Argument - computerized patient records and safety
Hospitals and other health care providers increasingly rely on cutting- edge technology to provide medical treatments to patients, and a growing number also realize the benefits of technological advances in administration and record-keeping. In the recent past, most health care providers maintained patient records in paper files, eventually transferring the completed records to microfilm for safekeeping. Many providers now, however, use computers and computer networks, microwave technology, facsimile machines, and optical scanning and storage equipment in the creation, transmission, storage and retrieval of medical records. A fully computerized patient record system is one that captures, stores, retrieves, and transmits patient health data. A full automated computer based patient record is one in which all of the data and information collected over the course of a patient’s health care are created, authenticated, modified, stored, and retrieved by computer. Computer based records may be created using a variety of media, including magnetic media such as disks and tapes and digital media such as optical disks.The trend toward computerization of all types of health care information has accelerated significantly in the past decade
Although a computer based patient record system can improve efficiency and the quality of care rendered by a provider, it may also increase a health care facility’s exposure to liability under many of the legal theories or causes of action traditionally associated with health information management. It generates unique confidentiality and integrity concerns; for example, it increases the risk of improper disclosure of personal health information and computer sabotage of persons gaining unauthorized access to a computerized record system. Inadequate system security reflects the potential for large-scale breaches of data security in a computerized medical record system. Questions also arise as to whether providers with fully computerized record systems satisfy state licensure requirements. The computerization of health care information, and in particular automated payment systems, also has significant repercussions in the area of health care fraud and abuse prevention. Violations of health care fraud prohibitions are facilitated when a claims payment system is highly automated. Electronic data exchange has also opened the door to new kind of health care fraud, arising from the growing number of computer links to claims information and the addition of electronic fund transfer capabilities. Computerization of a provider’s records can enhance quality of care by permitting quick capture of information in a patient’s record and by improving access to a patient’s records by the many health professionals who may be involved in his care. In addition, quality improvement and quality assuranc
Some topics in this essay:
,
According Zachary,
health care,
record system,
patient record,
medical records,
record systems,
computerized record,
health care information,
health information,
care information,
patient care,
computer based,
health care fraud,
patient record system,
medical records computerized,
health information management,
Join now to see the rest of the essay!
Approximate Word count = 1078
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)
|
Example Essays Home
