All health care facilities are required to maintain the security and confidentiality of patient data. With the advancement of technology and data readily falling into the wrong hands, every institution should ensure that its patients' information is never accessible to a non-authorized audience. To do this, health facilities can implement the Electronic Health Record category of health informatics.
In addition to safeguarding the protection of patients' data, electronic health records (EHR) ensure that there is no confusion at health facilities (Nguyen et al., 2014). Principally, this means that it is hard for a patient to be treated using another patient's details due to mix up of information. In addition, EHR ensures that caregivers administer the right medication and treatment to every patient regardless the number he/she is serving (Nguyen et al., 2014). The Standards for Electronic Health Records Technology which is a subcategory of EHR has successfully made this possible. This is because, the technology makes sure that each and every patient’s information is collected and stored systematically in a digitalized format (Mitchell et al., 2014) Through this, it is hard for data to be mixed up as was the case in the past.
In the past, cases of misdiagnosis were common. Nonetheless, with the onset of EHR, it has become a thing of the past. The Informatics has provided a solution to the issues of incorrect or delayed treatment and worsening of patient’s condition (Harrison & Lyerla, 2012). This has been achieved through Electronic Health Record which ensures the security of patients by minimizing and eventually curbing probabilities of the above happening. The EHR, to a greater extent, has made the work of health personnel easy (Eberhardt, Bilchik, & Stojadinovic, 2012). This is because EHR, they do not have to go through huge files in search of a patient’s details and health history. All they have to do is key a patient’s name to a computer and acquire every information they want to know about him/her.
Adopting the use of EHR in health institutions has played a crucial role in promoting privacy and security of patient’s data since it is only available to an authorized audience unlike in the past where one could easily acquire (Harrison & Lyerla, 2012). Moreover, EHR is used in triggering reminders and warnings about a patient. This is essential in promoting a patient's security. That is; with a system that monitors how a patient is progressing now and then, it becomes easy to know when they are in danger. It also ensures that a patient does not skip his/her medication as the EHR constantly reminds caregivers of the time each patient should be given their medicine. This promotes one’s security as it reduces human errors that could jeopardize a patient’s safety and life while at a hospital.
To sum it up, it is apparent that there is a need for all health institutions to have Electronic Health Record technology in place to respond to the issue of privacy of patient’s data and their security. This will also go a long way in ensuring information mix up does not take place while also making sure that an unauthorized party does not acquire a patient's personal details.
References
Eberhardt, J., Bilchik, A., & Stojadinovic, A. (2012). Clinical decision support systems: potential with pitfalls. Journal of surgical oncology, 105(5), 502-510.
Harrison, R. L., & Lyerla, F. (2012). Using nursing clinical decision support systems to achieve meaningful use. CIN: Computers, Informatics, Nursing, 30(7), 380-385.
Mitchell, J., Revere, L., & Ayadi, M. F. (2014). Association of Clinical Decision Support Systems on Process of Care Measures and Quality Outcomes for Patients with Heart Failure. Journal of Management Information and Decision Sciences, 17(2), 99-111.
Nguyen, L., Bellucci, E., & Nguyen, L. T. (2014). Electronic health records implementation: an evaluation of information system impact and contingency factors. International journal of medical informatics, 83(11), 779-796.
