Instruction and information :

1. Topic and Research Question

Topic:

The role of electronic health records (EHRs) in improving patient care outcomes and enhancing administrative efficiency in healthcare organizations.

Research Question:

To what extent do electronic health records (EHRs) improve the quality of patient care and the efficiency of administrative operations in healthcare facilities?

This research question leads to an argumentative stance because it requires evaluation of both clinical outcomes and operational performance tied to EHR usage. It allows me to argue whether EHRs are truly effective tools in modern healthcare administration or whether their challenges outweigh their benefits. As a healthcare administration student, this topic aligns closely with my professional field because EHRs impact budgeting, workflow optimization, compliance, and quality improvementkey concerns for healthcare managers.

2. Two Scholarly Sources (with APA Citations and Commentary)

Source 1

APA Citation:

Campanella, P., Lovato, E., Marone, C., Fallacara, L., Mancuso, A., Ricciardi, W., & Specchia, M. L. (2016). The impact of electronic health records on healthcare quality: A systematic review and meta-analysis. The European Journal of Public Health, 26(1), 60-64. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckv122

Commentary:

This systematic review analyzes 23 studies to assess how EHRs influence healthcare quality, such as through improved documentation, clinical decision support, and compliance with evidence-based care guidelines. The authors conclude that EHRs have a positive impact on care quality, especially in areas like medication safety and chronic disease management. However, the paper also emphasizes that results vary depending on how well the EHR is implemented, particularly regarding user training and integration into existing workflows. This source gives strong empirical support to the claim that EHRs can enhance patient outcomes when implemented effectively.

Source 2

APA Citation:

Kruse, C. S., Kristof, C., Jones, B., Mitchell, E., & Martinez, A. (2016). Barriers to electronic health record adoption: A systematic literature review. Journal of Medical Systems, 40(12), 252. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10916-016-0628-9

Commentary:

This article reviews the most common obstacles faced by healthcare organizations in adopting EHRs. These include costs, workflow disruptions, lack of interoperability, privacy/security concerns, and resistance to change among staff. It provides insight into why some healthcare organizations, especially small or rural facilities, fail to realize the full benefits of EHRs. This article offers an important counterbalance to optimistic views about EHRs and illustrates the practical challenges administrators face when implementing health IT systems.

3. How the Two Sources Relate to the Topic

Both sources provide critical insight into the effectiveness and challenges of EHR systems, directly supporting the topic I chose.

Campanella et al. (2016) supports the argument that EHRs can improve patient care through better clinical decisions, safety, and preventive care tools.

Kruse et al. (2016) adds a broader organizational lens, showing how administrative barriersfinancial, logistical, culturalcan limit EHR success despite their potential.

For a healthcare administrator, this means balancing the promise of EHRs with the planning, training, and investment required to make them work. These sources provide a rich foundation for arguing that EHRs are only as effective as the systems and leadership structures supporting them.

4. How the Two Sources Relate to Each Other

The two sources are in scholarly conversation with each other:

Campanella et al. focus on outcomes: they measure how EHRs impact clinical effectiveness.

Kruse et al. focus on inputs and processes: what barriers need to be addressed to reach those improved outcomes.

Together, they show a cause-and-effect relationship: successful EHR outcomes depend on overcoming the adoption barriers. In that way, Kruse et al. offer context and explanation for why some of the improvements seen in Campanella et al.'s study may not be universal. Their findings complement each other by offering both potential benefits and real-world limitations.

5. What the Two Sources Add to My Knowledge

These sources deepen my understanding of EHRs from a systems management perspective. I now see that:

Implementing EHRs is not just a technical task; it requires change management, staff training, and long-term support.

The benefits of EHRs are conditionalsuccess depends heavily on leadership and infrastructure, which are key areas of responsibility in healthcare administration.

What these sources raise:

How can smaller or underfunded healthcare systems adopt EHRs without being overwhelmed?

What training methods best support EHR adoption among reluctant staff?

What is missing:

Neither source includes direct feedback from healthcare administrators on EHR implementation.

There's limited discussion on the cost-benefit analysis of EHR systems in administrative terms.

What I might add in my paper:

I will contribute to the discussion by including insights on:

The administrator's role in strategic EHR planning

The importance of interdepartmental collaboration during EHR rollout

How patient satisfaction metrics may change post-EHR implementation

By addressing these, my paper will bridge the gap between EHR functionality and real-world leadership in healthcare settings.

References

Campanella, P., Lovato, E., Marone, C., Fallacara, L., Mancuso, A., Ricciardi, W., & Specchia, M. L. (2016). The impact of electronic health records on healthcare quality: A systematic review and meta-analysis. The European Journal of Public Health, 26(1), 60-64. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckv122

Kruse, C. S., Kristof, C., Jones, B., Mitchell, E., & Martinez, A. (2016). Barriers to electronic health record adoption: A systematic literature review. Journal of Medical Systems, 40(12), 252. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10916-016-0628-9

The Task:

For this assignment, respond to each of the following prompts fully and thoughtfully. Questions 5 - 8 should be answered in fully developed paragraphs ( 5 - 7 sentences). See below for sample proposal.

1. TOPIC TO BE RESEARCHED AND HOW IT RELATES TO YOUR CAREER OR FIELD OF STUDY

2. RESEARCH QUESTION: [Look to Table 3.2 on p. 46 of The Bedford Researcher for examples. You may also view the video posted in Week 1 discussion or click here] The answer to your question needs to lead to a clear, debatable argument.

3. SUPPORTING ELEMENTS: [What three main points will you use to help substantiate your argument on your topic?]

4. THESIS STATEMENT: [What are you arguing about your topic and what helps prove your argument? Make sure to include your topic, a debatable argument, three supporting points (from above) into your thesis statement. Present a clear, argumentative stance on your topic. Put your argument in bold font and underline your three supporting elements.]

5. AUDIENCE: [Who are your readers? Go beyond your classmates and professor. What might your readers want or need to know about your topic? What knowledge, perceptions, or biases might your readers already have on this topic?]

6. POTENTIAL SOURCES: [What types of sources will be helpful to support your stance? What will these sources reveal about your topic? What are some specific titles that you might use? You may use the same sources from the Week 1 discussion if you plan to use them for your final paper. Also, you'll want to get in the habit of listing sources in the APA format as they would appear on a references page.]

7. CHALLENGES TO THE RESEARCH: [What might make your argument difficult to prove? Will you be able to find enough current research that supports your side of the debate?]

8. GOALS FOR THE PROJECT: [What do you want to accomplish within your Formal Research Paper? What do you want the reader to belive or feel after reading your essay?]