E-Health, the Way of the Future

In class we have discussed many applications of IT -related technology that is impacting the healthcare system. I was drawn to an article in the Times and Transcript this week " E-Health a Boon to economy:expert". We have learned in our course that It can save companies money , so why not healthcare? According to this article, Health Minister Michael Murphy has estimated that the province could save an estimated $400 miillion a year! E- Health refers mainly to the use of electronic records and technologies, like the internet. By sharing records ( one patient-one record) with other facilities and potentially throughout the country, we can increase efficiencies and decrease costs. For instance, if a patient comes from another area of the province to Moncton for an investigative or operative procedure, they may have already had testing such as an EKG, blood work or possibly a chest x-ray. If these reports have not been faxed to us, or it has not been communicated some way they are required by us, repeat testing may occur , which is an expense to both the system and the patient. One patient one record means the accepting physician and facility will be able to have a better understanding of the patients history and what investigative studies have already been done, and have the results available for viewing. This is very important information to have readily available to assist in a more timely diagnosis.

Our population is aging and healthcare budgets are are higher than ever. One standardized and centralized patient record would improve healthcare spending monitoring, and interestingly enough perscription drug tracking. Safer care and follow through on the number of medications people are taking at the pharmacists fingertip, will provide safer patient care, identify reactions to perscriptions more readily, and prevent patients from shopping around for perscription drugs.

I see the benefits of an enhanced E-health system to assist us in remaining competitive and fiscally responsible for our Healtcare system! These technological avancements also come with Healthcare providers having an obligation to use and protect this information properly . We will need to develop strategies and recommendations on how to protect a persons right to privacy prior to moving ahead with electronic patient records.