The Function and Benefits of Electronic Health Records 

Juliet D'cruz

Updated on:

Medical facilities deal with hundreds of patients every day. It is difficult for the medical staff to handle the workload without the help of technology.  But thanks to medical software development, medical staff can work more efficiently and offer better service for the patients. 

One of the most used programs in a medical institution is EHR (Electronic Health Record). Big hospitals cannot run properly without this software. As the demand for excellent medical service is growing, even small clinics start using EHR to handle patients’ data and medical history. Now, let’s learn more about this powerful software as well as the advantages of EHR in improving customer experience. 

What is the Function of Electronic Health Records?

To put it simply, Electronic Health Record is an patients’ medical history and files that are stored in electronic form. EHR is an integral part of modern healthcare because it contains everything the medical personnel need to know about a patient’s condition. Just like a medical history, it includes data such as past treatments, examinations, pre existing conditions, allergies, and medications.

Electronic Health Record is a software that is installed on the hospital’s computers. It includes a database and cloud where all the data is stored. Since modern EHR software is cloud based, it is more user friendly and can even be accessed outside of the medical facilities.

EHR usually comes with a companion software called PHR (Personal Health Record). PHR has similar information with EHR, but it is managed and can be accessed by patients. PHR application is installed on the patient’s phone. They can access it to find out more about their medical history, treatment plan, and other related information. If you want to use EHR in your medical office, you can find more information about the plans and features here.

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The Difference between EHR and EMR

EMR or Electronic Medical Record is often used interchangeably with EHR, and some people even consider them the same. 

But there is a slight difference between the two of them. EMR is usually only used internally since it is just an electronic version of a clinic chart. It is stored in the clinic’s internal database so it cannot be shared with the other health facilities. If the other health facilities need the patient’s files, it must be printed and the physical copy is sent to the facilities who requested it.

The Benefits of Electronic Health Record

  •         Integrated and secure medical data

Before EHR was commonly used, patient’s medical data can only be accessed by the medical facilities that the patients often visit. If one day the patients need medical care in another city, the patients will have to call their old medical facilities and ask the medical staff there to send their personal medical records. This is not only time consuming, but also can be dangerous in an emergency.

With Emergency Health Record, medical facilities can share the patient’s data when it is needed. Of course, only authorized staff can access this. It is more time efficient and definitely will be useful in life-threatening situations.

  •         More Accurate Diagnosis

Doctors can make more accurate and faster diagnosis since they work based on data. Sometimes, patients tend to neglect their own symptoms and don’t answer the doctor’s questions properly. With the help of EHR, the doctors can see the patient’s health condition, allergies, and even past treatments. By looking at the patient’s medical history that is accurately stored in the EHR, doctors also can give a more effective treatment plan.

  •         Reducing Administrative Errors

Patients’ files are very important. However, since medical staff deal with hundreds of patients every day, it is possible to misplace some files. By using EHR software, medical staff deal with less paperwork hence reducing error. Furthermore, if an accident happens, such as fire or flood, those situations will not affect the patients’ files that are stored in the cloud.

  •         Patient Access

One of the most important things that distinguish EHR and ordinary clinic charts is the presence of PHR or Personal Health Record. While the clinic chart can only be accessed by the medical personnel in the clinic, PHR can be accessed by the patients so that they can monitor their own health condition. The patients themselves are an integral part of their own healthcare. By letting them monitor their condition, it can improve their awareness

Conclusion

Emergency Health Record is an integral part of healthcare. As a matter of fact, many patients consider sophisticated technology as one of the most important things to look for when choosing a medical facility. 

The patients and medical personnel still face some issues when using the features of EHR. But in the future, as technology develops and medical companies address those issues, EHR will be easier to use and it will be universally adopted by the patients and the medical facilities.

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