Electronic medical records are fast replacing traditional paper files in doctor’s offices and healthcare facilities nationwide. The reason this is happening is because of the efficiency that accompanies EMR software. If you are a healthcare provider and you need to “lighten the load” of your medical files, then electronic medical records software is exactly what you need to accomplish this task. So, what are the true benefits of EMR software, and how can it help with the organization of your healthcare records? Imagine that you have records for all of your patients in paper files at your office. What if the files get stolen or burned? If files are stolen a lot of sensitive information could get into the wrong hands. With electronic medical records software, you do not have to worry about this. The files are stored electronically, and security measures are taken to insure that all files are secure. This gives you peace of mind, and also lightens your paperwork considerably! In addition to protecting your files, EMR software can also help with organization. It can be difficult to sift through tons of paper files, but when you have your files in an electronic database you can easily pull up any medical records that you need to see. This saves valuable time, as running a healthcare facility is already a demanding task! Another benefit of electronic medical software is that it drastically reduces the amount of paper and ink that your healthcare organization will use. In doing so, you can brand yourself as an eco-friendly facility, which can help you stand out from your competition. A large portion of the world has really attached itself to the “green movement,” and by providing eco-friendly services to patients you can expand your business! There are many great features of EMR software, and all of them help considerably with healthcare records organization. If you truly want to see all of the benefits that EMR software has to offer, then I suggest you contact an electronic medical records provider and see exactly what they can do for your business!
Electronic Health Records – How they Effect Mental Health and Behavioral Healthcare Organizations
WHEN
In 2004, President Bush issued an executive order requiring fully operational EHR adoption throughout the healthcare industry by 2014. He also established the Office of the National Health Information Technology Coordinator and charged it with developing a “health information technology infrastructure” that “reduces healthcare costs resulting from inefficiency, medical errors, inappropriate care and incomplete information.” In November 2006, the Medicaid Commission completed its second and final set of recommendations to Congress, recommending that EHRs, including compatibility among different healthcare providers, be required for all Medicaid beneficiaries by 2012. Congress will focus on healthcare information technology during its 2007 legislative session.
Today, EHR adoption is slow among healthcare providers in general – one study shows that only eight percent of community health centers are using full electronic medical record systems. A September 2006 National Council quick poll of community behavioral health providers across the country indicates that just under eight percent have implemented the EHR with clinical components fully functioning, while 32 percent have implemented the EHR with billing components in place. Another 11 percent of providers are in the process of installing an EHR. Lack of funding and the complex demands of multiple payer and reporting systems are the biggest barriers to EHR adoption in behavioral and mental health patients.
WHY
EHR adoption is expected to reduce healthcare costs by up to 20 percent, significantly cutting back on the approximately 25 cents of every healthcare dollar that is now spent on record keeping and “administrivia” (according to James Kretz, MA, a senior survey statistician at SAMHSA’s Center for Mental Health Services).
