EHR READINESS AND CLINICAL INFORMATION MANAGEMENT: STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATION AND ANALYSIS

Abstract

<p>Electronic Health Record Systems (EHRs) are an important tool for today’s physicians. EHRs (commonly called EMRs in Canada) are used to store, retrieve and leverage patient information to achieve better clinical outcomes for patients. EHRs can also contribute to public policy by helping policy makers track population health data. There are barriers as well as drivers to successful implementation of EHRs. Also, with the introduction of EHRs and their accumulation of patient data physicians face challenges for better extraction and use of data as well as overall management of information within the clinic.</p> <p>This thesis performs a literature review and presents evidence on the barriers and drivers that exist in the area of EHR (Electronic Health Records) implementation in the US. The thesis also includes a survey that tracks responses of primary care physicians in the US. The responses were analyzed to determine key factors impacting EHR implementation and information management. The key factors included workflow, optimization of information technology (IT) resources that include software, hardware assets and trained personnel, and plan for extraction of data. Our research found, among other things, the need to raise awareness among physicians about optimizing clinical workflow, management of information in the EHRs, the need for additional training on the EHRs and, in case of non-urban physicians, the need for improved levels of IT and Internet expertise in the clinic.</p>