Why are Doctors not using EMR in India?

Even before we try to address this question and delve deeper into the reasons, let’s take the example of 21-year-old Gauri Chandra (name changed for confidentiality reasons), suffering from a chronic kidney condition since childhood. Gauri’s treatment began at the tender age of 12 years. Every time she visited the nephrologist’s clinic, her parents had to carry bulky folders containing a history of her diagnosis, reports, and prescriptions. Till the doctor implemented EMR in his clinic.

Gauri’s follow-ups became less tedious. The doctor could track her condition in real-time and even consult online, giving her respite from the troublesome commute twice a month. Her treatment path became more focused and at the age of 15, she underwent a successful kidney transplant surgery since then, she has been living a normal life (albeit with utmost care and precaution).

The implementation of EMR by her nephrologist definitely helped the entire treatment process and saved her parents a lot of unnecessary hassles.

The benefits of digitizing healthcare with the help of an EMR do not need to be reiterated. Yet, there seems to be some sort of apprehension in India’s medical fraternity about using EMR in private clinics and hospitals.

What are the primary reasons for the resistance to implementing EMRs

No policy around using EMR

While the government has been voicing the importance of digitizing healthcare in India, and have set guidelines on EMR practices, there is still no policy or a regulatory framework around using EMR. Many clinics and healthcare institutions find it difficult to store and maintain physical copies of patient records.

This inefficient way of accessing health records leads to severe problems such as

Misdiagnosis
Delay in treatment
Increase in treatment costs
Data duplication

While medical practitioners and clinic owners are aware of these serious inconveniences, many of them seem reluctant to use an EMR for Doctors as there are no official mandates or policies related to the implementation of an EMR in India

Reluctance towards digital transformation

Implementing EMR software for one’s private practice may sound daunting to medical practitioners who have been using pen and paper for over 2-3 decades. Accepting EMR adoption is more about a mindset change than anything else. There are thoughtful tech companies like HealthPlix that have been cognizant of this resistance. Therefore, the HealthPlix EMR has been developed with a doctor-first approach and has been made extremely simple to use. If doctors can use WhatsApp, they will have no difficulty using HealthPlix EMR – It’s that easy to use. Once doctors begin to experience the ease of use with HealthPlix, there will be little apprehension left in digitizing their clinics with the power of EMR.

The cost factor

Setting up a private clinic in itself is a heavy investment job. Running it manually with the help of a front desk support staff and equipment again require an additional operating cost. Doctors often feel apprehensive about adding an extra layer of investment with EMR implementation.

While it is true that a lot of EMR subscriptions can be quite expensive, there is also an advanced future-ready AI-powered EMR for Doctors that come at no additional cost – The HealthPlix EMR. With a mission to empower the doctors who are at the core of the digital healthcare revolution in India, HealthPlix is a completely FREE EMR software designed specifically for the requirements of doctors across 16 specialties.

The things you need to implement this EMR in your practice include:

A computer device such as a laptop or a desktop
A printer
A smartphone

All of which is a part of almost all private clinics in the country.

Fear of productivity loss

A change in the clinic’s way of operating and management often leads to the fear of loss of efficiency and productivity. Clinic owners may presume that implementing a new EMR for the clinic may take time to get used to. The staff, nurses, and especially the doctor need time to understand the working of this new digital healthcare tool. When it is the technological setup in question, it is evident for the user party to feel worried about how long it will take to get used to this new software. The primary concern of the clinic is to deliver healthcare to its patients and the worry that this very objective of its existence stands to be affected by the new tech implementation can thwart any plans of using it. This is where an EXCLUSIVE FREE WEBINAR ON EMR can help you understand how this digital solution can not only deliver better health outcomes but also increase your clinic efficiency and consultations by 20%.

Sensitive Data Security

This is by far one of the most critical reasons for doctors not using EMR in India – Clinic and Patient Data Safety and Security. The doctor-patient relationship is one of the most transparent and confidential bonds ever. The doctor is privy to all health details of their patients and it is important to keep them confidential and never share them with a third party without the consent of the patient. However, when things go digital, there are chances of a data leak or information sharing of the EMR provider without the knowledge of either party. Such concerns ofter deter doctors from using a digital record-keeping system for their clinics.

Again, an advanced and doctor-first EMR understands this dilemma – how critical it is to ensure 100% data security in a private clinic. Therefore, HealthPlix EMR safeguards your privacy and protects your information using the safest encryption standards and privacy-safe practices. It means, what happens in your clinic, stays in your clinic.

What’s the way forward?

Well, now that most of the apprehensions of a doctor about using an EMR stand answered, it is the apt time to join the digital healthcare movement that’s rapidly spreading across India. Go digital with the nation’s most trusted EMR platform and join over 10,000+ doctors who are powering their practice with this digital wand and delivering improved health outcomes at the population level.