How can you use electronic health records as a patient advocacy tool?

The most important benefit is that EHRs enable better coordination between healthcare providers, reducing the chances of medical errors and ensuring a seamless flow of information. Additionally, patients can review their medical records in real time fostering a sense of transparency and trust in the healthcare system.

Electronic Heath Records have found success when integrating with Patient Support Programs within Pharmaceutical companies. Through this ability for a Social Worker/Care team member to complete and submit enrollment forms seamlessly, patients are able to find access to live saving therapies that may otherwise be inaccessible due to logistical constraints.

Engaged patients and providers having access to health information and communication with one another is very effective in reducing unnecessary utilization.

It is quite simple. By providing patients direct access to their EHR, you include them in the clinical journey of their treatment. Which will increase their knowledge about their current condition and how the conclusion was reached. In addition, it will also provide patients with insight into the process of healthcare diagnosis followed by most hospitals nowadays. It will also enable to patient to potentially contribute to the documentation of their EHR to be as comprehensive and cohesive as possible.

When patients have access to their medical records, they are empowered, informed , can make changes to their lifestyles based on data/results present in their medical records. Lastly the ease of access from anywhere and there is no risk of losing it unlike paper medical records that you have to request through medical records. Patients can compare and contrast results, work on health improvement/promotion activities based on lab values they see, can enhance health promoting behaviors.

The complex nature of EHRs and variance in their structure makes it so that following a unified structure is a major undertaken, and quite possibly impossible. The sheer scope of hospitals and clinics will cause a significant variation in their structure. It is why there are no two hospitals that use the same structure even if they are using the same system provider. This will then transition into clinical difficulties for healthcare end-users lowering the quality of documentation in the process, increasing the cost of dynamic machine integration, and limiting the possibility of major changes to the system or complete upgrades. There is also the matter of data storage, backup, downtime, and operating devices which need an article for each

Safeguarding the privacy and security of health information is paramount, along with ensuring the accuracy and completeness of data. Respecting patient preferences and rights is crucial, as is navigating the complexity and variability of EHR systems. This includes considerations for online or mobile transmission and storage, managing data from different sources or systems, addressing consent, facilitating access, correction, or deletion of records, and promoting interoperability and user-friendliness. By being mindful of these challenges, we can work towards maximizing the benefits of EHRs while mitigating their potential drawbacks, ultimately enhancing patient advocacy and delivering the best possible care.

Having complete data is key. Accurate documentation and coding are pivotal to having complete and accurate data. As long as physicians / staff do not have the appropriate tools and resources to support their documentation and coding efforts, we will struggle to ever have the most accurate data.

There are safety features that can be setup with EHR much like your bank account that can help limit the knowledge of data becoming accessible outside the patients wishes.

As a physician, harnessing the potential of EHRs for patient advocacy requires proactive steps. Educate clients about EHR benefits and risks, and guide them on accessing and managing their records. By utilizing EHR features, such as secure messaging or appointment scheduling, communication and collaboration between providers and clients can be enhanced. For example, sharing lab results online allows clients to review and discuss them with their physician, fostering a more engaged and informed healthcare experience.

Ensure that patients fully understand the implications of sharing their health data through EHRs. Advocate for transparent and comprehensible consent processes, allowing patients to make informed choices about who can access their records and for what purposes.

Absolutely! Using EHRs as a patient advocacy tool is like navigating a complex medical chart. Watch out for privacy breaches, data gaps, and conflicting information. Prevent, resolve, clarify, and escalate issues to ensure optimal care.

The biggest concern with EHR can be security breach, specially while accessing records from unsecured devices using unsecured internet devices, misuse of information etc. Despite having records within reach, patients should still have discussions with their providers about their results, tests etc to remain fully informed and updated.

As a physician, I believe that using EHRs can greatly benefit patient advocacy. Tracking systems and providers, understanding policies and procedures, and promoting online access can empower patients. Regularly reviewing EHRs with clients enhances their understanding and interpretation of their health information. Providing feedback to improve EHR systems ensures better patient care.

One thing I would add is the need for education about continuing to follow up with their physician and discussing the results found in the EHR. I have spoken with a patient before that was able to see their test results before speaking with their physician and began diagnosing themselves and causing a panic that was not needed. I believe this could go under the risks of EHR and may need evaluation for hiding this feature until the physician has reviewed the levels. However, this could be in the disclosure agreement of the EHR with the patient and it is just not noted in this specific article.

One thing I found helpful was demonstrating for patients was how to create an account to access their EHR. Some patients have difficulty following written/verbal directions and have more success when shown how to do something. Also, while practicing patient advocacy in encouraging utilization of EHR systems is a great goal, there remains that segment of patients who lack access to computers, internet, or have very limited skill in using mobile devices. In many cases this is just another SDoH faced by these patients that is a barrier to improving health outcomes and an example of a health disparity. If possible, locate a family member in whom the patient is comfortable giving permission to access the patient’s health information.