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Sunday, 7 October 2012

Reasons To Use EHR Medical Systems For Your Office

By Willian Z. Houkei


An electronic health record (EHR) is a computerized, web-based, medical data system that allows multiple health organizations to access extensive patient records. The intent behind this easy interchange of information is to encourage organizations work together to provide patients with the best healthcare treatment possible and to save valuable resources. Here we will look at how these systems are made to provide these benefits.

Since patient confidentiality is such a high concern, having controlled access on any online system is non-negotiable, which is why EHR programs only allow authorized personnel to access the system by using a pre-assigned password. A system administrator would assign a group, or user, this access but in most cases this would not be complete access. That way a physician and nurse, for example, get a different set of access privileges based on their specific duties.

Liability suits resulting from medical error are a common concern for most healthcare professionals. These systems provide warning messages, alerts, and reminders to help doctors avoid drug interactions, wrong dosages, and any possible medical contradictions. These features are designed to help medical personnel troubleshoot areas that probably need to be addressed, and to provide better quality healthcare to their patients.

EHR systems also save time when they allow labs, imaging centers, hospitals, and other healthcare service providers to send and receive patient information electronically. Many systems also offer what is called an "additional application program interface" (API), which allows physicians to connect to additional clinical systems and further increases productivity. Both of these options permit medical personnel to access the information they need without using a courier service, sending them in the mail, or making repeated phone calls.

Hardcopy records also make it difficult to keep track of critical patient records, which could cause short and long-term problems. EHR services, however, make the process simpler by keeping records of user activity, providing hourly remote server data backup (assuring files don't get lost), and making sure the information is secured from third party access.

These systems are also very convenient, allowing medical professionals to access the information from any computer, tablet, or other secure electronic device with internet access. Using these services also fills the "EHR Meaningful Use" requirement required for physicians to qualify for governmental incentive programs, meaning they are rewarded for employing these services in their medical practices. Apparently, there are quite a few reasons to think about using EHR services.




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