Electronic health records are becoming more and more common as a means of recording patient information. In some cases, the transition from paper charting to the use of electronic medical records has not been easy. Nurses may find them more time consuming and more difficult to use initially; however, electronic health records present many advantages over their paper counterparts. As with any new system, electronic health records will take some getting used to. There are some advantages and disadvantages to the use of this type of electronic record keeping.
Advantages include: • Decrease in repetition of information • Information can be accessed by healthcare professionals remotely • All healthcare providers have access to the same up-to-date information • Programs can include specific protocols depending on the patient’s condition • Built-in protocols encourage adherence to clinical practice guidelines and improve constancy and consistency of care • Improves communication amongst healthcare providers • Information less likely to be lost or destroyed • Charting done in a timely fashion (point of contact) • Charting may be more complete as prompts ask for further information • Electronic health records may provide more protection in the event of lawsuit • May more accurately capture financial data • May increase patient safety through built-in safety features (i.e. allergy warnings)
Disadvantages include: • Expensive to implement • Systems can cause confusion • Systems may be more time consuming, at least initially • Employees may be unwilling/unable to adapt to new technology • Greater technology requires more maintenance • System failures may be an issue (i.e. power failure may render system useless for periods of time)
As the use of electronic health records becomes more common, nurses will undoubtedly adjust, as they always do, and will find that there are many advantages to electronic medical records. Nurses will also be instrumental in helping to improve new systems as the primary users of this new technology.
Source: Catalano, J. T. (2006). Nursing Now! Today’s Issues, Tomorrow’s Trends (fourth Ed.) Philadelphia: F. A. Davis
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Do you use electronic health records in your workplace?
Are electronic health records easy to use, even if one isn't technologically savvy?
Do the above advantages outweigh the disadvantages?
Male nurses are invaluable. How can we encourge more male nurses to join the nursing profession?
What skills does a male bring to a ward that a female doesn't?
Are there certain areas of nursing that males are more inclined to work in?
I am interested in knowing how privacy has been dealt with?
TharienOct 06, 2010
our hospital moved to electronic health records about a year ago. Initially took some time to get use to it - but now love it. Am attached to a research department as well and no more waiting for medical records to get histories to us, as it is instantly available.Cuts down a lot of time and easy to print out any reports.
ZoeSep 22, 2010
This is an interesting point you make Gayle- the image it shows to patients and families. I guess the image of writing on a chart or in notes is traditional and recognised as a vital aspect of care, whereas typing into a computer may be seen as less engaging. I'd be interested to hear how you find electronic health records after a couple more months, I'm sure with more use it will become more efficient.
gayleSep 10, 2010
Our unit brought in an electronic system 8 weeks ago and it has increased our workload considerably. It is a neonatal unit and before a feed, cares and obs were all on one page and easy to fill in but now we have to open up 11 different pages to fill in the same info. Add in any respiratory support and the pages increase even more. Parents have been complaining that we seem to spent more time looking at the computers then we spend looking at the baby.
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