September 23, 2022
An electronic health record (EHR) is a tool for collecting patient information in a digital format. It is widely used in all healthcare facilities, such as hospitals, clinics, and medical practices. A vital feature of EHR is that it facilitates sharing of patients' medical data, such as charts, medications, and test results.
Practices are switching to this tool nowadays, but before making a call, the right thing to do is to first look at both the pros and cons of this solution, as it will help you make the right decision.
First, take a look at some of the advantages of EHR systems. Like many other technological advancements, this tool is designed to make storage, organization, and editing of medical data easy. Plenty of benefits of electronic health records (EHR) in the healthcare continuum include:
Without a doubt, computerized notes are easily readable compared to physicians' handwriting. It mitigates the chances of errors and enhances the quality of care.
The best thing about this solution is that the staff no longer have to deal with the time-consuming paper records. Using the credentials, the users can quickly access all the medical information without hassle.
Electronic health records software does not need to store documents in bulky file cabinets, providing a lot of space for other related items such as medical supplies, equipment, and others.
When you get EHR software from a reputed vendor, you will add all the essentials, such as patient portals, that will eventually improve the patient experience. These portals help patients access their medical-related information whenever they want.
Using a certified electronic health records software not only knocks off administration burdens but also helps increase revenue by providing a seamless patient experience.
Apart from pros, there are several cons as well, including:
Nowadays, every tool connected to the computer is vulnerable to hacking. Risks are always involved, such as the chances of getting sensitive information into the wrong hands.
To enjoy a seamless patient care experience, EHRs need to be updated immediately right after the patient visit. Otherwise, it will have adverse effects because other providers will use inaccurate data to treat patients.
The patients can easily access their medical information using the patient portal. It often leads to a situation where they misinterpret the data, and it causes undue panic situations.
There are plenty of liability issues associated with this tool. The one at the top is when medical data gets lost during the transition period from a paper-based to computerized EHR, resulting in treatment errors.
When you plan to integrate an EHR into your practice, some things must be taken care of as they will help you have a great experience. Firstly, make sure to get in touch with a professional vendor who can provide you with the best solution out there. For this purpose, the right approach is to get help from the internet and contact a reputed vendor with good ratings. This way, your chances of getting a quality tool will increase.
Electronic health records software are an excellent tool that is made to digitalize patients' records and ease up the whole process. But to get the most out of it, it is recommended to get in touch with a professional vendor so that you will get quality services without any hassle. In this article, we have given a complete overview of the pros and cons of an EHR and some tips to have an excellent user experience.
