Electronic Health Record, in my opinion, is a secure portal that contains patient health history and information. To my knowledge this information can be shared securely across different health settings and allows for an all-inclusive collection of an individual’s health data. I think this is ideal for not only the patients and their providers but also for nurses. This allows nurses to view a client’s health history and get an understanding of the patient’s medical needs so that they can provide more informed care to their clients. It also streamlines the nurse’s patient charting, making their job easier. I think the Electronic Health Record is also useful for tracking trends in an individual’s health through lab values, also keeping track of medications, social and family health history, surgical procedures, and so on. I view the Electronic Health Record as an evolving record of data about an individual’s health status as they age and grow up through the health care system.

An Electronic Health Record is a digital version of a patient’s paper chart, it is real-time, patient centered records that make information available instantly and securely to authorized users. This information is made available to health care providers through the Health Information Exchange. This program was started to help better track and securely share patients complete medical histories while connecting hundreds of health care locations across the state of Maine. In the state of Maine everyone health information is put into the Health Information Exchange unless they choose to opt out of the service, it is up to the providers to explain the Health Information Exchange to their patients and provide the option to opt out of the service. The Health Information Exchange program has shown to improve public health reporting and monitoring, provide a vehicle for improving quality and safety of patients care by reducing medication and medical error, provide care givers with clinical decision support tool for more effective care and treatment based on patient’s real-time health information, and stimulate patient’s involvement in their own healthcare. The Health Information Exchange is a totally transparent and secure program for both the provider and the patient, meaning providers can access patient’s health information with good reason and patients also have asceses to their health information and a list of what providers have seen their information as well. The Electronic Health Record being made available through the Health Information Exchange has positively impacted the work experience for nurses, health care providers, and has positively impacted patient treatment and involvement in care. Due to the initiation of the Health Information Exchange in the state of Maine, I as a nursing student have also been able to access patient information for education purposes through the hospitals in which I practice clinical. I am thankful to have gone through nursing school with his privilege and being able to use the Electronic Health Record while at clinical. Since we are given so much clinical experience, I feel fairly comfortable with the Electronic Health Record and hope to have a smooth transition into my role as a nurse. I hope to be able to use what I have learned about the systems to further enhance my patient care.