ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORDS IN MEDICAL INNOVATION: WHAT CAN BE IMPROVED FROM A EUROPEAN PERSPECTIVE?
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32782/health-2023.4.5Keywords:
electronic health records, artificial intelligence, implementation, legislationAbstract
Electronic health records (EHR) operate with medical documentation in digitized format that allows its fast exchange between healthcare professionals and facilities, increasing the legibility of medical records, etc. Combined with artificial intelligence technologies, EHR have a great potential to boost innovation in healthcare. The presented mini-review aims to highlight the most challenging obstacles to wider EHR implementation and summarise solutions. Digitalisation of medical system (i.e. introducing digital technologies into routine practice) introduce a ‘mistake-proof’ system of decisionmaking in healthcare, multilevel protection of medical data, methods of control of prescribed treatment or intervention, sophisticated technologies for follow-up of patients outside the hospital, increased legibility of medical records and a lot more. Legal, security and interoperability issues could be the reasons that limit establishing widespread EHR implementation. In addition, financial reasons and need of motivation and education of medical staff to work with EHR might be an additional obstacle for EHR development. To overcome the mentioned issues, efforts in unification of medical data structure, classification and other technical aspects of data accumulation should be continued. Financial support from government and other stakeholders is vital for the development of high-quality and user-friendly EHR software. Continuous training of medical staff may improve results and experience of working with EHR. In conclusion, in order to provide the high-quality data electronic health records should be introduced into healthcare more widely and in a more structured way. Continuation of efforts on harmonious EHR implementation in the European Union, financial support of healthcare facilities and improvement of EHR software are needed.
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