Five Reasons to Move To A Total Electronic Medical Records Program

electronic medical records

As hospitals and healthcare providers advance their healthcare providing capabilities, many are also converting their medical records to electronic medical records. Although there may be an upfront cost in upgrading to an electronic medical records system, the investment will provide a positive return in the form of quicker access to data, less physical storage space, improved healthcare, and more.

Let’s take a look at the top five reasons healthcare providers should upgrade to electronic medical records.

1. Physical Storage

When medical records shift to electronic storage, the amount of physical space taken up is significantly less. Electronic medical records, or EMR, can be stored in your medical facility. A company that specializes in maintaining servers can also host them off-site.

Saving physical space will provide numerous benefits. The old paper records you once kept will no longer be at risk of damage from fire, floods, accidental loss/misplacement, or mildew. The cost of maintaining a physical space just for the storage of records will save you money, too. You will also be able to use that physical space for different purposes. It will also be easier for staff to retrieve electronic medical records instead of sorting through stacks of old papers, increasing the likelihood of human error and accidentally misplacing a record.

2. Efficient Electronic Access

Electronic medical records are easier to keep updated on a regular basis. Non-centralized data is more challenging to access quickly. In an EMR, healthcare providers will be able to access up-to-date information related to a patient’s care more quickly. This efficient access to data allows for better healthcare for the patient in general.

Along with the benefits that improve a patient’s healthcare, electronic medical records also allow better work productivity of healthcare providers and their staff. Quicker and easier access to records will save time and money.

Faster access to electronic medical records also reduces the time and energy that providers and staff will spend looking for data. Improved productivity makes both the patient and providers happy. Reducing time spent searching for data will save your business money and improve patient satisfaction.

3. Sharing Data Between Providers

When a patient enters a medical network of multiple providers, electronic medical recorders allow greater communication between offices. Patients with complex medical situations may need to see multiple providers or specialists in a short period of time. Data in EMR can be communicated instantly from one office to another. This benefit allows increased work productivity, relaying accurate information, and ultimately better healthcare for the patient in question.

Additionally, this will also allow better data sharing between the healthcare provider and patient themselves. If a patient is switching providers or wants access to their own medical records, healthcare staff can quickly provide them with the accurate information.

4. Cybersecurity

Electronic medical records use encryption and strong access password systems to prevent unauthorized access. There is also the ongoing threat of cybersecurity breaches. Hackers have been less successful over the last several years, as reports of leaked information have lessened. The reason for this decrease in successful cyberattacks is because electronic medical record technology is catching up with modern cybersecurity needs. When it comes to cybersecurity, lagging behind the newest technology is one of the biggest threats to the integrity of your system. Whether you are thinking of upgrading to a new EMR, or making a complete shift from paper to electronic, staying up-to-date is crucial. In order to stay current with cybersecurity threats, a dedicated IT team is also necessary.

Ayoka Systems provides ongoing support and maintenance for all of its customized software products. Additionally, Ayoka Systems can perform a security assessment and penetration tests for your customized electronic medical records software. When it comes to healthcare, risking patient safety and privacy has zero room for error.

5. Better Healthcare and Costs Overall

The advantage of better healthcare has been referenced throughout this article. It is perhaps the most important benefit from electronic medical records and must be emphasized. Ultimately, the goal of the healthcare industry is to preserve and improve the health of its patients. In order to do that, healthcare professionals should be provided with the most technologically advanced tools available. We expect our doctors to use their best skills and equipment when examining us or our loved ones; we should expect the same when it comes to the security and storage of our medical records.

Accurate and secure records can significantly impact the risk of malpractice or errors. When healthcare providers can quickly access and update healthcare data, the patient will benefit. This allows greater accuracy when prescribing medication, improved communication between providers and specialists, legible documentation, secured storage, and many other benefits.

Additionally, these systems reduce the costs to the patients. Providers and their staff will spend less time sorting through paper documents in a storage room. They will also be able to relay information to other offices more quickly. Improved coordination between providers and specialists will improve efficiency for healthcare.

Contact Ayoka Systems for a Consultation

Electronic medical records are a step in the right direction. These systems will help you advance your practice while meeting your business goals. Technology around the world advances at a rapid pace. It is important that the healthcare sector keeps up as well. Choosing to shift to an electronic medical records system will improve your business efficiency, lower costs, and improve delivery of your healthcare. Ayoka Systems can provide a service in which you will receive ongoing support and maintenance from our dedicated IT staff. Your customized electronic medical records will have high levels of security. We will also go through an in-depth customization process to best suit your needs and goals.

If you are interested in bringing electronic medical records to your medical practice, contact Ayoka Systems for a consultation. Our designers and programmers will work with you to determine the best customized software system that is secure, encrypted, and efficient for your practice’s needs.

Electronic Medical Records