Electronic Health Records (or EHR) have proven fundamentally invaluable in the medical space thanks to their versatility, ease of access, and widespread use for patients and doctors. But even as an agile utility, electronic health records present various challenges. Adoptions into legacy infrastructure coupled with communication errors between healthcare organizations, for example, is just a small obstacle clinicians can encounter.
Maintaining accuracy is not only significant for patient healthcare and long-term treatment but also to avoid regulatory penalties.
The broad challenges posed by modern healthcare records
Even though the implementation of EHR has largely been successful, there are still stumbles healthcare professionals encounter.
Data Accuracy
It starts with accuracy – or rather, lack thereof. Electronic records are valued for speed and accessibility, but if the information is wrong, then every use case with EHR contains errors. Clinicians and doctors accessing patient records will have to remediate the error after discovery, which takes time. It is critical to capture patient data as accurately as possible during the documentation process. Using tools like dictation software can help.
Data Privacy
Cybersecurity is a compounding problem for industries across the world. Healthcare is no exception and a highly valued target for threat actors. More so, healthcare practices and hospital networks are often left behind when it comes to comprehensive cybersecurity infrastructure. A lack of experts translates to disaster scenarios, and since healthcare information is internet-facing, hackers can exploit numerous tools to steal this information.
Training and Understanding
The collection, storage, transfer, and security of patient data is not just a mandated standard but one that must be taught to all sectors of a healthcare organization. Whether that’s a small practice or emergency provider, every member needs to know the fundamentals of EHR best practices, both in line with HIPAA and what unique requirements there are related to the practice. Each state has its own unique regulations accompanied by penalties if not followed correctly. Once again, you want to do it “right” the first time.
Cost and Maintenance
The infrastructure required to record, store, and transfer electronic records have significant requirements. Upkeep and the need to continuously keep up with modern requirements can escalate capital investment. On top of training requirements and digital infrastructure, said costs escalate quickly, sometimes more than a single healthcare practice can manage. Utilizing cost-effective resources to mitigate these demands is essential to protect a practice’s bottom line.
Should I implement an EHR?
If not already, healthcare leaders and clinicians are faced with the question of whether or not they should implement an EHR system. The reality is that traditional record-keeping simply cannot keep pace with an increasingly digital world. The speed and versatility of electronic records, as mentioned, outweigh the negatives when it comes to their implementation.
However, it doesn’t mean these complications should be ignored. They’re logistical issues, and every healthcare org will encounter them at some point. You could have a modernized IT hospital with immense security demands. Or you might need to implement new infrastructure but lack the immediate budget or relevant experts.
There’s also the nature of the electronic record, how it’s recorded, and what is recorded on it. What policies are in place to store this data? How is it retrieved in case of disaster scenarios (hardware failure, malicious breach, natural disaster)? You have to be ready for these situations, however unlikely they seem.
Maintaining Accuracy with Dictation Software
One of the bigger obstacles in record keeping is its accuracy. As mentioned, any deviance in accuracy causes issues with treatment, billing errors, improper prescriptions, and remediation requirements. Time is lost and so is money. Getting it right the first time – or as accurately as possible – should remain a significant priority for clinicians.
How you do so relies on the tools at your disposal. It’s here we recommended taking advantage of every resource possible, such as medical dictation software. Apps like Dragon Medical One are designed to capture audio with competitive accuracy and save clinicians hours on digital records. These records should remain as accurate as possible for HIPAA compliance and prevent the complications discussed regarding EHR. Therefore, tools like industry-leading dictation software maintain said compliance and improve clinician workflows, along with streamlining the EHR process. It’s also a form of modern infrastructure, one that helps shift away from legacy methods.
Electronic health records prove invaluable in today’s demanding healthcare ecosystem. However, that doesn’t mean they are not without their challenges. Using dictation software like Dragon Medical One can ease them into your workflow and help you overcome common obstacles.
For more information about Dragon Medical One, contact us today.
