While electronic health records provide answers and solutions, it presents questions, too
Richard Ziegner //July 17, 2017//
While electronic health records provide answers and solutions, it presents questions, too
Richard Ziegner //July 17, 2017//
To comply with Meaningful Use initiatives, more than 95 percent of hospitals have implemented some form of electronic health record (EHR) system since 2011. Some have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to simply comply and put a system in place, while others have spent millions – even billions – to tailor a program unique to their needs.
The truth is EHRs are expensive to plan for, implement, train and maintain. And today, only a few years after installing new systems, nearly 38 percent of CIOs are already investing in optimization projects to improve or upgrade their current EHR programs, making this the biggest area of spending in health-care IT.
While EHR provides many answers and solutions, it presents many questions, as well.
These questions and others are being considered and tested at hospitals around the country. Here are some of the more innovative practices and uses for EHRs that may help hospitals and executives plan for the road ahead and get the most out of their EHR investment.
Big Data
Gathering big data from a patient population is one thing. Deciphering and applying that data to solve real-world health issues is another. Hospitals that are successfully doing this are finding it is a game-changer for helping patients, the community and their care outcomes.
Examples:
Telemedicine
A technology that has been talked about and hypothesized for decades is now at its tipping point and gaining the attention of health-care executives across the industry. More than 83 percent of telemedicine executives who were surveyed in 2017 by the American Telemedicine Association said they are likely to invest in telehealth this year. And more importantly, they see patient-centered health-care and EHR interoperability as top advancements they are most excited about.
Using EHR systems to treat patients with telehealth can reduce the cost of the care for both patients and providers. This technology allows doctors to stay more organized, save time, log into the patient’s record from anywhere, and prescribe medication in real time.
Examples:
Patient Engagement
Enabling patients to access their own EHRs has shown great promise in helping them take control and engage in their overall wellbeing as well as helping providers prioritize patients’ concerns. The practice of allowing patients to collaborate on EHR notes and help set the agenda for their appointment has shown to improve communication between the patient and the provider, increase patient satisfaction, decrease visit times for doctors and optimize the appointment.
Examples
These are only a few examples of how EHRs are being implemented and used by providers and patients. The truth is that this technology is constantly morphing and evolving to help improve health-care treatments and outcomes across the board. Clearly, there is an inherent need for health-care executives, doctors and patients to find more valuable uses for EHRs to enhance patient care, improve outcomes and save costs.
Furthermore, what’s most critical to the evolving world of EHRs is that you have the right partners at the table to help educate, train and effectively adapt this technology to your unique needs. This includes your vendors, IT department, doctors, nurses and users.
Finally, the financial burden of improving and updating your EHR system will be a consistent line item for the foreseeable future. Knowing how to budget and prepare for those costs is vital to the financial success of your organization. And working with a banking partner who understands the complex world of health-care finance is just as important.