Friday, 31 August 2012

The Benefits Of Using Electronic Health Record Programs For Handling Patient Files

By Jennifer P. Myeers


A lot of health care practices have moved from a traditional filing system to an electronic health record filing system due to the many health advantages that it has to offer. This kind of filing system is much easier to use by health care professionals once the transition from the old system to the new one has occurred. This electronic format enables health care professionals to easily access files quickly, store them in a more secure place, and quickly find any errors within the records.

People no longer have to go down to the storage room and search through hundreds or thousands of patient records and they can use the electronic health record software to access the records they need a lot easier. Using a secure terminal or computer anywhere in the office or the network, doctors and other health care professionals can easily access the files that they need. This means that they can browse the files for what they need and make changes without having to spend time looking for the file to begin with. This frees up the doctor to spend more time with the patient or to see more patients.

If files are stored as hard copies, they can be more easily accessed by people that are not authorized to view them. Rather than just viewing files that pertain to them, people will have access to all of the files that are stored in one place. Different health care professionals have different levels of security, and don't always have access to all pieces of a patient's file. With software managing the security, people will need to have a security passcode to access the files, and they will only have access to the records that they are cleared to view. Records can't be archived incorrectly or put in the incorrect place because they are stored in an electronic format.

Errors can be recognized and corrected in the medical records almost immediately which is another benefit of electronic health record software over the traditional system. There have been times when a medication has been prescribed to a patient by mistake because a doctor accidentally overlooked something in the patient's file. Software in an electronic prescribing system will automatically bring attention to any medications that interfere with other medications that the patient is taking if the doctor tries to write a prescription. The software acts as a fail-safe in case something is missed.

The advantages of an electronic health record system comprise of giving health care professionals easier and more secure access to patient files. Errors with medical and prescription information are also decreased with this kind of system. Because of its ease of use, many doctor offices and health care practices are transitioning to this type of software.




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