The Adoption of Electronic Health Record System - Research Paper Example

A qualitative study approach to data collection and analysis was adopted. The data collection method was mainly through semi-structured interviews. The respondents were sampled using a snowball as well as purposive sampling techniques. The results show that various factors indeed affect the adoption of Electronic Health Record Systems among these organizations and they range from individual characteristics, social factors, technical factors, and organizational factors

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

Electronic health record system is gradually rolling out in the health care system in Australia because of its potential benefits in boosting efficiency and quality of service. According to Berner (2008), when the electronic health system is in place there are high chances of the reduction of medication errors and improvement in health care in general. There is the enhancement of client satisfaction and promotion of adherence to the set rules and procedures in the health care setup. This report is about the analysis of a framework to be used in the evaluation of an electronic health record system before its adoption. To begin with, the report will provide the conceptual framework used to structure the report as well as in presentations of the study findings. Additionally, a thorough literature review will be provided on the subject in question. Thereafter the findings and conclusions will be discussed while suggesting relevant recommendations for further research.

Background

The contemporary advancement in technology has characterized the health sector with the introduction, development, and implementation of several different forms of electronic health records. Globally we already have some healthcare organizations that are already using these electronic health records while some are yet to. Notably, there is always a variation in these types of records to the extent that what some healthcare organizations refer to as electronic health records differ across the board. There are examples from all over the world where some hospitals have fully adopted computerized patient health care information systems. According to Victor et al. (2010), many healthcare providers realize the importance of having these electronic health records but the only challenge is that they are costly and sometimes the required technological advancement is not yet in place. This is so, especially in developing countries. Additionally, sometimes change doesn’t come easily. The medical practitioners in some cases are not just willing to switch to the paperless. There are various examples of countries where electronic health records are in use.

Historically Health Records (HR) came into existence in the early 1960s. The first formal recognition of these records was in the Flexner report that tried to elaborate on what is contained in these records and also their purpose (Bahensky et al, 2011). By this time the Mayo Clinic had adopted the record-keeping practice like three years prior by recording all the details of their patients. Basically, the Flexner report was about adopting a scientific approach to disseminating medical information. The report went further to advocate for patient-oriented records which all physicians were encouraged to adopt.