The rules for the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' Meaningful Use program are nearing completion, with Stage 3 criteria proposed earlier this year. There has been some trouble fulfilling MU's requirements, but many hospitals and physicians' practices have been successful. Starting early may help doctors adapt to electronic health records. By teaching students and residents how to use EHR software for patient care, medical students will enter the working world with a knowledge that accommodates MU.
New policy encourages EHR adoption in schools
At the 2015 American Medical Association's annual meeting, members of the organization approved an amendment to a policy that would promote the implementation of hands-on EHR practice among medical students in hospitals and doctors' offices. While the AMA already has a rule that encourages student education of EHRs, its new policy calls for teaching residents how to use the medical software in the exam room to help with patient care.
"There is a clear need for medical students today to have access to and learn how to properly use electronic health records well before they enter practice," Jesse Ehrenfeld, M.D., an AMA board member, said in a press release. "For our future physicians to successfully navigate the 21st century health care system, we must close the gaps that currently exist between how medical students are educated and how health care is delivered now and in the future."
The AMA is already working with 11 medical schools to implement greater EHR training for students in undergraduate programs. However, the policy also calls for research into a program tailored for medical schools and teaching hospitals, the press release explained. There is currently no set standard for EHR programs in educational settings, but further inquiry may find one that teaches residents the skills they need.
EHR access improves student success, interoperability
EHR interoperability is of the utmost importance to medical facilities to improve patient care, engagement and satisfaction. However, it has received criticism from those who find the program difficult to employ. Students who are not properly trained may have many of the same opinions. They may also face setbacks in both their educations and their real-life training, the Association of Departments of Family Medicine explained in an editorial in the Annals of Family Medicine. Medical students may have trouble graduating, as a lack of EHR software training creates obstacles to 11 of 13 Core Entrustable Professional Activities for Entering Residency by the Association of American Medical Colleges.
While nearly all accredited medical schools allow student access to EHRs, the amount of interaction varies from one clinic to another, the American Academy for Family Medicine claimed. Some may only have read-only capabilities, while others can access student modules to practice recording patient notes and results. Through EHR access, students are able to behave how licensed health care providers do by looking over previous visits and tests.
"It allows us to participate in the care of the patient and not just watch," Tate Hinkle, a third-year medical student at the University of Alabama, Birmingham, told the source. "It will give us a leg up going into residency. The learning curve will not be as steep."
With EHR interoperability the ultimate goal for the CMS and MU, medical students need to learn the software before entering residency. If they enter the working world with the knowledge at hand, they will be able to help with the transition to a fully online program for documenting patients' information.
Contact Viztek for more information.
Ronny Bachrach
Latest posts by Ronny Bachrach (see all)
- Konica Minolta Debuts First-of-Its-Kind Digital U-Arm System at AHRA - July 27, 2016
- Researchers Detect Signs Of Stroke Risk Using MRI - June 27, 2016
- Imaging Biz: Q&A with David S. Channin MD: How to Make PACS Patient Centered - June 22, 2016
0
0
0
