Why are electronic health records important?

The digital version of a medical chart is an electronic health record. Moving ahead to know, “why are electronic health records important? Let’s discuss the importance of electronic health records .

It takes a wide range of operations to collect, handle, and distribute digital health information to realize the potential of this technology. Then, this knowledge can support medical operations and decision-making. Gathering data should ideally start before a patient encounter by getting records from other providers or previous patient encounters. When a patient first interacts with a doctor or member of the nursing staff, this and other information is updated. New information—such as lab results, pictures, and progress notes—is added as the relationship develops. The Electronic Health Records (EHR) could potentially act as a platform for decision-making. Algorithms can screen for drug allergies or drug interactions.

Current Situation with Electronic Health Records

The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act of 2009 included several federal incentives and regulatory criteria to encourage healthcare providers to use EHR systems. Only 12.2 percent of acute care hospitals at the time had access to even the most basic EHR software. More than 80% of them have an EHR system in place less than five years later. They would be utilized by 86 percent of doctor offices and 96 percent of hospitals by 2017.

Information sharing across healthcare networks is now primarily accomplished through EHR software. Thanks to the information they make easily accessible and the simplicity of sharing that information with every provider involved in a patient’s care. Medical practitioners can provide a deeper level of care when implemented and managed efficiently. By opening a patient’s file, a doctor can quickly evaluate a diagnosis, ascertain the results of the tests, and keep track of the patient’s prescription history, which helps reduce confusion and duplication. More significantly, patients have access to their medical records, allowing them to stay current on their treatment plans and care.

Why are electronic health records Important?

All of your healthcare professionals can understand the significance of your health records. Thanks to the electronic health record (EHR) software. Let’s see why are electronic health records important.

EHRs Improve the Care Quality 

EHR facilitates more effective communication between clinicians and patients as doctors can access patients’ histories and the treatments those patients had earlier.

EHR enhances mutual understanding amongst professionals from various specialties, including doctors, nurses, and therapists, by facilitating improved communication. Electronic Health Records makes their work more productive by giving adequate patient information.  An EHR enables providers to make wise decisions and enhance the quality of patient care.

EHRs Ensure Patient Safety 

The Electronic Health Records EHR simplifies the record-request process; it also enhances patient safety practices. According to the doctors, having a patient’s medical history, surgical notes, surgical operation data, and examination details readily available helps to prevent potential errors and promotes patient safety. Additionally, the capability of generating incident reports in case of accidents and injuries promotes the safety culture for ongoing improvements based on the incident reports.

Reminders and warnings about taking the right drug at the right time help reduce the risk of medical errors. When medical errors occur, it is possible to identify them and determine the underlying cause to prevent more mistakes. EHR notifications help prevent errors like inappropriate drug dosage and procedures performed for providing the treatment.

EHRs provide data analysis for research, the results of which can be used to increase patient safety. Overall, the participants agreed that the EHR’s provision of reminders, notifications, and alerts enhances patient safety. EHR can provide predictive reminders and notifications to increase safety further, thanks to the development of data analytics.

An increase in interoperability

Every EHR system would seamlessly interface with other systems in an ideal world. Making records conveniently accessible at any time and from any location but only to authorized reasons to comply HIPAA rules.

EHR systems must be able to interact with one another using a standardized vocabulary that is simple to interpret, just as it is crucial to speak the same language as the person you are conversing with. This maintains the accuracy of patient data, cuts down time spent looking for documentation during patient appointments, and even improves the quality of medical service.

Integration of telemedicine

A revolution in telehealth has brought by the COVID-19 pandemic. Many insurance companies and hospitals now allow or even encourage remote patient-physician interactions. The existing distance between patients and their healthcare professionals can be dissolved by adopting telehealth integration. For instance, a doctor can treat a patient in a far-off rural location. Effectively opening the door for remote consultation to take place inside the electronic health record system. The ability for a doctor to evaluate a patient through video conference already exists, but EHR integration will make it simpler to gather and record data regarding distant consultations.

EHR improves clinical decision making

So, why are electronic health records important, the electronic health records software provide knowledge and context to healthcare decisions.

Many clinicians consider the electronic record to be a tool to assist in clinical decision-making.  The goal is to make sure the appropriate information reaches the appropriate person, empowering the clinician to choose the best course of action for the patient in front of them.

A Better Patient Engagement

A potential technique for enhancing patient engagement is patient access to their EHR data via web portals. There is a substantial demand from patients and their caregivers to access EHR data and ensure electronic communication. The ability to increase patient satisfaction, convenience, and self-management is the biggest argument in favor of the importance of portal usage. As is the extraordinarily high level of patient interest.

With the comprehensive information made available by EHRs, they may easily and swiftly build a treatment plan. Overall, the clinical flow has become faster and more pleasant thanks to the EHR system.

Electronic health records are transforming lives by lowering risks, allowing doctors to act quickly on cases, and customizing care to each patient’s need. They can now retain track of earlier health care information. EHRs offer a plethora of advantages. Physicians can benefit from the system in several ways, including faster care delivery, improved system control, and quick diagnosis and treatment.

Conclusion 

The idea of an effective EHR depends on the capability of securely and effectively exchanging patient data with other EHRs and healthcare providers.

We’re here at MediFusion to assist you in providing better patient care. We have first-hand experience working on digitization projects, and we are aware of the good effects that health technology may have on both patient outcomes and administrative management. Our entire focus is on assisting businesses in being more efficient while promoting usability and accessibility for users who deserve a user-friendly solution.