Electronic Health Record (EHR) features may be a good option if you are looking to replace paper records. An EHR system can only be as good as its features.
Problem? There are so many! Each EHR solution has its unique features. How can you choose the best EHR solution for your practice?
We’ve compiled a list of top EHR features for 2022 to help you make the right decision for your medical practice.
Find out more about these features and how they could benefit your clinic.
What is EHR Software?
Provides a digitized version of a complete patient health record. It contains all of a patient’s medical history and can easily be transferred to other practices wherever the patient is.
- EHR contains information such as:
- Charts for medical purposes
- Diagnoses
- Notes on progress
- Medications
- Record of immunization
Lab results
EHR systems are used by 90% of doctors in their practice due to their many benefits and features. The following are some of the most significant benefits to upgrading to an EHR System:
They have improved patient care. Doctors can instantly access vital information like past diagnoses, medication interactions, and allergies.
Collaboration between Practices. EHRs can be easily transferred from one practice to another, allowing seamless coordination between labs, clinics, and referred specialists.
They simplified document management. With note and report templates, document drafting and record keeping are more accessible thanks to a central virtual location allowing easy storage and access.
It increased Productivity and Efficiency. EHR automates many tasks. This frees staff to perform more complex functions, reduces errors in clerical work, and saves time.
Enhanced security. Advanced encryption and security protocols ensure that your patient records remain safe. They are protected against theft and physical damage, which paper records can be at risk.
Do you own your private practice? You can find the complete breakdown of EHR features and benefits for private and small practices.
EHR vs. EMR: Similarities and Differences
Electronic Medical Records (EMR) and Electronic Health Records (EHR) are frequently used interchangeably. They are not the same thing. There are many critical differences between EHR and EMR.
The definition of EHR has been covered. What exactly is EMR?
Electronic Medical records are digital versions of a patient’s charts and medical records. It contains the entire patient’s medical history.
EHR and EMR both contain similar information, but EHR is more complete. It includes the complete health history and will track the patient wherever they go.
EMR, on the other hand, includes only your medical history in your practice. It cannot be easily transferred to other healthcare practices.
Do you want to upgrade to an EHR? Please take a look at our top EHR tips.
6 Essential EHR Features
EHR systems offer many benefits. Now, let’s discuss the features that make EHR systems crucial for any medical practice.
Although many features may vary between systems, the most crucial EHR features you should be looking for are:
#1. Online Booking
Online booking is an essential feature in any EHR system and Salesforce Implementation Services. This will make it easier for patients to book appointments and for receptionists to increase their income.
Online accessibility will be a requirement for all businesses by 2022. 80% of people search online to find their medical needs. This is a great way to bring in new patients and indicates that patients expect to be able to access online services.
An easy and quick online booking system will allow your staff to free up time for other tasks, increasing efficiency and speeding up your in-clinic services.
#2. Medical Billing
A vital feature in any EHR system in Medical billing. This tool will make it easier for your patients and staff to manage financial transactions.
A well-designed billing module will enable you to manage all financial activities within the platform. This includes generating invoices and tracking and managing payments.
#3. Telemedicine
Telemedicine, similar to online bookings, is an additional online service most patients expect from their clinic by 2022. This tool allows you to offer medical consultations to more patients. It improves patient care and increases your customer base.
Telemedicine is helpful in many situations, even essential for any medical practice. Telemedicine will allow you to communicate with patients who are:
You are in isolation or quarantine.
Are disabled or have limited mobility.
You are traveling to or living far from your clinic.
You prefer to be at home for your consultations.
#4. Medical CRM
Although doctors may view patients who visit for a visit as patients, it is essential to remember that they can also be customers. This will not only be good for your business but also increase the quality of patient care.
Therefore, it is essential to have a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) tool.
A medical CRM can help you keep track of all your patient interactions starting the first time they meet their doctor. This can provide valuable insight into areas that are working well and areas that need improvement.
#5. Reporting and analytics
Reporting doesn’t need to be difficult or time-consuming. An EHR system can simplify the reporting process for your clinic by providing the right reporting tools and analytics tools.
This tool lets you quickly access all information sources, such as patient records and appointment logs, purchased health packages, or lab orders.
In addition to the information-gathering aspect, a good reporting tool will also provide reporting templates that will automate a huge chunk of the reporting process.
#6. Inventory Management
EHR systems often include an inventory management feature. This feature is often overlooked, but it should not be ignored.
Maintaining a clinic’s inventory of medicines and consumable materials is key to running it smoothly. An inventory management tool automatically allows you to automatically track what has been used after every appointment.
This will help you never run out of material and reduce the amount of medication waste by tracking expiration dates.
8 Tips for Using EHRs in Your Medical Practice
After discussing the features you should be looking for in an EHR system, it is time to discuss implementation. How do you upgrade your records to an electronic health record system?
These are our top tips and recommendations to help you transition to an EHR smoothly.
#1. Plan in Advance
Our biggest recommendation is to plan your steps carefully before taking any action. Although EHR has many benefits, it is not a good idea for everyone to use it immediately.
You should think about these things before you start:
Are your employees ready to make the change? Do they have any medical knowledge? Which staff members will need to learn new skills? Each member of your team might require different amounts of preparation and adaptation.
What are the steps to implement an EHR system? Your staff can better understand the technology if they can take each component and feature one at a time.
How do you monitor and track the process? What types of checkpoints are you able to create to measure and track achievements in a successful implementation?
#2. Create an Implementation Task Team
Your staff may not all have the same tech skills. A group of professionals will be needed to ensure smooth EHR transition is smooth. The team should be made up of different professionals from the clinic, such as:
Physicians
Nurses
Administrative assistant
Accountants
These professionals should be trained to help other staff members use the EHR system in their department.
#3. Update Your Security Software
It’s a good idea to update your security software before you switch to an online EHR system.
HIPAA Security Rule requires HIPAA Security Risk Assessments, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Service Electronic Health Record Incentive Program.
This can be done by downloading the Security Risk Assessment tool.
#4. Create a New Workflow
The way that most things are done will be altered by adopting an EHR, even if it is only slightly. It’s time to create a new workflow that integrates the EHR system, improving the clinic’s efficiency and patient care.
Your new workflow will add value to the care of your patients, improve organization, and speed up processes.
This change should be implemented before the new EHR system is fully operational. Allowing your staff time to adapt to the new workflow will reduce errors and avoid unnecessary stress.
#5. Train your staff
Before you switch to EHR, all staff must be trained. You must consider the tech competence of each staff member and devote enough time to them all.
This will make the transition easier and affect your employees’ performance and satisfaction.
You can ensure that your team feels confident using the EHR system by providing training. This will help you reduce errors and increase confidence.
#6. Provide Evaluations and Feedback
It is not enough to train. It is essential to provide feedback and evaluations regularly and follow-up training sessions if necessary.
After implementing EHR in your clinic’s daily processes, some flaws will be evident. It can be challenging to navigate patient records quickly, incorrectly generate invoices, or misuse report templates.
Regular evaluations can help you quickly spot these issues and offer feedback. You can also provide follow-up training to correct any deficiencies.
#7. Encourage staff participation and feedback
Both sides should be involved in the evaluation process. It is essential to give your staff feedback and assess their performance.
They are the ones who use the EHR system every day and will therefore be familiar with any problems it may have. Encourage staff participation in evaluations to empower them to overcome any roadblocks.
#8. Keep Things Patient Centred
It can be easy for people to lose sight of what is most important when they switch to electronic systems—your patients.
Implementing an EHR system means ensuring that the clinic and your medical staff remain patient-centered instead of computer-centered. You should also provide basic EHR training to your staff to teach them how to maintain a doctor-patient relationship using EHR.
Here are some things you should be aware of:
How to split your time between your computer and your patient?
Ensure you are attentive during patient introductions and when the patient shares sensitive information.
Keep eye contact with your patient and face them.
If you are entering information, keep your hands off of the computer.
How to choose the right EHR software for your practice
EHR systems are prevalent, and there are many options available. How do you select the best one for your clinic?
We recommend choosing the features that best suit your clinic’s requirements.
CureMD is an excellent choice if you like our top 6 EHR features!
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