Everyone knows an EHR system is an Electronic Health Record system – meaning it creates and stores patient health records electronically. At a minimum, any EHR system should do so. However, an EHR system should also let you complete these activities:
- Import a patient’s existing medications from SureScript without having the manually enter them.
- Check the patient’s existing medications against each other, the patient’s diagnoses, and any new medications you prescribe for contraindications and alert you if applicable.
- Check the patient’s vital signs and alert the provider if any vital sign is outside the normal range.
- Chart the patient’s vital signs over time so the provider can see changes relative to time and the patient’s condition.
- Monitor the patient’s routine health maintenance items such as vaccines and regular testing and alert the provider if the patient is past due for any item.
- Allow the patient to complete their medical, social, hospitalization, and family history and import it to the patient’s chart.
- Allow the provider to share patient information with external providers electronically.
- Automatically start encounter notes with pertinent information from prior notes, including medical history, medications, and chronic conditions.
- Track outstanding orders to ensure patient compliance and that all results are received and reviewed.
- Make compliance with Medicare’s MACRA and MIPS programs simple to achieve maximum reimbursement from Medicare.
When an EHR allows providers and medical offices the ability to move beyond simple charting, it can be a fantastic tool to improve efficiency and patient care.