The impact of electronic health records on healthcare quality

Gallier, Suzy ORCID: 0000-0003-1026-4125 (2024). The impact of electronic health records on healthcare quality. University of Birmingham. Ph.D.

Preview

Gallier2024PhD_Redacted.pdf
Text - Redacted Version
Available under License All rights reserved.
Download (20MB) | Preview

Abstract

Background
The NHS is investing significantly in digital transformation, particularly in electronic health records (EHRs), which have rapidly advanced over the past decade. While EHRs are crucial for modernisation, achieving full digital maturity requires substantial investment in teams and approaches to ensure safe and effective use. EHRs have the potential to revolutionise healthcare, yet evidence demonstrating their effectiveness is limited, necessitating rigorous research. Health data can transform healthcare through disease understanding, clinical decision support, service redesign modelling, and policy development, requiring diverse data types. Varying digital maturity across UK health organisations necessitates support for innovation and AI implementation to prevent exacerbating health inequalities.

Methods
The overall methods were the use of real-world health data from the PIONEER Hub for Acute Care to undertake retrospective cohort studies to examine the impact of EHRs on differing aspects of healthcare quality. Synthetically generated EHR and pollution data were generated to enable the implementation and testing of federated analytics.

Results
The retrospective cohort studies presented demonstrate several key findings regarding the impact of EHRs on healthcare. EHRs significantly enhance healthcare quality by streamlining processes, improving accuracy, and supporting evidence-based decision-making. Utilisation of EHR data improves patient outcomes by reducing unnecessary treatments and procedures. The implementation of systems like Computerised Physician Order Entry (CPOE) leads to sustained efficiency improvements in laboratory and clinical processes. Real-World Data (RWD) effectively supports healthcare pathways and policy decisions, though rigorous modelling and testing are necessary to ensure cost-effectiveness. Advancements in data techniques, especially federated analytics, offer innovative solutions to navigating the complexities of health data. These findings underscore the transformative potential of EHRs in healthcare. However, organisations need to ensure consideration is given to the limitations of RWD in respect of quality and cover. Furthermore, with the pace of innovation, especially around AI ensuring that people and organisations with less access to digital tools are not disadvantaged is crucial. Technology should be an enabler to reduce health inequalities, not a reason the divide increases.

Conclusion
In conclusion, EHR data has demonstrated significant potential to enhance healthcare quality. Implementing an EHR can be disruptive to a health care system, but the evidence suggests that staff and patients will benefit in the long-term. The impact has been observed in improved prescribing, efficient pathways and greater accuracy.

Type of Work:

Thesis (Doctorates > Ph.D.)

Award Type:

Doctorates > Ph.D.

Supervisor(s):