With nearly all practice management tasks being handled via software, electronic health record (EHR) integration has become increasingly relevant and critical. Since patient management and treatment both rely on patient information, EHR integration becomes essential to the success of any practice.
What is EHR Integration?
Electronic health records integration refers to the process of ensuring medical records can be accessed across electronic software solutions seamlessly. This ensures that medical records, including medical history, personal information, and more can be easily accessed across multiple platforms.
Medical practitioners find that EHR integration improves practice management, offering easier access to medical records. This makes it easier for physicians to diagnose and treat their patients effectively since information is readily available whenever it’s needed. Patients also have the ability to enter their personal information electronically, improving the ease and effectiveness of patient onboarding.
With The Rapid Adoption Of EHRs By Physicians, The Healthcare IT Integration Market Is Set To Reach $6.75 Billion
Benefits of EHR Integration to the Patient Experience
A Sage Growth Partners survey showed that 69 percent of healthcare executives rank improving patient experience as first or second on their priority list, and many of those same executives are leveraging EHR implementation as a crucial part of their initiatives to accomplish that.
Here’s a closer look at some of the ways in which EHR integration improves patient experience.
1 – Streamlines Workflow
With EHR integration, multiple workflow processes — such as appointments, prescriptions, post-treatment care, diagnosis, and more — get streamlined. All the patient information is easily available, improving the flow for patients and physicians. Some patients have multiple health conditions or more complicated medical histories, and EHR integration simplifies workflows to handle these situations with ease.
2 – Accurate Patient Data
When compared to having medical records kept on paper, digital health records are more accurate and consistent. There’s also easy to access at anytime from anywhere. Digital storage of medical records also improves the security of these records, reducing the risk of data breaches, duplication, damage, or other types of discrepancies. Physicians are able to get the latest, most accurate information in real-time and share it with other practitioners. Even when patients change physicians, their medical history stays unaltered and prevents inconsistencies.
3 – Quick Access to Health Information
The quick access to health information that EHR integration offers benefits patients by ensuring they can be cared for quickly in emergency situations. When medical providers can easily access a patient’s previous records to see preexisting conditions and current medications, they’re able to offer the best care, and fast.
4 – Improved Communication
With EHR integration, patient portals, integration with scheduling software and additional options improve communication between patients and their healthcare team. Improved communication not only makes the patient experience better, it keeps patients more engaged int their care at every level.
5 – Enhanced Security
The healthcare industry has multiple regulations and rules designed to preserve the rights of patients. HIPAA is one example of a regulation designed to help improve the safety of personal health information when managing data, communicating and more. EHR integration ensures that patient data is kept safe, offering extra peace of mind to both clinicians and patients. With centralized integration, it’s easy to keep track of users and actions, ensuring that data remains trackable and secure throughout each step of the healthcare journey.
6 – Reduced Medical Errors
Ensuring that healthcare practitioners have access to patient health records from any location, reduces the risk of medical errors. Records are updated in real time and additional physicians can easily check on notes and information from other healthcare providers who have seen the patient. Access to these records lowers the risk that a healthcare condition or medication is missed when diagnosing and treating patients.
7 – Patient Engagement and Compliance
When patients have easy access to their own health records on any device, they feel a lot more interested and invested in their own health. It also helps to reduce anxiety since they don’t have to wait until they see their healthcare provider before accessing test results and other records. As patients are more engaged with their care, they are more likely to be more in control of managing their care and complying with physician recommendations that boost their health outcomes.
8 – Integrated Scheduling Systems
EHR integration allows scheduling systems to be integrated as well. This makes it easy to schedule, reschedule and cancel appointments with ease. Patients can stay in control of their appointment schedule and quickly book appointments when they’re needed without even calling the office.
9 – Patient Portal
Another benefit of EHR integration for improved patient experience is simple access to a patient portal. The use of patient portals have changed the way patients and physicians interact and how patients handle their health information and financial responsibilities. With a secure location for health records, it’s easy for patients to communicate directly with provider, check test results and more, improving the overall transparency of the industry and increase patient access to information when it’s needed.
This puts patient responsiveness at the forefront of how practitioners are caring for their patients. With EHR integration and a patient portal, patients can easily check results and even ask questions securely without needing to call the office or come in for an appointment. With this improvement communication, patients take a more direct approach to managing their own care, which improves overall patient outcomes.
10 – Improved Billing and Reimbursement
Because EHR integration results in more accurate patient data and more engaged patients, it also improves billing and reimbursement, which improves the overall patient experience. Patients are able to see clearly what they owe and become informed on their financial responsibilities, so they’re not blindsided with unexpected healthcare bills.
Improving the patient experience continues to become more critical in today’s healthcare landscape, and EHR integration plays a key role for your practice to accomplish this. To learn more about how HAG can help your practice with EHR integration for improved patient experience, contact us today.
Harris Ambulatory Group encompasses EHR, practice management, revenue cycle management services, telemedicine, and much more. Contact any of our consultants. We are committed to your success.
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