As discussed in the lesson and assigned reading for this week, EHRs provide both benefits and drawbacks. Create a “Pros” versus “Cons” table and include at least 3 items for each list. Next to each item, provide a brief rationale as to why you selected to include it on the respective list.
Refer to the Stage 3 objectives for Meaningful Use located in this week’s lesson under the heading Meaningful Use and the HITECH Act. Select two objectives to research further. In your own words, provide a brief discussion as to how the objective may impact your role as an APN in clinical practice.
Solution:
Electronic Health Records
The advancement of technology in recent years has triggered the deployment of Electronic Health Records (EHRs) in the health care system. This is to improve the health outcomes of the patients as well as enhance the quality of care. In light of this, this paper explores the advantages and disadvantages of EHRs as well as two of the stage 3 objectives for meaningful use.
Pros and cons of EHRs
| Pros | Cons |
| Improves the quality of care. A myriad of literature has established that EHRs improve the quality of care by reducing medical errors, enhancing communication as well as interaction among the healthcare providers and with the patient (Yanamadala, Morrison, Curtin, McDonald & Hernandez-Boussard, 2016). For instance, through EHRs, a nurse can ensure the 5 rights of medication to avoid errors. EHRs also ensure quick access to patient data that is up-to-date enabling coordinated care.
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Privacy and security issues: Even though digital storage is considered safe, the issue of cybersecurity is increasingly becoming common. For instance, EHRs may be vulnerable to hacking, which may threaten patient safety when confidential information is obtained by other people without patient consent (Kruse, Smith, Vanderlinden & Nealand, 2017). This may also damage organizational reputation.
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