Final answer:
Healthcare workers can mitigate risks associated with electronic health records by providing staff training, establishing privacy policies, implementing cybersecurity measures, maintaining the privacy of digitally shared records, and adhering to regulations like those set forth by the ACA.
Step-by-step explanation:
To mitigate potential risks using electronic health records (EHRs), healthcare workers can implement several strategies. First, ensuring thorough staff training on the use of EHRs can reduce the likelihood of user error and enhance data integrity. Workers need to be familiar with the software's features, including privacy settings and access controls.
Second, healthcare facilities must adopt strong policies balancing the costs of treatments and diagnoses, the quality of life for patients, and risks to individual privacy. This requires establishing clear guidelines for what information can be shared and with whom.
Third, the adoption of state-of-the-art cybersecurity measures is critical. Regular software updates and the use of encryption can protect against unauthorized access and data breaches. Additionally, regular risk assessments can identify vulnerabilities within the system that need to be addressed.
The sharing of digital records among health providers has been proposed to improve healthcare quality and reduce costs while maintaining the privacy of electronic health records. This entails a collaborative effort between providers and software vendors to use interoperable systems while safeguarding sensitive information.
In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the healthcare workforce's safety and effectiveness have gained even more prominence. Following evidence-based protocols, using personal protective equipment (PPE) properly, and maintaining strong hemovigilance systems help mitigate risks associated with healthcare delivery, including transfusion-related errors.
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) urged healthcare providers to switch to EMRs to enhance efficiency and reduce administrative costs. Compliant healthcare providers can reduce risks in their information handling while adhering to governmental regulations and ensuring patient safety.