Is your medical practice doing enough to secure your patients’ files? Are you using the most up-to-date recordkeeping technology?
In the last 10 years, more than 185 million confidential medical records have been breached. If you’re not on board with the latest security protocols, you could be at risk for a hacking event.
The good news is that new electronic medical records can help secure your files. In this article, we’ll talk about EHR vs EMR and help you upgrade your security.
Electronic Medical Records (EMR)
What is EMR, anyway? Electronic medical records could include information like:
- blood tests
- medical history
- prescriptions
An EMR is a new way to keep a patient’s chart. The chart is hooked into a central database and can remind patients of upcoming appointments or print and send paperwork.
The good thing about EMR systems is that they save time. Patients aren’t stuck filling out the same paperwork again and again, and practitioners have easy access to years of records.
EMR systems can also be used to create “patient portals” online where patients can see their medical records and test results. They can schedule same-day appointments and request that a nurse call them directly.
Electronic Health Records (EHR)
EHR systems are similar but are designed to be shared between medical offices. They include medical records but also include:
- diagnoses from specialists
- x-rays and scans
- an overall picture of the patient’s health
EHR records make it easy for doctors to cross-reference their medical opinions and share patient information. They can be customized to generate patient billing documents and healthcare reports.
Having EHR records makes healthcare more efficient by eliminating duplicate tests. Patients will save money on their healthcare co-payments and be able to get test results more quickly.
EHR and EMR systems can store their data offsite on cloud servers. That means that if there is a natural disaster, there is an option to recover valuable files.
If you’d rather store data on local servers, talk to your EMR company about your recovery options.
EHR vs EMR for Small Practices
If you’re thinking of putting in an EHR or EMR system, look for a company that will supervise the implementation process. It shouldn’t take more than a month but that figure could vary based on the size of your practice.
You’ll need to find a company that provides secure hosting for patient data and works with you to develop billing and collections protocols.
Your EMR company should keep your practice compliant with MACRA, a Medicare billing program. They can also help you figure out if you qualify for any federal or state incentive programs.
Finally, make sure that your EMR interface allows doctors to send prescriptions directly to the pharmacy. The best EMR companies will also provide onsite training for doctors and nurses.
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