EHR Use During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Advances, Challenges, and Opportunities

ABSTRACT

The COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 posed unprecedented challenges for healthcare systems nationwide and marked a new era for the management and delivery of healthcare. Advances made in the use of EHRs played a crucial role in the timely response to COVID-19. Optimization and standardization of EHR systems provided healthcare systems with the ability to make meaningful use of real-time data. A substantial increase in telehealth services was augmented by access and availability of EHR systems. However, EHRs continue to face the ongoing challenge of interoperability. Limited research and the need for large-scale data utilization, as a means to inform public health decisions, remain relevant concerns. This paper summarizes the use of EHRs during the COVID-19 pandemic and explores the role of EHRs in the future.