Is EHR usage overstressing physicians?

‘Doctors have too busy schedule. Before, doctors used to make a hand-written prescription. But since they have to examine so many patients at a time, the handwriting became illegible. This illegible handwriting gave birth to the process of medical transcription where to put down doctor's effort as well as the burden of paperwork, EHR came into focus with its advanced data keeping system. EHR system helps to record patient's data as well as the conversation between a patient and a doctor for improving the quality of treatment as well as to improve the documentation process. But this has been noticed that there are many doctors who do not feel to recommend EHR to their junior doctors. It seems that many doctors are facing trouble with the usage of EHR and this is just because this particular system requires manual input of data where doctors really feel overstressed. Rather than examining patients, they get busy with the documentation process which consumes time and their effort. Doctors get too little time for the documentation process and they have to fill the records format even after coming back home which creates misbalance in their personal life too. It becomes hectic for a doctor to examine so many patients and then fill the records. This becomes so stressful. Of course there are advantages of EHR system like it reduces the burden of paperwork management, quality care and patient's accessibility. But you will be astonished knowing the facts or disadvantages of an EHR system.

Do you know how this EHR system negatively impact upon health professionals? Let’s have a look………

·         Since patients can access all their data like date of admission, health records or history, details of ongoing treatment, medication, details of suspected disease and diagnosis thus these create a panic among the patient. They come back to the doctor and the doctor then has to deal with their panic which really gives stress to a doctor.

·         Patient's data must be recorded with proper privacy and security. But the EHR system is too susceptible to hacking. The malpractitioners or a hacker hack all the data for which information related to patient's data becomes invisible to the doctors, patients and to the hospital management. This creates not only a delay in the entire treatment process but it may also direct a doctor for the wrong treatment. On the emergency situation, it becomes difficult for a doctor to treat a patient when the patient's data is hacked.

·         Each and every time the data must be uploaded in real-time that is immediately after a patient’s visit. Delaying in that process may delay the process of service and service providers may have to rely upon incomplete data. Examining a patient and then at the same time uploading all the details becomes hectic for a doctor as they have to always rush for the next patient.

So, though EHR has a positive impact upon the healthcare services, it is always imperative to know the disadvantages of this system which may potentially interrupt with the healthcare services.