An electronic medical record resembles a paper version. But if you compare them, you can easily see how many more advantages EHR software development has. Such advantages are relevant for medical workers and the patients themselves. At least five such advantages can be identified.
Complete And Accurate Information
When visiting different doctors, the patient does not need to carry a lot of different papers. With EHR, the medical specialist will take into account the purposes of his colleagues. The medical worker uses electronic patient data and takes into account possible drug interactions. He can also find out about allergies to medications and other important points. All this affects the course of treatment.
EHR combines information about the patient in one place, and this increases convenience for both the patient and the doctor.
Confidentiality And Data Storage
EHR is more secure than paper documents:
● the patient cannot lose it. There is virtually no chance of data loss. Only if the software is completely deleted;
● it is impossible to make corrections, especially retroactively. If the doctor needs it to improve diagnostics and treatment, then the program will indicate this, so any illegal manipulations are excluded;
● all patient data is protected from outsiders: no one can just look at it. They are protected by passwords, sometimes two-factor authentication.
Time-Saving
Working with electronic medical records saves the doctor’s time, so he can devote most of the appointment to the patient. Considering that on average, time is limited for one visitor to a medical institution, such savings benefit diagnostics or treatment.
EHR eliminates the need to fill out paperwork at each appointment. It is enough to enter important data into the patient’s card. This significantly saves the doctor’s time when he needs to see the patient again and find out information about him.
Improving The Efficiency Of The Treatment Process And Diagnostics
If the doctor has all or most of the information about the patient’s health condition at hand, it is easier for him to prescribe the necessary diagnostic methods and select treatment. In addition, most developed EHRs have decision-support tools that help doctors during their work. These can be:
● generally accepted treatment protocols used throughout the country;
● generally accepted clinical guidelines;
● the most advanced experience from clinical trials and scientific conferences.
Using such tools, the doctor can increase the efficiency of examination and treatment, and reduce the number of possible errors. And for the patient, this is more than relevant. As a result, he receives better quality medical care.
Quick Access To Patient Data
A doctor can open access to general patient information, previous and current diagnostics, and treatment by specialists of other profiles with one click of a mouse. All this information improves the quality of treatment, allowing the identification of possible risk factors. In paper form, this would take a lot of time, so few people would want to do it.
More and more hospitals, clinics, and medical centers are switching to electronic records. Patients often choose such institutions based on this criterion because they are convenient and relevant.