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Module 8 Assignment 2: Physician/EHR Use

To achieve Meaningful Use incentives, physicians acquire the EHR must:

1. Use CPOE to enter and retrieve information/orders (functions as alerts and
reminders)
2. Adoption the organization implemented all of the major components of
technology but there may be some more available, specialized technology to
implement that hasnt been implemented yet.
3. Optimization Adopted routine operations but also understand and know how
to use the technology provided.

It will be harder to obtain the incentives if these three stages arent met. If a
clinic of physicians are struggling with stage 2 of the system because they do
not like it and it is used minimally, the best way it can be used more frequently
and effectively is by using shortcuts and informing patients of the portal. Of
course, training is very important so that it will help one understand the system
and how to work it. Pushing the patient portal to patients will help physicians
better understand the EHR as it allows patients self-serve themselves and will
alleviate some work for the physicians. For example, instead of reviewing
medical history at each visit, it can be done by obtaining the form through the
portal so that the patient can have it done ahead of time and makes it easier and
quicker for the physician to get a better understanding ahead of time. It would
help for physicians to know and understand parts of the portal as well so they
can understand if patients have questions. Not all physicians will understand
every component of the portal but it is important to push it to patients so they
can use the EHR more effectively. Once more patients get involved with the

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portal, the EHR is more effective and routes documents, appointments, billing,
and other features altogether with the click of buttons that links directly online to
the patients PHR as well as the EHR.
Another way the EHR can be used more effectively and frequently is by
using shortcuts. Many physicians dont like the system because it can be either
too many steps or not sure how to get where they need to be in the system.
Thats why training is essential and once you use it more the more you will know
what and where to go. However, using shortcuts can help physicians get their
point across quickly and help from entering repetitive tasks. The shortcut can
allow you to get those tasks done quickly by having specific templates or
triggers that you can choose rather than write out each time. For example, if the
patient was in good health there could be a shortcut and you choose the option
that patient is in good health, no concerns rather than writing out each time a
child is healthy for a check-up (Westgate, 2016).
The more the EHR is used, the better the outcomes will be towards
patients and for the users. This data will be more effective and can be used
frequently which will be used to also supply clinical decision support. The clinical
decision support represents data elements into codes in the computer that help
supply clinical reminders and alerts. By using the templates, shortcuts, and
portal can help and create a better system for all the clinical staff to use and
make decisions about patient care more effectively. As new technology is added
and new systems are involved, there must be reporting and vendors needs to
collect the data being used/entered in these systems to analyze this information
to provide better services if needed.

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References

Westgate, B. A. (n.d.). Ten Ways to Use Your EHR More Efficiently. Retrieved October 17, 2016,
from http://www.physicianspractice.com/ehr/ten-ways-use-your-ehr-more-efficiently