Evaluating Safety in Health and Social Care via Electronic Records

This essay critically analyzes the dualistic viewpoints surrounding the use of Electronic Health Records (EHR) systems in health and social care. It explores the perspectives of healthcare professionals who support the standardization of enterprise-wide systems like CERNER and EPIC, emphasizing the benefits of clinical interoperability, data continuity, patient-centered care, and reduced data redundancy. Conversely, it addresses the concerns raised by others regarding deficient standardized terminologies and the potential risks to patient information privacy and security due to hacking vulnerabilities. The essay concludes by recommending the implementation of EHR systems alongside strengthened security measures to ensure patient data confidentiality and overall safety.

Running head: SAFETY IN HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE 1
Safety in Health and Social Care
Student’s Name
Institutional Affiliation

SAFETY IN HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE 2
Safety in Health and Social Care
The invention or design of Electronic Medical Records has significantly changed the
manner in which the traditional medical record keeping was housed, maintained as well as
managed. Electronic health records system refers to a digitized system which stores individuals’
health care data with the purpose or drive of ensuring confidentiality and supporting research,
education, and continuity of health care (Bowton et al., 2014). There has been a heated debate
over the significance of electronic health records system, with some medical professionals
supporting its functions while others are highlighting some of its demerits, therefore, considering
it ineffective for service delivery. As such, this paper endeavors to critically analyze the dualistic
viewpoints or perspectives and draw a conclusion.
Many healthcare professionals including nurses, doctors, and physicians agree that the
standardization of enterprise-wide system such as CERNER and EPIC across an organization is
proper in ensuring continuity of service delivery. They contend that the systems’ standardization
enables clinical interoperability which is the ability of transferring patients amidst different care
teams and offer integrated care provision. According to Middleton et al. (2013), the systems’
standardization permits data continuity for nurses, doctors, and physicians to serve patients’
wants and needs. It allows for patient-centred care, easy accessibility of patients’ information,
and easy sharing of patients’ information across the board. In the same vein, the enterprise-wide
system such as CERNER and EPIC standardization is important for patients’ information
retrieval.
Similarly, according to King et al. (2014), the standardization of the system allows non-
redundant of patients’ data, therefore, contributing towards efficacy and better quality of health
care delivery. It also allows for improvements of satisfaction in work and efficiency, and in the

SAFETY IN HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE 3
long run, contributes toward customers or patients’ satisfaction. The health professionals believe
that electronic health records system standardization also contributes towards patient-centered
shared care. According to them, the system is built on health telematics services and networks
which link primary care centers, pharmacies, laboratories, and hospitals about patients’ health
care information. They also believe that the Electronic health records minimize errors through
standardizing patients’ records and offers better coordination among the health care providers.
On the other hand, some medical professionals consider the standardization of the
electronic health records system ineffective towards care delivery. According to them, deficient
standardized terminologies top the list of the systems’ loopholes. They argue that the system
does not have its standardized or homogenous terminology or term which promotes or enhances
flexibility; therefore, it does not have the ability to diverse needs from different health care
disciplines. Notably, this group also raises concerns in regards to the privacy, safety, and security
of patients’ information (Miller & Sim, 2014). They state that the Electronic Health Records
System is prone to hacking and this can result in the violation of the HIPPA guidelines since
patients’ medical records would have been compromised leading to non-confidentiality. The
above-mentioned loopholes make some healthcare providers refute the design, features, and
standardization of the EHR system.
In conclusion, I recommend the management team in my hospital not only to employ the
Electronic Health Records system in the organization but also strengthen the security of the
system to avoid hacking. Electronic Health Records system standardization should safeguard
hacking to ensure confidentiality of patients’ information.

SAFETY IN HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE 4
References
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Middleton, B., Bloomrosen, M., Dente, M. A., Hashmat, B., Koppel, R., Overhage, J. M., ... &
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