Why Electronic Health Record Adoption Was So Slow - Assignment Example

It should be able to immediately access patient key information, should be able to enter and store new patient information according to the order of entry. The system should be able to provide patients with access to their information enabling home monitoring and especially of chronic diseases. The data it stores electronically should be able to be accessed by other similar systems on the state or even federal level because of disease surveillance data.

What is the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act and how does it relate to EHRs?
The act deals with the technology in health information and especially that which deals with the privacy and security of the patients’ information in health care facilities. It deals with the electronic transmission of health information which is the role of EHR. The HITECH Act, therefore, examines the HER and ensures that records it stores of patients are secured and remain private failure to which civil and criminal legal action will be undertaken (American Health Lawyers Association, 2006).

What are the current government incentives for installing EHR systems? What are the ramifications if systems do not start using EHR?
The government incentives for the adoption of the EHR system are monetary. Doctors and hospitals which adopt the system within a certain period of time will be receiving money as an incentive in order to attract more doctors to adopt the system. The incentive money reduces as time passes. The ramifications of lack of adoption are a certain percentage cut of the Medicaid and Medicare reimbursements that physicians normally receive from the government.

What are the requirements for optimal utilization of EHR systems?
The first requirement is to have money to purchase the system and set it up in the relevant departments or according to the goals set within the organization. The other requirement is to have people with expert knowledge of the system to operate it as well as to teach the rest of the staff who will be handling the system how to use it and repair it (Hebda, Czar & Mascara, 2012).

What is a certified EHR? Why is it important?
Certified EHR is a technological system that is tailored towards specifically meeting the functionality and security required by the user. The certification maintains data sharing and confidentiality as well as keeping the system secure. This is important if the HITECH Act rules are to be adhered to completely and to avoid legal implications. A confidential system will increase patients’ trust in the health care facility.

How can EHR systems reduce cost and increase the quality of care?
EHR keeps correct information about the patient records as every department in the hospital feeds information directly into the system. This means that there will be no medical errors hence improving the quality of care provided to the patient. With the reduction in paperwork for recording information as well as messengers to move patient health records from department to department, costs are reduced drastically. It will also save on money used for stationery for the recording of the patient data (Lehman, 2006). Read More