The days of the country doctor making house calls are long gone. Today’s healthcare model consists of teams of physicians and specialists working together to care for patients, which can make coordination difficult. Fortunately, technology has come to the rescue in the form of electronic health records (EHR).
These digital documents form a centralized repository for patient data, enabling providers to stay in tune even without directly consulting one another. Yet how can an EHR improve patient care, exactly? There’s more to this tech than simply doing away with pen and paper. Read on to learn more about using an EHR to improve patient care and drive better outcomes.
How Do Electronic Health Records Improve Patient Care?
Understanding how EHR systems improve the quality of care for patients means taking a close look at the advantages they provide and how they can solve problems for healthcare professionals. Among the many transformative benefits EHRs deliver include:
- Enhanced Communication and Collaboration: Many people see multiple doctors at one time, especially if they suffer from a chronic condition such as diabetes. EHRs make it possible for each caregiver on a patient’s team to be updated instantaneously of any new developments or changes to his or her care plan. Features such as secure messaging also give providers a chance to collaborate without ever meeting in-person. This helps ensure everyone is on the same page.
- Improved Accuracy and Reduced Errors: The long-standing joke is that doctors have atrocious handwriting. However, even if all physicians were skilled calligraphers, manual data entry still has its problems. One of the best reasons for using EHRs to improve patient care is that they include features such as order entry systems for prescriptions and standardized formatting. These may ensure records are extremely accurate and far less prone to potential human errors that can impede care.
- Patient Empowerment: When it comes to how an EHR improves patient care, one of the most important ways is giving patients more control over their treatment. Unlike traditional records, EHRs can be shared securely with patients through portals that allow them to see lab results, appointment schedules, and other valuable data so they can take more ownership of their care. This level of interactivity boosts engagement because patients feel more involved in the process and don’t have to wait for their doctors’ offices to get back to them with certain information.
- Data-Driven Decision-Making: The more details caregivers have about a patient’s condition, the better-prepared they will be to make the right call for their health. Having centralized data means healthcare professionals can unlock the potential of analytics to help them make better decisions. This information can be used to create personalized treatment plans, prompt early interventions, and lead to overall better results. It’s not hard to see how EHR systems improve the quality of care for patients in this way.
The Real-World Impact of an EHR on Patient Care
How does an EHR improve patient care? Just ask caregivers and the people they treat. A survey conducted by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology found that 88% of doctors say they have experienced clinical benefits as a direct result of using an EHR. That same survey also reported that 75% of healthcare providers believe an EHR makes it easier for them to deliver better patient care. According to another survey of patients, 63% of those questioned said they experienced fewer prescription errors thanks to electronic health records.
Now that you know how an EHR improves patient care by fostering better communication, reducing errors, empowering patients, and harnessing the power of data, isn’t it time your healthcare organization made the most of it? Streamline’s powerful EHR platform enables providers to leverage this technology to provide the highest levels of care. Get in touch with us today to learn more or to request a demo.
