Opportunities for Implementing EMR, EHR and Decision Support/Dash Board

In this scenario, I evaluated a healthcare center located in a rural area with inadequate internet and power. The advantages of implementing EMR, EHR, or decision support in such a setting are as follows: the records are electronically generated rather than in printed paperwork, resulting in an efficient workflow. Another possibility is the capacity to multitask health care services while adhering to standards, resulting in quality reporting in the time allotted. It also leads to proper storage of important information and rapid access for future usage, especially when clients return to the same institution. Improvement in legibility and accuracy of coding or billing as another opportunity to implementing of EMR; therefore records kept are well updated and of high quality (Chen, 2012). Unlike in cases where some writing on papers is not as clear, EMR helps in providing safe and reliable prescription writing as one can read what is prescribed. Improvement of the data accessibility by keying in information and searching for it is also an opportunity as it advances from the manual way of finding files when clients visits.

Another opportunity is the promotion of better interaction between the client and the health provider hence offering better and improved services to the patient. Errors are reduced while using the EMR as they give updated records and complete details instead of writing where one would give wrong details while doing it on paperwork. Therefore, the setting of appointments and Screening is easily accessible through the EMR. The revisions and signing in of notes has also been improved through technology as no more movement and signing of papers by the physicians coming in and out of shifts is required. Also, the monitoring of the patient’s measurements to specific parameters like blood pressure is an opportunity that helps in implementing EMR. The E- messaging is also an essential tool to providers as messages are easily transmitted and strictly with the exact information reducing biases (Chen, 2012).

Challenges for Implementing EMR, EHR, and Decision Support /Dash Board

The problems involved in implementing technology in a rural health facility include resistance to changes involved as many people may not have proper training resulting in delays in effecting the new ideas. Another challenge is the incidence of safety issues where information may leak hence other staff may know confidential details of a client. The technical challenge is also a drawback as internet connection or electricity break down may fail or at times be slow leading to the ineffectiveness of the services offered. Due to training support and physical infrastructure to develop a standard facility, the initial cost of EMR, its implementation and usage is very expensive hence becoming a challenge to the people involved in the setting up of the center (Avgar, & Litwin, 2013). In some situations, you find that there should be some customized way of carrying out activities.

When a break is experienced in the workflow due to computers that are not customized to feed to the purpose they were designed for, then challenges are encountered in trying to reconcile records and other information. Training done on the staff and clients can also result in challenges as it is scheduled to run throughout the new and improved rules, therefore leads to use of extra time, effort and resources. While using the EMR, some health care providers and patients may be concerned about medical privacy which may be hard to achieve at a time in case of leakage of some confidential information.

References

Avgar, A., & Litwin, A. (2013). Explaining the Health Information Technology

Paradox. Perspectives on Work, 17(1/2), 15-18.

Chen, F. (2012). Exploring How Service Setting Factors Influence Practice of Critical Time

Intervention. Journal of the Society for Social Work and Research, 3(1), 51-64