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Toward Implementation of Electronic Health Records: Justifications, Action, and Barriers to Adoption

Year: 2006
Type: article
Abstract: An Institute of Medicine report estimated that between 44,000 and 98, 000 people die each year as a result of medical errors.It is argued that the number of errors could be significantly reduced if healthcare moved from the current paper-based medical record system to an electronic health record system.President George W. Bush has set a goal of implementing electronic health records within the next ten years.In order to reach this goal, President Bush established the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology under the Department of Health and Human Services which was given the task of implementing electronic health records for the federal government and providing incentives for private sector adoption.In addition to this executive action, there has been legislative action to require electronic health records for the federal government and give incentives for private sector adoption.Finally, there are several private sector entities which have arisen to help with the adoption of electronic health records.Although there are many benefits to electronic health record adoption, there are several legal and organizational barriers to reaching that goal.Interwoven throughout all of these issues is the need for privacy and security.Electronic health records will contain very sensitive patient data, and it is important that this data is protected.I. BACKGROUND Many transactions in today's society are completed electronically, and most records are stored in an electronic form.As a result, information is easier and less costly to access.However, most healthcare records are still kept in paper form, especially in rural or underserved areas. 1 Arguably, keeping health records in paper form is "
Language: English
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2460831162
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