Utilization of Electronic Health Records by Nurses in Mental Health Settings: Insights for Medical Records and Social Services
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- Category: Vol. 83, December 2015
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Utilization of Electronic Health Records by Nurses in Mental Health Settings: Insights for Medical Records and Social Services
Abstract
Background: Electronic Health Records (EHRs) are digi-tal systems designed to manage clinical documentation, test results, and decision support, with increasing adoption across healthcare settings aimed at improving care quality and effi-ciency. Despite their benefits, the implementation of EHRs in mental health settings has faced unique challenges due to the distinct nature of mental health nursing practices. Aim: This study aims to explore the utilization of EHRs by nurses in mental health settings, with a focus on understanding the unique challenges and benefits, and to provide insights for optimizing EHR implementation in these environments. Methods: A literature review was conducted using elec-tronic databases (Ovid/MEDLINE®, PubMed, CINAHL) to identify studies published in English that explored EHR use among nurses in mental health settings. The review included 7 relevant studies selected based on predefined criteria, including their focus on EHRs and mental health nursing. Results: The review found a range of experiences with EHRs among mental health nurses. Benefits included improved access to patient information and enhanced care planning, al-though issues such as insufficient computer availability, redun-dant data entry, and privacy concerns were significant. Accept-ance of EHRs improved over time, but challenges related to the system’s user-friendliness and privacy remained prominent. Conclusion: Successful EHR implementation in mental health settings requires tailored strategies addressing specific challenges, including providing extensive training, improving system design, and ensuring robust privacy measures. Social workers play a crucial role in facilitating these processes by offering insights into patient care needs, supporting nurse train-
ing, and advocating for privacy protection.