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Sachin Tare
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Healthcare worldwide is constantly undergoing changes due to new research findings, new medical technologies and new business models. It has evolved into an information intensive field and data must be timely, accurate and reliable since it could make the difference between life and death. The potential of IT and its influence on Indian healthcare has been much talked about. However, implementation of Electronic Health Records (EHR) which enables healthcare institutions both in public and private sectors to analyse and keep track of a patient’s medical history remains an unexplored area1.
The ageing populations as well as the rising need for chronic care and an increase in patient awareness call for quality and affordable healthcare. Resource constraints have led governments and hospitals to turn to technology in order to ensure patient safety and quality care.
Implementing the EHR particularly, can help healthcare providers improve their ability to make well-informed treatment decisions quickly and safely, improve patient outcomes and increase efficiency.
Healthcare organised around an individual
Personal statistics, medical history and laboratory reports are just a few examples of important data stored in the EHR.
As this data can be electronically available to authorised healthcare providers and the individual anywhere, anytime, across healthcare delivery organisations and across geographies, EHRs can help healthcare providers manage patient care more effectively.
With more complete patient information and by making it easier to use and share information, EHRs ensure seamless patient experience and safety across the entire healthcare value chain.
The benefits of implementing the EHR include:
1) Informed decision making: With the EHR, patients are presented with complete and accurate information about their medical history. Providers can also electronically offer follow-up information like self-care instructions, reminders for follow-up care and links to web resources. Quick and easy communication between patients and providers can help healthcare providers make informed decisions.
2) Improved patient outcomes: With reliable access to a patient’s complete health information, healthcare providers can identify symptoms earlier and diagnose patients’ problems sooner.
EHRs also help to reduce errors and improve patient safety. For example, EHRs automatically check for problems whenever a new medication is prescribed and alert the clinician to potential conflicts2.
Sentara Hospital in Norfolk, Virginia, completed implementing EHR in six hospitals in 2009. In the first six months post implementation, about 41,000 potential medication errors were avoided when nurses cancelled medication administrations due to barcoding alerts3.
3) More efficient healthcare practices and cost savings: Unnecessary duplication of tests and medical procedures are prevented as information is shared across hospitals, reducing time wasted and patient expenditure. For example, the aforementioned Sentara Hospital saw a five per cent reduction in inpatient lab tests as duplicate orders were eliminated.
EHRs also reduce administrative tasks that represent a significant percentage of healthcare costs.
Asian countries recognise the benefits of implementing the EHR and are catching on to the trend. Countries are also realising that technologies like barcodes are the first layer to helping healthcare organisations connect with patients through the EHR.
Barcode technologies enable EHRs
Barcode technologies provide patients, assets and healthcare practitioners with a virtual voice by turning physical elements into digital ones, acting as prime enablers of the EHR. They are a highly accurate, convenient, and quick method of data entry. For example, a nurse may scan a barcode from a master sheet for any services or actions performed, thereby electronically entering the action into the EHR.
Zebra Technologies lay the first layer in EHR with Automatic Identification and Data Capture (AIDC) technologies, particularly barcode technologies. Systems developed for the EHR are enabled by barcode technologies. Zebra’s barcode labels give healthcare practitioners the right information to provide every aspect of their treatment from administering medication, transfusing blood to carrying out surgical procedures.
For example, referring to the Closed Loop Medication Administration diagramme4 below, with barcode technology, nurses can check the patient’s identity and verify medication with a simple scan of the patient wristband at the bedside. This practice ensures the medication about to be administered at the point of care aligns with the care plan prescribed by the doctor through the Computerized Physician Order Entry (CPOE).
Brigham and Women’s Hospital, a teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School, reported that medication errors were reduced by 41 per cent after they implemented a barcoding system in their hospital. In 2004/5 alone, the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) faced over £400 million worth of clinical negligence claims— one of the key causes being patient misidentification that can be reduced or even eliminated through implementing the EHR. A core component of the implementation is barcodes that help clinicians identify the patient by simply scanning unique patient barcode labels.
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Governments will continue to implement EHR
Convinced of the benefits that EHR provide, governments will continue to implement EHRs. Singapore is a prime example of a nation quickly moving towards quality healthcare through EHR. Bar codes technologies are key to enabling EHR and Zebra Technologies is primed to meet the increasing demand across Asia.
References:
- http://www.siliconindia.com/shownews/EHR_Can_India_and_its_IT_deliver_it_for_the_best-nid-74738-cid-2.html
- http://www.healthit.gov/providers-professionals/improved-diagnostics-patient-outcomes
- http://www.himssanalyticsasia.org/emradoptionmodel-stage7hospitals-casestudySentara.asp
- A Frost & Sullivan Whitepaper (The Real Action Is Still At The Bedside) by Jesse Sullivan and Greg Caressi
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