Portfolio item: Coursework paper (for INFO-B535, Clinical Info Systems, FA13)

EHR-RUBRIC-SP: Electronic Health Record Revision and Update By Re-Iteration and with Context for Small Practices: A method of measurable analysis for EHRs

Note: This web page contains only an abstract for the paper. If you want to read the entire paper as submitted, please view the full project paper as a PDF.

Summary

In this article, I propose EHR-RUBRIC-SP (Electronic Health Record Revision and Update By Re-Iteration and with Context for Small Practices), a method to analyze EHR (Electronic Health Record) systems (EHRSs). While EHR-RUBRIC-SP is primarily designed for the context of evaluating EHRS deployment and usage in smaller practices, in theory, the evaluation system could be used on a wider basis. It is of particular note that this evaluation system is patient-centered; rather than covering financial incentives to small providers, we empower small providers to improve patient care. However, the emphasis on meeting US government meaningful use (MU) criteria still exists, and through meeting these criteria, providers will be able to avoid fines. Reviewing the literature, I develop common methods of analyzing the EHR and EHRSs based upon cost, quality, data software structure, and system hardware capabilities. Particular attention is paid to measurable metrics of sociology in Information Technology (IT) adoption. From the literature, I design the details of EHR-RUBRIC-SP, which analyzes the EHRS immediately prior to deployment, six months after EHRS deployment, and one year after EHRS deployment. The EHR-RUBRIC-SP therefore is by nature iterative. It is hoped that adopters of EHRSs in small practices will embrace EHR- RUBRIC-SP and that this evaluation system will allow these practices to improve their services.

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