To be able to provide the best care possible, healthcare professionals need to be able to quickly understand patient histories and maintain efficient ongoing communication with patients about their health and treatment plans.
EHR / EMR software allows providers to use note templates that capture relevant information during patient encounters, and to quickly recall this information as needed. As interoperability between medical information systems becomes more commonplace, patient records are more accessible along the entire care continuum. For instance, having easy access to a patient’s medical history can dramatically improve the quality of care they receive during a visit to the emergency room, when time is of the essence.
In addition to making records more accessible, modern EHRs can help providers significantly reduce mistakes, especially when prescribing medications.
EHR systems also improve the communication channel between providers and patients. For example, the EHR system can integrate with scheduling systems to automatically remind patients of upcoming appointments. Then providers can use patient portals to securely communicate treatment plans, prescription instructions, and other helpful information to patients.
Alongside patient portals, the emergence of telemedicine is making healthcare even easier for patients. Telemedicine sessions allow providers to diagnose and treat patients over the phone or via video chat. Patients can benefit from medical advice from the comfort of their own homes, and save time and money that would have been spent on travel.