EMR (electronic medical records) is now a huge part of the medical world. They are digital records created by healthcare providers that hold a patients’ medical history, previous diagnosis, medications prescribed, and any other medical information that warrants recording. They are now used in a large number of healthcare clinics, hospitals, and dentists – they are certainly overtaking the paper record system!
How is EMR Used?
Using EMR is as simple as logging a patients’ record onto a system, which can either be server-based or web-based, depending on the healthcare provider. This can then be accessed from the server, and if it’s web-based, then it can be accessed from anywhere. Each time a patient enters the practice, their electronic medical record will be updated with why they came that day and if any diagnosis or treatments were provided, as well as results they might receive at a later date. EMR is now crucial to the running of many practices – here are the reasons why it is so important.
Extra Security
Extra cybersecurity is provided by the use of electronic medical records, especially web-based EMR. A paper-based record system is vulnerable to getting lost or destroyed, but so is a server-based one. A cloud-based medical record means that if a medical practice is targeted by cyber-hacks, then they don’t risk losing all their patient’s records. It is a back-up plan that can save years of information. With a cloud-based EMR system, there is no need to worry that everything will be lost, as it will always reside online.
It Saves Time
Time is a precious thing, especially when it comes to healthcare. Filling in countless amounts of paperwork is not only mundane; it is also useless when there is the option to fill it in one time and be finished. Instead of getting patients to fill in a bunch of forms, they can instead fill in one, and it will be there forever. The fewer administrative tasks, the more time can be spent on medical care itself. They also save time in communicating with the patients themselves. With patients having access, they don’t have to constantly go through the phone lines and take up the practice’s time.
Patient Freedom
When a medical record is paper-based, the chances of a patient having access to it are slim. With a web-based online medical record, patients can go on and look at it whenever they want. This freedom is great for patients who want to see what their medical history is. There’s also the added benefit of them being able to receive medicine reminders, check their next medication date, and request appointments or repeated prescriptions. After all, it is the patients’ medical record, so they should have constant access to it!
Keeping Up with the Times
The world of technology is always evolving, and no business should get left behind! Healthcare, in particular, should embrace any new technologies, especially if it allows more streamlined access to vital information. Falling behind only means there’s more to learn later on, so jumping on it sooner rather than later is beneficial.
More healthcare students are being taught how to use technologies needed in healthcare practices. This means, over time, all healthcare providers will be used to using technology at work. If you plan on getting into healthcare, with courses like BSN accelerated programs, then you will learn how to use certain technologies within the healthcare industry. It’s all about staying up-to-date.
Always Accessible
Another accessibility benefit is the increased safety that goes alongside it. If a person is abroad or somewhere other than their usual practice, they may find themselves in an emergency. If another healthcare provider has access to their records, they will be able to see if the person has any allergies and what sort of medication they are taking. This, of course, is crucial for determining the kinds of treatments the patient can have.
Better Communication
An electrical medical record allows smoother communications between practices and within the practice itself. Rather than using paper that might find its way under other pieces of paper on someone’s desk, a simple click and another member of staff will have access to a patient’s records.
It Tracks Patient Medical Trends
If a patient is suffering from something like high blood pressure, then an EMR will show you exactly what’s going on when it is high when it drops, and anything in between. This can provide vital insight into the treatment of a patient.
Saves Money
EMR can help save money in a variety of ways, such as:
- Saving time
- Saving physical space
- Cutting down on paper and ink
- Reducing medical transportation
By saving money in these areas, there is more money for other areas of medical practice.
It is Eco-Friendly
Reducing the amount of paper used is beneficial for the environment. These days, most people want to do their bit for the earth, and going digital is a simple but effective way of doing that. The less paper used, the more trees are saved from being chopped down. Less waste is always better! It also saved on the electricity used by the printer to print out countless forms. With it being online, there’s no worrying about multiple copies.
It Appeals to More Patients
Using up-to-date technology that provides patients with more control will only appeal to them more. Some patients will be used to this up-to-date method of storing medical records, so anything but might turn them away. Patients will be happier if they can easily access their records and that they don’t have to fill out form after form.
How Do You Implement EMR into a Practice?
The first step to integrating electronic medical records into medical practice is to choose whether you want it web-based or server-based and then to choose a contract and provider. Your provider will help you set up, and before long, you will be saving time by using digital records. Assigning a team of staff to take control of implementing EMR into practice will ensure that it goes as smoothly as possible.
Electronic medical records are now a fundamental part of medical practices, and the integration of them into practice can dramatically improve the service overall. Medical practices become more streamlined, efficient, and cost are reduced – all with the help of EMR.
The Editorial Team at Healthcare Business Today is made up of skilled healthcare writers and experts, led by our managing editor, Daniel Casciato, who has over 25 years of experience in healthcare writing. Since 1998, we have produced compelling and informative content for numerous publications, establishing ourselves as a trusted resource for health and wellness information. We offer readers access to fresh health, medicine, science, and technology developments and the latest in patient news, emphasizing how these developments affect our lives.
