EHR is the digital version of a paper-based patient chart. It offers a customizable EHR experience and helps you coordinate with patients and comply with healthcare reform. EHR (Electronic Health Record) software provides a holistic view of patient care. It is an evidence-based repository of a patient’s medical history, treatment plans, radiology images, and test results.
The EHR software has transformed from a simple text to comprehensive practice software with multiple functionalities. It identifies patient eligibility and uses telemedicine features for remote patient care. Furthermore, it helps in collecting payments effectively.
EHRs are patient-centered records and make information available instantly to authorized users. It contains the patient's medical history, immunization dates, allergies, and other important information. EHR can be managed by authorized providers in digital format and can be shared with other healthcare organizations, including pharmacies, laboratories, and workplace clinics. It is fully integrated with practice management software for different businesses.
What Do You Understand by EHR?
It allows users to track treatment progress for patients and provides the stakeholders with a unified view of the patient's health record. The goal of EHR is to give an accurate health care history of the patient.
Electronic Health Record Software Features
Here are a few features of electronic healthcare records that a healthcare organization should know before implementing it.
1. Specific Customizable Templates
The chosen EHR should offer a specific set of templates that can be customized further with the support from the EHR vendor. After it is customized, the
EHR template provides insights besides patient health status and manages daily tasks. It must support clinical encounters by supporting flexible styles, including handwriting recognition.
2. It Should Have Attractive User Interface
Medical software should be appealing and satisfy the patient’s needs. The information and the workflows presented should be attractive and easily recognizable. The software has an appealing graphical user interface to satisfy customer requirements.
3. E-Prescribing Capabilities
A prescriber can send an accurate and understandable prescription to a pharmacy to improve patient care. E-prescribing provides better quality and safer way of prescribing medication better than paper-based prescriptions. Medication management represents an example of how computer software can make use of drug-drug interaction and connected datasets.
4. Mobile Integration
Cloud computing and modern devices have given modern EHR systems the freedom of mobile access to EHR data. The software vendors must adhere to cybersecurity standards to prevent ransom attacks. Software designs for platforms give the users a choice to use Windows or Android or any other OS.
5. Task Management
A perfect EHR system is configured in a way that it creates and executes tasks. For instance, it sends appointment reminders one or two days before the scheduled date. It monitors each task and sends regular updates and warnings.
6. Configurable Workflow Management
Workflow management provides the infrastructure to manage a sequence of tasks. It features a detailed task analysis and identifies areas that are time intensive. It shares how patients travel through the system and how information is processed.
The modern practical software optimizes and restructures workflows. As soon as the patient has filled the form, the system updates the task list. Also, the doctor receives a notification that the patient is due for a test. After the doctor approves the test, the nurse is informed of the message.
7. Patient Portal With Messaging
The Content Management System has incorporated the patient portal and promotes interoperability. It is a key component of a successful patient management strategy.
HIPAA messaging provides the safest and convenient way to connect with providers and health professionals. The patient portal views lab results make payments online, and even communicates with staff.
8. MACRA Certification
The Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 created the quality payment program that changes the way Medicare rewards clinicians. The healthcare physicians have two tracks, APMs (Alternative Payment Models) and MIPS (Merit-Based Incentive Payment System), which remind physicians that engagement with QPP needs to be started in 2018.
Benefits of Electronic Health Records
It provides several advantages and delivers better care to patients. It updates patient records that can be easily accessed in real-time.
Here are other benefits that EHR offers to healthcare organizations.
1. Better Quality of Care
EHR enables quick access to patient records. EHR helps in treatment and increases operational efficiency. EHRs provide physicians with health analytics and recommend better treatment options.
The physicians and patients can use the track to find an individual’s progress. It improves patient quality care by making patient-physician communication better.
2. Increased Efficiency
EHR physicians not only provide accurate treatment but also save time. It offers built-in templates and helps physicians to document patient’s issues and complaints. It assists physicians in interpreting the patient’s historical records.
Nowadays, healthcare organizations depend on the locations and prescriptions electronically. The EHR can automatically check for drug-to-allergy interactions that might occur based on the patient's medication. E-prescribing saves time and assists with the diagnosis.
3. Scalability and Accessibility
EHR can scale up to a larger patient base. The EHR can integrate patients populations and accounts care organizations.
Also, online access makes EHR easily accessible. The third-party EHRs allow users to log in and to check the information from the internet-enabled location.
4. Reduced Costs Through Less Paperwork
EHR improves safety, reduces cost through less paperwork, and reduces duplication of patient data. It provides better coordination between providers and improves overall patient care.
5. Increased Productivity
EHR is more efficient than paper records and allows centralized chart management and quick access to patient data from anywhere.
Effective communication with pharmacies, insurance providers, and other healthcare providers is faster and traceable and cuts the follow-up calls.
Final Words
When patients have quick access to their health status, they play an active role in delivering the best patient care. For instance, patient portals share lab results, historical data, and drug information.
EHRs provide several benefits to medical practices and better care for the documentation. It is important to understand and to know the tools and practices that are required for EHR functioning.
