While many agree that, as a whole, (electronic health record) EHR offers more benefits than paper health records, EHR is not without their weaknesses. Here are some key differences between paper and electronic records:
Time
Some providers have reported that EHR has saved it anywhere from 10 to 20 hours a week in documentation, giving them more time with their patients. However, others argue that EHR raises the learning curve and energy provider to become data entry staff. It all clicks and types, some say, causing doctors to focus on computers instead of patients in the room.
Environment
Going digital with patient records saves lots of paper because the patient’s medical record is usually made up of hundreds, and sometimes thousands of pages.
Security
Some believe that paper records may become more vulnerable to breakdowns, loss of paper records due to human error, or damage to paper records due to natural disasters. However, EHRs have a fair share of cyber security data violations involving thousands of medical records.
Cost
Large healthcare organizations may need to pay $ 1 billion or more to buy and install the EHR system, and may take several months to implement technology. There are also long-term digital storage costs associated with EHRs. Paper records require more maintenance of human administration in terms of storing files and regulating access to them, and there is a cost of physical space involved. Any healthcare organization will require significant cost analysis to check what is spent on being stored with the EHR system.
Access
The process of sharing paper records can be more difficult than sharing digital patient information; it includes searching for paper records – perhaps, in a large warehouse – and then either sending, sending or scanning copies. Theoretically, the EHR partnership should be easier, but the reality is that practices by organizations and vendors can result in blocking of EHR information.
Readability and Accuracy
With paper records, the doctor’s writing may be difficult to read, which may result in inaccuracy. Furthermore, with paper records, there is often enough room for a doctor to write everything clearly. With EHR, there is an unlimited number of free space, and typing and natural language processing eliminates many concerns about invalidity.
Feel free to contact E-SPIN for assist you adapt the trend for electronic industry, from infrastructure availability, performance and security monitoring and testing solution to EHR system monitoring, security testing and storage backup and continuous data archiving.