- Jun 26, 2019
Infographic Content:
Data is an invaluable asset, especially within the healthcare industry. From planning patient care to delivering quality healthcare services and performing administrative functions, it is data that lies at the core of every operation.
One of the many significant digital innovations in the healthcare field had been the introduction of the Electronic Health Record (EHR) system. Now, healthcare professionals can store data in a digitized form which makes healthcare data management and accessibility convenient and error-free.
In the U.S., though it started at a slow pace, adoption of EHR has increased in recent times as more and more healthcare professionals become aware of its many benefits.
Two Broad Divisions of Healthcare Records
Electronic Health Records -It is a comprehensive, real-time, and systematic digital version of patient history generated by his/her healthcare provider over time.
Electronic Medical Records (EMR) – It is a digitized version of paper charts found in clinics, hospitals, and clinician offices for use in diagnosis and treatment.
Types of Data that falls under EHRs and EMRs
- Medications
- Diagnoses
- Provider Contact Details
- Immunization
- Family Medical History
EHR Software Adoption Rate By Percentage
- 2012 – 40%
- 2013 – 48%
- 2014 – 50%
- 2015 – 63%
- 2016 – 66%
- 2017 – 67%
Rate of EHR Adoption Based on Ownership
- Health system – 71.4%
- Hospitals – 70.7%
- Non-hospitals – 58.8%
- Non-health system – 59%
Top 5 Leading Specialties to Adopt EHR
- Dialysis – 80.6%
- Internal Medicine/Paediatrics – 75.8%
- Nephrology – 70.5%
- Pathology – 69.4%
- Radiology – 69.2%
Top 5 Specialties that are Reluctant to Adopt EHR
- Addiction Medicine – 44%
- Bariatrician – 40.6%
- Psychiatric – 39.7%
- Holistic Medicine – 37.2%
State-wise EHR Adoption Rate
- New York – 54.6%
- District of Columbia – 53.6%
- Louisiana – 54.1%
- New Jersey – 53%
- Rhode Island – 52.1%
How EHR Adoption Can Benefit the Healthcare Industry?
- Enables efficient and systematic healthcare data storage.
- Makes management, access, and retrieving data easy.
- EHR reduces errors in healthcare record-keeping.
- Provide real-time insights for quick clinical decisions.
- It ensures a seamless clinical workflow across departments.
- Improves healthcare quality and makes care delivery faster.
Barriers in EHR Adoption
EHR Interoperability Challenges
- Technical glitches that limit data-sharing.
- Increasing cost of EHR practices implementation.
- Trust issues regarding patient data security and privacy.
EHR Challenges with Physicians Adoption
- Challenges with Physician’s Adoption
- Disruption of physician workflow
- Time-consuming documentation
- Incurs heavy implementation cost
- Lack of technical skill set and training
- Data security and privacy remains a concern
- Penalties on improper usage of EHR
How to Combat the Many EHR Adoption Challenges?
Dealing with EHR Interoperability Issues
- Setting up a well-connected network that easily connects providers.
- Implementing strict security protocols to keep the network secure and safe.
- Creating a virtual phone book that helps providers quickly find each other and connect.
Suggestion to Healthcare Leaders
- Upgrading of healthcare IT capabilities.
- Bringing transparency in data sharing.
- Reducing clinician’s documentation burden.
