Implementation of technology is the most important driver of innovation, competitiveness, and positive customer experience. Nowadays, it’s hard to imagine any industry that hasn't been strongly digitized. For instance, e-learning has become common for students and teachers across the globe, especially in the terms of the 2020 pandemic. Online-stored learning materials, electronic classrooms, and journals are no longer a plot of a sci-fi movie, it’s a part of the daily routine of everyone who is currently receiving education.
None will be also caught off guard by the eminent presence of chatbots and robot-advisers in banking. The number of individuals utilizing mobile eWallets to make payments increased from 900 million to 1.48 billion during the epidemic. According to payment processing data from 2021, mobile wallets accounted for 25.7 % of POS payments. This proportion is predicted to grow to 33.4 % in 3 years. It has already become our daily routine, hasn’t it? And this list can be prolonged with innumerable examples in retail, insurance, e-commerce, real estate, and many other industries.
But what’s bothering us the most this finishing (thank God) year, is the state of our family’s health, and the ability of contemporary medical institutions to effectively meet the patients’ needs. And fortunately, digital innovation hasn’t passed by the medical industry too. Healthcare practitioners with the help of information technology and the development of medical devices and equipment have become able to improve diagnosis and surgical procedures, as well as brought patient care to a new and better level.
One of the technologies that have been gaining popularity in the medical sphere is EMR (electronic medical records) software which helps to create, store, and update patients’ information. In 2021, the Electronic Medical Records Market was worth $ 27,112.89 million, with a CAGR of 6.88 % over the projected period. The adoption of EMR systems in the USA was driven by the HITECH Act in 2009, and since then around 80% of the US-based physicians have been using a certified EMR or EHR (electronic health record) system.
In fact, the European Commission approved a plan for a European electronic health record interchange format in March 2021, allowing health data to flow freely across borders. Such policy enables European residents to securely access and exchange their personal health information regardless of where they are in Europe. Furthermore, factors such as the growing need for integrated healthcare systems, big data trends in the healthcare industry, and technical improvements in data storage are propelling the EMR market forward. Nevertheless, data breaches and a lack of properly qualified personnel are limiting the industry's progress.
Since the above-mentioned digital-oriented examples are not yet widespread, we decided to discuss the advantages of EMR systems and highlight the possible advantages and disadvantages of their use.
As far as the example of the US digitally-oriented healthcare practitioners isn’t still a widespread one, we decided to discuss the benefits of EMR systems and highlight possible drawbacks of their use.
What is the Electronic Medical Records Systems?
EMRs refer to a variety of systems that allow businesses to maintain and distribute medical information. It entails the electronic integration and retention of patient data, allowing for speedier diagnosis and treatment in a variety of medical settings. During the projection timeframe, the sector is likely to rise due to the increasing implementation of EMRs. Cost reduction, improved care quality, and increased patient happiness are the main drivers of this industry.
Benefits of EMR Systems
#1 They Save a lot of Time
The availability of electronic medical records eases the process of data input and access for both patients and doctors. Approximately 88 % of medical visits are scheduled over the phone. Whenever a patient has scheduled a visit to a doctor’s office, they can fill in all the necessary data online instead of spending time on the piles of paperwork in the office. In turn, physicians don’t need to look up the necessary records and wait until the information is sent (for example, the results of blood tests). EMR software serves as a medium between healthcare providers, helping them to unimpededly store patient information, laboratory results, and x-ray images in one place.
#2 They Guarantee a Higher Degree of Accuracy
Despite minimizing errors in patients’ information, every clinic that deals with the same patients faces no difficulty in interpreting the patient's personal information or medical history. A fully integrated system also transfers all the available data to a billing system which makes the front office workflow more efficient eliminating the need to enter and check the data twice.
#3 Patients Have Unlimited Access to Their Medical Information
Unlike paper records, online information is available 24/7. Patients don’t need to go to the doctor’s office every time they need to learn the results of examinations or tests, or in case they have lost a prescription. Most of the medical providers offer online portals where one can check a treatment plan or examination results any time they need.
#4 Great Speed of Orders Initiation
With the help of electronic health records, the orders for laboratory tests or medicine can be immediately sent to the needed institution. A patient doesn’t have to spend time waiting in line or for having their order placed, as soon as their visit to the doctor's office is finished, a laboratory or a pharmacy receives an electronic order from the doctor. It also eliminates the chances of occurring mistakes as a result of illegible handwriting.
#5 It can Serve as a Great Tool for Preventative Medicine
Having all the information at easy reach and constantly updated allows doctors to take immediate preventative measures. In case a patient needs to update any vaccine, or have an additional cancer screening, a doctor sees it in their electronic records and is able to immediately inform the patient about the required examination. Needless to mention, that this factor can play a life-saving role in many cases.
#6 Patients Have Unlimited Access to Their Medical Information
Unlike paper records, online information is available 24/7. Patients don’t need to go to the doctor’s office every time they need to learn the results of examinations or tests, or in case they have lost a prescription. Most of the medical providers offer online portals where one can check a treatment plan or examination results any time they need.
#7 Financial Opportunities
With regular headlines about the cash-strapped National Health Service, the issues of healthcare and money seem to go synonymously. Electronic data retention allows the healthcare industry to save money by reducing the number of employees required to maintain this information.
Disadvantages of EMR systems
#1 Security Access Problems
Stolen medical records are popular goods in the black market which makes them a desirable item for hackers. In 2017, a great number of healthcare providers became victims of ransomware attacks. Such information leakage costs health providers large sums of money to pay a ransom to restore the data. Some of them didn’t pay a ransom and lost their access to health information without the ability to restore it. Those who paid for data recovery have no guarantee that the information won’t be copied for further blackmailing or sold in the black market.
#2 Usability Issues
Electronic health records are relatively heavy resources that take a lot of server space. Having no efficient hosting capacity, physicians will spend a lot of time trying to browse patients’ information. Cloud integration is a good solution to decrease delay time and preserve productivity.
#3 Time Needed for Personnel Training
Any new technology comes without some degree of resistance. Mastering EMR platforms might be challenging for some physicians and patients as well, and will for sure take some time. When it comes to EHR systems, healthcare institutions must consider the functionality and flexibility of their software. The clearer the interface and navigation are, the easier it will be to operate the portal.
#4 EMR Systems Require Permanent Updates
Various medical providers, such as pharmacists and personal trainers, may utilize the same health record system, making it critical to keep data up to date after each consultation. Unless records are updated on a regular basis, erroneous data might have a negative impact on therapy.
Wrapping Up
EMR systems undoubtedly provide an opportunity for better analysis of patients' health, give patients an opportunity to stay aware of their current health, and make the communication between different healthcare institutions quick and flawless. Though disadvantages might still seem scary to some, they can be prevented by choosing the right software vendor who will develop a user-friendly and secure EMR system.
If you are currently looking for a dedicated software team to develop an EMR platform, feel free to contact us at inVerita for further consultation.
