Electronic health records overview

¶ … large number of changes in the healthcare industry, largely due to globalization and technological improvements. Much of the change has been the result of the cost of healthcare and its continual rise. For example, in 1990 the average cost of care per person was $2,800, in 2000 it was $4,700 and then in 2010 close to $8,000. One way to reduce these costs and improve efficiency is to allow healthcare professionals to spend more time with their patients rather than filling out redundant paperwork, to increase information accuracy, and to provide a way for medical professionals in Emergency Rooms or other health care facilities to have access to critical patient information. This can be accomplished through the use of Electronic Medical Record Systems, or ERM systems.

Diabetes is a group of metabolic diseases that surround the body's ability to produce and use sugars and efficiently process those sugars. Globally, there are almost 300 million people with the disorder and because of lifestyle, diet and other issues in the modern world, expected to double by 2030, making it a clear pandemic. For this reason, the idea of utilizing EMR for diabetes, particularly primary diabetes care, is an important consideration.

One study, which used 34 primary care practices and examines 14,051 charts between 2005 to 2010 found that patients who were involved with facilities using EMR or EHR (Electronic Health Records) were significantly more likely to receive a higher and more optimal standard of care than those using organizations with little or no access to EHR. This tells us that the implementation and robust use of EMR is important in primary care facilities, that it improves care for diabetic patients, and that it has clear implications for improving health outcomes in a variety of chronic disease management issues (Herrin, et al., 2012).

Methodologically, the study looked at a large number (n= 14,051) of charts within the HealthTexas Provider Network, a non-profit health care delivery system associated with Baylor Health Care. Charts from 2005 to 2010 were used for the analysis, with the data sets beginning to be populated in 2007 and focusing on patients over 40 with ? 2 ambulatory care visits that were ? 7 days apart using a diabetes-related billing code. This population captured included those who had primary or secondary prevalence of diabetes related incidents, but excluded patients seen at more than one practice. The study followed these patients up to the end of 2010 and then analysed the type of care and outcome for each patient, then correlated that data with the healthcare organization's use of HER.

The measure of care was done on a scoring basis using blood pressure, needed medications, smoking status, alleviation of symptoms, severity of symptoms, time in the care setting, and intervention procedures. Using a relatively complex statistical algorithm, the effects of positive and proactive medical care for diabetes patients were analyzed and detailed out based on variables including age, gender, and insulin usage and time periods. In general, graphing health care outcomes between 2005 and 2009 showed: 1) patients using facilities with EMR had higher degrees of positive outcomes and, 2) as healthcare facilities migrated into the use of EMR, their optimization of procedures and eventual outcomes improved significantly. Thus, "implementation of a commercial available EMR had a meaningful effect on the documented care and out-comes of patients with diabetes.