Compliance
compliance here refers to the adherence to laws, regulations, and standards related to the use of EHRs. There are a number of different compliance requirements that organizations using EHRs may need to consider, including:
- Privacy and security: EHRs contain sensitive patient information that must be protected in accordance with laws such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) in the United States.
- Data interoperability: Organizations may be required to follow standards and guidelines for exchanging data with other systems, such as the Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) standard.
- Clinical quality measures: EHRs may be used to track and report on clinical quality measures as part of efforts to improve the quality of care.
- Meaningful use: In the United States, the Centres for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has established meaningful use criteria that organizations must meet in order to qualify for incentives for the adoption and use of EHRs.
Ensuring compliance with these and other requirements can be challenging, and organizations using EHRs may need to invest in training, policies, and technologies to ensure that they are meeting all relevant requirements. Failure to comply with laws and regulations related to EHRs can result in financial penalties and other consequences.