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Global Usage Of Electronic Health Record ( Ehr ) Systems Essay

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Introduction Health Information Technology is a trend in health care that has gained widespread attention due to the benefits it offers in the intricate, ever-changing and demanding field of health care. The advancement and widespread usage of Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems is predominantly dependent on standardized clinical terminology in the respective systems to ensure leveled communication among all professionals. Systematized Nomenclature of Medicine – Clinical Terms (SNOMED CT) is one of many clinical terminologies currently in use for the purpose of documenting by healthcare professionals and specialists in Electronic Medical Records. The mapping of SNOMED CT has been validated for accuracy against multiple coding and diagnostic classification systems. A brief history of SNOMED CT and results of several of the mapping studies will be discussed in this paper.

Importance and Urgency Healthcare reform, its importance, and urgency was brought to light in January 2004 during President George W. Bush’s State of the Union Address. President Bush promulgated that “all Americans will have an electronic medical record within ten years,” (Bush, 2004). President Bush also stated, “By computerizing health records, we can avoid dangerous medical mistakes, reduce costs, and improve care,” (Bush, 2004). During his address, President Bush also called for all citizens to have an Electronic Health Record (EHR) that would be completed and shareable by 2014. This

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