EHR System is More Secure than a Paper Based Record System

The switch to the electronic health record software is a complete change for most of the medical organizations; it is more secure than the records on paper.

EHR System is More Secure than a Paper Based Record System

If the medical organization is being the barrier about the switch from paper based records to electronic health records, you might think that the paper based records suggest you better security for your patients. However, usage of EHR system allows you better control of the security of medical information. There are some reasons that why electronic health records software is much more secure than the paper based records software.

Access Grant to the Authorized Users

When the physician uses a paper based record system for the medical records of the patients, it is possible for an unauthorized person to access this medical information without knowledge of anyone. Anyone can misuse of these medical information easily.

With an EHR system, it is easy to secure the information of patients easily. As it is digital, it would not be easy for anyone or unauthorized person to use the information without permission of the physician.

Encryption, the way to Secure Information

A paper based record system is easy to access, anyone can see it, record of details, copy, scan or even fax the information to a third party. The Electronic health record system can be secured with the encryption methods to keep the patient information safe to get interfere with anyone.

Your organization must have to do anything which is possible to meet the term with privacy regulations like HIPAA, and electronic health records software makes it easier to keep the privacy over paper records.

Paper Based Records System Subject to Interfering

Paper records can be changed in a manner that can be difficult to notice. Anyone can remove papers from a report. As far as EHR is concerned, Electronic health records are safe with encryption plus the strong login and password systems which make it more difficult for anyone to make unauthorized alterations to the patient chart and information.

Trials of Audit

Electronic health record software provides improved security to the medical organizations because they allow you to do audit trails. Generally, there is no guaranteed procedure for doing the trials for audits of paper based records.

With the help of an EHR system, you can determine quickly which people have accessed a record of the patient, and whether the access is authorized. The event that somebody accesses the information which they should not be seen, an audit will shine light on the situation, dissimilar to the paper records, which can be too problematic to control.

What Disasters Leave for Data Backup

Keeping the record of your patient secure is more than controlling the access to the confidential information. You need to make sure that the data will be available under the scenarios of a worst case.

As you can see that the switching over to electronic health records system will provide more security and safety for your organization for the confidential data of your patient. EHR software also offers you a number of other benefits, plus the efficiency of increased staff and decreased errors while helping you become more profitable.

Key Points:

·        Electronic health records make you enable to provide only authorized personnel access to the patient data

·        Strong encryption protocols assured that confidential information about patient remains safe.

·        Paper based records system creates a number of safety risks and it can be problematic to notice when they have been interfered with.

Electronic health records make your patient data in secure backups can be maintained, empowering your organization to rapidly improve after a disaster of data.

Workflow Analysis Helps to Implement EHR Software

Analysis of workflow makes important modifications in the implementation of your EHR system, either you have already made the choice to implement an EHR solution or to evaluate your needs

Workflow Analysis Helps to Implement EHR Software

The failure of electronic health record software participation into clinician workflow is a barrier to the implementing of EHR systems. To identify this problem, organizations have to analyze their processes of workflow before the implementation of EHR software.

A group of physicians and other medical organizations should use certified Electronic Health Record systems before they work with Medicaid and Medicare, so there would be the financial incentives for conducting the analysis of workflow for determining the best solution of EHR to maximize and to use the advantages which can come with setting up an EHR system.

Workflow Breakdowns

Workflow analysis breaks down the routine tasks and helps you analyze potential problem waste, areas and termination. You presently do not suggest reminders or only offer to patients who demand them, you may find that you are spending time imagining out about whom to contact. Electronic Health Record software can contact patients automatically by an incorporated and digital patient portal.

Professional’s Consultations

The software developer of the EHR system in which you are interested in implementing, can support your organization in defining as the best course of action to take. As in, if this is your specialty practice, your needs for workflow will be different from the needs of family practice.

If your staff has zero or limited exposure to using the EHR software, you will have to arrange some training sessions to switch from the paper-based record system to the digital method.

The more information you know about the performance of your staff, their daily operations and the kind of functionality you need in your EHR system, the more you will be prepared to implement it in your organization. Analysis of workflow is a perfect way to help you get the data you require as you take decisions about the requirements of your EHR system.

Tools and Techniques

Your workflow analysis includes the appliance a set of techniques which address and identify the environmental factors and the information require in the initial stages of implementation and selection of system. These techniques are;

·        Classify the limitations of a procedure

·        Create a common understanding of its causes, results and steps between the stakeholders

·        Examine how the existing procedural functions

·        Recognize from where it can be modernized and improved

·        Develop the use cases which will guide the development, design and support of the new system which automates the process

The information regarding the procedure which is taken by an extensive diversity of tools like; flow charts for the procedures, movement diagrams of workflow and others.

Key Takeout

·        After the performance of a workflow analysis, your organization must have better result from implementing the electronic health record software

·   Get ready to spend resources and time on examining your staff about the performance on a regular basis, the procedures on patients. Your patience will be pleased with improved productivities.

·        Be sure about the consultation which must be with a well-qualified software developer to assure you that you are working with an organization which has an excellent record of track supporting medical organizations which are switching to an EHR solution.

·        Analysis of workflow will show you that which part of your practice will give you advantage the most from the implementation of an EHR system and helping you to take decision from where to emphasis on your efforts.

Capturing of Data

If the main goal of workflow analysis is the designing of improved and new processes which optimizes the workflow by carrying the correct information at the suitable point, then the capturing of data is a major consideration. It also offerings the highest risk of the process and system which not working as wanted or the point of highest user dissatisfaction.

Need of New EHRs System

There are a number of areas which need to be noticed before deciding about the new EHR system

 

Need of New EHRs System

The electronic health record system you are using can be demanded to be changed because of some specific reasons. One important reason that you might be not satisfied with the vendor or system of current EHR system. The other main reason that you might not be satisfied with the package and services your vendor is providing you. Other than that, there could be some other reasons also to change the Electronic health record software which includes;

·        Incompatibility in practice with EHR system

·        EHR is not user friendly

·        Lack of interoperability of EHR software

·        Security issues

CMS allows practitioners and physicians for meaningful use incentive programs if they prove that they are using it accordingly. This reason itself is the biggest reason to switch of EHR system by doctors if they are not using it accordingly.

Standards of Meaningful Use

This is necessary for your system to meet with the criteria of meaningful use.  The vendor is not compliant with the standards for the meaningful use; this could be your reason to buy the new the EHR software. The framework is difficult to remember and the only thing on which you are depending on is your software. So buy software which is updated according to your needs and with the compliance of Meaningful Use.

Training to Start New EHR System

After purchasing the EHR system which is according to your demands and also meets with the criteria of meaningful use, you have to train your staff. The EHRitself can be changed with new fixes, features and new updates.  All this needs continuity plans to make your staff sure about knowledge of the changes and make adjustments. The key element is to require a plan that makes sense for your organization and give time for its deployment and development.

Select a team

Select some specific members of your staff and assign them duties to review regularly about the training issues. Your training might come from the vendor, but to keep this in touch, to keep this in process and to make it perfect for your practice is matters. For this, make your team and give them duties to do according to their levels.

Set a plan

Your team must list extents of concern where your software needs review and measure the effectiveness. The points which are supposed to be considered are functions which are not working well with the practice, blocks and improvement in operational flow, and with reporting, where you can enhance income, and reorganize procedures. File your plan. Be comprehensive in all aspects you aim on using and where to training continue. Include a strategy for communication for your patients and staff.

Proper Processor

Always keep this in your mind that you are selecting the EHR system which does work for you, which makes the workflow of your business calm, whether operational or clinical. Try some of the software before buying one; free demos are your best option to check the perfectness. Eventually, select a one that you feel is instinctive. The seller is always there to entertain you with the software, take your proper time for decision, don’t get hurry into buying anything. You need a fast and correct system that gives you results or does whatever you command. The basic functions are; it must be efficient or fast in performing functions.

Select that EHR vendor which has a strong financial background. This will assure you that the company will be responsible and answerable for their actions. Not only responsible but in case of any loss, will be able to compensate for the loss.

Selection of Best EHR Vendor

Take proper time for selecting the best EHR vendor that fulfill your needs, after the final decision of selection, you would not be able to search another one instantly.

Selection of Best EHR Vendor

There are about 200-400 companies claiming to make the perfect Electronic Health Record software in the market of health care solution. Now it depends on buyers to choose the perfect one, as it impacts directly on their practice. So, if you decided to select the better, go through the proper research in the health care market. Take proper time to select the best one because once you choose it, and not get satisfaction with that, it would not be possible for you to search for new one suddenly.

Now here the question arises that what would be the criteria to choose best EHR vendor?  Some of the main steps for choosing the perfect one include;

Step I: Assessment of Vendor

This is the process to select the perfect vendor who accomplishes your basic needs from the health care market. For the assessment process you must know;

·        Your system needs; you must be sure about your basic needs for selecting the perfect EHR. You have to know about the perfect features you will desire to achieve meaningful use and goals.

·        Make Criteria and try to follow it; Start your assessment with the Certified HIT Product List (CHPL). This will help you to get comprehensive and authoritative list of perfect EHR solutions.

·        Comparison of Vendors; This will help you to select the best vendor. For the better result you can also use the Meaningful Use Compare Tool to check if the vendor have meaningful use capabilities.

·        Ask for references; you have no idea if your selection is actually a best one. Ask for the references and visit their scheduling sites. References will give you the accurate information.

·        Work on Demonstrations; schedule the demonstration with final vendors for their Electronic Health Record products and manage personal interaction with their team.

·        Keep an eye on core functionalities, features of practice management and consistent clinical scenarios with the vendors you are assessing.

Step II: Background Research about Electronic Health Record Solution

Before taking the final decision about selecting the best EHR vendor, it is need to do background research about that solution. For this, making evaluation on following basis;

·        ONC-ATCB Certified; First of all let yourself make sure that your concerning EHR vendor is ONC-ATCB certified and also securing CMS incentive programs for providing meaningful use.

·        Fulfill the stages of meaningful use Be sure that your expecting vendor is fulfilling not only the certifications in stage I, but also working on both Stage II and Stage III of meaningful use.

·        Value in the Health care market it is important for you to know about the market value of your expecting EHR vendor. This helps you to know the credibility of your selection.

Step III: Make Clear about your Goal.

There is a need to acknowledge the limitations and inefficiencies you are following before using Electronic Health Record solution as well as your company’s needs which includes features, additional services, ease of use and support. This is necessary to know if your current practice will accomplish with the EHR solution. Need to know if you really want to have electronic record of patient, if decision support tools really matters to you.

Step IV: Take Final Decision for Selecting Best EHR Vendor

After the assessment, knowing their background, knowing about your goals, now you can take decision that what kind of EHR vendor is your demand. Now take a final decision to select best Electronic Health Record Vendor and enter in the phase of making contract with that EHR vendor.