International Journal of Healthcare Sciences ISSN 2348-5728 (Online) Vol. 8, Issue 1, pp: (143-152), Month: April 2020 - September 2020, Available at: www.researchpublish.com
A Narrative Review of Electronic Health Records (EHRs) Adoption in China’s Hospitals Joseph Owusu-Marfo1, 2, Zhou Lulin1, Henry Asante Antwi1, Maxwell Opuni Antwi1 1
2
Institute of Medical Insurance and Hospital Management, School of Management, Jiangsu University, No. 301, Xuefu Road, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China
Department of Health Informatics/Information Management, College of Health and Well-Being, P. O. Box 9, Kintampo, Ghana. Correspondence to Dr. Joseph Owusu-Marfo; 5103170254@stmail.ujs.edu.cn
Abstract: This paper seeks to review the current state of China’s electronic health system. It will bring to light the usage levels of hospitals and employees and the challenges of implementation. The health record of a patient or client to a hospital is the data source regarding the variations of health status and received health services throughout a client’s life. All-inclusive electronic medical records (EMR) have been recognized to be an active tool for improving the quality and safety of healthcare services in China. Reaching a state of personal healthcare information system that covers the whole population is one of the main goals of China by the year 2020. Digital databases have been established by most hospitals, counties and provinces in China for managing electronic health records and patient/client data. The main goal of Chinese digitization reform is to build integrated strong health information platforms at city, county, provincial and national levels. Regardless of the largest inhabitants and huge discrepancies among diverse regions, China has set a determined goal to complete the execution of a nationwide interoperable health information system that allows healthcare facilities to share residents’ healthcare information by the end of 2020. The findings obtained from the various literature reviewed indicate that China is doing very well in the implementation and usage of hospital electronic information systems (EHR, EMR etc.). Keywords: Electronic Health Records; Medical Health Records; Health Information Management; Health Information Technology; China.
1. INTRODUCTION This piece seeks to review the present state of China‟s electronic health system. It will bring to light the usage levels of hospitals and employees and the challenges of implementation. China is the second biggest world economy in terms of GDP since 2010 due to over 30 years of rapid growth of economy [1]. China‟s growth rate of permanent inhabitants reached 56.1% and senior residents ( that is aged 60 and above) exceeded 220 million in 2015, that is 16.1% of the total populace [1]. This demographic transformation causes an endless increase in healthcare request for quality services. This cannot be efficiently provided due to fragmented healthcare service systems and irregular distribution of healthcare service resources in China. Since the beginning of the Chinese Hospital Authority (CHA) in 1990, it has steadily reinforced the development and enactment of the Health Information System (HIS). The purpose is to improve the distribution of healthcare and to make improved electronic information available to managers for better decision making [2]. The healthcare electronic record is a storehouse information regarding the changes of health status and medi-care services given to a patient in his/her lifetime [3]. According to Garets & Mike, (2006), most people in the American health care industry: the press and the government use the terms Electronic Health Records (EHRs) and Electronic Medical Records (EMRs) interchangeably [4]. On the contrary, these expressions refer to entirely different conceptions. Both terms are essential to the attainment of local, regional, and national aims to increase and improve the quality and effectiveness of patient care, and reduce healthcare delivery costs and safety of patients. EHRs depend on the existence of
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