The use of health information technology (HIT) has increased dramatically over the past decade, resulting in the federal government enacting several pieces of legislation such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996 and the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act of 2009. Continuing to build on your proposal for a healthcare facility from Weeks 1 and 2, you are assigned to research and discuss the following:
Discuss the financial and health benefits that can be realized by implementing an electronic health record (EHR).
Research and explain the estimated cost of implementing an EHR and the estimated cost of managing an EHR over the long run.
Discuss current security concerns surrounding HIT and the EHR.
Discuss how electronic health records can be used for decision-making and problem-solving.
Choose 1 piece of federal legislation (e.g., HIPAA, HITECH Act, Meaningful Use), and discuss the requirements that legislation imposes on the use of HIT and the EHR.
Full Answer Section
Some of the health benefits of EHRs include:
- Reduced medication errors: EHRs can help to reduce medication errors by providing providers with a complete list of a patient's medications.
- Improved communication: EHRs can help to improve communication between providers by providing them with access to a patient's medical record from anywhere.
- Increased patient satisfaction: EHRs can help to increase patient satisfaction by providing them with more convenient access to their medical records.
Cost of implementing and managing EHRs
The cost of implementing and managing an EHR can vary depending on the size and complexity of the healthcare organization. The initial cost of implementing an EHR can be significant, but the long-term costs of managing an EHR are typically lower than the costs of maintaining paper records.
According to a study by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC), the average cost of implementing an EHR for a small physician practice is \$100,000. The average cost of implementing an EHR for a large hospital is \$10 million.
The long-term costs of managing an EHR are typically lower than the costs of maintaining paper records. The ONC study found that the average annual cost of managing an EHR for a small physician practice is \$25,000. The average annual cost of managing an EHR for a large hospital is \$10 million.
Security concerns surrounding HIT and EHRs
There are a number of security concerns surrounding HIT and EHRs. These concerns include:
- Data breaches: EHRs contain sensitive patient information, so there is a risk of data breaches.
- Hacking: EHRs can be hacked, which could allow hackers to access patient information.
- Phishing: EHRs can be targeted by phishing attacks, which could allow hackers to steal patient information.
- Malware: EHRs can be infected with malware, which could damage or destroy patient information.
How EHRs can be used for decision-making and problem-solving
EHRs can be used to improve decision-making and problem-solving in healthcare by providing providers with access to real-time patient information. For example, EHRs can be used to:
- Identify patients who are at risk for certain conditions.
- Track patient progress over time.
- Make better decisions about treatment options.
- Identify and solve medication errors.
- Improve communication between providers.
HIPAA
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996 is a federal law that protects the privacy and security of health information. HIPAA applies to all healthcare providers, including hospitals, doctors' offices, and insurance companies.
HIPAA requires healthcare providers to take certain steps to protect patient information, such as:
- Obtaining patient consent before using or disclosing patient information.
- Implementing safeguards to protect patient information from unauthorized access, use, or disclosure.
- Reporting data breaches to the affected patients and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
HITECH Act
The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act of 2009 is a federal law that provides incentives for healthcare providers to adopt and use EHRs. The HITECH Act also requires healthcare providers to meet certain standards for the use and security of EHRs.
Meaningful Use
Meaningful Use is a set of requirements that healthcare providers must meet in order to qualify for HITECH Act incentives. Meaningful Use requirements include:
- Using EHRs to improve quality of care.
- Sharing patient information electronically.
- Reporting clinical quality measures.
Conclusion
EHRs can offer a number of financial and health benefits to healthcare providers and patients
Sample Answer
Financial and health benefits of EHRs
Electronic health records (EHRs) are digital versions of paper health records. They store patient information such as demographics, medical history, medications, allergies, and test results. EHRs can be used to improve the quality of care, reduce costs, and improve patient safety.
Some of the financial benefits of EHRs include:
- Reduced administrative costs: EHRs can help to reduce administrative costs by automating tasks such as scheduling appointments, ordering tests, and billing insurance companies.
- Increased reimbursement: EHRs can help providers to qualify for higher reimbursement rates from insurance companies.
- Improved patient outcomes: EHRs can help to improve patient outcomes by providing providers with access to real-time patient information. This can help providers to make better decisions about patient care.