Why Your Patients and Office Staff Are a Part of Your EMR Health Records Team

Call us toll-free at 877-693-6748 - or Contact Us online.

October 20, 2010

Success with your EMR is the ultimate goal. It is safe to say that nobody goes into a project wanting to fail. When considering a transition to EMR, keep in mind the potential strengths of your health care team.

The Care Provider - whether it be the doctor, physician assistant, nurse practitioner, nurse, medical assistant or any other office team member that is helping to treat a patient at any point in the care of patients. This health care team needs to be well versed on the conversion plan. Sitting together once a week with your vendor assigned implementation/ training specialist can keep the lines of communication strong and everyone on the same course. The topics should include progress reports, current task reports, and goals to be met before the next preplanned meeting. We have seen too many times when the office staff is not synchronized in the plan. Each member going into different directions will lead to breaks in communication. This is not to say that each member's technical savvy should propel or prohibit progress, but the lines of communication need to be kept open and ongoing.

The Office Staff is very important in the success of the EMR team. After the initial start-up challenges have been overcome, the EMR will make the office run more efficiently and effectively. The entire practice needs to work together as a team to insure the successful deployment. They should also join the staff meetings to discuss their progress or need for additional attention. The office staff needs to help educate the patients of the new Health Informatics-run medical practice and all of its benefits. Once a practice realizes and conveys the benefits to patients, the team is working together. Many patients are concerned about their records being in cyberspace - also known today as “cloud computing” - but once educated and they realize their health records are more safe and stable on the EMR than they ever were in paper records.

The Patient has become more educated with tools on the internet to potentially educate themselves prior to the visit at your office. In many cases the patient has information, but not all of the information. This is why the provider is the ultimate advisor in the patient's care. However, this does bring up the point of the patients responsibilities and acting as a care member in your health record team. Educating your patients - who are the primary benefactors of your decision to go EMR - can help themselves by helping you. After the patient completes their required documentation, your EMR can stay current for the term of their medical condition. Any update can be monitored by your Patient Portal, and the patient has the ability to maintain their demographical information.

Patients want to take part in their healthcare. The simple act of disclosing their current conditions and medications can protect them from drug interactions. These can be drug-to-drug, drug-to-allergy, or drug-to-disease. If a patient realizes that this requested information is to ensure their safety, there will be no conflicts. Many patients have a level of discomfort to discuss such personal information even to their care provider.

For additional solutions for your practice, please call us toll-free at 877-693-6748 - or Contact Us online.