The medical industry has long been at the forefront of emerging technology, as evidenced by recent growth in the use of electronic medical records. By introducing new technology into medical practices and the healthcare industry, healthcare professionals can provide more cost-effective records management while preventing medical errors. In addition to providing more efficiency, this technology can also lead to better healthcare value for patients.
What information is included in electronic medical records?
When a practice converts to electronic medical records (EMR), there are a few basic types to consider. One technique uses ongoing document scanning of paper-based records and charts, and the other is a completely paperless EMR. Since they are used as a legal record of doctor-patient encounter in a medical setting, the information within an EMR must include the patient’s metadata, notes on their progress, any prescribed medications, test results, and any pertinent medical history.
While most hospitals and healthcare providers still use the old paper-based charts, electronic medical records are becoming an essential for the storage, distribution and retrieval of patient information.
How will healthcare providers make the transition to fully electronic document storage?
The solution is to outsource their medical records scanning and use OCR scanning to create searchable PDF files. These digital files can be stored securely on serve that can only be accessed by properly credentialed personnel. The scanning of medical records offers an easy way to remain compliant with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), which requires hospitals and healthcare providers to maintain detailed medical records for each patient that are secure, portable and accessible.
What about patient privacy concerns?
Like any other online solution, when confidential patient data is stored on a network there some legitimate concerns about security. This can be easily addressed by securing the network and server from unauthorized use. Ultimately, scanning medical records and storing them on a secure server with limited access can allow providers to ensure more accurate care because doctors can now access more information about their patients’ condition.
As healthcare reform measures take effect, more hospitals and providers are expected to take advantage of the increased efficiency and security provided by medical records scanning.