April 29, 2013
Electronic medical records (EMRs) have come a long way since the early ’90s when EMR technology was still relatively new. In the early days, EMRs were seen primarily as a replacement to paper. These systems made it easier for staff to keep track of charts and reduced money spent on paper.
EMRs of today do much more than eliminate paper, but sometimes expectations exceed what is possible at this point. For example, interoperability has several barriers to overcome before doctors can seamlessly share relevant patient information with a doctor who uses a different EMR vendor.
However, EMRs still have the power to improve a doctor’s work life in several ways. While EMRs once required a business-grade PC to run properly, doctors can now access and edit records on any device, whether it be a desktop, tablet, or smartphone. This is a huge advantage to doctors who work in multiple locations or who need to check records late at night when they’re at home. Records can be securely accessed virtually anywhere with today’s EMR technology.
Another technology that has gone through great strides is dictation. Most doctors dislike the point-and-click mode of traditional EMRs, which is why so many use EMRs that utilize the powers of voice technology instead. This is a cost-cutting benefit as well, as voice recognition eliminates the need for a transcriptionist. ChartLogic EMR offers the additional benefit of allowing doctors to command and control their way through a note. This way, doctors don’t have to touch the keyboard if they don’t want to. ChartLogic EMR is the only software that allows doctors to complete notes in 90 seconds or less, which saves them about two hours a day.
Switching to an electronic medical records system may still involve a learning curve, but the change ultimately benefits both the doctors and the patients. EMRs that are easy to use and actually save doctors time aren’t just a pipe dream anymore—they exist and doctors all across the country are benefiting from them.