Transitioning From Paper To Electronic Medical Records

Paper medical records are outdated and inefficient. Electronic medical records (EMR) are the way of the future.

The benefits of EMR include storing, organizing, and accessing your patients’ records in one place. Moreover, the EMR system’s invention has helped reduce medical errors, increase efficiency, and save time.

One of the most apparent advantages of the EMR system is that it is a more secure way to store patient information. Patients are more comfortable knowing that their information is in a place that is less susceptible to tampering and theft.

The implementation of the EMR system has been met with challenges, but the benefits of the system far outweigh them. This guide thus addresses the steps needed to transition from paper to electronic medical records successfully.

1. Involve Your Staff

The transition from paper to EMR software in India can be challenging for any facility. It’s important to involve your staff in the process to create buy-in and reduce the likelihood of resistance.

There are many ways to involve your staff; here are five suggestions:

Train your staff regularly
Involve them in the planning process
Communicate the reasons why the change is happening
Have your staff provide feedback on the new system

2. Plan the Budget

Implementing the EMR system requires a lot of planning and budgeting on the part of the clinic or hospital. You would need to consider the cost of hardware, software, installation, and training of employees.

It’s important to get a preliminary assessment of your needs. Pay for features you can’t do without and skip the ones that aren’t necessary for your clinic.

It is not uncommon for a healthcare facility to spend an extraordinary amount of money on top EMR software. Therefore, the budget must be planned out in advance to execute the implementation smoothly.

3. Set a Timeframe

The question of how long it will take to implement an EMR system has been a hot topic of discussion for years.

The answer, however, is not as simple as some may think. It all depends on the size of the hospital, the type of software, the number of physicians, the number of records, and the number of patients.

It may take months or years to implement the system fully. Most hospitals will have a difficult time implementing an electronic medical records system on their own, so they should partner with a vendor that specializes in EMR implementation.

This partnership will also help with the training, protocol, and technology needed to use the system properly. Moreover, it is imperative to have a deadline for EMR implementation to avoid a data breach or other security breaches.

4. Transfer Data

We all know that paper records are not the most efficient way to store and access health information, so what are some ways to transfer the data from paper to free EMR software?

One way to transfer data from paper to EMR is by scanning the paper records and uploading them to secure cloud storage. Another way is to hire data entry staff to enter data into the EMR system manually.

A third and most efficient way is to let an EMR platform like HealthPlix handle the data transfer.

Remember, it’s going to be years and years of medical records. You want to let an expert EMR platform safely and accurately transfer all your data.

5. Destroy Paper Records

Paper records are much easier to steal and much more difficult to protect than electronic medical records. They need to be destroyed after the EMR system has been implemented successfully.

You can burn paper records in a safe container or use a shredding machine. Keep in mind the following:

Make sure there is a clear, defined process for the destruction of paper records
Create a timeline for when the destruction process will be completed
Get a signed authorization form from all of the affected parties
Ensure that every legal compliance is followed

6. Offer Periodic Training

EMR implementation is not a one-time event. The key to implementing EMR software successfully in India is providing continuous training to the hospital staff.

Regular training is a best practice for physicians who want to avoid having their EMR system become outdated or fall out of compliance.

Training is also important to ensure staff members are prepared to help you with your EMR needs. This will allow you to make the most out of your new system.

Make the Transition!

The use of EMR software is becoming more and more common in the medical industry. This is a big change for many doctors, nurses, and medical assistants who have been using paper records for years.

Transitioning from paper to electronic medical records comes with its challenges, but it is a necessary evolution for the medical industry.

Healthplix offers state-of-the-art leading electronic medical record services.

The choice of more than ten thousand doctors, this top EMR software allows doctors to deliver prescriptions in 30 seconds in 14 different languages and is dedicated to meeting a patient’s clinical expectations before and after diagnosis without spending extra on manual handling.

Check it out now, and follow the steps above for a successful move!