology)
Description:
Read “EMR vs EHR – What Is the Difference?” by Garrett and Seidman (2011), located on the Health IT Buzz website.
What’s the Difference Between Health Informatics and Health Information Management?
Description:
Read “What’s the Difference Between Health Informatics and Health Information Management?” by the College of St. Scholastica (2019), located on the college’s website.
Quality Measures
Description:
Read “Quality Measures,” located on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) website (2016).
Writing an Issue Brief
Description:
Read “Writing an Issue Brief,” located on the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) website (2016). This resource will help you complete the Topic 6 assignment.
The Mechanics of Writing a Policy Brief
Description:
Read “The Mechanics of Writing a Policy Brief,” by DeMarco and Tufts, from Nursing Outlook (2014). This resource will help you complete your Topic 6 assignment.
A Usability Study to Improve a Clinical Decision Support System for the Prescription of Antibiotic Drugs
Description:
Read “A Usability Study to Improve a Clinical Decision Support System for the Prescription of Antibiotic Drugs,” by Akloufi, Verhaegh, Jaspers, Melles, van der Sijs, and Verbon, from PLOS ONE (2019).
American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA)
Description:
Explore the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) website.
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
Description:
Explore the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) website.
American College of Nurse-Midwives Library
Description:
Explore the issue briefs available on the ACNM Library page of the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM) website. This resource will help you complete your Topic 6 assignment.
Topic 6 Participation
Description:
New health care innovations offer the advanced registered nurse an opportunity to apply emerging technologies in practice to improve quality and patient outcomes. For this assignment, research an emerging health care technology that you think has the potential to overcome current or emerging barriers to care.
Write a 500-word brief that provides an overview of the technology, its purpose, and how it would function in a health care setting, including any ethical or legal issues that would accompany the incorporation of the technology. Discuss how this technology could improve access to care and promote patient safety and quality.
Refer to the Topic 6 materials for samples and resources to help you construct your brief.
You are required to cite three to five sources to complete this assignment. Sources must be published within the last 5 years and appropriate for the assignment criteria and nursing content.
While APA style is not required for the body of this assignment, solid academic writing is expected, and documentation of sources should be presented using APA formatting guidelines, which can be found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center.
Emerging Technology Brief NUR 514 Online
This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion. Emerging Technology Brief NUR 514
You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite. Refer to the LopesWrite Technical Support articles for assistance.
Emerging Technology Brief
Health care innovations provide advanced registered nurses the opportunity to use emerging technologies in practice to enhance quality patient outcomes. Electronic health records (EHRs) as an emerging technology, provides nurses and other health care providers with increased benefits in providing care for patients in their clinical settings. Electronic health records do more than collecting and storing patient information (McBride et al., 2018). Increasingly, these records not only compute but also communicate the data and provide insights that make a difference in the care provision and treatment process. As such, this essay describes electronic health records as an emerging technology whose use continues to expand in health care provision.
Electronic Health Records: Overview, Purpose, and Function in Health Care Setting
Electronic health record (EHR) is a digitized version of a patient paper chart and information. EHRs are patient-centered records that make data available instantly and securely to authorized users. An EHR system is built as a result of the need to store standard clinical data gathered in a provider’s office and can include a comprehensive view of a patient’s care (Evans, 2016). Imperatively, EHRs are a critical component of health IT that allows nurses to access evidence-based tools to make decisions concerning a patient’s care. EHRs also automate and streamline providers’ workflow.
These systems also contain the medical history of a patient, medications, diagnoses, and relevant information on allergies, laboratory, test results, and treatment plans. Again, data shared in an EHR system can help clinicians select the right medication for patients with allergies. Nurses leverage electronic health records to make better and informed decisions on the kind of care they should provide to individual patients.
The passage of the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) in 2009 has led to increased use of electronic health records (EHRs) as a means of documenting health care delivery in acute care settings and guide care decisions made by nurses based on this information and consulting with other providers, especially physicians (Jenkins et al., 2018). In their study, McBride et al. (2018) assert that electronic health records in health settings have increased with a saturation rate of over 90% as a critical aspect of enhancing care outcomes and patient safety.
Ethical or Legal Issues
The incorporation of electronic health records presents ethical and even legal issues that should be addressed based on existing legal and ethical frameworks by regulatory agencies and professional associations like the American Nurses Association (ANA) (Jenkins et al., 2018). Studies show that in many aspects, meaningful use of EHRs improves care, and nurses experience increased satisfaction by applying the technology (Robin, 2016). However, mounting evidence shows that the same systems can result in unintended impacts with implications on patient safety and contribute to the provider’s moral distress. For instance, nurses and clinical teams encounter usability complications that present ethical issues and need ethical decision-making approaches.
Among the ethical issues concerning EHRs is patient privacy and security risks. As required by Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), a breach of confidentiality can lead to legal challenges since providers are not required to share private information concerning a patient (Balestra, 2017). The risk of a breach happening is higher when using EHR systems. Therefore, nurse practitioners must be keen on avoiding unauthorized access to patient information.
EHRs in Improving Access to Care and Promoting Safety and Quality
At the core of EHR systems is to enhance quality outcomes and access to health through easy information availability and sharing with other providers (Jenkins et al., 2018). Further, EHRs are critical in patient safety since they contain information concerning medications and history for effective decision-making and adherence to specific rules to reduce potential medication errors.
Conclusion
The use of EHRs as health and medical technologies is an accepted standard that has led to better decision making, enhanced quality outcomes, and increased patient engagement in their treatment process. As such, providers should leverage on the EHRs to improve quality, make better and evidence-based decisions and interventions, and engage patients with a view of improving care delivery.
Current Law
Laws related to the use of AI focus on the impact of the technology on safety to the patients receiving the care. According to Yu, Beam & Kohane (2018), robots should not be used as replacement for human doctors. In essence the machines should guide decisions in care but not used singly without the intervention of a trained clinician. However, Mamoshina et al. (2018) suggest that the use of AI for diagnosis is a medical malpractice law as it violates the standards of care and due diligence required to realize a standard of care. In essence, the AI machines are likely to yield overwhelming legal as well as ethical pressure that may not be understood by human doctors. Preliminary evaluation in the use of AI indicates that the technology may be compounded by lack of transparency which can compromise the quality of care.
As you continue, premiumacademicaffiates.com has the top and most qualified writers to help with any of your assignments. All you need to do is place an order with us. (NUR 514 Brief Paper on Emerging Technology)
Background
Organization policy: Improved efficiency by the use of latest technology to improve care.
Action:
- The use of robots for surgical procedures
- Use of AI for electronic health records
- Implementation of AI to dispense prescription drugs
Evidence-base: Robots have been successfully used to conduct surgeries and as the procedures are less invasive due to use of small incision blades (Verghese, Shah & Harrington, 2018).
Regulatory Framework:
- Use of robots is accepted if it guarantees safety to patients.
- Use of AI adheres to the ethical practice in standard of care for patients
References
Jha, S., & Topol, E. J. (2016). Adapting to artificial intelligence: radiologists and pathologists as information specialists. Jama, 316(22), 2353-2354.
Mamoshina, P., Ojomoko, L., Yanovich, Y., Ostrovski, A., Botezatu, A., Prikhodko, P., … & Ogu, I. O. (2018). Converging blockchain and next-generation artificial intelligence technologies to decentralize and accelerate biomedical research and healthcare. Oncotarget, 9(5), 5665.
Verghese, A., Shah, N. H., & Harrington, R. A. (2018). What this computer needs is a physician: humanism and artificial intelligence. Jama, 319(1), 19-20.
Yu, K. H., Beam, A. L., & Kohane, I. S. (2018). Artificial intelligence in healthcare. Nature biomedical engineering, 2(10), 719.
ORDER NOW FOR AN ORIGINAL PAPER
Course Code Class Code Assignment Title Total Points
NUR-514 NUR-514-O501 Emerging Technology Brief 125.0
Criteria Percentage Unsatisfactory (0.00%) Less than Satisfactory (80.00%) Satisfactory (88.00%) Good (92.00%) Excellent (100.00%)
Emerging Technology Brief 100.0%
The Emerging Technology, Its Purpose, and How it Would Function in a Health Care Setting, Including Any Ethical or Legal Issues That Would Accompany the Incorporation of the Technology 35.0% A discussion of the emerging technology, its purpose, and how it would function in a health care setting, including any ethical or legal issues that would accompany the incorporation of the technology, is not included. A discussion of the emerging technology, its purpose, and how it would function in a health care setting, including any ethical or legal issues that would accompany the incorporation of the technology, is present, but it lacks detail or is incomplete. A discussion of the emerging technology, its purpose, and how it would function in a health care setting, including any ethical or legal issues that would accompany the incorporation of the technology, is present. A discussion of the emerging technology, its purpose, and how it would function in a health care setting, including any ethical or legal issues that would accompany the incorporation of the technology, is clearly provided and well developed. A comprehensive discussion of the emerging technology, its purpose, and how it would function in a health care setting, including any ethical or legal issues that would accompany the incorporation of the technology, is thoroughly developed with supporting details.
Mechanics of Writing (includes spelling, punctuation, grammar, and language use) 10.0% Surface errors are pervasive enough that they impede communication of meaning. Inappropriate word choice or sentence construction is employed. Frequent and repetitive mechanical errors distract the reader. Inconsistencies in language choice (register) or word choice are present. Sentence structure is correct but not varied. Some mechanical errors or typos are present, but they are not overly distracting to the reader. Correct and varied sentence structure and audience-appropriate language are employed. Prose is largely free of mechanical errors, although a few may be present. The writer uses a variety of effective sentence structures and figures of speech. The writer is clearly in command of standard, written, academic English.
Required Sources 5.0% Sources are not included. Number of required sources is only partially met. Number of required sources is met, but sources are outdated or inappropriate. Number of required sources is met. Sources are current, but not all sources are appropriate for the assignment criteria and nursing content. Number of required resources is met. Sources are current, and appropriate for the assignment criteria and nursing content
Presentation 10.0% The piece is not neat or organized, and it does not include all required elements. The work is not neat and includes minor flaws or omissions of required elements. The overall appearance is general, and major elements are missing. The overall appearance is generally neat, with a few minor flaws or missing elements. The work is well presented and includes all required elements. The overall appearance is neat and professional.
Documentation of Sources (citations, footnotes, references, bibliography, etc., as appropriate to assignment and style) 10.0% Sources are not documented. Documentation of sources is inconsistent or incorrect, as appropriate to assignment and style, with numerous formatting errors. Sources are documented, as appropriate to assignment and style, although some formatting errors may be present. Sources are documented, as appropriate to assignment and style, and format is mostly correct. Sources are completely and correctly documented, as appropriate to assignment and style, and format is free of error. Emerging Technology Brief NUR 514
How This Technology Improves Access to Care and Promotes Patient Safety and Quality 30.0% A discussion of how this technology improves access to care and promotes patient safety and quality is not included. A discussion of how this technology improves access to care and promotes patient safety and quality is present, but it lacks detail or is incomplete. A discussion of how this technology improves access to care and promotes patient safety and quality is present. A discussion of how this technology improves access to care and promotes patient safety and quality is clearly provided and well developed. A comprehensive discussion of how this technology improves access to care and promotes patient safety and quality is thoroughly developed with supporting details.
Writing an Issue Brief
Writing an Issue Brief
The issue brief is a short, written document that:
- states the issue for consideration;
- indicates a recommendation for action;
- provides supporting information relevant to the issue and recommendation;
- lists references for the supporting information and other resources as necessary; and provides contact information.
To be effective the length of an issue brief should be no more than two pages (front and back of one sheet of paper). That is why they are sometimes referred to as one-pagers.
If the issue brief is to be used among members of an organization the information presented in the issue brief should be consistent with and reflect any organizational policy or agenda.
The information presented in an issue brief can be assembled by using the information used in the development of an organizations advocacy agenda.
The Framework of an Issue Brief
Issue
State the issue for consideration. Briefly state what is important to you in the context of a current public policy issue and the relevance of the issue to your intended audience.
Recommendation
State the action you seek in connection with the above-stated issue. The recommendation may indicate the continuation, elimination, or amending of the issue.
Current Law
List any current law or regulatory framework that authorizes or supports the issue.
Background
Provide supporting information relevant to the issue and recommendation:
- List any organizational policy that supports or is relevant to the issue;
- List the actions you employ or activities in which you engage in that demonstrate the importance of that issue to you;
- List the current evidence-base that supports your actions or activities or suggests that these actions or activities lead to a given outcome; and
- List the evidence-base used to establish the laws or regulatory framework listed above.
References/Resources
- List the appropriate citations for the evidence-base you provide within the issue brief.
- List any additional resources that you deem important to support your recommendation.
Contact Information
List the individuals the recipient of the issue brief can contact for more information about the issue.
Topic 6 DQ 1
In what ways can informatics help health care providers overcome current or emerging barriers to care and increase access to safe, quality health care? Include a discussion of the value and challenges of clinical provider order entry (CPOE) and clinical decision support systems (CDSS) in providing safe patient care in your response.
Nursing informatics refers to a “specialty that combines nursing science with numerous information and systematic sciences to identify, define, manage, and communicate data, information, knowledge, and wisdom in nursing practice” (McGonigle & Mastrian, 2018). Nursing informatics help improves nursing practice and enhances the quality of care. On the other hand, health informatics is the acquisition, storage, retrieval, dissemination of healthcare information to promote quality patient care” (USF Health, 2020). Health Informatics fosters safe patient care as it allows healthcare providers to access patient data. It also encourages better collaboration among a patient’s numerous healthcare providers. There are many ways that health informatics improves patient care. One way is maintained medical records: the development of electronic health records (EHR) has made the management of patient records convenient and safe because healthcare providers can access the data easily. The second way is the reduced cost. EHR helps reduce medication errors and prevents replication of tests and labs because providers can check the database to ensure that the intended tests have not been completed recently, thus reducing the cost. The third way that EHR improves the quality of care is it lessens trial and error. With EHR providers, and pharmacists can easily reconcile medications, therefore, reducing medication interactions, allergic reactions due to polypharmacy. Patients can easily self-manage their illnesses. The EHR allows patients to access their health information easily.
As you continue, premiumacademicaffiates.com has the top and most qualified writers to help with any of your assignments. All you need to do is place an order with us. (NUR 514 Brief Paper on Emerging Technology)
Utilizing CPOE helps improve patient care as it is efficient, cost-effective, and prevents medical errors. With the CPOE, the computers remind the providers “what to do, what they already know how to do, and what they want to do, in a manner that makes it easy to implement, resulting in an efficacious computerized decision support system”(Kroth, 2016). For instance, CPOE auto-populates order sets for the providers which, are efficient and effective.
References
McGonigle, D., Mastrian, K. (2018). History and Evolution of Nursing Informatics. Nursing Informatics and the Foundation of Knowledge (4th ed., pp. 104-116). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning. doi:https://viewer.gcu.edu/mQmVy7
Kroth, P. J. (2016). Health Information Technology. In DeNisco. M. S., Barker, A. M. (Eds.), Advanced Practice Nursing: Essential Knowledge for the Profession (3rd ed., pp. 323-348). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning. doi:https://viewer.gcu.edu/Tce3cz
USF Health, Morsani College of Medicine (2020). What is Health Informatics? Retrieved December 16, 2020, from https://www.usfhealthonline.com/resources/key-concepts/what-is-health-informatics/
Topic 6 DQ 2
Differentiate between EMRs and EHRs. Discuss the importance of interoperability in relationship to both types of records and to how the EMR and EHR improve quality and access to care.
Re: Topic 6 DQ 2
Electronic Medical Records (EMRs) and Electronic Health Records (EHRs) are not the same. Though they are only one letter apart, EMRs and EHRs actually have very different functions. Both are digital programs that house patient information, thus greatly decreasing the reliance on physical paper copies. Both can be used for data tracking and as a tool to ensure patients are receiving proper preventative care, such as immunizations and screenings (Garrett & Seidman, 2011).
An EMR is a digitized version of a patient’s medical chart from one specific facility. It includes provider notes, diagnoses, and treatments, all of which occurred at that one clinic in particular (Garrett & Seidman, 2011). EMRs are not easily transferrable to other facilities, however, and often may need to be physically printed out for the information to be shared outside of the clinic/facility (Garrett & Seidman, 2011).
While an EMR focuses on the “medical” aspect, an EHR focuses on “health” as a whole, which is a much broader view (Garrett & Seidman, 2011). EHRs can do everything an EMR can do, and more. They can house information not just from one specific clinic or facility, but from all providers a patient may see, providing a holistic look at the patient’s care as a whole (Garrett & Seidman, 2011). Information can be shared between facilities without the cumbersome process of printing and faxing, providers can collaborate with confidence knowing they’re seeing the same information, and the EHR moves with the patient wherever they go (Garrett & Seidman, 2011).
There are more than 800 certified commercial EHRs for inpatient facilities (DeNisco & Barker, 2016). A commonly used EHR is Epic, which is what my hospital system just switched to, from Cerner/ORCA. We made the switch to Epic for our inpatient facilities because our outpatient clinics were already using it, and Epic and Cerner did not share information with each other. While switching to Epic was not a smooth transition and we are still working through ongoing issues months later, it was a move made in the name of interoperability and patient quality and access to care. Having out outpatient and inpatient systems talk to each other provides invaluable information when a patient finds themselves inpatient. Providers and care teams can be confident that they see the holistic picture of the patient’s medical care, instead of having to fill in holes in records and spend time piecing together the history.
DeNisco, S.M., & Barker, A.M. (2016). Advanced practice nursing. Essential knowledge for the profession (3rd ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Garrett, P., & Seidman, J. (2011). EMR vs EHR—what is the difference? The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology. https://www.healthit.gov/buzz-blog/electronic-health-and-medical-records/emr-vs-ehr-difference
Write From Scratch