Healthcare providers involved in the continuum of patient care have experienced frustrating inefficiencies all too often with the current technologies available to them. These technologies are intended to help physicians provide more efficient care, however many providers feel that the usability of their EHR complicates things tremendously. According to a recent survey report from peer60, 54% of community hospitals are unhappy with the usability of their EHR and continue to struggle to find ways for their EHRs to work and communicate effectively. Limited functionality and poor interoperability help to drive nearly 20% of survey respondents to search for a replacement EHR. In today’s healthcare industry, organizations require EHR documentation that is accurate, comprehensive, easy to exchange, and simple to integrate into the patient’s medical record.
Knowing there must be a better way, many physicians feel they have little-to-no influence with decision makers regarding new technologies that might help them be much more efficient, however, most have more of an influence than they realize. The time has come for physicians to raise the current expectations of tools used on a daily basis to more effectively and efficiently care for their patients. In 2015, Black Book Rankings released an industry survey that examined why cloud-based, integrated, interoperable clinical and practice management technologies are being sought out by many providers. Cloud-based EHR systems boast simplicity, capacity for instant updating, and security as major selling points. Other benefits include easy installation processes with lower implementation and maintenance costs.
“The focus of healthcare technology vendors needs to be on mobile, cloud, and data integration to successfully meet the future demands of the changing healthcare landscape,” said Doug Brown, Managing Partner of Black Book. Physicians need new technologies that allow doctors — or any other crucial care team member — to be doctors, and get back to the most important aspect of their jobs: treating and caring for patients instead of clicking endless boxes on a computer screen.
What ‘Technology That Lets Doctors Be Doctors’ Looks Like
Designed by doctors, for doctors — not billing or insurance companies
Patient information is organized in a meaningful way while requiring minimal clicks, saving time and frustration.
Ability to communicate impressions and securely access all relevant patient information from one place, using only your mobile device
Radiology images and reports, EKGs, labs, notes, vitals, and more are instantly accessible from the provider’s personal mobile device, no matter where they are located — empowering providers to make informed decisions based on their own impressions rather than relying on interpretations from others over the phone.
Countless applications provide pieces of the puzzle, but fail to provide the whole picture. For example, an application may provide labs and notes, but does not include radiology images and studies. Physicians and healthcare providers need access to all relevant patient information so their patients receive the level of care deserved.
Audible notification alerts when patient information is viewable, such as lab results or radiology images
Audible notifications alert providers when relevant patient information is ready to view, instead of the need to constantly check the computer and repeatedly click the refresh button or depend on someone else to call with the results.
Patient information and data are shared seamlessly through the continuum of care, independent of the facility or EMR used to store the data
Technology that provides instant and secure access to patient information to all providers involved in the patient care continuum, including primary care physicians.
Specialists caring for patients in multiple locations that utilize different EMRs have access to all relevant patient data on their mobile device.
Provides high-quality radiology images
Instant access to high-quality radiology images allows providers to make more accurate clinical decisions remotely, instead of relying on a picture of an image on a computer screen or a verbal description over the phone.
Providers access radiology images instantly from a smart device instead of linking through complex systems involving portals, web pages, servers, PACs, etc.
Delivers the information providers need most, tailored to defined roles or specialties
Emergency room physicians have access to a specific ER Dashboard that displays which provider is on-call for each specialty in real-time, and allows them to send a new consult in just 3 clicks.
Nurses have access to a Nursing Dashboard, allowing them to see the communication between providers and specialists regarding their patients. This enables the nurse to stay informed in real-time without wasting time physically tracking doctors down.
Secure, asynchronous, and patient-centric communication that is documented and becomes part of the medical record for accountability
Of the communication breakdowns leading to patient injury, 44% are caused by inaccurately received information. Communication that is centered around the patient removes much of the confusion experienced when providers discuss multiple patients.
Asynchronous communication eliminates the inefficient phone call and drives users to condense messages to only highly relevant clinical data.
Including all communication and patient relevant information in the medical record eliminates the question of perspectives and holds providers accountable.
Improves patient satisfaction and transparency
Patient information and imaging is accessible on the provider’s mobile device, allowing easy review and discussion with patients and their family members right at the bedside.
Delivers value to hospital administration
Gathers and organizes data in a meaningful way, providing useful metrics for hospital administrators and decision-makers.