What is an expected outcome of widespread electronic recordkeeping in healthcare organizations?

The expected outcome of widespread electronic recordkeeping in healthcare organizations being fewer medication prescription errors is a reflection of the significant improvements that technology brings to patient safety and care quality. Electronic health records (EHRs) enhance communication among healthcare providers, streamline information sharing, and facilitate access to patient data, all of which contribute to reducing the likelihood of errors in prescribing medications.

With EHRs, clinicians can access comprehensive medication histories, allergies, and potential drug interactions, which are crucial for making informed prescribing decisions. This level of data integration minimizes the chances of miscommunication whereby a healthcare provider might mistakenly prescribe a medication that contradicts existing treatments or patient-specific needs. Thus, the implementation of electronic recordkeeping directly correlates to improved accuracy in medication management, leading to safer patient outcomes.

Intuitively, other options do not align with the expected outcome; for example, increased patient wait times or more paperwork would suggest inefficiencies rather than improvements in care. Similarly, the claim of higher treatment costs does not generally reflect the financial efficiencies gained through streamlined processes and reduced errors associated with electronic recordkeeping.