Running head: HEALTHCARE 1

Healthcare

Name of the Student

Institutional Affiliation
HEALTHCARE 2

Introduction

The role of the electronic health record is becoming more powerful as patients

information is digitalized. Electronic health record system entails a person's official health

document shared among many agencies and facilities. The system has contact information,

information about visits to healthcare professionals, insurance information, allergies, list of

medications, hospitalization records as well as immunization status. Also, this system has been

adopted widely in both the outpatient and inpatient setting as it creates a comprehensive and Commented [G1]: Inserted: the

enduring record of treatment and medical history of the patients. The transformation from

paperwork has however introduced opportunities for errors and anticipated consequences.

Therefore this paper will discuss the comparison between the paper and electronic health records,

the challenges that may arise in using the electronic system, as well as the pros and cons of

electronic and paper health record.

Similarities between the electronic health record and the paper record

To start with, both paper and electronic health records purpose to document and track health

conditions, treatments, and care services for the patients. Also, they both can be organized in a

logic way like an alphabetical order to enhance ease of access by starting with the patient's last

name. Both of these methods have advantages as well as disadvantages based on the cost, the Commented [G2]: Inserted: n a
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overall impacts on operations, and the ease (Aldaz, 2018). Moreover, formats used in each of this
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method must be secured while being shared between providers in various health offices or even Commented [G5]: Deleted:f

when they are not in use.

Differences between the electronic health record and the paper record
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Paper records require more personnel to organize documents and to handle and support the paper

files whereas electronic method requires less time and staff. Electronic health records can secure

health information of the patients by use of passwords that limit the number of people who can Commented [G6]: Inserted: n
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access such information while paper record has no security since anybody can look at the files
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when storage areas are left open. Further, paper records require big storage space for the patient's Commented [G11]: Deleted:per
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information whereas electronic record is all put in the computer systems hence do not need a
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storage room. Commented [G14]: Deleted:ve the ability to

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Problems that may arise in the future as a result of many groups unwillingness to adopt the
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electronic health record as well as how changes to can impact record keeping Commented [G16]: Deleted:a
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There will be low security and privacy for patients as the paper records are exposed to many

people touching the paper records which put the private health information at risk. The paper

record will also not be efficient because of its slow documentation which will be a disadvantage

to patients who need fast treatment. The paper record is also not easily accessible thus will

consume much time because one has to review all the files to get the information they need. Commented [G19]: Deleted: a

Transformation to the electronic system will impact positively to record keeping by reducing

errors related to transcription and misinterpreted writing, as well as improve the accessibility of

the patient's information (Sakata, 2018). Commented [G18]: Inserted: the

Pros of electronic health record system

Electronic heath record system enhances standard record-keeping of the assessment findings,

staff, physician notes and ordering processes. The use of the system also improves accessibility

by allowing the healthcare team to access relevant medical records with ease which can also be

retrieved without much effort. In addition to that, the systems help to reduce errors that are
HEALTHCARE 4

associated timing and medication to patients using the barcode scanning. It also assists the

healthcare team to avoid any essential element of healthcare delivery to be missed. Problems

associated with transcription errors and misinterpreted handwriting are also eliminated.

Information on patients is also kept private and secure. Commented [G20]: Inserted: h
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Cons of electronic health record Commented [G22]: Deleted:o

The method is costly compared to the paper record since organizations have to buy the software

and train personnel on how it is applied. Technical malfunctions may also occur such that the

system can go down or malfunction which may lead to potential errors and delays in patient care.

There is also less patient interaction and the healthcare providers since providers spend a lot of

time documenting rather than attending to the patients. Increased virtual work is another problem

whereby provides have to handle patient's emails, field test results, and complete charts. Commented [G23]: Inserted: ,

Pros of paperwork health record

The paperwork health record is cheap since it does not incur costs such as electricity bills needed

in the electronic system, training personnel, and purchasing equipment. It enhances interaction

between healthcare providers and the patients thus offering quality services required for the

patient's well being (Wilbanks, 2018). Patient’s information is available all time in their Commented [G24]: Inserted: ,
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respective files, and there is no malfunction of such information as in electronic records that can
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lead to attending to patients. Moreover, the users are accountable for their mistakes since when Commented [G26]: Inserted: ,

one makes an entry, they must sign their name, thus making it easier to communicate about

clinical decisions.

Cons of paperwork health record

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Time-consuming in that one has to .go over many files to get a patients file they are looking for.

It may thus result to delay in attending patients who require fast treatment. The patient's

information may be not private and secure as some people are accessing the storage room. Also,

there is no standard record keeping as notes written by physicians may be misplaced or not put in Commented [G28]: Inserted: e ar
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the right file thus becoming difficult to trace them. Further, paper record is exposed to many
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errors which include essential misspelling information on the patient and misinterpretation Commented [G32]: Deleted:in order
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(Aldaz, 2018).
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In conclusion, patient's health records are essential as they help in keeping track Commented [G31]: Inserted: essential
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information that may be used in future. Electronic health records automate information access

and have the ability to streamline clinician's workflow. Therefore, there is need of adopting such

a system because of its accessibility, time-saving, error reduction and standardization over the

paperwork health record. Commented [G37]: Inserted: -

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References

Aldaz, G., Shluzas, A. E., Pickham, D., & Shluzas, L. M. (2018). U.S. Patent Application No.

15/795,035.

Sakata, T., Araki, K., Yamazaki, T., Kawano, K., Maeda, M., Kushima, M., & Araki, S. (2018).

Development of an “Alert Framework” Based on the Practices in the Medical Front. Journal of

Medical Systems, 42(6), 114.

Wilbanks, B. A., Watts, P. I., & Epps, C. A. (2018). Electronic Health Records in Simulation

Education: Literature Review and Synthesis. Simulation in healthcare: journal of the Society for

Simulation in Healthcare.