Electronic medical records: a multidimensional analysis

Abstract

With healthcare in a state of crisis due to unsustainable cost increases, lack of patient focus, and low information transparency, a need exists for measuring healthcare performance. Electronic medical records (EMRs) are a gateway to improved healthcare where a potential exists for a more thorough assessment of facility health, depicting financial and quality improvements in the health system. Our research focused on measuring aspects of EMR and system health by taking a multidimensional approach from an unbiased standpoint. Unlike most current assessments, an administrative point of view that only focuses on bottom-line improvements, our research produced three assessment tools that are unconstrained by financial metrics or specific stakeholder point of view. These tools include a hierarchical holographic model (HHM) of the broad universe of healthcare, guiding mission statements, and an information transparency matrix for classifying data availability. Combined, these provide a multidimensional framework for improving the assessment of healthcare.