Running Head: HEALTHCARE 1

Advantages and Disadvantages of Electronic Health Records (EHR)

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Advantages and Disadvantages of Electronic Health Records (EHR)

Electronic Health Records encompass both advantages and disadvantages in the medical

field. They replaced the time-consuming traditional method of filling patient's diagnostic data in

files with the computer software record system. According to HealthIT.gov (2018), HER has

improved the quality of healthcare by providing complete and accurate patient information

quickly. It is fast, efficient, and has excellent coordination, enabling healthcare providers to

assess most diseases' best treatment. Another advantage of that it reduces the errors in disease

diagnostics and prescription of medicine. It is, therefore, safer as it mitigates the chances of

wrong prescriptions. It has also helped develop telehealth where patients can receive treatment at

home through online communication with healthcare providers. Furthermore, EHR's have greatly

improved the medical field of nursing informatics.

However, despite its immense advantages, EHR also has numerous technological

disadvantages. It is subject to cybersecurity attacks that lead to leakage of patient's confidential

data. Czerwinski (2019) in Med USA posits that patient privacy breaches often occur when

unauthorized persons access the patient's diagnostic information. Another demerit of the EHR

system is that it is only limited to computers only. Computers, unlike traditional filing systems,

are susceptible to shutdowns through the loss of power. Therefore, in case of power cuts, these

systems become useless. Doctors, nurses, and other healthcare providers have to wait until the

resumption of power to access their patient's information. Also, they depend on internet access

for systems updates and online communication. Therefore, EHR experiences difficulties in

remote locations where internet access is limited. However, despite these inconveniences, EHR

systems are faster and more convenient than the traditional filing system.
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References

Cervinski, B. (2019, May 30). Advantages & Disadvantages of an EHR or EMR |

MedUSARCM. Retrieved March 14, 2021, from MedUSARCM website:

https://medusarcm.com/blog/advantages-disadvantages-of-an-ehr-or-emr/

HealthIT.gov. (2018). What are the advantages of electronic health records? | HealthIT.gov.

Retrieved from Healthit.gov website: https://www.healthit.gov/faq/what-are-advantages-

electronic-health-records