Review the following Journal: An integrative review exploring the impact of Electronic Health Records (EHR) on the quality of nurse–patient interactions and communication

Review the following Journal: An integrative review exploring the impact of Electronic Health Records (EHR) on the quality of nurse–patient interactions and communication.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of using EHR?

Does EHR affect nurses-patient interactions? Explain

Electronic Health Records (EHR) have several advantages and disadvantages. Here are some of the key points:

Advantages of using EHR:
1. Improved accessibility and availability: EHR allows healthcare professionals to access patient records quickly and easily, regardless of their physical location. This enhances coordination and continuity of care, especially in cases where multiple healthcare providers are involved.
2. Enhanced patient safety: EHR systems include features like clinical decision support systems, alerts for potential drug interactions or allergies, and reminders for preventive care. These functionalities help reduce medical errors and improve patient safety.
3. Efficient information management: Electronic records enable the efficient organization, storage, and retrieval of patient information. This eliminates the need for physical storage space and reduces the risk of misplacing or losing paper records.
4. Streamlined communication: EHR facilitates effective communication among healthcare providers, allowing them to share patient information, test results, and treatment plans in a timely manner. This improves care coordination and reduces the likelihood of duplicating tests or procedures.
5. Data-driven insights: EHR systems can generate valuable data for population health management, research, and quality improvement initiatives. Analyzing aggregated and anonymized patient data can lead to better clinical decision-making and improved healthcare outcomes.

Disadvantages of using EHR:
1. Implementation and maintenance costs: Adopting an EHR system can be expensive, including the initial setup, staff training, and ongoing maintenance costs. Smaller healthcare facilities may find it challenging to allocate resources for such investments.
2. Learning curve and workflow disruption: Transitioning from paper-based records to an EHR system requires a learning curve for healthcare professionals. The adjustment period can temporarily disrupt workflow, leading to decreased productivity and potentially impacting patient care.
3. Potential for data breaches: Electronic records are vulnerable to security breaches and unauthorized access. Healthcare organizations must implement robust security measures to protect patient information from cyber threats.
4. Interoperability challenges: Different EHR systems may have compatibility issues, making it difficult to share patient information seamlessly across different healthcare settings. This can hinder care coordination and result in fragmented healthcare delivery.
5. Increased time spent on documentation: Healthcare providers may experience an increase in the time spent on data entry and documentation tasks, taking away valuable time that could be spent directly interacting with patients.

Regarding the effect of EHR on nurses-patient interactions, it can have both positive and negative impacts. Here’s an explanation:

Positive impact:
1. Access to comprehensive information: EHR systems provide nurses with quick and convenient access to complete patient records, including medical history, test results, medications, and treatment plans. This comprehensive information enables nurses to have a more informed and holistic view of the patient’s condition, leading to improved communication and decision-making during interactions.

Negative impact:
1. Increased screen time and distraction: Nurses may find themselves spending more time interacting with the EHR system, inputting data or retrieving information during patient interactions. This can result in reduced face-to-face engagement and eye contact, potentially affecting the interpersonal connection and rapport between nurses and patients.
2. Limited non-verbal cues: Electronic documentation can lead to nurses focusing more on the computer screen rather than on the patient. This may result in missing or misinterpreting non-verbal cues from patients, such as body language and facial expressions, which are important for understanding their needs, concerns, and emotions.
3. Perception of reduced personal attention: Patients may perceive increased computer use during interactions as a lack of personal attention from nurses. This can affect patient satisfaction and their perception of the quality of care.

To mitigate these negative effects, nurses can adopt strategies such as maintaining eye contact with patients, summarizing information discussed, and ensuring dedicated time for uninterrupted patient interaction. Adequate training and user-friendly EHR interfaces can also help streamline documentation tasks and minimize distractions during patient encounters.