Advantages of electronically shared medical records
Doctors in Australia ar required to met a lot of fucntion which are based on the patients record. According to various doctors, healthcare service provision can run smoothly with proper recording of patients information. They believe that proper electronic healthcare system will enable doctors with Shared Medical records system. Most of the doctors feel that in their practice and quality service delivery to the customers there must be electronically shared records about the patients’ records can be accessed easily at all the time (Lim, Patel, Lee, Weeks, Barber & Watnik, 2015). The patient’s quality care delivery will be improved upon the installation of an electronically medical shared record that can be accessed all the time by the doctors. Moreover, doctors in Australia also confirmed that patients’ medical history is important and such information must be shared among the doctors within a given healthcare facility for excellent quality services.
Electronics healthcare records are instrumental in Australia as it provides an excellent platform for new practicing doctors. The system enables new as well as old doctors within the Service Centre with access to all healthcare information related to the patients. The electronic Healthcare Records involves sharing of patients data. Moreover, the electronic records can be used by various parties such as healthcare professionals, the health community, patients and the entire community at large. all these three stakeholders must threfore work hand in hand to realize the effective implementation of healthcare regarding electronically shared data among the concerned authority (Jung, Y., & Yoon, 2016).
There are different information that can be stored in the e-healthcare system which includes: the referrals, laboratory tests and the patient’s health record regarding drug utilization records (). A well secured and efficient electronically shared health records or records can significantly improve the quality of healthcare services in an organization. This can be implemented in areas such as clinical administration and the flow of information within the healthcare unit. It will also help with the free exchange of data just by logging into the system and sharing some vital information such as referrals, medication history, the patient’s bio-data and information about the progress record of the patient (Ford, Menachemi, Peterson & Huerta, 2009). For this reason, the healthcare has a more significant potential to provide benefits to both the individual groups/customers, community within Australia and the entire community at large.
The system was formerly known as the health informatics because it involved the storage and retrieval of data stored at any required time within the specific task to be performed. The e-health may involve different aspects of technology including the video conferencing or the regular transfer of data within the system for quality and easy access of the information among the doctors and other stakeholders within the healthcare system. The healthcare electronically shared records is regarded as one of the most effective approaches to the e-health system. However, it has some challenges which should be looked into for its full implementation ().
Challenges of implementing an electronic healthcare system
Most of the challenges include the following: Impact of policy and economic uncertainty; this is caused due to the political nature of the country either from the opposition or government depending on the new aspect of e-health to be implemented. In addition to the already identified challenge, other challenges relating to the implementation of the electronically Health Records include the issue of the specified and unified approach and point of transport NEHTA operation. Likewise opt-outside model and opt-in model as well as other issues about the privacy concerns and finally the problems on use of the new technology during its implementation in the initial stages (Lorenzi, Kouroubali, Detmer & Bloomrosen, 2009). All these become part of the challenges experienced in the application of the Electronically Healthcare Records in the healthcare sector. The system is governed by different laws and ethical regulation which include the high level of secrecy. All the patients expect that all their health records should not be shared by any third party apart from the authorized group.
The stored data may also be lost from the stored database, and this may make the healthcare services to forget all the essential records related to the customer. There are also other technical challenges associated with the use of computers and technology in the healthcare sector. These include the problem if the internet and the network and most of the system user may be expensive to upgrade or may require expertise which sometimes might be regarded as valuable to the healthcare sectors (Wallace & Iyer, 2017). Some of the hospitals or healthcare sectors may lack specialized clinical officers in the industry to cope with the new technologies within the healthcare sector. Finally, the reliability of the system is not guaranteed. Some patients may be in more than one location, and this may be not easy to keep the records and provide adequate information on the patient. The system may also have a problem with the backup more so when there is a loss of data or loss of data due to the power interrupt.
The data can be accessed at any time so long as logging in is done by using a specified unique password. A specialized password is provided for the privacy to prevail (Lorenzi, Kouroubali, Detmer & Bloomrosen, 2009).
The electronically Healthcare Records involves the sharing of patients’ data and which is used by various parties in the healthcare system namely: healthcare professionals, the health community, patients and the entire community at large; the necessary information that is shared is received from the patients, and the healthcare professionals are to electronically access the data by use of a password or a specified code (Boonstra & Broekhuis, 2010). Other parties involved in the electronically shared record include the IT experts who implement the programs and the installation of the systems and also the entire health community and other stakeholders within the healthcare system.
Stakeholders in the implementation of an electronic healthcare system
Therefore the doctors are always advised to adhere to the rules as they continue with the implementation of the e-health in the entire country (Australia) (Mostashari, Tripathi & Kendall, 2009). The process of implementation of electronically healthcare records involves some means for its application. All the documents related to the patient are first stored in a database then the information is electronically shared among the concern doctors from the deferent department within the healthcare. This new project through the involvement of both parties will follow a specific project design with various stages. The stages will involve: proper analysis of the answers to questions, decide on the method for program design, choosing on the appropriate language to use for the program, implement the program then plan to be taken for prototype and finally design the final project (Mostashari, Tripathi & Kendall, 2009).
From the information obtained it is clear that most of the GP n Australia are falling number as most of the fresh graduates choose the specialization to general practice. The information or data is obtained from Melbourne Institute of Applied Economics and the Social Research. This trend is viewed as expensive in the long run and may bring some implications for the patient use (Pires, Matos, Azambuja, Trindade, & Scherer, 2014). If there are not enough GPs, the number of patients ending up in hospitals will more the estimated amount. One the more celebrated specialists say money does matter because specialized are paid almost three times what the GPs are given and this what the juniors in the profession intend to do.
Year |
Fresh graduates |
Working with GPs |
Working as specialists |
2015 |
500 |
300 |
200 |
2016 |
650 |
270 |
380 |
2017 |
1000 |
200 |
800 |
The following represents the critical processes within the doctor’s practice in Australia.This model outlines the main assessment pathways from the data gathered.
- The competent pathway
- The standard pathway which includesthe assessment of new place and the current AMC examinations and finally the,
- The pathwayfor specialists which include the general practice.
- The standard assessment specialists
- Ned assessment regardingthe area
- The overseas training in specialtraining sessions
There are some vendor companies offering electronics Healthcare solutions. These companies include Greenway Technologies, Cloud to Clinic, Esedex Australia Pty Ltd, ISA Healthcare Solutions and finally Medical Director.
The company has fewer risk implications as compared to other technology solutions in the vending industry.The vendor was formed as a joint venture between the medical consortium and the Greenaway cooperation.( Wallace & Iyer, 2017).The organization is made up the medical professional in Canton, Georgia. Though these organizations were large they could not still develop the system they came together to create different solutions to the healthcare sector. Initially, the vending corporation was owned by the American people. The vending company is currently dealing with technology solutions such as internet development and the database management in the line of healthcare management and Electronics Healthcare Record (EHR).
Greenaway Techno is made up of three architectural decisions which provide the desired healthcare solutions in a manner of flexibility to act in additional business opportunity. All these architectural technologies are beneficial in the resolution of the healthcare systems. The following represents the three architectures for the Greenaway solutions.
The architecture of the system include the following:
The architecture is made up of the application solutions which is very essential in the healthcare department. The first developers were recruited on the application development; at the initial stage, those who were trained had no experienced and knowledge on web design. The mindset was made to accept the training and to develop different systems. The system access the single database from multi locations from the numerous devices within the web-based applications (O’malley, 2010). The system provides for smooth migration from the old system to the integrated one within from the system. The vending company then organized for the skilled team who are responsible for the implementation of the technological solutions.
This type of architecture was developed in 1987.The American National Standards Institute then accredited it. The development of the standards allows for the exchange of healthcare systems within the required standards.
The functions of the architecture vary from service to function in the web-based application there is room for database and other security measures for the ethical and social implications. The architecture offers the flexibility in the system solutions.
It is a company listed as an ASX heath, supporting healthcare, i.e., my healthcare 1st.com.au,
It has over 46 software management systems
It is affordable and easy to install.
It has over 46 architecture within it.
It has a unique password for security, i.e. uses biosecurity system
It is a full electronics cloud-based medical record systems mainly for private healthcare practices in AUSTRALIA. It is costly regarding installations and cost benefits. It was started by Dunning Ave Roseberry in Australia.
- Direct CONTROL patient and administration system used for all the Medical practitioners
It has a sophisticated software which SQL. NET which offers both the desktop and browser applications and includes all the providers and patient portals.It is very cheap and user-friendly.It also a unique password. It also develops the patients flow management, engagement of patients and appointment in booking solutions for the general practices and hospitals.
Finally, the below information represents the data collected on vendor offering HER solutions to Healthcare and Hospitals in Australia.
Vendor solutions company |
Solution Provided |
The functionality of the system |
IT architecture |
Risk and Security |
Cost and Benefits |
Implementation Strategy |
Greenway Solutions |
Desktop and browser applications |
Highly efficient in its functionality |
Web-Applications Open Standards |
Unique password offered |
Cheap to install and maintain |
Four months for implementation and manual provided Training offered |
1 ST-Group Ltd |
Supporting MyHealthcare1st.com.au |
Can function under weak and robust networks |
Open standards, Web-Application |
More secure and password unique |
Cheaper compared to Greenway Technologies solutions |
Training, Training, and manual for the solution is offered |
Clinic To Cloud |
Provision of medical Records System for the private practitioners |
The system requires little training |
Based Electronics System which is integrated |
Unique password offered |
Improve the efficiency and do the general practice to go fast. |
Operated by use of a password and its implementation can take a maximum of 5 months |
Direct Control |
Patients and Patients portal provision. |
The system is efficient and flexible for upgrading and changes |
Sophisticated Software and SQL system. Desktop and browser apps available. |
Special password is applied in this system |
Cheap to implement And also increase profitability to the healthcare systems |
Can work with the smartphones Training and manual also offered to the clients |
AutoMed Systems |
Complete reception solution provided |
Improved the efficiency for both patients and Staff |
Web Solutions, SQL Applications |
Increased profitability for the practice |
References
Boonstra, A., & Broekhuis, M. (2010). Barriers to the acceptance of electronic medical records by physicians from systematic review to taxonomy and interventions. BMC health services research, 10(1), 231.
Ford, E. W., Menachemi, N., & Phillips, M. T. (2011). Predicting the adoption of electronic health records by physicians: when will health care be paperless?. Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association, 13(1), 106-112.
Ford, E. W., Menachemi, N., Peterson, L. T., & Huerta, T. R. (2009). Resistance is futile: but it is slowing the pace of EHR adoption nonetheless. Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association, 16(3), 274-281.
Jung, Y., & Yoon, Y. I. (2016, July). Data integration for clinical decision support. In Ubiquitous and Future Networks (ICUFN), 2016 Eighth International Conference on (pp. 164-166). IEEE.
Lim, M. C., Patel, R. P., Lee, V. S., Weeks, P. D., Barber, M. K., & Watnik, M. R. (2015). The long-term financial and clinical impact of an electronic health record on an academic ophthalmology practice. Journal of ophthalmology, 2015.
Lorenzi, N. M., Kouroubali, A., Detmer, D. E., & Bloomrosen, M. (2009). How to successfully select and implement electronic health records (EHR) in small ambulatory practice settings. BMC medical informatics and decision making, 9(1), 15.
Mostashari, F., Tripathi, M., & Kendall, M. (2009). A tale of two large community electronic health record extension projects. Health Affairs, 28(2), 345-356.
O’malley, A. S., Grossman, J. M., Cohen, G. R., Kemper, N. M., & Pham, H. H. (2010). Are electronic medical records helpful for care coordination? Experiences of physician practices. Journal of general internal medicine, 25(3), 177-185.
Pires, D. E. P. D., Matos, E., Azambuja, E. P. D., Trindade, L. D. L., & Scherer, M. D. D. A. (2014). New Technologies and Workloads of Health Care Professionals.
Wallace, S., & Iyer, L. (2017). Healthcare ITValueHierarchy Framework for the Small Physician Practices Context. Journal of the Midwest Association for Information Systems (JMWAIS), 2017(2), 7.