Providers and healthcare consumers both feel that the electronic health records will produce better healthcare outcomes. There’s still some disagreement, though, about how each party feels about the security of such tools.
The practice of medicine is changing with technology, which calls for an adjustment of its perceptions in the space. Our physician clients tell us daily that EHR tools assist them in providing better care. EHRs alone don’t mean doctors are better doctors, but they do help doctors provide better care. However, the patients of those physicians worry about security of EHRs. That fear is easily countered once they see the technology being used, though.
EHRs far outpace paper records in terms of security and accessibility. If of all the times a paper record made its way out of the office in a physician’ briefcase and was lost, stolen or damaged, think of the time, money and resources that could have been saved had the records been electronic instead, and paper records are nearly impossible to replace, which is not the case with an electronic record.
And it goes without saying that EHRs make records more accessible. A patient’s information can be viewed from any place in the world that has a connection without the record ever having to leave the office. In the case of a disaster such as a fire, the electronic record is backed up and saved multiple times over. Retrieving the complete list of practice’s patient records is a simple task for an EHR compared to paper, which a practice may never recover from.
You don’t have to take my word for it. Sage client Stockton MRI in Stockton, Calif., recovered from a disastrous fire to the practice last year with all patient records intact because of the clinic’s electronic system. A few months after the fire, Stockton MRI was practicing out of a temporary mobile MRI unit at full capacity while they are rebuilt. Such a quick recovery would not have been possible with paper records.
When practices use advanced products to supply EHR, their information is secure and provides much needed cross-functionality for both the patient and the physician, and healthcare consumers (patients) tell us that they expect to have the same type of connection with their doctors that they have with other businesses in their daily lives, even if they are a bit leery about what they consider lack of security, and physicians are discovering that they must adopt technology because their patients are demanding it.
Because of this, an opportunity may exist for those of us in the HIT community to educate health care consumers about the benefits of EHRs in their ownership of their records and their connection to their providers. But, what may prove to be the most important is the fact that the true drivers in the healthcare market may be consumers. Patients overwhelmingly agree that electronic medical records will help improve care. From our research, patients are willing to switch doctors if their doctor does not use an EHR. One reason is that patients feel that the data input in the EHR more closely mirrors what they share with their physician. And they want that clarity in the event other health professionals need to review their record.
Healthcare and the healthcare environment are evolving according to the changing market, and will continue to do so. With the trend progressing toward patients having more complete access to data, the consumption of healthcare information is growing and the medical community can see across populations and manage care — chronic care, for example — more easily on a more global level. This is also a major piece to meaningful use. Reporting and data give physicians a way to provide better care. Reporting also increases ways practices can be profitable as they identify efficiencies, streamline care and pursue best practices around these efficiencies. Through EHR, practices can identify where and when they are increasing revenue, all the way through scheduling, wait time, office visit length and more. The real story of the changing healthcare landscape is, and will continue to be, all about reporting and connecting. Also, the quality of care will increase and patients will take health more personally and seriously because they have more ownership over their healthcare regime.
From this point onward, healthcare will be about electronic records and connection: connection to a system, and electronic health and information exchanges between physicians and their patients. Connected services are essential, as are accuracy, security and increased efficiency.
Connection and EHRs will continue to be the foundation for increased efficiency in the medical office, and leading to patients’ better understanding of health and to taking ownership of their care. The new healthcare economy — as it relates to interconnected services and interoperability, is changing the way vendors must communicate to physicians and healthcare — is being driven by the healthcare consumer, so it is our job as members of the healthcare technology industry to be “physician-focused, patient-centric” and to continue producing the products that serve consumers as they seek greater ownership of their health information and desire to have an “always on” connection with their care providers. As such, we must support physicians so that they are able to continually meet their patients’ expectations.
Regarding safety, physicians using an EHR are much less concerned about security than patients or physicians in the market for an EHR. Once they begin using an EHR, much of their fear and apprehension is alleviated. Understanding the thoughts, needs and opinions of these EHR users, and healthcare consumers allows us to speak to their concerns and meet their needs.
Learn more about Sage.
The practice of medicine is changing with technology, which calls for an adjustment of its perceptions in the space. Our physician clients tell us daily that EHR tools assist them in providing better care. EHRs alone don’t mean doctors are better doctors, but they do help doctors provide better care. However, the patients of those physicians worry about security of EHRs. That fear is easily countered once they see the technology being used, though.
EHRs far outpace paper records in terms of security and accessibility. If of all the times a paper record made its way out of the office in a physician’ briefcase and was lost, stolen or damaged, think of the time, money and resources that could have been saved had the records been electronic instead, and paper records are nearly impossible to replace, which is not the case with an electronic record.
And it goes without saying that EHRs make records more accessible. A patient’s information can be viewed from any place in the world that has a connection without the record ever having to leave the office. In the case of a disaster such as a fire, the electronic record is backed up and saved multiple times over. Retrieving the complete list of practice’s patient records is a simple task for an EHR compared to paper, which a practice may never recover from.
You don’t have to take my word for it. Sage client Stockton MRI in Stockton, Calif., recovered from a disastrous fire to the practice last year with all patient records intact because of the clinic’s electronic system. A few months after the fire, Stockton MRI was practicing out of a temporary mobile MRI unit at full capacity while they are rebuilt. Such a quick recovery would not have been possible with paper records.
When practices use advanced products to supply EHR, their information is secure and provides much needed cross-functionality for both the patient and the physician, and healthcare consumers (patients) tell us that they expect to have the same type of connection with their doctors that they have with other businesses in their daily lives, even if they are a bit leery about what they consider lack of security, and physicians are discovering that they must adopt technology because their patients are demanding it.
Because of this, an opportunity may exist for those of us in the HIT community to educate health care consumers about the benefits of EHRs in their ownership of their records and their connection to their providers. But, what may prove to be the most important is the fact that the true drivers in the healthcare market may be consumers. Patients overwhelmingly agree that electronic medical records will help improve care. From our research, patients are willing to switch doctors if their doctor does not use an EHR. One reason is that patients feel that the data input in the EHR more closely mirrors what they share with their physician. And they want that clarity in the event other health professionals need to review their record.
Healthcare and the healthcare environment are evolving according to the changing market, and will continue to do so. With the trend progressing toward patients having more complete access to data, the consumption of healthcare information is growing and the medical community can see across populations and manage care — chronic care, for example — more easily on a more global level. This is also a major piece to meaningful use. Reporting and data give physicians a way to provide better care. Reporting also increases ways practices can be profitable as they identify efficiencies, streamline care and pursue best practices around these efficiencies. Through EHR, practices can identify where and when they are increasing revenue, all the way through scheduling, wait time, office visit length and more. The real story of the changing healthcare landscape is, and will continue to be, all about reporting and connecting. Also, the quality of care will increase and patients will take health more personally and seriously because they have more ownership over their healthcare regime.
From this point onward, healthcare will be about electronic records and connection: connection to a system, and electronic health and information exchanges between physicians and their patients. Connected services are essential, as are accuracy, security and increased efficiency.
Connection and EHRs will continue to be the foundation for increased efficiency in the medical office, and leading to patients’ better understanding of health and to taking ownership of their care. The new healthcare economy — as it relates to interconnected services and interoperability, is changing the way vendors must communicate to physicians and healthcare — is being driven by the healthcare consumer, so it is our job as members of the healthcare technology industry to be “physician-focused, patient-centric” and to continue producing the products that serve consumers as they seek greater ownership of their health information and desire to have an “always on” connection with their care providers. As such, we must support physicians so that they are able to continually meet their patients’ expectations.
Regarding safety, physicians using an EHR are much less concerned about security than patients or physicians in the market for an EHR. Once they begin using an EHR, much of their fear and apprehension is alleviated. Understanding the thoughts, needs and opinions of these EHR users, and healthcare consumers allows us to speak to their concerns and meet their needs.
Learn more about Sage.