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EMR/EHR Software Explained: A Beginner’s Guide
Table of Contents
Rapid technological growth has changed the way we deliver and receive healthcare services. Some of the most crucial advancements in healthcare technology include Electronic Medical Records (EMR) and Electronic Health Records (EHR) softwares.
Modern day hospitals have adopted EMR and EHR softwares for the purpose of managing patient medical records and automating clinical workflow. The government has also taken initiatives under the National Digital Health Mission (NDHM) program to create a unified digital health ecosystem in India, including nationwide EHR implementation.
As per a report by insights10, India’s EHR market size was valued at $514 Mn in 2022 and is estimated to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7% from 2022 to 2030 and will reach $884 Mn in 2030.
This report estimates that the total number of hospitals using EMR/EHR software in India was around 15-20% in 2022. This translates to roughly 12,000-16,000 hospitals out of the estimated 80,000-90,000 hospitals in the country.
So, EMR and EHR softwares are becoming increasingly popular among medical practitioners and healthcare professionals as these software systems optimise the workflow of hospitals/clinics and enhance the patient outcomes.
The question which may be striking right now is “what is EMR/EHR” and why healthcare institutions are interested in adopting this software solution. We will also discuss the challenges/barriers in the implementation of EHR softwares.
A robust EHR/EMR software is a fast, efficient, and paperless system to record & monitor patient medical history, prioritise tasks, schedule appointments, send alerts to patients and much more. The system has a dedicated physician dashboard through which medical practitioners can ePrescribe and consult patients, get daily MIS reports to know where you stand, streamline lab procedures and more.
EMR Vs EHR | Difference Between EHR and EMR
Looking similar, EMR (Electronic Medical Records) and EHR (Electronic Health Records) have different meanings. Often, EMR and EHR are used interchangeably but a thin line separates both.
A key difference between EMR and EHR is that EMR’s objective is to take care of a patient’s medical conditions while EHR is a more comprehensive view into the patients health and history. EHR also includes the reports and data from other electronic health systems. Telemedicine, billing, electronic faxing, lab results and other features are supported by EHR software.
Features and Capabilities of EMR/EHR Software
Seamless Integration with Practice Management
EMR and EHR software integrates with physician’s practice management seamlessly. Appointment schedules, patient information, charges, etc. automatically populates in the EMR/EHR system and vice-versa.
Electronic Prescribing
EMR provides the facility to doctors to e-prescribe patients. At the time of e-prescribing patients, doctors can see medication history of the patients. The prescriptions are sent to the patient through What’sApp and SMS. Now, patients have prescriptions, reports and medication history on the go, while they are visiting a drug store, clinic, hospital or laboratory.
A 2021 study by the National Digital Health Mission found that only 15% of healthcare providers were using e-prescribing solutions.
Online Consultation
EMR facilitates a portal for online consultation. The patients who are not willing to go to hospitals or having minor problems can avail online consultation facilities. This could be best for the patients who have visited the hospital physically but have some queries.
As per a report published in McKinsey & Company, In India, 50 million Indians accessed healthcare online from March to May 2020, with 80 percent of all telemedicine users and patients using it for the first time.
Timely Reminder and Alerts
EMR and EHR software systems provide hospitals facilities to send reminders/alerts to patients for their appointments, follow-ups, next meetings, test reports and other. Even, the alerts could be for the unavailability of the doctor on any particular day.
Customizable Templates
Templates are predefined structures of prescription for any specific condition. These templates are created by actual doctors to optimise the clinical workflow. These templates are customizable and can be accessed through Electronic Health Records (EHR) software by the doctors.
Electronic Fax
Electronic Fax in EHR and EMR software refers to the elimination of and paper documents. The system allows healthcare providers to send and receive patient information electronically. The feature improves efficiency, security and collaboration while reducing the cost and time.
Multi-Speciality Support
The electronic medical record (EMR) and electronic health record (EHR) are equally useful for general physicians, dentists, gynaecologists, neurologists and other specialties. The system can be implemented for one or many specialists and manage operations as a single business.
Telemedicine
Telemedicine is a boon for the patients who are in rural areas, developed chronic conditions, or due to any other reason they are not able to come to a healthcare facility. Through telemedicine, doctors can attend more patients in less time. Furthermore, this feature of EHR decreases the costs for patients and physicians both.
Easy Appointment Tracking
Appointment tracking is an essential feature for hospitals and clinics so that they can plan their day properly. Furthermore, they can send them reminders for pending follow ups and next meetings.
As per a 2022 draft Version 2 of National Digital Health Mission, 40% of patients in India miss appointments due to various reasons, leading to loss in revenue and patient dissatisfaction.
Physician Dashboard
The EHR/EMR system provides a dedicated dashboard to the physician where they can check their schedules, appointments, MIS reports, patient reports, and much more in real time.
MIS Reports
EHR and EMR software generates multiple MIS reports on a daily, weekly and monthly basis. Healthcare institutes can analyse these reports to understand where they stand now and what measures they should take in order to stay ahead.
Clinical Decision Support
Integrated with EHR software, the Clinical Decision Support feature helps healthcare providers make informed and evidence-based clinical decisions for the patients to achieve better clinical outcomes, optimize treatment plans and ensure adherence to best practices.
Benefits of EMR and EHR system for Hospitals
Benefits of EMR and EHR system for Patients
Challenges/Barriers in Adopting EMR and EHR Software
Implementing EMR and EHR software systems bring considerable benefits to the healthcare facility, but it has its own challenges or barriers. Here are some key challenges/barriers in adopting EHR and EMR software:
High Upfront Cost: The cost to set-up server and purchase hardware is high. On top of that, the EHR and EMR software purchase cost is also very high. To put aside this problem for the short term, hospitals can opt Open-Source Softwares.
An article published in Deloitte shows that 84% of Indian healthcare leaders and professionals have plans to increase their budgets on digital solutions and technology initiatives in 2023.
Maintenance Cost: Apart from purchasing software, technical support, hardware and server maintenance cost is ongoing cost. To reduce some of the cost and headache, web based software or cloud EMR and EHR softwares will be good choices.
Data Security Concerns: Low quality or open-source EHR and EMR software generally have data security concerns. Data of patients, physicians, and healthcare institutions is precious and security of the data should be on top of the list of software providers.
Skilled Staff Required: To operate software, hospitals should have skilled staff. The vendors provide training and documentation of the software but staff should be skilled enough to grasp that knowledge.
Interoperability Issues: The EHR pulls the information of the patient available at different portals, so the EHR software should be flawless for any device and portal.
Regulatory requirements: EHR or EMR software should comply with government rules and regulations. These regulations depend on several factors like location, type of organization, purpose of the software, etc. For example: A hospital in the US should comply with HIPAA, in Europe with GDPR and in Canada with PHIPA.
Selecting the Best EMR and EHR Software System
There are many EHR and EMR software in the market and generally these software are customizable as per the client’s needs and requirements. So, instead of looking for the best EMR and EHR software in the market, you should look for the EMR and EHR software that fits best to your healthcare institutions.
Simply put, selecting EMR/EHR requires careful planning, investment, ongoing maintenance and vendor support. By understanding your own needs, requirements, budget and areas to improve, you can identify easily which EMR/EHR software is best for you. With such a system you can reap the benefits of improved patient care, efficiency, and data-driven decision-making.
Why Adopt Aarogya’s EHR (Electronic Health Record) Software System
At Aarogya, we understand the challenges faced by healthcare providers in today’s digital age. Managing patient records, ensuring accurate billing, and delivering efficient care can be overwhelming. That’s why we’ve developed a comprehensive EHR software system designed specifically to address your needs in a cost and time effective manner. It is a secure software system with user-friendly interface and easy documentation facility. Our team provides 24/7 technical support, in case any problem occurs.
Aarogya’s EHR is more than just software; it’s a partnership for success. We are committed to helping you deliver exceptional patient care, improve practice efficiency, and achieve your financial goals.
Cost and Pricing of EMR and EHR
The cost of an EHR/EMR software is decided on the basis of your requirements and number of users. The software can be used by small clinics, mid-size hospitals, large hospitals, hospital chains and healthcare institutes. Furthermore, the pricing varies vendor to vendor.
Apart from the software cost, hospitals have to invest in hardware of the system i.e. CPU, monitor, local severe etc.
Conclusion
In summary, having EMR/EHR software is the need of the hour for the hospitals. These software solutions offer many benefits to both patients and providers. Choosing the right EHR/EMR software system is crucial to optimize your practice workflow and enhance the patient outcome.
Interested in EHR/EMR software systems? Explore the resources available on our website or contact us directly – Get a Free Demo Today.
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