Electronic medical records (EMR) have many benefits and if implemented efficiently can improve patient care and co-ordination among multiple caregivers. An electronic medical record is a digital version of a paper-based medical record and can be more easily managed. This well-structured mode of gathering, preserving, retrieving, and sharing of patient records is expected to enhance patient care and physician efficiency, thus improving practice productivity. The deadline for implementing EMR in the US is January 2015.
As doctors can easily retrieve patient data, patients can benefit from quick diagnosis and timely treatment. The system helps physicians take note of patients who are lagging in screenings and preventive visits, so that timely reminders can be sent. Even details regarding vaccinations and blood pressure readings of specific patients could be checked out promptly.
Let us have a look at the advantages EMR system can offer physicians.
- Speedy transfer of patient information from one department to another will help in making prompt diagnostic and treatment decisions.
- The space required for paper document storage could be saved and utilized productively for some other purpose.
- Actions such as chart-pulls that are time-consuming and labor-intensive can be avoided.
- Practitioners need not worry about malpractice risks and can avoid possible mistakes with the availability of structured and accurate documentation.
- With organized workflow, considerable time and costs can be saved that can be invested wisely for core administrative and clinical operations.
- Any accidental alterations that are likely to happen with handwritten or manually transferred files can be avoided. Electronic data sharing enhances result management and patient care.
- The healthcare unit can utilize the advanced features offered with e-Prescribing and clinical documentation for better efficiency.
- With advanced tracking systems, the fear of lost or misplaced patient files can be minimized to a great extent.
- The software ensures improved communication, sharing and usage of patient healthcare information.
- The relevant patient data can be tracked over time thus improving the quality of care.
However, there are some practical difficulties when it comes to fully depending on EMR. EMR with medical transcription integration would be an ideal choice. For that, the services of a reliable medical transcription company can be hired. Providers can dictate their reports and upload the audio files to the transcription company’s online platform. Their transcriptionists would transcribe the information, and the transcripts would then be put through a quality assurance process. Error-free transcripts are then uploaded to the online platform and then imported into the practice’s EMR system. Discrete reportable transcription (DRT) is projected as the next advancement in EMR development. With this, providers can continue to dictate and get the reports transcribed. DRT will directly interface the dictated patient information into the appropriate section of the EMR. This system would allow deep integration of the transcription into the EMR system.
