EHRs and Their Role in Health and Data Governance

Electronic Health Records (EHRs)
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Introduction
By enabling digitalization, EHRs have positively impacted the way patient records are stored and used. They have, therefore, improved delivery of healthcare services. Traditionally, paper files were used to store patient data. However, with the adoption of technology in the healthcare field, EHRs are now being used. According to Shrivastava et al. (2021), EHRs enhance and facilitate data accessibility which leads to improved patient outcomes.
EHRs Impact on Data Access, Integrity, and Compliance
Healthcare delivery has been made more efficient and effective following the role of EHRs in simplifying access to patient data by healthcare professionals. According to Shrivastava et al. (2021), EHRs enhance access to patient information, therefore saving time that could have been spent tracing patient records. Healthcare providers are therefore able to make quicker and more effective decisions regarding patient care. Additionally, EHRs allow patients to access their records, hence empowering them to be engaged in making decisions and adhering to healthcare protocols.
EHRs impact data integrity by enhancing data accuracy and facilitating standardization. For instance, the electronic systems reduce errors that were rampant when paper files were being used for patient records. Evidence shows that EHRs reduce errors in data entry and transcription, hence improving the accuracy of patient data (Shrivastava et al., 2021). Additionally, EHRs adopt standardized codes and systems when recording and storing patient records. By standardizing data, they ensure that data entry is consistent and that data integrity is maintained.
EHRs impact compliance by enabling organizations to comply with regulations and acts such as the HIPAA and facilitate audit trails. For instance, EHRs are embedded with features that comply with HIPAA’s regulations of maintaining the security and privacy of patient records (Shrivastava et al., 2021). These features include encryption and access controls. In addition, EHRs facilitate audit trails, which keep track of the people who accessed patient records and changes made. Therefore, they aid in investigations and compliance audits.
EHRs’ Potential to Improve Eff...