Understanding Electronic Health Records
Belinda Watts
American InterContinental University
Fundamentals of Healthcare Technology
Unit 2 IP
Understanding Electronic Health Records
HLTH241-1201A-02
Professor West
Abstract
Here you will be briefly learning a little on the history of medical records and how they were kept in the past. With today 's technology and the fast-paced growth in the need for healthcare, the means of keeping up with patient records must be changed, pointing to the electronic medical records. This discussion will also cover some examples of advantages and disadvantages and some problems that may occur while incorporating an electronic system.
Understanding Electronic Health Records
The time when the practice of medical record keeping started, may surprise many of us today. There is evidence of this practice dating back to the fifth century BC. The medical practice was dominated by Hippocrates, known as a great physician of ancient Greece (460 BC-370 BC), and others that believed in his works. During this period, medical records were a means for demonstrating the cause of a disease and course these diseases ran. During this period, the Greek believed in many different gods and believed that these gods and superstitions caused diseases. At some point in this time, Hippocrates, was sentenced to a 20-year prison sentence due to his beliefs in medicine, Optimal Health Systems, (2011).
Today, health records have made many changes, and used for reasons other just cause and effect, and will continue to change as technology advances in time. For years, paper has been the reliable source for keeping medical information, but with the use of computers today, patient 's health records are being transformed to electronic health records (EHR). Electronic health records are computer generated versions of patient medical histories and is maintained by the patient 's medical provider. The patient 's electronic health record holds data specifically used for that patient only, such
American InterContinental University
Fundamentals of Healthcare Technology
Unit 2 IP
Understanding Electronic Health Records
HLTH241-1201A-02
Professor West
Abstract
Here you will be briefly learning a little on the history of medical records and how they were kept in the past. With today 's technology and the fast-paced growth in the need for healthcare, the means of keeping up with patient records must be changed, pointing to the electronic medical records. This discussion will also cover some examples of advantages and disadvantages and some problems that may occur while incorporating an electronic system.
Understanding Electronic Health Records
The time when the practice of medical record keeping started, may surprise many of us today. There is evidence of this practice dating back to the fifth century BC. The medical practice was dominated by Hippocrates, known as a great physician of ancient Greece (460 BC-370 BC), and others that believed in his works. During this period, medical records were a means for demonstrating the cause of a disease and course these diseases ran. During this period, the Greek believed in many different gods and believed that these gods and superstitions caused diseases. At some point in this time, Hippocrates, was sentenced to a 20-year prison sentence due to his beliefs in medicine, Optimal Health Systems, (2011).
Today, health records have made many changes, and used for reasons other just cause and effect, and will continue to change as technology advances in time. For years, paper has been the reliable source for keeping medical information, but with the use of computers today, patient 's health records are being transformed to electronic health records (EHR). Electronic health records are computer generated versions of patient medical histories and is maintained by the patient 's medical provider. The patient 's electronic health record holds data specifically used for that patient only, such
References: Young, Kathleen M. Informatics for Healthcare Professionals. Philadelphia: F.A. Davis, 2000.