Charting and documentation allow health professionals to provide accurate, detailed records of a patient’s medical condition and treatment and track progress.
Luckily, the best EHR software supports charting features to keep track of patient information and records, including medical histories, diagnoses, treatments, and insurance information.
Here’s how EHR software and charting can help bring your clinic to the next level in operational efficiency and patient quality.
How EHR Software Supports Charting
Patient charts, or records of their medical visits, should accurately record all aspects of a patient’s care, including history, physical exam, signs and symptoms, diagnostic tests, treatment plans, medication administration, and follow-up care. It should also include patient demographics and health history relevant to the care provided.
EHR software typically has a charting section so practitioners can keep all patient data organized in one section for fast treatment outcomes and evidence-based healthcare protocols. EHR can store patient visits, prescriptions, patient demographics, diagnoses, lab results, imaging results, and treatments.
Charting features should include the following:
- One-click access
- Chart summaries
- Lab results
- Referral summaries
- Past encounter summaries
Smart EHR software, like Amazing Charts EHR software, allows practitioners to easily record and access patient information (via their chart), decreasing the time it takes to document patient care. And with useful summaries, practitioners don’t need to filter through all the documents and can quickly gain insight into the patient care needs.
With all these charting capabilities, it’s clear how EHR software improves accuracy and consistency with all this information in one place. This, in turn, supports more efficient workflow and improved accuracy of medical record-keeping.
Does EHR Software Protect Patient Information?
Yes, EHR software protects patient information.
EHR software is a computerized system healthcare providers use to store and manage patient records. Because it deals with sensitive information, EHRs are designed with security protocols and encryption.
EHR software uses various security measures to ensure patient data is kept safe and secure. These measures include strong password protection, data encryption, and enforced access controls.
Many EHR systems allow for patient data to be stored in a secure cloud environment, which provides an additional layer of security. Audit trails track who has accessed the data and what changes have been made to it, allowing for greater visibility into patient data security.
So what does this all mean for the day-to-day treatments at a health clinic? Here are just eight of the many benefits of integrating EHR software and charting into your clinical practice.
EHRs are designed to make patient care easier to access. Therefore, they are often designed with a smart user interface that makes updating that information easier (or effortless with automation features).
You’ll find that synchronization features, automated reporting, and more reduce operational and administrative workflow.
EHR software can integrate and collect vital signs, symptoms, and other critical data, which can be imported almost automatically into the patient’s electronic health record. Automated charting technologies in EHR software save time and money by reducing the time needed for manual documentation and streamlining information entry.
Using EHR software, patient information is more likely to be accurate. Healthcare providers can quickly enter detailed notes and observations on the patient chart, eliminating inaccurate transcriptions.
The data entry technology ensures that the right information is filled out, that the data is more consistent across patient providers, and that some integrated information is updated automatically. Physicians can trust that the data is up-to-date and accurate by reducing the amount of data entered manually.
With patient records in EHR software, clinicians can use mobile devices to securely access patient data from anywhere, anytime. This makes it easier to provide care remotely or to access information when away from the office.
EHRs have synchronization and integration features, too. They can be integrated with third-party software systems, allowing for better provider coordination. Additionally, the data stored in EHRs can be accessed and edited asynchronously, allowing for multiple clinicians to view and update patient data concurrently.
Paper documents can easily be misplaced, resulting in hard-to-find, poorly organized records (that often has bad, hard-to-read handwriting!). This results in an inefficient workflow and possible delays in critical medical situations.
EHR software can save time by reducing the time needed to create and update paperwork, such as patient charts, data entry, and other administrative tasks.
With an EHR, it is also possible to drastically reduce the time needed to track down and submit crucial documents and reports. This can free up time for more essential tasks, such as providing quality care
EHRs provide a secure place to store patient records, ensuring that all data is kept safe and secure. This ensures that patient information isn’t lost, stolen, or misused (or burned, as can happen with paper files).
Additionally, EHRs can provide audit trails, allowing healthcare providers to track who has accessed the data and what changes were made.
Many EHRs, like the solutions offered by Amazing Charts, provides comprehensive backup and disaster recovery plans to ensure that all patient data is protected.
EHRs allow clinicians to securely share patient health data with other care team members, including lab technicians, specialists, or family members.
The data is still confidential, and this method is even more secure than other physical or electronic methods. This also allows for better coordination of care between the providers and more efficient communication.
Many EHRs offer features that allow secure patient portals so they can access them for themselves.
Through this portal, they can also share their health records with providers or specialists or sync charting results with other technologies.
This charting sync feature makes it easier for patients to get the care they need, when they need it. Patients also get a better understanding of their health, helping them make more informed treatment decisions.
Amazing Charts EHRs Software to Help Your Clinic
As you can see, EHR software will improve your clinic’s efficiency, data safety, patient records, and company organization, allowing your team more time to spend on patient care.
Useful features like health alerts and reminders can put you ahead of the competition. Send automated reminders about vaccine due dates and medication refill reminders to alleviate the workload. In addition, electronic prescribing systems can reduce medication errors by alerting healthcare professionals to potentially dangerous drug interactions and patient allergies.
With these benefits (and more!), EHRs are the ideal solution for healthcare providers looking to improve the efficiency and security of their practices. If you’re interested in learning more about how EHRs can help your practice, visit Amazing Charts or book a consultation.
