Gift of EMR From Providers to Patients with love ?

As Health care Industry has shifted its focus in implementing a valuable proposition, known as Electronic Medical Records (EMR), it has proved to be a big roll-out in the long touted paperless systems. As the whole EMR process has become viable for both the physicians and the patients; it is astounding to observe its gradual growth in the last five years.

The EMR vendors create “Patient Portals” which provide communication services to the providers and patients. Patients can just log into the portal with a secured username and password and access viable information like Checking lab results, appointment schedules, Examine statements, Requests for an appointment, Request a prescription refill or even complete a new patient intake forms. Over the years, it has proved to be a great help in the care of patients due to its many benefits.

Firstly, you can skip the trips to your doctor. There is no need to take a time off from your work or drive miles across to the doctor. You can just sit from the home and communicate your problems to the doctor. Your doctor can also easily communicate with your other attending physicians without any potential delay of phone messages or traditional mail.

Secondly, physicians write prescription over the computer which proves to be an extremely easy process for the patients to directly visit the pharmacy and pick their medicines without any waiting time and need not carry a physical handwritten prescription to pharmacy. This eliminates errors occurs caused due to drug allergy and drug-drug interaction check.

Thirdly, physicians can provide a copy of the patient’s all medical records in a USB drive or EMR providers can securely provide information through patient portals. This makes it easier and comfortable for patients in the cases where they want to go for a different doctor or consult a second opinion for the same treatment. However, patients should have knowledge in transferring the files between computers or opening and managing their portal.

Fourthly, Health information exchange amongst the local care providers like radiology clinic, hospital and specialist will be a key enabler in changing the face of the whole treatment process which is at present very slow due to unavailability of the medical records to different parties in timely manner. Results will be instantly available to all the care providers, so that patient can be seen without delays by anyone and care is rendered in time.

Lastly, in addition to such conventional benefits, EMRs tend to improve the medical practitioner’s ability in taking decisions, thus efficiently managing the complicated cases. EMRs provide pioneering resources in complex disease monitoring, drug interactions and follow-up regimens, still it is not liked by several patients because of the fact that this adoption process of EMR does not permit the physicians to hold the patient’s hands and look into his eyes throughout the treatment process.

It also enables medical researchers and clinicians to analyze systematic data and long-term trends for academic purposes, consequently providing wide opportunities for pharmaceutical companies to develop and roll out lifesaving medicines.

Money is also saved by using EMRs; not just the cost of paper and file folders, but the also the cost involved in space and labor. Irrespective of its prevailing challenges, its benefits weighs distinctly heavier. As a consequence, it has urged many governments to promote these systems to build a strong healthcare networks nationwide as a result of its operational efficiency.

Writer is a Partner and CEO of Practiceforces which is a Healthcare Billing and IT consulting firm in Tampabay Area and can be reached at kunalj@practiceforces.com