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Module 1 Assignment

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Module 1 Assignment

Electronic health record (EHR) systems have significantly transformed the management

of patient data in the healthcare sector. Before the integration of technology, approaches

embraced were time-consuming and needed substantial manpower. The study by Hebda et al.

(2019) asserts that the practice of managing obtained patient data is the cornerstone in enhancing

the provision of standard care in healthcare departments. Based on my perspective as a nurse,

one needs to embrace multiple parameters to gather data associated with patient health. The

collected data in the given context and the right approach will shape the care provided to the

patient. This paper explores and investigates the implication of EHRs on the standard of care

being provided, another type of data in hospitals collected besides one illustrated in the reading,

and cyber attacks on EHR safety as a class project.

Effects of Electronic health records implementation on patient care

In most instances, machine activities are incorporated by most healthcare providers to

replace their assessment skills. Before the introduction of machines, most responsibilities

entailed manually caring for the patients, including the vital patients. Today, such cases have

changed since clinicians use automated bedside machines to take the readings (Hebda et al.

2019). Such advancement is critical, especially for care effectiveness; however, viewing it from

the wrong perspective, it emerges as a liability because it undermines patient-to-nurse

engagement, a crucial aspect in fostering therapeutic care that is all-rounded. Such a trend can be

adjusted by changing multiple elements, including the view of machines in patients' and nurses'

daily lives. For example, nurses should not see machines as a replacement for their

responsibilities by having a view of the perfect extension of their skills and roles. This is a factor

in boosting efficiency and reducing workload, thus enhancing their time with patients (Hebda et
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al., 2019). it is perceived that it is useless to have data without context. Therefore, spending time

knowing the symptoms and understanding the patients is a process that cannot be predicted

through the generated data. Such allows for the incorporation of aspects into context, thus

improving the likelihood of providing the right diagnosis.

Lack of training and the purpose of machines in the healthcare environment encourage

some health workers or nurses to spend most of their time on a computer screen (Hebda et al.,

2019). When such occurs, healthcare workers or nurses begin to minimize their time with the

patients. Thus, they start providing nursing services, care, and treatment based on collected data

streams through bedside machines or checking off boxes. Therefore, as professional nurses, such

care is dangerous and can significantly undermine the well-being and health of the patient. As

nurses, we are urged to ensure that we treat the person and the disease; treatment of the person

and disease is characterized by the provision of therapeutic care, which is achievable through

having substantial contact with the patient. Nurses need to be provided with adequate training on

the purpose and use of EHRs and hospital machines to mitigate time wastage in determining

what the machines are capable of doing rather than investing time in managing and caring for the

patients.

Based on EHR implications, it is clear that patient care is highly affected. Moreover,

some of the methods that have been incorporated to foster collecting such information do not

present a comprehensive picture of the health condition. Before, it was proposed by some

theorists that the disease or health of the patient entails spiritual, emotional, and physical well-

being. Such states can be examined partially by checking systems. Moreover, the systems, in

most instances, capture physical well-being data, which is treated. However, the patient's

condition continues to exacerbate since the root cause of the condition is not taken care of. Thus,
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during the lawsuit, the charting system that integrates and applies clicking boxes would be

effective in gathering relevant data to be used to defend or build a case.

Another type of data being tracked by our organization

Various other types of data, apart from the other mentioned by Hedba et al. (2019), exist,

including patient predictions that entail health records, such as test results from the laboratory,

crucial signs, allergies, medical history, responses, and alert systems. Such types of data are

collected to foster effectiveness and improvement in healthcare delivery within the healthcare

organization by identifying specific areas that need adjustment and embracing relevant measures

to improve clients' experience and satisfaction. Health records are one of the types of data

specific to my practice that my organization keeps tracking. Such data is critical in shaping a

patient's current health status and determining the steps that should be integrated to restore the

health of the patient to optimal functionality. For instance, patient compliance with tuberculosis

treatment is one of the health data records data monitored by the National Tuberculosis

Management Organization. It allows for identifying the adherence rate to treatment and assessing

its effects on the rate of survival. The biometric tracking technique is incorporated by the

organization and has been proven to enhance the rates of adherence among the patients to the

tuberculosis-recommended treatment, reduce inadequate patient data reports by clinicians, and

enhance work attendance among the patients.

It is ethical to trace the outlined data since the consent form signed by the participants

explains the initial stages, and privacy is not breached. Signing up allows their information to be

incorporated to generate the data needed and later provides the information required. They

identified a biometric monitoring system that was used by 25% of those who would comply with

the prescribed medication, and 26% would take their medication as prescribed. Clinicians have
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also been proven to be more involved in the practice than before the adoption of the tracking

system. Tracking the data does not pose an ethical concern since the facility is following the

guidelines needed and positively fighting against tuberculosis.

Data Safety in the Hospital

Integration of the Patient care process with EHRs is characterized by the provision of

significant and sensitive data. Poor management of this information may fall into unauthorized

parties, leading to data misuse and significantly causing havoc for healthcare facilities and data

owners. Such a concern may emerge and is yet to be addressed fully. Solving the issue of

cybersecurity that is associated with data managers who deal with EHR systems is completely

impossible since the attacks continue to evolve (Ginavanee & Prasanna, 2024). Such aspects

significantly have undermined the integration of technology to foster the management of patient

data.

Such has substantially undermined the growth rate in the healthcare system by limiting

the cohesive integration of technological trends. Moreover, such issues have also encouraged

lagging in the provision of standard care as a result of labour-intensive yet inefficient approaches

to interpreting and obtaining patient data. Conversely, traditional techniques are unreliable and

expensive due to the complexity of analysis and retrieval and human error. Such challenges are

managed through current EHRs that entail the application of electronics with specific costs

associated with the safety of storing the health records since they can be accessed by

unauthorized parties remotely who can use the data obtained to blackmail and extort clients.

Various approaches in healthcare settings can be incorporated to foster data safety, such

as integration of blockchain technology to promote effectiveness in the management of patient

data, backing up of crucial information of the patient, servers securing from unauthorized entry,
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different authentication techniques, and security protocols installation, including passwords and

restricted access (Woldemariam & Jimma, 2023). The outline techniques are just a few that can

foster in managing patient data to mitigate data breaches that may compromise the safety of the

patient, lead to costly lawsuits that may ruin the reputation of the hospital, and burn resources

that may be integrated to foster in improving patient care.

Safety based on data stems from issues that should be addressed about patient data

management (Woldemariam & Jimma, 2023). Such problems pose substantial challenges around

the integration and application of EHRs. For instance, when crucial data is obtained from the

patient, who is responsible for owning the information? the hospital or the patient? Moreover, the

data obtained in most cases need to be shared to foster the provision of better patient outcomes

and encourage collaboration (Hebda et al., 2019). The sharing act is controversial and requires

extensive understanding for effective sharing and better management of such critical data among

healthcare teams within the facility. Data usage after the treatment period is over is another

concern that stems from generated data. Data aggregation and deidentification, then selling, is a

common characteristic in the current healthcare system (Hebda et al., 2019). Such has raised

substantial concerns, including who owns data and if it’s eligible to be sold or incorporated in a

manner that does not reflect the aim of collecting.

Systems theory is one of the best theories for describing an incorporated project that

addresses system properties. The only loopholes that encourage data breaching can be identified

and worked out accordingly.

Conclusion

Acknowledging data generated during care delivery, health informatics plays a crucial

role in defining its integration with EHRs and how it can be leveraged to foster the provision of
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standard care. It also promotes the provision of proper care to enhance access and safety

applications to mitigate breaches that will compromise the safety of the patient and be costly to

the facility. Nurses should understand the differences in EHR usage as a care extension and not a

replacement for their valued care expertise.

Reference

Ginavanee, A., & Prasanna, S. (2024). Secure and resilient: An integrated methodology for

enhancing Electronic Health Record (EHR) data security and privacy in healthcare.

In 2024 Ninth International Conference on Science Technology Engineering and

Mathematics (ICONSTEM), 1-10.

https://doi.org/10.1109/ICONSTEM60960.2024.10568848

Hebda, T., Hunter, K., & Czar, P. (2019). Handbook of informatics for nurses and healthcare

professionals (6th ed.). Pearson. ISBN: 978-0134711010.

Woldemariam, M. T., & Jimma, W. (2023). Adoption of electronic health record systems to

enhance the quality of healthcare in low-income countries: a systematic review. BMJ

Health & Care Informatics, 30(1), e100704. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjhci-2022-100704