Digitising Patient Record is the new normal

The pandemic has ushered in and forced some healthcare environments to further digitise their business processes. Although COVID-19 has encouraged many to view additional measures to continuing their business processes, many healthcare institutions still remain paper-based and heavily reliant on physical records, which pose both a risk for hospital clinicians in terms of the virus and also becomes a storage burden for the facility.

Here are some of the advantages of digitising patient records system during the pandemic.

Less physical exchange of records means less chances of contracting any viruses

A physical exchange of files/folders of patient’s records increases the likelihood of the virus spreading especially between physicians. Given the need for the continued protection of healthcare workers, measures to prevent exposure must be adhered to.

Prevention of Loss or physical damage of cases.

Digitising patient records means that clinicians can view, edit, or upload records without physically doing so, this decreases the changes of loss of parts of the record or damage to any parts of the patient file. Loss or damage of any documents restricts the patient from access to proper healthcare and follow-up at appointments.

Patient Updates via Telemedicine

Patient’s medication and updates can be emailed or pushed through an app to their phone instead of printing and handing it to them. This enables visits and consultations to be virtual and shorter time is spent at the hospital with the risk of exposure

Less spending on paper.

Cost management is further facilitated with paper costs cut and being able to be directed elsewhere within the hospital. Attaching a cost of 4cents per page, puts an average hospital a total cost of 3.4 million in printing each year. This can definitely be facilitated in improved medical equipment, staff resources and technology improvements.

Improved Patient Management

With all Patient information on hand, it limits waiting lists and bottlenecks within the system that may arrive from a lack in communication or information. This improves not just the operational flow of the hospital but more importantly the patient experience. Even after leaving the hospital, patient follow-ups, appointments and additional information can be facilitated through their mobile phone.

Cellma’s Document Management and Telemedicine modules help in facilitating digitised hospital processes that improve the patient journey especially given the current COVID-19 conditions. To find out how RioMed can further assist or discuss these changes Contact Us.