Electronic Medical Records (EMR) digitize your paper medical records and, when properly implemented, can generate a positive return on investment and improve organizational efficiency. The major drawbacks of paperwork are that it hinders a healthcare institution’s ability to treat patients, makes medical operations slower, and decreases overall efficiency. EMR eliminates the time required to record a patient’s medical information on paper, information which could also be misinterpreted due to poor handwriting. Here are just a few reasons to switch from paper records to EMR.
Better communication
Fast and accurate communication between medical departments is key to providing a quality healthcare service. From ambulance staff to emergency room doctors, a healthcare institution must have effective means of communication, and this is where EMR steps in. EMR software enables frontline staff to quickly transfer a patient’s medical records to other departments in real time. When the patient’s information is recorded in the system, other medical staff will no longer need to question his or her conditions again, and can proceed to treatment in a timely manner.
Lower costs
Reducing operational costs is a must for hospitals operating on a tight budget, and cutting redundant expenses is therefore necessary. When it comes to paper medical records, a hospital could be using over hundreds of thousands of sheets of paper each year. When EMR is implemented, hospitals can reduce the labor behind record keeping and cut down on paper costs – in short, saving a large sum of money.
Scalable record keeping
Before the invention of EMR, hospitals needed to devote an entire room, if not more, to storing paper records of patients. When a hospital grows, the number of patients increases along with it, and more space is required for physical data storage. EMR software allows for more efficient data storage on a virtualized platform. The record keeping process is completely scalable, and it’s not taking up valuable space in the hospital like paper records do.
Efficient treatment
With the help of EMR, patient checkups and other visits take less time since doctors are able to quickly access a patient’s medical record and reference the information needed to schedule appointments. When turnaround time for the recording and prescription processes is reduced, a hospital can greatly improve its patient workflow. Moreover, if further consultation or testing is required, physicians in another location can simultaneously view a patient’s medical record on their computers, and get the latest test results and recommendations from the first doctor. EMR enables healthcare providers to collaborate more efficiently with one another.
Any hospital’s end goal is efficiency in the interests of better patient care, and the benefits of EMR can help improve various medical operations, including quicker access to patient information, better collaboration between departments and healthcare providers, and improved patient workflow.
For more information on how to implement EMR software into your healthcare institution, give us a call today and we’ll be happy to help.