EHRtv

Topics include:
√ Best News article on how employing a PHR can decrease healthcare expenses.
√ Medical News Today published an article on how University of Missouri researchers is refining EHR technology to more efficiently meet increasing health care demands.
√ AMN Health Care article on how patients who email their doctor are healthier.

Category: Let's Get Personal
Date: August 16, 2010
Views:2,090 views
Information:

Hello. I'm Brie Wolf and this is Let's Get Personal.

Best News published an article how employing a PHR can decrease healthcare expenses. This is because many of the dollars spent in healthcare go toward the acquisition of data necessary to diagnose and appropriately treat. With passage of the healthcare reform act, which will expand healthcare coverage to an additional 32 million persons by 2019, more patients will be establishing new doctor/patient relationships. Therefore, the flow of health information will most likely increase exponentially. Because of poor readiness, patients sometimes feel put on the spot when doctors ask certain questions about their symptoms and conditions. A patient is better prepared for their doctors visit by recording information pertaining to symptoms and conditions prior. A PHR might also reduce healthcare expenses during follow-up or sick visits because a well-designed personal health record software program enables the patient to create journal notes. Additionally, the recorded information is likely to be more accurate.

In other news, Medical News Today published an article how in 20 years, approximately 72 million older adults will reside in the United States. According to the U.S. Administration on Aging, that is almost double the current number. A team of University of Missouri researchers is refining EHR technology to more efficiently meet increasing health care demands. The goal is to increase efficiency and accuracy, improve patient outcomes and reduce costs for long-term care. Marilyn Rantz, professor in the MU Sinclair School of Nursing says "A comprehensive system that encompasses all measures, old and new, is the key to enhanced and efficient clinical decision making."

Finally, AMN Health Care published an article on how patients who email their doctor are healthier. According to new research health information technology improves quality of care scores. One study observed approximately 35,000 patients with diabetes, hypertension, or both, are located in the Southern California region. The study found that use of secure patient-physician messaging in any two-month period was associated with significant improvements in Healthcare Effectiveness Data. This study is one of the first study's to show that these electronic communications have a measurable positive effect on patient outcomes.

I'm Brie Wolf and this has been Let's Get Personal. See you next time.