How Electronic Health Records Are Improving Patient Care
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The medical field has been moving towards medical record-keeping for the better part of a decade. Advancements in technology have allowed medical care facilities to transfer existing data onto computers to keep it more organized and easier to access. There are also several benefits of EHRs when it comes to patients. Here are some ways that EMRs are improving patient care.
Reducing Drug Interactions
Patient safety is increased in facilities that use EHRs due to the decision-making technology inside. This prevents drug interactions from taking place because the system will alert the medical staff if there’s an adverse effect detected. Not only that, but patient allergies are recorded into the files so that doctors won’t accidentally prescribe a drug that a patient can have an allergic reaction to.
Improving Cost Accuracy
Another great advantage of using EHRs is that it uses charge capture to accurately record the costs of procedures and items. If you find yourself asking, “what is charge capture,” it’s the electronic process of recording codes for a patient’s visit that reflect what procedures were done, among other things. This allows doctors to get paid from insurance companies and ensures that the bills are more accurate than when relying on doctors’ memory alone.
Improving Patient Involvement
Many patients now have the use of electronic health portals where they can view information such as doctor notes and test results. Studies have shown that patients are more likely to ask questions and correct inaccuracies when they have a place to view the information on their own time. This is also more likely to empower them to feel in charge of their healthcare journey instead of just a bystander.
Although the switch from paper records in the medical field hasn’t been an easy one, it’s made for some life-saving enhancements to the medical care system. Not only can doctors avoid drug interactions, but patients benefit from more accurate bills and an online portal to help them manage their own health.