The Importance of Electronic Heath Records (EHR)

The Electronic Health Record (EHR) is a digital system that records, stores, and shares information about the health status of patients. When done right, it can be an invaluable tool for healthcare providers. This article will discuss some reasons why having an EHR is so important.

It saves time

If you have to keep looking up patient info from paper charts or other sources, it takes more time away from caring for them. Time saved means fewer wait times and shorter appointment times, which increases the likelihood they’ll come back when they’re sick again because they were treated well last time around. It helps make sure patients get all their needed care and medications.

It helps with the transition from one provider to another

Having a patient’s electronic health record makes it easier for other providers and their office to look up needed information about them faster and more efficiently. This saves lots of time for the patient, too, since they won’t have to repeat everything when they go in for a new appointment.

It’s not just for your patients

An EHR can also help you and your staff organize and keep track of information about other things in the office, including lab results, insurance info, supply orders, clinic organization (e.g., schedules, etc.).

There are government incentives to have one

Some governments offer incentives for having an EHR. They’re usually in the form of cash or tax breaks, so it makes sense to use them!

It helps facilitate research and education

If your office has an EHR, you can share all types of information about patients with other clinicians. This includes things like outcome data and education materials.

It’s practically a requirement for meaningful use

Many electronic health record systems are Medicare certified, which means that the federal government has approved them for use in Medicare claims submissions. This means that if a provider wants to get paid from Medicare, they must use an EHR certified for this purpose.

In conclusion, having an electronic health record in your office will help you and your staff keep track of patients’ important information. It can also make it easier for other providers and clinic staff to access this info as needed. An EHR is a great tool, but only if it’s implemented and used properly!

Originally published at https://toddberner.com on August 10, 2021.