The implementation of electronic health records, or EHR, poses both advantages and disadvantages when introduced on both a regional and national scale. EHR can benefit the overall quality of care, as it allows medical professionals to observe better accuracy in the documentation of clinical information. Similarly, such a system allows for treatments to be started immediately and monitored more consistently. It also allows for preventative care to forego an easier implementation. EHR systems also allow providers and professionals to exchange information in a more time-efficient and simple manner. It also provides patients with access to their own information. Overall, an EHR causes medical and administrative processes to be less time and space-consuming by collecting regional and national data in a cohesive and accessible structure.
However, such a wide implementation also poses a number of risks to healthcare professionals, providers, and patients alike. The primary concern is the privacy and security risks that may come due to the size and quantity of information available through EHR. Such data may be susceptible to corruption, leaks, or other forms of infringement on private information. Due to how quickly data is updated on an EHR, the potential of inaccurate information spreading quickly is quite high. While certain barriers exist to combat this issue, they are not currently completely flawless in isolating incorrect resources. When patients have access to all their medical information, there is a possibility that they may be misinterpreted or even be frightened by the medical analysis. This can cause unnecessary stress and complicate any ongoing or future interventions and treatments. Generally, in the case that EHR is implemented incorrectly or spreads inaccurate data, it may be more time and capital-consuming than it was intended to be.