How does EHR improve patient safety? When medical practices store crucial patient information in an EHR, they can use the software to work more efficiently and improve patient safety. A HIPPA-compliant electronic health record system keeps patients’ data safe too.
Here are ways you can improve patient safety with an EHR:
An EHR holds patient medications data, including over-the-counter and prescription drugs. Use an EHR to verify that medications are correct and to check for potential contraindications. This capability is particularly useful for patients who may not remember all of the medicines they take or what the medications do.
You’ll also learn about drug allergies so the patient’s doctor or nurse practitioner can adjust the prescription accordingly.
Another benefit of using EHR software is avoiding errors caused by entering prescriptions manually, such as when transcribing a prescriber’s illegible handwriting. Indeed, a computerized physician order entry (CPOE) system boosts patient safety and increases staff efficiency, as noted by HealthIT.gov.
Another way software solutions can improve patient safety is when you implement a clinical decision support system (CDSS), which alerts providers about issues such as drug allergies, drug interactions, or abnormal laboratory results that demand immediate attention from your team.
A CDSS can show you alerts about the need for a referral or authorization, or important pending tasks.
During a medical emergency where a patient loses consciousness or cannot communicate with healthcare providers, you can consult the EHR’s data quickly. In an emergency room, seconds count. Fast access to the patient’s complete medical records inside an EHR can be a lifesaver.
Checking the EHR is better than waiting for the patient’s friend or relative to find the information you need to help with diagnosis and treatment, as well as rule out possible drug interactions.
You want to determine which patients have not yet been screened for ailments, such as cancer, diabetes, or kidney disease.
The EHR system will identify patients who have not yet been tested for chronic ailments, so you can catch incidents of disease while still in the earliest stage. Then, you can educate patients about ways they can reduce their chances of becoming injured or sick, such as by avoiding risky behavior and adjusting their exercise or nutrition. This way, electronic health records and patient safety go hand in hand.
In addition to being bad for your bottom line, not proactively approaching patient no-shows creates more work for your staff as they have to contact the patient and then set up a new appointment. If patients fail to show up as scheduled, doctors may miss making a crucial, early diagnosis that would facilitate easier treatment.
To address this safety issue, use your EHR to remind patients about their appointments. You can configure the system to send them an update by phone, text message, or email, depending on their preferences.
When patients fail to obtain their medication at the pharmacy, the EHR can alert providers to remind them to pick up their prescriptions. Or the doctor will be prompted to begin a conversation about why the patient didn’t pick up the medication, to see if a substitute is needed.
Think of new parents who must keep track of numerous vaccinations and have doctors administer them according to schedule. The EHR will remind patients to bring in their young ones, enhancing their safety by protecting them against diseases.
It’s not always easy for patients to know all the details of their condition or treatment plan. Use an EHR to help coordinate care among different specialists. They’ll be able to see some information about what the other providers are doing to create treatment plans, and get a more holistic view of each patient’s situation.
Benchmark Solutions’ EHR platform will help your team enhance patients’ safety throughout their healthcare journey, ensuring they receive optimal treatment.
Use the software, developed by our EHR and patient safety experts, to improve communication and reduce errors. Benchmark EHR adheres to FHIR and HL7 interoperability standards, enabling you to exchange sensitive data securely with specialists, pharmacies and other healthcare systems.
Benchmark EHR’s Clinical Decision System Support System notifies providers about issues requiring urgent attention or conflicting, including drug allergies and interactions.
Expand rural and remote patients’ access to healthcare with our telehealth software enhancement. They’ll consult with general practioners and specialists in virtual sessions and benefit from continuous monitoring.
Our eRx software enhancement lets providers update prescriptions electronically, verify dosages, and check that medications comply with the insurance provider’s formulary.
Our My Health Record software enhancement gives patients easy access to their health details, including lab results, care instructions, and a list of their medications. Patients can better participate in healthcare decisions, communicating with providers through the platform.
Patients who miss appointments may experience gaps in care and their providers may delay a diagnosis. Give them access to our automated appointment reminders software enhancement via integration through Benchmark EHR software, to keep them on track with treatment plans, and prevent their condition from worsening.
