My initial thoughts about using Electronic Health Records in nursing are positive. Initially I think it’s a great way to see the patients past medical history. The EHR is great in showing patients past care, their health status, immunizations, past labs, procedures and more. This can lead to picturing/viewing the patient as a whole and factoring in their history to possibly help in their current care. I also believe it’s a great way to communicate with past providers and ask their input on the patient’s current care if it’s needed. Since the EHR has patient’s past care this can include their past medications, and this can benefit a patient because if the nurse has a question for example of how well the patient tolerated a medication before they can look at past notes. The EHR is a beneficial way to supplement a patient’s current care because their current providers can access their past medical records if they have any questions and again to see the patient as a whole.

I think the history of the HIE when its term was first thrown around in 2004 has a huge positive influence on the profession of Nursing. The HIE promotes faster communication between members of the healthcare team, and it’s cost effective, and just effective in general for patients. As a patient, I appreciate knowing that my provider can send a prescription I need to my pharmacist via message request and after my appointment I can easily go pick it up. For that reason, I believe the HIE and its positive influence on nursing allows for more efficient patient care. Patients know their healthcare team can easily communicate and they know their whole team can see what’s going on when they visit a certain provider.

From what I learned; Electronic Health Records are enhancing how healthcare members provide care. This enhances the care in a more efficient, safer, coordinated, and quality way. Now because of that and more of what I learned, I will use the EHR to safely check my patients’ past status and compare it to their current status to help facilitate my care. Ultimately, the EHR will benefit all my patients. I will be able to picture the patient as a whole and their progression over time. This benefits my patients because they will see that I know what medications they currently take and what past procedures they may have had. This type of care is focused on them as an individual and not just another patient. Patients may see this too. Therefore, I will get to know my patients more and provide them care tailored to their needs.