Question

You have been asked to advise a small orthopedic practice on the replacement of their EHR. Give three examples of ways that information needs in an orthopedic practice might differ from information needs in a general medical practice. How would you gather that information, and what would you then do with it as regards the selection of an EHR?

Answer 1

Solution:

The EHR is having increased use in the medical sciences with more advancements in the technology and electronic technology penetration in the region and with people. Healthcare delivery is taking a new turn with the help of EHR which is presenting the doctors as well as the patients with a new dimension of healthcare delivery. EHR has varying applications for various departments in the healthcare delivery, however, there are some specific ways in which EHR helps specific departments in healthcare delivery. We now see such 3 different ways in which EHR has helped the healthcare delivery for patients in the orthopedic department, those are mentioned below,

1. Orthopedic customers are not one-off patients and they often require care and scrutiny on a regular basis. The nature of intensive care that is needed in the orthopedic department is not regularly found with other departments in healthcare delivery. Hence, with the use of EHR, it becomes possible for the doctors and patients to be connected with appropriate information and appropriate scheduling of patients visits helps the healthcare delivery in this intensive-care orthopedic department seamless.
2. The Patients are highly involved with the EHR in case of orthopedic department EHR helping the doctors share prescriptions, timely consulting through the use of EHR. This allows a healthy and continuing connection with the patient and doctor despite the disadvantages of distances. Hence, the patient can connect with the doctor from any corner of the world by sitting at her home with the added advantages of EHR for the orthopedic department.
3. The risk for patients of having duplicate testing from multiple doctors and costing them heavily will be reduced. Since orthopedic tests may become costly at times it is necessary to reduce the costs of duplicity in this department. HAving electronic health records physicians across the world can access this information and avoid duplicity of tests and benefit the patient from extra costs of the duplicity of tests for orthopedic care.

These are the three added advantages of EHR which may not be too benefitial for other departments. These functionalities create immense value for the orthopedic departments involving doctors as well as the patients.