Electronic Medical Records Integration, or EMR Integration as it is more commonly known, is one of the latest developments in medical practice management. It not only makes a clinic’s workflow simpler and more efficient but also improves its overall productivity. EMR Integration ensures that all information provided by a physician to his or her patients is converted into electronic data that can be accessed by other healthcare professionals. In essence, EMR Integration helps to improve the quality of care and patient care by transforming health information management systems into one integrated system. This article looks at some of the key benefits of EMR Integration.
EMR Integration
EMR Integration minimizes the effort required by physicians in tracking patient records. The records of a patient are generally classified into three parts: appointment notes, laboratory and radiology reports, and administrative/professional records. As such, it can take a great deal of time to manually check these records, as well as to update them in case any new information is added. By implementing an EMR Integration system, doctors can automatically receive updates on each patient’s records via an EMR desktop software interface. This means that medical practitioners no longer have to physically visit each clinic’s main server to check medical records.
Another major benefit of EMR Integration is the reduction of clerical errors that can occur during medical records retrieval. For example, if a person is searching through medical records stored on multiple devices, he or she has to flip through different files to find the information needed. With EMR Integration, medical professionals can retrieve information from one source and then provide that same information to a different source – effectively eliminating wasted time. EMR Integration can also save clinics the expense of buying multiple device drives or memory sticks.
Access medical records from various locations
EMR Integration also enables doctors and clinicians to access medical records from various remote locations, which can greatly reduce travel time for patients. For example, a patient in New York can be treated by a psychiatrist in Colorado, without ever leaving the comfort of his or her home. The convenience offered by EMR Integration makes this possible.
EMR Integration can also save a clinic money, since it eliminates the need for duplicate tests or procedures. When a physician submits a health record via the Internet, it is sent electronically to the database system of the EMR Integration system. The system then searches that database to locate the most appropriate test or procedure for a particular patient. Rather than having to perform those tests over, the information will already be on hand. In addition, when a physician sends the data directly to a practice’s EMR Integration system, he or she does not need to physically present the data before the medical professionals. This saves a great deal of time.
Higher Level of Confidentiality
One of the most notable benefits of EHR Integration is the fact that electronic medical records offer a higher level of confidentiality. Since EMR Integration does not require manual signatures, a patient’s medical records are protected against any unauthorized changes. Thus, a potentially embarrassing situation such as a birth document being altered could be avoided. Because electronic medical records are maintained in a remote location and are password-protected, only authorized parties have access to them. This helps to ensure the utmost in patient care.