Final answer:
A fully functional EHR system integrates access to medical records, appointment scheduling, and laboratory and imaging systems, thus enhancing patient care and efficiency. While the U.S healthcare system offers high-quality care, it faces challenges in cost control, access, and maintaining patient privacy; balancing these elements remains a key policy-making focus.
Step-by-step explanation:
A fully functional Electronic Health Record (EHR) system is one that includes comprehensive features to enhance patient care and streamline healthcare operations. Such a system not only allows access to patients' medical records from anywhere, but also includes features for scheduling appointments, and integrates with laboratory and imaging systems. This integration ensures seamless patient care by facilitating the flow of information among different service providers. By leveraging technology, a fully functional EHR can improve healthcare quality and reduce associated costs while balancing the crucial aspect of patient privacy. Developing policies to strike this balance involves addressing concerns about the cost of treatments, patient quality of life, and privacy risks.
In the context of healthcare systems, the United States is known for its high quality of care and medical innovations. However, it faces challenges in controlling costs and ensuring access to basic medical care for all citizens. Comparatively, other countries might have lower costs and more equal access to healthcare but can struggle with rapid service delivery. The overarching challenge for healthcare systems globally is to find a viable balance between quality, accessibility, and affordability of care.