Among the latest innovations to advance healthcare in these trying times, electronic health record (EHR) systems have proven to be game-changing.
EHR is a virtual way of documenting patients’ information, making storing and recovering large swathes of data easier without any mix-ups. It also allows for the quick, safe transmission of patients’ medical and treatment histories.
With such a system in place, record-keeping becomes less stressful. That takes away a significant burden from a medical facility’s back-office operations, reducing waiting times, reducing errors in data exchanges, upholding patient privacy, and enhancing the overall delivery of care.
Knowing this, it’s vital that EHR systems continue to serve the needs of providers as care demands evolve over time.
The truth is many medical facilities are struggling with ones in dire need of upgrades. Obviously, the complexity of such an undertaking may keep them from taking decisive steps toward that.
For this reason, it’s essential to have clear objectives for the process. What features and how much functionality should it have? How vast should its scope be to fully accommodate the needs of patients? Answering such questions beforehand allows care providers of all kinds to determine what they want from a revamped EHR system.
If you’ve reached this point, you’re probably wondering how to start upgrading yours.
Here’s what you need to know.
Tips For Upgrading Your EHR System
Medical providers alone may not have the expertise needed to put together the right components for a fully functioning EHR system, much less how to upgrade one. It usually results in faulty platforms that do more harm than good.
To truly be an asset in healthcare settings, an EHR system must be able to protect data, guide users through different sections and entry points intuitively, and keep exchanges secure. EMR consultants from TrueNorthITg and similar providers can offer expertise in designing such systems. They can save you time and effort in your medical operations.
In the meantime, here’s what you need to know about properly upgrading an EHR system.
1. Understand Your Needs
Complexity doesn’t guarantee efficiency. It’s best to start simply and then build up based on your facility’s specific requirements. That prevents confusion, frustration, and panic when recording information in real-time.
Consider bringing up the upgrade with your staff. Encourage them to state their needs and preferences, then create an outline from there. Specificity is the key.
2. Work With An Expert
Consulting an IT expert is always a smart move. They help you cover a lot of things regarding the hardware and software needed to support your EHR system.
For example, computers need to be assessed for compatibility to avoid performance hiccups. Network speed must also be checked to see if it can adequately function in a fast-paced setting.
3. Have A Recovery Plan
This is the most essential tip to consider. Ask yourself how you will cope with a system failure or power outage. It’s recommended that medical facilities install a backup processor that copies all the files from the EHR system for safety in case of a system failure. Equipping the hospital with a power reservoir that will take over when power problems arise will also help.
4. Prepare And Educate Your Staff
Before upgrading your EHR system, educate your staff members on the changes you must make. Dropping it onto them without proper training and orientation will only hamper them in completing tasks, which is plainly irresponsible.
5. Work On Data Privacy And Protection
Upgrading to a system that doesn’t violate patients’ information privacy is key. It’s costly to deal with the consequences of failing information protection policies. You also put the lives of patients in danger if you don’t uphold it.
Before implementing the EHR upgrading process, run a test on the system to rule out any of the above risks. Always use a system with a proper firewall and a strong antivirus to prevent hacking or leaking information. Security measures like multi-factor authentication can also help.
Why EHR Systems Are Needed In The First Place
The reason why EHR systems should stay up-to-date is that they offer the following benefits:
- Improved Workflows
They make it easier for physicians to schedule follow-ups and closely monitor patients’ medical and treatment histories. Coordination also improves, which is crucial in emergency cases.
- Reduced Margins Of Error
Patient data is not duplicated since everything is recorded and personalized on a real-time platform. The same goes for histories of transactions, treatments, or procedures. It prevents hospitals from making mistakes in the delivery of care. For example, staff can easily tell when a necessary test has already been done by simply looking at a patient’s profile.
- Increases Information Accessibility
Information about a patient can be swiftly transferred from one physician to another if required, making it easier for doctors to maintain care plans. This is highly vital for patients dealing with chronic diagnoses.
With such life-saving benefits, it’s clear why medical facilities must invest in making their EHR systems keep up with changes in demand.
Upgrade The Right Way
Working with high-performance systems has never been more relevant than in these times of crisis. This information is only a starting point; you must work with your teams to create the ideal EHR system for the benefit of your mission as care providers.
Always consult experts for aid. Start working on your system now.
About the Author/s
The New Jersey Digest is a new jersey magazine that has chronicled daily life in the Garden State for over 10 years.
