Nursing Informatics

Electronic health records refer to the digital version of data that describes the health record of a patient. It outlines the medical history that has been archived by the respective healthcare provider. The EHR include details such as progress notes, medications, problems, and demographics. The introduction of EHR in healthcare is intended to improve efficiency in treatment and patient care. However, the following challenges affect its implementation and application.
Technical ability; the computers that are used in the retrieval of medical data are affected by age accessibility and the network or signal strength (The O.P, 2016, Par. 3). For instance, healthcare facilities that are located in rural areas tend to experience poor network signal that prevents the physicians from accessing the patient medical history within a short time. The wait time for data retrieval is, however, shorter in urban areas due to the availability of fast internet. In order to solve the problem of technical ability, the healthcare facilities should work with network providers in ensuring faster internet. The internet providers should be informed the importance of efficiency in patient data retrieval. Additionally, the healthcare facilities should have access to regular computer suppliers.
The utilization cost; the implementation process of EHR and its use in healthcare facilities is expensive (The O.P, 2016, Par. 4). This has discouraged most hospitals from installing the necessary equipment for EHR system irrespective of the speculated benefits.

For instance, the implementation of EHR will require the management to initiate training programs for healthcare providers so that they can apply the technology effectively. Additionally, developing the support physical infrastructure such as installation and maintenance of internet service is significantly expensive. The hospitals can, however, initiate different strategies to curb the high cost. For example, the facility should seek external support from the government and other agencies that are willing to fund the program for improved healthcare in the country. Also, the hospital should budget and acquire the EHR facilities in advance to ensure the implementation process in successive.
Data Migration; the process of transferring patient information from the paper files into the computer is time-consuming as the healthcare providers need to ensure every detail is securely transferred into the electronic system (LeGate, 2013, Par. 7-9). For instance, some physicians have paper records detailing decades of patient information such that transferring the information may result in negligence of duty. Also, some files may require being arranged in particular format; this consumes more time and physical energy. The physicians can, however, overcome the issue of data migration through prioritizing the most recent files. Also, the management should hire one employee that is responsible for transferring records from physical to electronic format within every department. However, this employee should be a member of the staff that understands the medical procedures and terminologies for accuracy.
Interoperability; the healthcare facilities are facing the challenges of EHR compatibility with otEHR medical systems (LeGate, 2013, Par. 1-12). For example, some physicians are unable to disclose private information over the electronic system due to the established professional ethics. Additionally, some networks are incompatible such that physicians cannot share information successively. However, the challenge of interoperability can be solved through consulting with IT professionals to identify the networks that are compatible before installing them in the facility.
In conclusion, the challenges facing EHR implementation and use include the technical ability, utilization cost and data migration. However, these challenges can be overcome through implementing the established solutions.

References
LeGate B. (2013).How to overcome challenges in EHR implementation. NueMD. Retrieved on 12/24/16, from http://www.nuemd.com/news/2013/05/10/how-to-overcome-challenges-in-ehr-implementation
The O.P. (2016).6 common challenges in EHR implementation. Office Practicum. Retrieved on 12/24/16, from http://officepracticum.com/industry-news/electronic-health-records/6-common-challenges-in-ehr-implementation/