Benefits and Challenges of Electronic Health Record System on Stakeholders: A Qualitative Study of Outpatient Physicians

Abstract

Electronic health record system (EHRS) is an important healthcare innovation associated with many controversies about the benefits and challenges to different stakeholders. The aim of this study was to investigate the utility of EHRS by outpatient physicians in Macao and to identify, in their opinions, the significance of EHRS on health institutes, patients, and physicians. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 32 physicians who worked in the outpatient department. The interview data showed that 78% physicians interviewed used EHRS frequently during their daily practice despite individual preferences of documentation methods. They agreed that systemic health record offered by EHRS allowing smooth communication was beneficial to the health institutes, patients and physicians. However, privacy and confidentiality concerned both the health institutes and patients. Inefficiency of the EHRS that only allowed retrieval of limited medical information of the patients hindered physicians' acceptability of EHRS. It was also suggested that the health institutes should take into consideration interests of different stakeholders when designing and implementing EHRS.

Electronic health records, adoption, quality of care, legal and privacy issues and their implementation in emergency departments

“…The information patients share with their physicians is so sensitive that patients have expressed the desire to remove some of their information from the system [72] and physicians are more reluctant to use the system because of legal concerns and doctor-patient confidentiality [75]. These issues are crucial in the design and adoption of the system, and an EHR must protect both patients' medical records and physicians' integrity.…”

“…From the physicians' perspective, concerns regarding privacy and confidentiality were found to hinder physicians' acceptance and adoption of EHR [75], thus showing how these issues can impact EHR use that extends beyond patients' reservations.…”

Generating design knowledge for blockchain-based access control to personal health records

“…Personal health records (PHRs) have the potential to substantially improve communication in healthcare such that authorized stakeholders have immediate access to patient health data in real time (White and Danis 2013). This would significantly reduce misunderstandings, redundant examinations, adverse drug events and delays in treatment (Chao et al 2013). In addition, the transparent access to personal health data might increase health awareness of the patient (Meier et al 2019).…”

Implementing a Large-scale Electronic Health Record System in the Primary Healthcare Centres in Saudi Arabia

“…However, Deutsch et al (2010); Greenhalgh et al (2009); Lorenzi et al (2009); Madore et al (2015); and Smith (2003) have argued that EHRS implementation is very complicated due to the shortage of experience with its implementation and the associated issues. Although, the barriers to EHRS implementation have been described, many of them remain unresolved (Chao et al, 2013). Therefore, it has been suggested that further research and investigation is necessary to overcome these barriers (Chao et al, 2013).…”

“…Although, the barriers to EHRS implementation have been described, many of them remain unresolved (Chao et al, 2013). Therefore, it has been suggested that further research and investigation is necessary to overcome these barriers (Chao et al, 2013).…”