What Is Electronic Medical Documentation?
The digitization of many aspects of healthcare is increasingly contributing to improving the efficiency of healthcare systems. Electronic Medical Records (EMRs) are digital records of medical information of patients.
These could include information related to their medical history, their details, account details, demographic data, results of medical tests, and other health information.
Adopting EMR in India can enable healthcare providers to improve the quality and efficiency of patient services, treatments, and administrative processes.
What Are the Barriers to EMR in India?
The adoption of EMR in India has been relatively slow compared to other countries. Electronic Medical Documentation faces certain barriers to its implementation in India. These are explained below.
Lack of Awareness
Many healthcare establishments lack sufficient awareness of EMR in India. EMR can be a useful technology for medical institutions because it can improve the efficiency of healthcare services by providing a reliable record of a patient’s medical history.
However, many health providers in India are unaware of the extent of EMR, the free EMR software available, and the existing top EMR Software, which needs to change.
Resistance to Change
There is also a reluctance when it comes to adopting a change in the system, especially given the technological know-how required to manage EMR software. India’s healthcare system has largely been reliant on physical records, paper records, and written documentation.
The switch to EMR for doctors, other healthcare professionals, and medical staff will require an adjustment to the technological requirements.
EMR software often comes with artificial intelligence (AI) features which can induce hesitancy to adopt due to its more advanced interface. The AI features can simplify the tasks involved.
Administrative Burdens
Given that most healthcare establishments in India face administrative burdens, there needs to be more time and resources to make the switch to EMR software in India.
As hospitals and medical institutions have to manage a large number of patients and are overloaded, time and administrative constraints make it difficult to switch to a new records system.
Technical Concerns
There are also certain technical concerns with EMR in India that are a barrier to adopting electronic medical documentation.
These concerns include the EMR system requiring maintenance, software errors, data security, and software upgrades or updates that may be required. Additionally, power outages and internet issues are also prevalent setbacks in India and can be barriers to the implementation of EMR.
Another potential barrier is the training and know-how required to manage and operate the systems and make data entries.
Conclusion
EMR in India faces various hurdles to being adopted as a part of healthcare systems. These issues include a lack of awareness, administrative workload, and technical concerns, amongst others.
Despite these barriers, implementing it can improve the efficiency and quality of healthcare services.
Healthplix offers the top EMR software preferred by 10,000 + doctors due to its doctor-first approach. The software helps deliver prescriptions in more than 14 different languages. The state-of-the-art electronic medical record service is dedicated to meeting patients’ clinical expectations before and after diagnosis.