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This news item is retrieved from the New York Times Newspaper and points out on the debate surrounding a requirement for the standardization for all electronic health records (EHR). EHRs are computer-based records that can be accessed by medical personnel and in some cases, patients. The debate to standardize EHRs involves several stakeholders in the healthcare industry and includes professionals from medicine, industry, academia and government (Lohr, 2011). The se stakeholders agree that when well designed and used rightly, electronic records can improve access to medical information, will improve healthcare, and cut costs. However, they contend that an EHR platform could be difficult to use, clustered and distractive, and do more harm than good to the profession.
The issue at the core of the controversy is that of balancing stakeholder interests when devising technical standards that naturally limits design choices promotes innovation. It also brings up the question of the role of the government in coming up with the necessary technological requirements. Another important issue is the development of standards regarding the effectiveness and ease of use of EHR devices (Lohr, 2011). The necessity to standardize these devices stems from a 2009 study that found out that most EHR systems were poorly designed and this can increase the likelihood of error, add, rather that reduce workflow, and discourage personnel from using them. Discussions on how to proceed with matters on standardization have been ongoing and no concrete decision has been made.
Standardization of EHR devices is a move in the right direction toward the full adoption of electronic health system, a move that will reduce overreliance on paper records and bring many advantages to the health sector. One of the benefits of standardization is that it will promote innovation as various technology firms will compete towards having a perfect system that is user friendly and less prone to errors, and which will be taken as the prototype for all devices. One of the greatest failing of these devices will be doctor’s refusal to use them because they area cumbersome, time-consuming, and possibly erroneous. Usability, which will be brought about by standardization, will be the single most important motivation for doctors to adopt EHR systems. Besides, it will be easier to analyze or merge data from various health institutions, or different states, to come up with a national database.
Opponents of the standardization decision affirm that the government’s is crossing its line by involving in the debate. They mention that standardization would stifle innovation since all companies will have a standard model by which to operate. And this will in turn affect usability and hurt innovation. I object to this argument for various reasons. First, all stakeholders and participating software firms will be involved in coming up with standardized EHR systems and this implies that each firm will have chance to present its own ideas and opinions regarding the whole issue. And for those companies that feel that the move will stifle innovation, it is important to note that the benefits of a standardized system to the whole nation will outweigh the concerns of a few companies. As earlier mentioned, this move will not stifle innovation in any way.
The pharmacy profession will benefit immensely from a standardized EHR platform. First, it will enable information interchange between pharmacies and health institutions regarding patient information, medication patterns, prevalence of various illnesses and medical conditions, patient transfers, and so on. This interchange will allow pharmacists, health institutions, government and other stakeholders to make important decisions regarding healthcare reforms. Secondly, under the proposed system, it will be easier to get prescription requests from health institutions due to use of a common platform, thereby limiting the chances of medical errors. Finally, it will be easier to monitor patient drug use even if the he moves to another region since various pharmacies will be using a standardized system.
Due to the vast benefits that will be derived from a standardized EHR system by care providers, patients, and other stakeholders in the health sector, I hereby support the proposals to standardize the electronic health system.
Reference
Lohr, S. (2011). Seeing Promise and Peril in Digital Records. The New York Times. Web.
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