Electronic Health Records and Ethics Analytical Essay

In this article, the writer notes that in today's healthcare environment, many facilities are taking advantage of new technologies and systems to improve client care and make the organization work faster, better and with more efficiency. The writer discusses that one of these new technologies, developed in the last few decades and getting into common use presently, is the use of the electronic health record, or EHR. The EHR is used by many different types of healthcare delivery systems, from hospitals to private practice. The writer maintains that, although this system often makes dealing with patient records more orderly and efficient, some have raised concerns over how the process of keeping these electronic records relates to issues of patient confidentiality and privacy. The writer discusses that in many ways, this is an ethical issue that comes down to the individual using the EHR system. The writer concludes that new technology means new risks, but it can also mean improved opportunities for professionals.