Electronic Patient RecordThe potential to bring huge benefits to Patients.

ContentsIntroduction.Terminologies.Beneficial features of EPR.Drawbacks of EPR.Privacy Issues .Technical issues.References.

IntroductionElectronic Patient Record(EPR) is a

systematic collection of electronic health information about individual patients . It is a record in digital format that is capable of being shared across different health care settings, by being embedded in network-connected enterprise-wide information systems.

TerminologiesEPR (EHR): Discussed previously.EMR: Electronic Medical Record.SCR: Summary Care Record it contains basic

information.DCR: Detailed Care Records it contains

more comprehensive clinical informationSUS: Secondary Uses Service which provides

access to aggregated data for management, research and other ‘secondary’ purposes.

Beneficial Features of EPRImprove quality of carePromote evidence-based medicineRecord keeping and mobility

Improve quality of careThe implementation of electronic health

records (EHR) can help lessen patient sufferance due to medical errors and the inability of analysts to assess quality

Promote evidence-based medicineEHRs provide access to unprecedented

amounts of clinical data for research that can accelerate the level of knowledge of effective medical practices.

Record keeping and mobilityEHR systems have the advantages of being

able to connect to many electronic medical record systems. In the current global medical environment, patients are shopping for their procedures.

Coordinating appointments for specialty treatment or to participate in Clinical Trials via paper records is a time-consuming procedure

Drawbacks of EPRCostsCritics point out that while EHRs may save the

"health system" money, physicians, those who buy the systems, may not benefit financially. EHR price tags range widely, depending on what's included, how robust the system is, and how many providers use it.

TimeOften, doctors do not want to spend the time to learn

a new system. Some doctors believe that adopting a system with EHRs could reduce clinical productivity

 

Privacy ConcernsPrivacy concerns in healthcare apply to both

paper and electronic records. Roughly 150 people have access to at least

part of a patient's records during a hospitalization.

Standards on Privacy concerns

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)(USA),

European Union (EU)Personal

Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act(Canada)

Technical issuesStandards (Customization).Long-term preservation and storage of

recordsSynchronization of records

Sample view of an electronic health record

Sample view of an electronic health record based on images

ReferencesWikipedia.House of Commons Health Committee(Sixth

Report of Session 2006–07)