The Impact of Electronic Health Records on Healthcare: Global Benefits and Challenges

Abstract

Electronic health records significantly impact healthcare, centralize patient data, provide efficient solutions for quick access to information, and help improve the quality of life and patient safety. The electronic system allows clinicians to make informed decisions and personalize treatment according to the patient's history. The widespread use of electronic health records reduces the time spent in hospitals for diagnosis and eliminates duplicate tests, thereby reducing costs. However, implementation varies around the world depending on the cost of implementation and the digital infrastructure of each country or region. In this context, the benefits and challenges of implementing electronic health records in different countries and their impact on medical practice in recent years, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic, were highlighted. The study of the impact of electronic health records on the quality of medical services includes a literature review, focusing on studies that address their implementation and use in different regions of the world, as well as aspects such as diagnosis time, patient safety, and cost reduction. The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the acceptance of the digitization of information, in addition to telemedicine, which became a necessity during the pandemic to limit physical contact and required digital data storage. Examples of good practices in the use and uptake of electronic health records have shown significant progress in reducing medical errors, continuous monitoring of patients with chronic diseases, collaboration between professionals, and reduced costs. The development of electronic health records brings numerous benefits to the healthcare system for patients and professionals, with the potential to fundamentally transform healthcare.