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WGU C816: EHR Implementation Issues and
Benefits | A Comprehensive Overview
ISSUES IN THE HYBRID RECORD
Hybrid Health Records (HHR) combines paper-based and Electronic Health Records (EHR) that
primarily store and track patients' health records in several formats and places. HHR offers
advantages, such as allowing medical practices to customize their electronic medical records
system with their preferred content and practice. Although there are some advantages, there are
more disadvantages as we move to a more technology-based society.
Examples of issues with hybrid records include revenue cycle disruption, which may result in
billing delays or even billing mistakes due to gathering records from many different places (for
example, you may have a patient’s bills in physical receipts and their insurance information
online. An example from the scenario is where delinquent medical records became a problem
because healthcare providers did not always complete the records promptly. Delays also
occurred when the document scanning system was down). Hybrid health records are also limited
and lack updated preliminary diagnostics features or advanced diagnostics such as CT scans or
stress tests, causing more billing delays (Hybrid Health Records: Definition, Pros & Cons, and
More!, 2022).
Legal issues also arise in combination with the revenue cycle disruption. One way that
may show up is due to hybrid health records’ ability to be accessed for an unlimited amount of
time by the patient. They may often misread a diagnosis, misinterpret medical advice, or input
the wrong information into the system. As in the scenario, the risk of HIM staff losing or
misplacing vital records housed in various locations is a huge possibility and a legal issue. No
matter how well prepared, change can be difficult and uncomfortable. Hybrid health records
require more HIM staff to gather information, increasing the cost of running facilities. As
described in the scenario, the many roles previously held by the HIM staff will be eliminated as
they will no longer be required once fully integrated into electronic health records (EHR). Staff
morale will be an often overlooked but severe issue to address so it does not snowball into more
legal problems with human error due to stress.
FULLY DIGITAL AND HYBRID RECORDS
As noted in the scenario, waiting for paper records to be scanned caused delinquent
medical records and delays in scanning if the system was down. This caused a significant
disruption in the revenue cycle. Being fully digital will increase revenue with improved charge
capture/ decrease in billing errors, improved cash flow, and enhanced revenue. It also helps
reduce outstanding days in accounts receivable and lost or disallowable charges, potentially
increasing a provider's cash flow. Electronic health records have averted many costs by having
patient information electronically available, like increased utilization of tests, reduced staff
resources devoted to patient management, reduced costs relating to supplies needed to maintain
paper files, decreased transcription costs, and the costs about chart pulls (Menachemi & Collum,
2011).
It has also been pointed out that EHRs can facilitate improved legal and regulatory
compliance regarding increased data security and enhanced patient confidentiality through
controlled and auditable provider access. Digital records also prevent lost or misplaced paper
records. Researchers in Massachusetts found that EHR providers had fewer paid malpractice
claims. One of the primary goals of implementing EHR is to have a more streamlined workflow
WGU C816: EHR Implementation Issues and
Benefits | A Comprehensive Overview
ISSUES IN THE HYBRID RECORD
Hybrid Health Records (HHR) combines paper-based and Electronic Health Records (EHR) that
primarily store and track patients' health records in several formats and places. HHR offers
advantages, such as allowing medical practices to customize their electronic medical records
system with their preferred content and practice. Although there are some advantages, there are
more disadvantages as we move to a more technology-based society.
Examples of issues with hybrid records include revenue cycle disruption, which may result in
billing delays or even billing mistakes due to gathering records from many different places (for
example, you may have a patient’s bills in physical receipts and their insurance information
online. An example from the scenario is where delinquent medical records became a problem
because healthcare providers did not always complete the records promptly. Delays also
occurred when the document scanning system was down). Hybrid health records are also limited
and lack updated preliminary diagnostics features or advanced diagnostics such as CT scans or
stress tests, causing more billing delays (Hybrid Health Records: Definition, Pros & Cons, and
More!, 2022).
Legal issues also arise in combination with the revenue cycle disruption. One way that
may show up is due to hybrid health records’ ability to be accessed for an unlimited amount of
time by the patient. They may often misread a diagnosis, misinterpret medical advice, or input
the wrong information into the system. As in the scenario, the risk of HIM staff losing or
misplacing vital records housed in various locations is a huge possibility and a legal issue. No
matter how well prepared, change can be difficult and uncomfortable. Hybrid health records
require more HIM staff to gather information, increasing the cost of running facilities. As
described in the scenario, the many roles previously held by the HIM staff will be eliminated as
they will no longer be required once fully integrated into electronic health records (EHR). Staff
morale will be an often overlooked but severe issue to address so it does not snowball into more
legal problems with human error due to stress.
FULLY DIGITAL AND HYBRID RECORDS
As noted in the scenario, waiting for paper records to be scanned caused delinquent
medical records and delays in scanning if the system was down. This caused a significant
disruption in the revenue cycle. Being fully digital will increase revenue with improved charge
capture/ decrease in billing errors, improved cash flow, and enhanced revenue. It also helps
reduce outstanding days in accounts receivable and lost or disallowable charges, potentially
increasing a provider's cash flow. Electronic health records have averted many costs by having
patient information electronically available, like increased utilization of tests, reduced staff
resources devoted to patient management, reduced costs relating to supplies needed to maintain
paper files, decreased transcription costs, and the costs about chart pulls (Menachemi & Collum,
2011).
It has also been pointed out that EHRs can facilitate improved legal and regulatory
compliance regarding increased data security and enhanced patient confidentiality through
controlled and auditable provider access. Digital records also prevent lost or misplaced paper
records. Researchers in Massachusetts found that EHR providers had fewer paid malpractice
claims. One of the primary goals of implementing EHR is to have a more streamlined workflow
