As per a circular issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, healthcare providers need to follow standards to duly maintain electronic health records (EHR). It was notified back in 2013 and implemented in December 2016. As the standards have been revised in time, healthcare professionals utilising EHR are required to adhere to the same.
For healthcare practitioners seeking to expand their clinic or healthcare facility, implementing electronic health records (EHR) can be of significant help. With customised software solutions available to implement this system, EHRs are being adopted by more and more healthcare centres as a means to optimise the efficiency of healthcare services.
Key stats at a glance
- 78% – Percentage of office-based healthcare professionals using certified HER systems.
- $118,000 – Average expenses behind EHR software setup.
- 86% – Percentage of patients who are unaware of EHR in India.
What are electronic health records?
An EHR is a digitised form of the traditional patient records maintained by healthcare centres, clinics and hospitals. The system gives access to real-time patient data and records fast to those authorised to use it. However, it facilitates a lot more than just swift data collection, viz. –
- Clinical component
- Patient management component
- Laboratory component
- Radiology information system
- Billing system
As it makes managing healthcare simpler with its software and tools, it comes with numerous benefits. Doctors can thus shortlist the best EHR software for their clinic and install the same in their medical facilities to systemise the existing patient records and provide with improved medical care.
Healthcare professionals planning to add more services to their clinics or hospitals or expand the facilities can best utilise such services. Since its implementation requires a significant financial investment, they can obtain the same through additional financing sources.
Doctors can, therefore, opt for funds available in the financial market as loans for doctors. Some of the reputed lenders bring it along with several features and benefits and against minimal documentation requirements.
NBFCs like Bajaj Finserv are also known to provide high-value financing of up to Rs. 32 Lakh as Business Loan for Doctors and up to Rs. 2 Crore as Loan Against Property for Doctors. You can thus utilise the same to install the necessary equipment for the implementation of electronic health records software.
They also bring pre-approved offers that make financing hassle-free and quick for individuals as well as businesses. You can avail these offers on several financial products, including business loans, personal loans, home loans and many more. All you need to do to check your pre-approved offer is provide a few necessary details such as your name and contact number.
Now, have a look at the advantages of an electronic health records system brings to the healthcare centres as well as the industry as a whole.
The pros of an EHR –
- Improved patient data access
The maintenance of patient charts and accessing them on time brings along significant physical input. EHR, however, eliminates this flaw, resulting in improved accessibility and accuracy of patient data. It does so by providing software and tools that can handle recording and chart preparation within a shorter time and facilitating remote access of the same.
- Automated order entry for physicians
With EHR, physicians can fill up automated order entry on their CPOE related to lab tests, prescriptions, imaging orders and more. It also allows other physicians having access to this network to retrieve any entry made by the rest from a patient to patient basis or as per requirement. It is also one of the ways to be a digital doctor today.
- Reduction in errors for medical prescription
With a common data storage system, the errors in entering or accessing these records are also dramatically reduced. Thus, new technological support like nanotechnology in India can be efficiently utilised as they require a precision of entries to bring appropriate results for patient treatment.
- Fast-tracking of waiting time for patients
Patients long waiting in queues to receive medical attention also benefit as the process of clearing patient logs and lining up the others is fast-tracked. You can, therefore, improve your patients’ waiting room experience with EHR.
- Efficient charge capture
The implementation of electronic health records also enables the healthcare facility to maintain and track charge capture for the resources utilised for each patient. It eases the billing process.
However, while the advantages of electronic health records take patient data accessibility and utilisation to a new level of convenience, it also has its own set of shortcomings. Hence, you must also know the cons of an EHR, so that you can take preventive measures beforehand to minimise the same.
The cons of an EHR –
- Higher cost to install the set-up.
- A drop in initial productivity due to lack of skill.
- Increased complexity of handling the sophisticated tools.
However, with proper financing and up-skilling of professionals working in the facility, it is possible to overcome the same. To secure the facility from any medico-legal liabilities that doctors encounter, you can also choose the best professional indemnity insurance policy for doctors.
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