What are the Latest Advances in EMR Technology?

Updated on September 11, 2019
EMR

EMR, or Electronic Medical Records, is one of the advancements that is pushing the healthcare provision in the future, with their ability to streamline the care and procedures that patients are receiving. EMRs digitally store patient and healthcare information, which can then be shared between healthcare providers to find the best care necessary for the patient. EMR technology is always advancing, and, in this guide, it will explain some of the latest improvements in 2019. 

How do EMRS improve healthcare?

EMRs have been implemented in international hospitals to improve healthcare by cutting down on unnecessary procedures, ensuring that care is given to patients in an appropriate response time, and ensuring that patient safety remains prioritized. For instance, due to their digital and computerized nature, they ensure that no mistakes are made in the handing out of prescriptions because of their ability to eradicate poor handwriting and human discrepancies. They also ensure that only the allotted amount of medication can be prescribed. They can also provide reminders to avoid care lapses, allowing attention to be drawn to these easily. They also make medical information easily accessible for doctors who need this to guide their care practices and can perform intelligence procedures, such as ordering items that are used in conjunction with each other simultaneously. 

What are the latest advances? 

EMR technology does not stop improving, and the latest EMR developers are looking towards mobile devices, finding ways for doctors and patients to communicate on these transportable devices. For instance, this would allow hospital patients to take pictures of their symptoms, send text alerts, and check symptoms instantly, from which doctors can then decide whether they need to be examined further with a physical appointment. This could help patients to receive a quick diagnosis and the treatment that they need in record time. 

Wearable tech is also starting to be recognized as a path of communication between doctors and their patients, allowing live information to be taken and recorded from these style of devices. If wearable technology such as fitness trackers, which already have a variety of health benefits, were combined with EMRs, this could mean that vital information such as heart rate, step count, and sleep levels could be instantly shown to a doctor, who could be alerted to any problems with these functions. 

In terms of the way that EMRs are starting to be utilized, there has begun to be more interest in transferring EMRs to cloud-based platforms in the healthcare industry, which could make information more secure and allow doctors from other medical facilities to access this information whenever they need to. This would also cut costs for hospitals as they would not have to maintain their own software and digital systems. 

How can you implement these into your medical practice?

If you are considering implementing EMRs and their latest advancements into your medical practice, there are a couple of ways that you can do this. For instance, you should consider attending conferences or hiring your own conference venue where you can discuss the latest developments with your employees and how they could affect your medical practice, as well as discussing their intricacies with medical experts in the field. 

EMRs are constantly evolving, and new uses are being found on a regular basis to connect patients and doctors and ensure that their care is as integrated and error-free as possible. From wearable tech to mobile-compatibility, EMRs will form a large part of the future of healthcare. 

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.