In a medical world that is ever-changing, the need for real-time patient data in healthcare settings is more necessary than ever. To provide the best care for your patients, you need access to complete and thorough medical records. But, not every healthcare service provider is fully equipped with the right technology to manage patient records.
Simply put, some providers still rely on paper medical records that have the potential to get lost, destroyed, or misplaced, which can make it difficult to locate beneficial patient information when it is needed the most.
The inability to reliably track potential allergies, the health history of each patient, and other health concerns could be detrimental to providing quality care to patients. That’s why providers need to strongly consider technology such as an EHR system (electronic health records system) to optimize your provision of healthcare services.
Addressing Common Issues with Paper Health Records
Many individuals love the feel of a pen and paper in the hand. The finite structure of these tools is simply what many practitioners are used to. However, the enjoyment of these materials often comes at a cost, especially in a healthcare environment. Keeping patient health records in paper format comes with its own downfalls.
– Paper records are not easily transferable, for example. They must be handed off, mailed, or sealed for protection.
– Paper records are also susceptible to damage. Whether you spill your coffee on a patient’s lab results or they get stuck in the copy machine, physical medical records can be difficult to replicate.
– Many providers require bulky filing cabinets to store the numerous medical records and patient charts in their office. You do not have to continue spending valuable office space to store physical records. There is a simpler, more modern way of patient recordkeeping.
EHR System: Solution to Paper Medical File Maintenance
Medical entities of all types can benefit from making the leap to utilizing electronic medical records. So, exactly what is an EHR system?
Otherwise known as an electronic health record, this tech-savvy way of managing patient information is convenient, quick, and secure. An EHR serves as the system that manages digital versions of the same patient records many offices maintain paper copies of. An EHR includes patient health information that is critical to their care, with the additional benefit of being easily transferable.
In the fast-paced setting of health care, you and your team need fast, real-time access to patient records so that you can see more patients and provide a higher level of service. This can be achieved through the use of safe and secure health information technology.
Advantages of an EHR System
While many professionals understand the benefits of an electronic health record system, the thought of moving all of your files to an electronic format is unfathomable. Yet, this process is often quicker and easier than you might think it would be because of advances in technology that support the digitalization of paper records.
From billing to prior authorization management to charting, managing client records in an electronic format creates a consistent and clear path to quickly understand each patient’s unique situation.
Aside from organization, there are many other perks to merging information into an electronic format. This includes greater security of files.
Security is of utmost importance in medical matters, and once records are moved into an electronic format, they can be susceptible to different kinds of vulnerability. That’s why a properly configured EHR is valuable to keep patient information secure at all access levels in your practice.
Ease of use is another benefit of EHR maintenance. With the click of a button, clinical data can be shared with other healthcare providers, approved third parties, and even attorneys who require access to patient medical records.
Post-Implementation Support With Your EHR System
The next time you are manually charting multiple immunization dates, writing down patient allergies, or wasting valuable time trying to track down a chart at someone’s desk, just think of how much time and effort you could be saving using an electronic format. Performing these tasks in a digital format is often faster, more organized, and easier to complete compared to using a pen and paper system.
That’s why we recommend migrating to an EHR system for your practice. Then, we can help you gain even more speed following your migration!
At Go Find It, we make it easy to upload, organize, and share your medical records. Our software solutions layer onto an EHR system to create an additional level of productivity and secure document management for you and your office staff.
We can help you transform the way that you provide care to your patients. Consider our software solutions to support your practice. Contact us today to schedule a free demo! We’re here to help on your digital transformation journey.
