People with disabilities often work with a variety of medical and community providers. In the best-case scenario, these providers work together as a team — with each member building on the expertise of the others to create a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts. In the worst-case scenario, it can feel like each provider operates in their own private bubble, and no two providers know what the other is saying or doing. Electronic health records (EHRs) can help bridge the divide between providers so they can provide the best care possible.
An EHR is a digital version of a patient’s paper chart. EHRs allow authorized users to securely access real-time information, including a patient’s medical history, diagnoses, medications, treatment plans, immunization dates, allergies, radiology images, and laboratory and test results.
EHRs make it easier for providers to share information and benefit from their colleagues’ observations. They also have the potential to help connect medical providers, such as doctors, with community-based organizations providing services such as personal care assistance or home-delivered meals.
EHRs can also make it easier for patients to access their health records. With more information, patients can take a more active role in decisions about their health.
Sometimes, however, those who create EHRs do not consider the accessibility and usability of these records for persons with disabilities. The National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (formerly the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research) has been a pioneer and leader in EHR accessibility. A previously-funded NIDILRR/NIDRR grantee called Access to Electronic and Personal Health Records addressed this very important issue. One of the earliest reports on the accessibility of EHRs was produced by this grantee: Accessible Designs for Personal Health Records: Project Report and Initial Findings.