The importance of electronic health records (EHRs) in healthcare is paramount, as they are crucial for accurately recording and safeguarding patient information. These records capture every essential detail of a patient’s medical journey, ensuring that their history is meticulously documented and readily available for future reference. Advances in technology now allow for primary patient-doctor conversations to be digitally transcribed and integrated into EHRs. This article explores the advantages of adopting EHRs in medical practices.
Let’s face it: switching doctors is necessary and sometimes inevitable. Often, people require various specialists for different ailments. However, some things remain constant, like the allergies, the medication that worked for the patient, and the treatment that didn’t work. Every doctor requires a history of their patient’s health records before making any medical decision. Electronic health records can efficiently and securely share doctors’ reports and patients’ health plans between doctors through electronic communication.
The best part of using electronic health records is storing all patient information in one place. That ensures better record keeping and will go a long way in facilitating easy decision-making. Patients may find it odd that their doctor (whom they just met) knows their health information from their last visit. While some may think this jeopardizes privacy, how can a doctor provide the best care without all the necessary information? Sometimes, patients may withhold information critical to their health diagnosis, so you can’t rely on their word. EHRs save patients’ data in a central, secure location where medical practitioners can access data quickly.
While recording each patient’s records on paper is hectic, the cost you’ll incur doesn’t make it any easier. Manual forms are time-consuming and pretty expensive to maintain. You’ll also need an employee (who you’ll pay) to oversee file maintenance, without forgetting the need to have file racks and labels that are all expensive and unnecessary in the modern age where technology is at your disposal. Going digital will save you a lot of bucks in the long run. You’ll only need a few computers and a reliable internet source to save and access medical data efficiently.
EHRs will benefit your healthcare facility, but they certainly don’t come without drawbacks. For instance, the time it takes a doctor to type in data on the EHR is much longer than dictating a patient visit accurately. It can also be tiring to key in the information while conversing with the patient. Medical transcription services allow doctors to spend quality time with the patient and then dictate the visit for the transcriptionist to complete directly into the EHR. That helps save time and spares medical practitioners from burnout and the complications of erroneous typing.
EHR transcription brings vast benefits to the medical industry. However, diving right into it or incorporating it into your system can be challenging. Furthermore, you’ll need a reliable medical transcription company to help with the EHR transcription process. If you haven’t already adopted EHRs, you’re missing out on a lot!