How Electronic Health Records Improve Patient Care and Satisfaction

The healthcare industry is constantly evolving to fit today's fast-paced world, and technology plays a crucial role now more than ever in improving patient care. One of the most significant advancements in healthcare technology is the adoption of electronic health records (EHRs).

Computerized health records have revolutionized how healthcare providers manage patient care while improving patient outcomes, increasing patient satisfaction, and reducing healthcare costs. According to one survey, 75% of healthcare providers believe that their EHR software empowers them to provide improved patient care.

How do EHR Systems Help in Patient Care and Satisfaction?

Here’s how EHR systems can help healthcare professionals to provide top-notch patient care and satisfaction: 

Improved Patient Care

The integration of electronic health records has been proven to enhance patient care significantly. A study published in the Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology found that the use of EHRs was associated with improved quality of care for patients with diabetes. More than 50% of patients using EHR meet all care standards, while only 6.6% of patients using paper-based practices achieved the same.

The difference was smaller when it came to outcome standards, with 43.7% of EHR practice patients fulfilling at least four outcome healthcare standards compared to 15.7% of patients in paper-based care. 

The use of EHRs provides quick access to a patient's complete medical history, including medication lists, allergies, test results, and past diagnoses. This enables healthcare professionals to make more informed decisions regarding a patient's care and reduces the likelihood of medical errors.

EHRs facilitate communication among healthcare providers, enabling them to collaborate more effectively when providing coordinated care. Studies have also shown that EHRs improve preventive care, increase patient safety and enhance the overall quality of care.

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Improve Communication

Electronic health records have made a significant impact on communication between patients and healthcare providers. EHR-enabled communication can improve patient engagement, enhance care collaboration and boost patient satisfaction. By leveraging the power of electronic patient records, healthcare providers can communicate more effectively with their patients and provide patient-centered care.

EHRs facilitate patient-doctor communication through electronic messaging or secure patient portals, enabling patients to communicate with their providers conveniently and securely. Patients can use these platforms to ask questions, request prescription refills, schedule appointments, and access their medical records. 

Enhance Patient Safety

Around 63% of patients faced fewer medication errors with e-prescribing, indicating that the technology can also improve patient safety. The utilization of EHRs progressively elevates patient safety within healthcare settings. It provides healthcare professionals with access to precise and comprehensive patient information, including medical history, medications, allergies, and test results. This information is available in real-time, enabling doctors to make informed decisions promptly.

Furthermore, EHRs offer clinical decision support, such as alerts for drug interactions or reminders for preventive care measures. Such support can assist healthcare professionals in identifying potential safety risks and taking appropriate actions to prevent them.

Overall, the adoption of EHRs can enhance patient safety by enabling healthcare professionals to provide high-quality, evidence-based care that is customized to meet the unique needs of each patient.

You can also read: 5 Ways You Can Implement Technology to Enhance the Patient Experience.

Improve Patient Privacy

EHRs improve patient privacy and can reduce privacy breaches compared to paper records. According to the report, healthcare continues to be the industry suffering the highest cost of a data breach at $7.13 million. The healthcare system should prioritize the implementation, selection, development, and use of specific Electronic Health Records that improve the privacy and security of patients.

Here are some ways in which EHRs have helped improve patient privacy:

• Improved data security: EHRs have increased data security by replacing paper records, which can be more easily accessed or lost. 
• Enhanced privacy controls: EHRs have enabled healthcare providers to enhance privacy controls by allowing patients to control who can access their medical records. 
• Reduced medical identity theft: EHRs have reduced the incidence of medical identity theft, where someone uses another person's medical information for fraud. 

The adoption of EHRs has also been well-received by patients, as the software sends notifications to patients when their information is accessed. This way patients can report breaches as soon as they happen.

Save Money and Time

Patients who switch healthcare providers may encounter the inconvenience of undergoing repetitive medical tests and procedures, which can result in increased healthcare expenses.

As per a study, healthcare providers who utilize electronic health records (EHRs) are less inclined to order needless tests compared to those who rely on paper-based records. 

By decreasing the necessity for redundant tests and procedures, EHRs have the capability to save patients time and money and enable them to concentrate on their health and well-being.

Improve Patient Satisfaction

By prioritizing patient satisfaction, healthcare providers can also improve patient outcomes and reduce healthcare costs. It is essential for healthcare providers to continue to invest in technology and policies that support patient satisfaction and to work toward a future where every patient can receive quality care.

Integrating electronic health records into healthcare has led to significant improvements in patient satisfaction. According to a survey of patients who had their prescriptions sent electronically, 92% were happy that their doctor used e-prescribing. This implies that patients appreciate the convenience of not relying on paper prescriptions.

The utilization of Electronic Medical Records (EMRs) resulted in additional documentation time in outpatient clinics and caused significant delays in the waiting times for patients.

Moreover, healthcare providers who utilize EHRs can integrate them with other healthcare technology platforms. One example is the integration of EHRs with reputation management tools or patient engagement platforms, which can allow providers to collect feedback from patients. This feedback can then be utilized to further improve patient care and satisfaction.

Ultimately, these improvements in patient care, safety, privacy, and time can lead to an overall increase in patient satisfaction. 

Conclusion

Electronic health records have revolutionized how healthcare providers manage their patient information, enabling them to provide more efficient and personalized care. Digital health records can provide patients with several advantages, including decreased waiting times, faster access to medical records, and reduced unnecessary medical tests and procedures.

Ultimately, all the above factors lead to enhanced patient satisfaction and improved health outcomes.