Electronic Health Records and the Implications for Nursing Practice

Electronic health record (EHR) systems can improve communication and coordination of clinical care, resulting in better health-care outcomes. Current regulations focus on documentation requirements that support clinical care, billing compliance, and the privacy and security of EHRs. The ultimate goal is to ensure that each EHR system has the capacity to electronically communicate through a national health information network, while providing each citizen access to his or her EHR.