I think the incorporation of the electronic health record in nursing practice has been a great addition. I have never worked in a facility that had paper records before, but I could imagine that it was a lot more time consuming and less organized. It is amazing that information can now be found at just the click of a button. This also makes it easier to have interprofessional communication between nurses, physicians, and CNA’s. I have watched nurses direct message doctors if they need them and get responses within minutes. The only downfall to the EHR is that there is never a guarantee that it will always work and not break down. Another setback can be getting used to using the technology. Time must be taken for the employees to learn and become efficient in the technology. Overall, I think it is an excellent tool to increase efficiency, to have access to patient history, and to provide better care.
Before we had the presentation about HIE, I was unaware that the program existed. I learned that the patient must willingly release their information and can decline it at any time. Initially, I can understand why patients would be reluctant to allow multiple people to have access to their medical information. Through this presentation, I learned the importance of patients agreeing to release their information. Being in nursing school has shown me the importance of collaboration. Sometimes when patients are traveling to different practices, providers do not have direct contact with each other. The HIE allows for healthcare providers to access this information to be able to provide the best care to patients. For nurses in particular, being able to access patient’s records from previous facilities can allow for a more in-depth health history to help guide the plan of care. Getting the full picture of the patient’s current and past health status can help the nurse to provide the best care possible. In my future practice, I will apply what I learned in this presentation to my everyday practice. Now that I am aware of this resource, I will use it to help enhance the health outcomes of my patients.
