The healthcare sector has benefited a lot from the advancement of technology. A good example is the implementation of electronic health records (EHR) — a revolutionary development — to cater to patients’ needs. This was facilitated by the passage and adoption of the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act in 2009 (1). EHR is a patient history record that comes in an electronic format and can be accessed in real time. These records can be shared within a single medical facility or between many facilities, which has a lot of benefits to both patients and healthcare providers. Apart from this revolution benefiting the healthcare sector, EHR also benefits the patients in many ways (2).
How does EHR benefit the patient? Improved accessibility and convenience
All of a patient’s medical records are always accessible with EHRs, which are just a button click away. As a patient, you do not need to wait for the transfer of paper or digital files. You can rely on electronic health records to access your test results immediately (2).
You can also make plans with your health specialist and get access to your medical history through an app or online platform. Most facilities create accounts for patients and give access through a patient portal so that they can see results and other medical history in real time. With this, a timely decision can be made by you and your health specialist.
Enhanced involvement of patients
One of the major benefits of EHR systems is that they usually come with patient portals, which let you see your medical records, schedule appointments, and communicate with your healthcare providers. This enhanced involvement gives you the ability to actively participate in your health management.
How does EHR benefit the patient? You can keep tabs on your health status, comprehend your treatment programs, and monitor your progress. Most patients participate in their treatment journey remotely because they can access their medical reports in real time.
Improved healthcare coordination
How does EHR benefit the patient? The easy and real-time exchange of data between various healthcare providers is one of the main benefits of electronic health records. Every specialist, general care physician, and therapist participating in your care will have access to the same information because of this coordination.
This comprehensive approach lowers the possibility of unnecessary testing or incompatible treatments and aids in creating a coordinated treatment plan. This coordination not only makes treatment accurate but eliminates unnecessary use of resources such as finances and time. The coordinated access and use of information has numerous benefits (3).
How does EHR benefit the patient?
Medical record accuracy is very important. You can be certain that your data is correct and current with EHRs, which are free from errors that can happen with manual record keeping. For diagnosis and treatment, your healthcare professional must have accurate and up-to-date information about your health.
While there are minimal chances of errors, patients can ensure that all data that is stored and used in their treatment journey is accurate.
EHR improves patients’ health outcomes. Through notifications about the need for screenings, immunizations, and routine checkups, EHRs can assist with preventative care. This is mainly because patients are actively involved in monitoring their medical history. Most importantly, the medical experts can make informed decisions on time when they keep tabs on your medical history (2).
Additionally, by offering a thorough picture of a patients’ health, which is necessary for properly monitoring and modifying treatment, these records aid in the management of chronic illnesses. Modern EHR systems give detailed reports for all parties to fast-track treatment.
Increased privacy and security
According to The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996, all the patient information in the EHR must be protected (4). Strict security procedures safeguard electronic health records, guaranteeing the protection of your private medical details. Among the strong frameworks safeguarding your data are encryption, access controls, and frequent security assessments.
One of the main advantages of electronic health records is the increased security, which gives patients confidence regarding privacy. This is why they are given a username and password to access their data. Medical professionals are given different access rights on what they can access and what they cannot.
Effectiveness and financial savings
EHRs also simplify administrative duties, saving time and money on paperwork. Because of this efficiency, healthcare providers can save money and pass those savings along to patients. Typically, such technological advancements make healthcare affordable to all patients as they cut costs in many ways (2).
This reduces unnecessary tests and treatments, which also helps patients save money and decreases the hassle of needless medical appointments.
Better pathology and therapy
A patient’s medical history including past diagnoses, treatments, and drug reactions is fully visible to their healthcare practitioner thanks to EHRs. Making precise diagnoses and developing successful treatment strategies require the use of this information (5).
It is impossible to overemphasize the benefits of electronic medical records (EMR) in terms of increasing diagnosis accuracy and providing patients with more individualized care. This is why many modern medical facilities have embraced state-of-the-art EHR systems that help them to build a reputation of improved medical care.
EHR encourages public health and research
How does EHR benefit the patient and public health? It is possible to monitor illness trends, evaluate the efficacy of therapies, and pinpoint public health concerns using aggregated, anonymized data from EHRs. You can simply conduct complete research using this data and come up with various hypotheses that need testing (2).
In the end, the patient and the larger community gain from this data-driven approach’s assistance in creating better healthcare policies and practices. In fact, conclusions drawn from this data are also used by the government to align resources in the medical sector.
Conclusion
How does EHR benefit the patient? As you can see, there are many benefits of EMR for patients. It improves care coordination, encourages public health and research, and saves finances. It is one of the best technologies a healthcare institution should implement to ensure their patients are getting quality services.
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References
- Hoover, Robin MSN-HCI, RN. (2017). Benefits of using an electronic health record. Nursing Critical Care, 12(1). Retrieved from https://journals.lww.com/nursingcriticalcare/fulltext/2017/01000/benefits_of_using_an_electronic_health_record.3.aspx
- Stephen, M., Jay, D., & Oyeniyi, J. (2024). The impact of electronic health records on healthcare delivery transformation and economic benefits. ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/377407747_The_Impact_of_Electronic_Health_Records_on_Healthcare_Delivery_Transformation_and_Economic_Benefits
- Adeniyi, A. O., Arowoogun, J. O., Chidi, R., Okolo, C. A., & Babawarun, O. (2024). The impact of electronic health records on patient care and outcomes: A comprehensive review. World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews, 21(2), 1446–1455. https://doi.org/10.30574/wjarr.2024.21.2.0592
- U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. (n.d.). HIPAA for Professionals. www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals
- Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology. (n.d.). Improved diagnostics & patient outcomes. HealthIT.gov. Retrieved July 21, 2024, from https://www.healthit.gov/topic/health-it-and-health-information-exchange-basics/improved-diagnostics-patient-outcomes
