Page 6 - Part 2 Navigating Electronic Media in a Healthcare Setting

SVMIC Navigating Electronic Media in a Healthcare Setting

from radiation and other side effects can be lessened. When tests
are not repeated unnecessarily, it also means the costs of

healthcare are decreased.

EHRs can alert providers to contact patients when it is time for

certain screening tests. When physicians, pharmacies, labs and

other members of a healthcare team are able to share information,
patients may no longer have to fill out all the same forms over and

over again or wait for paper records to be passed from one

provider to the other.

Although, as stated, while there are many positives associated with

the utilization of EHRs, there are also associated risks that
accompany any new technology. These risks can affect accuracy

and completeness and negatively impact patient care.

Digital Assists (Shortcuts)

One of the primary causes of erroneous or incomplete records are

digital assists. Every EHR system utilizes digital assists, or

shortcuts, designed to improve efficiency and save time. When
used properly, they serve their intended purpose. However, if used

improperly, the result is a medical record that is inaccurate and
unreliable, containing duplicitous carryover information that is

often outdated. Although they go by many names, some of the
most popular digital assists/shortcuts are: templates, copy and

paste, auto-population and cloned notes.

Templates

In some systems, a template may be created based on checking a
list of systems. As the visit progresses, it may become apparent

that the template selected may not be the correct one. In those

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