Doctors have long touted EHRs, and patients are now getting on board with their healthcare provider’s ability to quickly share information, ask for second opinions, and transfer records swiftly when necessary.
According to an ONC survey, patients prefer Electronic Health Records (EHRs) over the more traditional method of recording everything on paper. A whopping 76% of Americans surveyed clearly stated that they wanted EHR’s in no uncertain terms. This definitively shows that there is a demand for a full transition to EHRs.
While it is clear why EHRs are advantageous to healthcare professionals – time and money saving benefits second only to allowing the ability to make more accurate decisions in a timely manner. Patients also have positive benefits to reap from EHRs as well. For a change, we’re going to focus on those rather than industry benefits which have been well covered.
They Save Time
Patients will immediately notice a tremendous time savings when they use EHRs. There is just no denying that electronic records are retrieved easier and quicker than paper records. It’s not just a matter of cutting down on time spent in waiting rooms, but the efficiency it allows for doctors consulting on a patient to relay information. It’s about records not needing to be couriered or mailed when someone is out of their normal locality. Electronic records travel anywhere and they do it in the blink of an eye.
They Enable More Involvement
EHRs allow for patient portal accessibility in ways paper records simply cannot. Allowing patients access to their records, lab results and in some ways their doctors as well, makes for an engaged and informed patient. When patients are given the ability to be involved and proactive it is good for everyone. Patients that feel involved in the process of their care are patients more likely to follow through on a care plan.
They Reduce Hassle
As a patient, one of the most frustrating aspects of the care process is the formality of it all. It’s the constant waves of paperwork every visit. It’s waiting times that drag on. It’s the struggle, and sometimes burdensome cost, of obtaining their own medical records! EHR’s reduce all of the hassle factors patients encounter regarding record keeping. Less time on technicalities means more time for patient care and less time wasted waiting for it.
They Allow Better Treatment
While convenience factors are great, the big advantage of EHR’s is they allow for better patient care. EHRs are information. Information that allows for quicker decision making. More accurate decision making means a decreased possibility of error in treatment. More effective care means healthier and happier patients – and at the end of the day, that is everyone’s goal!