Electronic+Health+Record+-+EHR

=Electronic Health Record - (EHR)=


 * Description:** An Electronic Health Record (EHR) refers to a patients individual health record that has been stored in a digital format and can be retrieved from one or more locations and/or sources. A persons Electronic Health Record can be comprised of personal health histories, current conditions, medications, doctors, referrals, pains, symptoms and illnesses to name a few. These records are maintained by the care providers and help providers to be able to better manage the care of the patient through easy retrieval process of electronic records. EHR's are also available to special parties such as insurance agencies, other medical professionals, and other governmental entities upon request. However the HIPPA privacy act protects patient's health rights ensuring privacy with the rule that patients must provide consent for records to be shared with other medical professionals.

__EHR Benefits__
 * Easy information retrieval system vs. paper system
 * Reduction in cost for medical professional over time
 * Reduces errors associated with filing, readability, and handwritten documents
 * Standardization of medical forms, recorded terminology, data and coding
 * Updated and current patient information
 * Medical records could be accessed and sent to medical provider anywhere
 * Eliminates paper charts

__EHR Concerns__
 * Transferability between medical professional without EHR capabilities
 * Costly start up systems
 * Continuous updates
 * Patient security
 * Data retrieval differences between different EHR systems/providers
 * Ease of using the system
 * Staff training and willingness to use