Oral

Health Information Technology (HIT) in both the private and public sectors has the potential to address some of the numerous challenges within US healthcare. It can address issues in patient safety and quality of care; enhance clinical interventions; and improve the communication between a provider and a patient. This session will focus on the utilization of HIT within a clinical environment, focusing on the use of these technologies to reduce disparities of care. Panelists will discuss the use of electronic health records and other technologies within a clinical setting, and how it can enhanced the patient-provider encounter. Additionally, the use of personal health records (PHRs) provides an ability for individuals to gain both knowledge and insight into their own health. A presentation will focus on the attribute and characteristics that individuals find the most appealing about PHRs in order to increase their adoption and use. Although the use of EHRs provide point-of-care technology to enhance the clinical encounter, the use of primary and secondary data within an EHR provides a means to understand patient outcomes in order to create more effective treatment protocols. Finally, presenters will discuss the use of an EHR within the Mississippi Delta to expand services and enhance quality of care for over 640,000 individuals.

Session Objectives: 1. Discuss the ways and means an EHR can be used to enhance the patient-provider encounter 2. Demonstrate the types of usability features a PHR should have in order to increase adoption and acceptance of the technology 3. Explain how the data contained within an EHR provides a means to reduce health disparities

CE Credits: Medical (CME), Health Education (CHES), Nursing (CNE), Public Health (CPH)