Question

Question: In 2011, a young woman, Becky Forest, is brought into a small city hospital after having a bike wreck and sustaining a head injury. Becky does not seem to have sustained permanent damage, but the doctor wants to see an MRI of her brain to make sure. She reported feeling faint before the wreck, so the doctor also orders various blood tests. The nurse draws blood and sends it to a lab off site. The small hospital does not have an MRI machine, so Becky is transported to another hospital for the MRI and then taken back to the small hospital. The doctor admits Becky for overnight observation.

How could electronic health records have ensured that everyone involved in Becky’s care have the most up-to-date information about her health? (500 words)

Answer 1

With the boom in the information technology, artificial intelligence, Machine learning and data analytics in every sector, Electronic Health records are a breathe of fresh air in the otherwise traditional and orthodox ways of doing things in the healthcare sector.

Electronic health Records store the Case History of the patient which includes all the clinical symptoms, past medical history, allergies, diagnosis, Lab tests ordered as well the the result of the same in a Chronological order which can be accessed by the lead physician handling the cases, nurse as well as referred doctors and pathological labs.

In the case of Becky Forest, ordering of the MRI and blood tests can directly be done on the EHR instead of on a prescription along with the medical history of the patient. Communication and transfer of data can be done effectively and efficiently. The results of the scan can also be communicated via EHR.

Storage of Information becomes easy and hassle free.

Commute To and fro the lab and hospital is reduced improving patient comfort. It would give a real time update about the condition of the patient to the diagnostic labs as well as the hospital handling the case including future procedure to be done or prescribed.

Since a real time update is seen on the EHR, in case more tests are required for the mentioned patient, the labs can keep the equipments ready for scans or procedures thereby reducing the time consumed.

The Patient will be aware of their medical care, which unfortunately does not happen when paper files and notes are made.

Fewer confusion over the legibility of the doctors handwriting.

Lets not forget that the use of EHR would limit the use of paper, being ecologically friendly.