| With the advent of computer technology patient | | | | Some EHR software programs have only generic |
| care records are being stored, filed away, in them | | | | boxes for comments and other information, while |
| more and more. At first these files were hard to | | | | allowing a copy and paste program for adding in |
| organize, but over the years an integrated | | | | X-rays, and scans. The best electronic healthcare |
| software program known as EHR, an electronic | | | | records systems will have detailed entry points |
| healthcare record, that does this quite well. | | | | for individual information, with the ability to link |
| However, not all EHR programs are equal. | | | | outside the record for quick reference. |
| With this in mind here are the points necessary to | | | | Solid networking capacity is a vital component of |
| determine the perfect electronic health record | | | | any electronic health record system. Without |
| system: | | | | proper networking capacity the doctor, nurse, |
| * Ease of use/intuitive control scheme | | | | hospital tech, etc., will be unable to readily |
| * Comprehensive listing of all patient records | | | | compare notes on an individual patient care |
| * Solid networking capacity | | | | concern. They will have to spend time and effort |
| * Error free programming | | | | looking outside the system for further information. |
| * High-end technical support | | | | While a doctor may be able to use a search |
| Any software program requires an easy to use | | | | engine like Google to look up information, it is far |
| technical scheme if it is to be successful. When it | | | | better to have a software program that directly |
| comes to electronic healthcare record systems | | | | links to the hospital medical database, as well as |
| this is not just a sought after requirement but a | | | | possible internet databases that are known to |
| true necessity. If patient data is difficult to find or | | | | have proper information. |
| access then it may well cost everyone in terms | | | | In the interest of maintaining patient, as well as |
| of time, money, and patient health. | | | | system, health any EHR software must be |
| A scenario that could easily occur with a clunky or | | | | bug-free and lacking in technical errors. This |
| non-intuitive EHR system would be that patient | | | | system is meant to save lives and aid in |
| records may become mixed up and a patient that | | | | healthcare. If a favored videogame crashes |
| is allergic to penicillin may end up receiving it | | | | someone may become frustrated. If the EHR |
| because the information didn't get entered into | | | | program crashes repeatedly people may die, or |
| the system properly and the staff that was in | | | | end up with severe complications. The normal |
| charge of administering the potentially damaging, | | | | result from a crash, however, is loss of patient |
| or lethal, dosage had no idea they were | | | | records and the necessity of restoring each file, |
| endangering a patient's life. | | | | possibly one at a time, from any hard copies that |
| Truly perfect electronic healthcare record | | | | exist. |
| software requires a truly comprehensive listing of | | | | With this in mind, it is vital that any EHR program |
| patient records. There must be ample room for | | | | will have solid twenty-four hour technical support |
| updates on a given file, along with methods for | | | | sponsored by the company that created it. No |
| adding in x-rays, MRI scans, and other | | | | electronic healthcare record software is worth |
| photographic testing items. Every possible tidbit of | | | | keeping on hand if the physician utilizing it cannot |
| information for a patient must be easily | | | | reach a contactee at the office it was created at |
| referenced in the name of patient health. | | | | in times of crash, or technical glitch. |