Electronic medical records (EMRs) have revolutionized the healthcare industry. Not only have they changed the way providers approach patient care, but they have significantly improved the healthcare system as a whole.
With just a few clicks, physicians can access their patient’s complete medical history, from diagnosis to treatment and monitoring. With this convenience, however, also comes the responsibility to ensure that EMRs are used correctly and efficiently.
In this blog post, we will outline 7 ways to correctly use EMRs that will not only increase efficiency but also improve patient care.
7 Ways to Correctly Use EMRs
- Ensure Accurate Data
The first and most important step in using an EMR is ensuring all data is accurate and up to date. This includes all patient data and medical history, including a list of medications, documented allergies, past medical history, and more. An error in any of this data can lead to inaccurate diagnosis and treatment, which can be detrimental to patient care and outcomes. EMRs are a powerful tool to capture detailed patient information and must include complete and updated data on a regular basis.
- Maintain Data Privacy and Security
Patient data must be secure across all healthcare portals. Since EMRs contain sensitive and confidential patient information, it must be protected at all times. There are various options to implement security measures, such as firewalls and access controls to prevent unauthorized access and data breaches. To avoid these and other security incidents that could compromise patient privacy, it is critical to invest in maintaining data security at all costs. Healthcare providers are responsible for complying with data privacy regulations and ensuring proper protocols for data sharing.
- Effective Communication
Effective communication between healthcare professionals within the EMR system is critical. To ensure accurate and efficient care for patients, medical professionals should communicate clearly and regularly using available features such as electronic messaging and alerts. If you are a professional entering the medical field, you will learn various skills and specialized knowledge that will improve your ability to communicate effectively using the most up-to-date software and resources. Trying an information management degree is a great way to enhance your readiness to successfully manage EMR’s including the skill of facilitating effective communication.
- Ongoing Training
Proper training is an important factor in ensuring medical staff understands how to effectively manage EMR’s. This includes ongoing training and support for new features and updates that may require additional time learning and implementing. For example, a comprehensive training program will provide proper guidance and education on the use of EMRs, including data entry, data retrieval, and report generation. Whether offered by healthcare institutions or EMR vendors, medical staff can sharpen their skills and enhance their knowledge by participating in ongoing training opportunities.
- Monitor Performance
Monitoring performance data located within EMR’s makes it easier to identify areas for improvement. By looking closely at metrics such as user error rates, successful data entry rates, system uptime/downtime, etc., medical staff can determine the next steps towards enhancing performance and overall patient experience. Data gleaned from EMR’s can also measure clinical outcomes, such as complications, readmission rates, and other important metrics and can help identify trends that can guide system optimization and enhance patient care.
- Foster Patient Engagement
EMRs can be used to increase patient engagement by providing them a way to access their medical records through patient portals. Through online portals, patients can perform various functions, including looking up detailed information about their health status, reviewing test results, and accessing various educational resources. This unique feature of EMRs can lead to patients being more engaged and empowered as they take an active role in their care, resulting in better overall healthcare outcomes.
There are many ways to implement effective use of EMRs so that better healthcare outcomes are achieved. By following these 7 ways to correctly use EMRs, medical professionals can increase efficiency, improve patient care, and protect confidential patient data, among other things.
