The Role Of Electronic Health Records In Enhancing Disability Care

According to data from the American Journal of Public Health, 12% of people in the US have “significant disabilities.” In general, these Americans have poorer overall health than the population at large and are more susceptible to preventable health problems.

In part, this is because those with disabilities are more likely to report reduced access to adequate healthcare. Without the ability to regularly connect with primary care physicians and medical specialists, disabled individuals may struggle to get the care they need when they need it.

Electronic health records (EHRs) can help reduce treatment disparity and improve the quality of care for disabled individuals. Here’s what that looks like in practice.

The Evolution of EHRs

Electronic health records were introduced to streamline patient access to medical data. Before the adoption of EHRs, paper was the primary medium for recording this data. This created challenges for both providers and patients.

For providers such as primary care physicians or specialists, paper processes made onboarding new patients challenging — if previous care providers didn’t provide comprehensive records, medical professionals could struggle to establish a treatment history.

For patients, this lack of portability meant more time and effort spent relaying their medical history and assuring doctors that test X had already been completed or drug Y had already been tried.

To improve accessibility and enhance portability, the HITECH Act of 2009 introduced financial incentives for providers to adopt secure EHRs. This was followed in 2016 by the 21st Century Cures Act, which mandated the use of secure electronic health records.

Adoption is now commonplace, and standards are in place that specify what types of data must be collected, how they must be stored and who can request access. Disability documentation in EHRs, however, remains recommended but not required. Providers are encouraged to ask patients questions about their disabilities and record the answers in EHRs.

How Electronic Records Address Three Common Care Challenges

Effective use of EHRs that contain disability data can help address three common care challenges:

Challenge #1: Limited Communication

One of the biggest challenges in disability care is consistent communication across healthcare providers. For example, if a patient moves to a new city or experiences a medical emergency while traveling, it may be difficult for local clinics or ERs to reach primary care providers, especially if there is a time difference. 

EHRs help solve this problem by providing a standardized format for medical data. Instead of leaving voice messages or sending emails, healthcare professionals can access EHRs to see everything from the most recent treatment notes to detailed histories of doctor and specialist visits.

This is especially helpful if patients aren’t in a position to advocate for themselves because they suffered an injury or experienced an episode that inhibits their ability to communicate.

Challenge #2: Generic Treatment Plans

The complexity of disability care requires targeted treatment plans. In part, this is because primary disabilities often present alongside multiple secondary concerns. This can lead to challenges for medical professionals in pinpointing symptoms, interdependencies, and root causes. 

Consider an individual with chronic lung disease who contracts a moderate cold. For someone without this condition, treatment is relatively straightforward. For a patient with impaired lung function, however, solving for the cold means understanding the relationship between it and the underlying condition.

EHRs equip doctors with the data they need to create personalized treatment plans.

Challenge #3: Service Access

Access to medical services may be limited for disabled individuals, especially if they live in remote areas or require substantial assistance to travel even short distances. EHR access allows patients to take more direct control over their healthcare and access alternative service methods, such as virtual appointments on in-home healthcare visits.

These records also give more patients an improved ability to advocate for their needs. Instead of relying on personal documentation and providing paper records, EHRs provide a consistent, comprehensive medical history.

Delivering Equality and Equity With EHRs

Electronic health records create the framework for equality by delivering a consistent experience for all patients. By providing access to medical records in standardized, interoperable formats, medical organizations level the field — all patients have access to their own records as required.

Using a comprehensive EHR platform, meanwhile, sets the stage for equity. With access to medical history across clinics, hospitals, and specialists, disabled individuals are better prepared to advocate for treatment that addresses their specific needs, delivers consistent results, and improves their overall quality of life.

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source https://www.disabilityhelp.org/the-role-of-electronic-health-records-in-enhancing-disability-care/