Scenario:
A patient approaches you after her consultation with her physician. Her physician had reviewed her electronic health record with her during the consultation. The patient realized that some of the information in her EHR was incorrect. The patient asks you to make changes to this information. Is this possible? Why or why not? Write a 1-page response that includes the following:
Describe what you would tell the patient in this scenario regarding making changes to her electronic health record (EHR).
Explain your reasons for responding to the patient in the way you describe.
Be sure to reference any legal requirements related to EHRs.
Full Answer Section
- To request a change to your EHR, you will need to complete a form and submit it to your healthcare provider. The form will ask you to specify the incorrect information and to provide documentation to support your requested change.
- Once you have submitted the form, your healthcare provider will review your request and make a decision. If your request is approved, the change will be made to your EHR.
Reasons for responding in this way
There are a few reasons why I would respond to the patient in this way. First, it is important to be honest and transparent with patients about their healthcare. If the patient is aware of incorrect information in her EHR, it is important to acknowledge her concerns and to help her to resolve the issue.
Second, it is important to respect the roles and responsibilities of other healthcare professionals. Only authorized personnel, such as physicians and nurse practitioners, can make changes to a patient's EHR. This is because these professionals have the necessary training and experience to make informed decisions about patient care.
Third, it is important to follow the established procedures for requesting changes to a patient's EHR. This helps to ensure that all requests are reviewed and processed fairly and efficiently.
How to help the patient request a change to her EHR
To help the patient request a change to her EHR, I would provide her with the following information:
- A copy of the EHR change request form
- Instructions on how to complete the form
- A list of acceptable documentation to support the requested change
- Contact information for her healthcare provider's office
I would also offer to review the completed form with the patient before she submits it. This would help to ensure that the form is complete and accurate.
Conclusion
It is important to be responsive to patient concerns about the accuracy of their EHR. However, it is also important to respect the roles and responsibilities of other healthcare professionals and to follow established procedures for requesting changes to a patient's EHR. By providing the patient with the necessary information and assistance, you can help her to ensure that her EHR is accurate and up-to-date.
Additional considerations
In addition to the above, there are a few other things to consider when helping a patient to request a change to their EHR:
- Patient privacy and confidentiality: It is important to protect the patient's privacy and confidentiality when discussing their EHR. This means discussing the patient's EHR only in a private setting and only with authorized personnel.
- Patient safety: It is important to ensure that any changes to the patient's EHR are made safely and accurately. This means reviewing all changes carefully before submitting them and following up with the patient to ensure that they understand and agree with the changes.
- Patient satisfaction: By helping the patient to resolve their concerns about their EHR, you can help to improve their satisfaction with their healthcare.
By keeping these considerations in mind, you can help to ensure that the patient's EHR is accurate, up-to-date, and safe.