Electronic health records (EHRs) are at the center stage of the effort to improve health care quality and control costs. In addition to allowing medical practitioners to access and record clinical...

Electronic health records (EHRs) are at the center stage of the effort to improve health care quality and control costs. In addition to allowing medical practitioners to access and record clinical documentation at much faster rates, EHRs are also positively influencing care delivery and nurse-patient interaction. Yet despite the potential benefits of EHRs, their implementation can be a formidable task that has broad-reaching implications for an entire health care organization.
In this Discussion, you appraise strategies for obtaining the benefits and overcoming the challenges of implementing and using electronic health records.
To prepare
•    Review the Learning Resources focusing on the implementation of EHRs in an organization. Reflect on the various approaches used.
•    If applicable, consider your own experiences with implementing EHRs. What were some positive aspects of the implementation? What suggestions would you make to improve the process?
•    Reflect on the reactions of others during the implementation process. Were concerns handled effectively?
•    If you have not had any experiences with an EHR implementation, talk to someone who has and get his or her feedback on the experience.
•    Search the Walden Library for examples of effective and poor implementation of EHRs.
By Day 3
Post an overview of at least three challenges in the implementation of electronic health records and provide an example of each challenge. Develop strategies for addressing each challenge based on what has been demonstrated to be successful. Cite your resources.
Read a selection of your colleagues’ responses.
By Day 6
Respond to at least two of your colleagues on two different days using one or more of the following approaches:
•    Ask a probing question, substantiated with additional background information, evidence or research.
•    Share an insight from having read your colleagues’ postings, synthesizing the information to provide new perspectives.
•    Offer and support an alternative perspective using readings from the classroom or from your own research in the Walden Library.
•    Validate an idea with your own experience and additional research.
•    Make a suggestion based on additional evidence drawn from readings or after synthesizing multiple postings.
•    Expand on your colleagues’ postings by providing additional insights or contrasting perspectives based on readings and evidence.
Submission and Grading Information
Grading Criteria


To access your rubric:
Week 5 Discussion Rubric