Electronic Health Records, or EHRs, are a subject of great technological improvement for more efficient, personalized care at any medical facility.
Sharing this information makes it much easier to discover health plans, get coverage, and provide relevant information to the people who need it. However, privacy rights and laws are ever-changing. At the start of Q3, we feel it’s a good time to delve into the benefits of this upgrade that is taking most practices by storm.
What are EHRs?
EHRs are electronic versions of that paper chart doctors used to consult before treatment. They include: medical histories, notes, symptoms, diagnoses, medications, lab results, vitals, immunizations, diagnostic test reports.
Why should a practice upgrade to EHRs?
Switching from paper records actually reduces HIPAA violation threats. With the right security system in place, it’s much harder to take a digital file home with you than a paper one.
Additional benefits include:
- Improved care quality: EHRs are ideal for hospitals especially – during an accident, a person may not be able to respond to a doctor’s questions. Good records mean that the quality of care improves.
- Fewer malpractice charges: Information about ALL medications the patient is taking – so if the patient forgets, or neglects to tell the doctor, he can be careful what to prescribe. This reduces malpractice claims in the event of a bad combination of medications prescribed to a patient.
- No more lost records: EHRs are backed up – so no file is in danger of natural disasters or office calamity. Drench a whole cabinet in coffee during the late shift? No problem when they are all stored electronically.
- Quicker response and diagnosis: Lab results are available much more quickly, and progress is much easier to share with the patient. Also, since information is shared, it’s less likely that unnecessary tests will be repeated, reducing x-ray exposure and other uncomfortable experiences or lab time wasted.
- Automated response: EHRs allow medical professionals to remind patients when it’s time to come in, and reduce the amount of time spent filling out records. They can simply be passed electronically from one doctor to another – so your staff time is no longer wasted in mailing and copying records in a HIPAA compliant manner!
Not sure if you want to dive into an EHR system just yet? Learn more about it! And most importantly, make sure that the system you use is HIPAA compliant. Consult our blog on HIPAA compliant email solutions to learn more!
