Prioritizing the acceleration of digital transformation in the healthcare industry has become the talk of the town across various countries. Post the Covid-19 hit, the healthcare industry across various countries has been increasing its relevance and various healthcare organizations have been opening up to the idea of implementing digital transformations for improved outcomes. Healthcare organizations from across the globe are willing to adopt these changes. However, it can be overwhelming. Digital transformation in the healthcare sector is yet to make significant inroads in the daily functions of the healthcare industry. 

Digital transformation in the healthcare industry is the building block of a patient centric approach in healthcare. It has enabled healthcare service providers to streamline operations, build trust and loyalty, understand patients’ requirements, and most importantly offer a better and smooth customer experience. Regardless of the many studies that suggest that digital transformation has helped healthcare organizations move forward from the traditional way and enhance their care delivery they are still hesitant. 

Investing in emerging technology and deciding which one must invest in can be the hardest part and getting the team onboard can also be challenging. Adapting to the new digital technology requires a risk-taking mindset. It is vital that healthcare organizations across the nation show a shift towards being more flexible and let go of the outdated processes and embrace the new changes and believe that it will yield big results. This transformation in the healthcare industry is sure to bring a positive impact on technology and its use in healthcare. 

Why is it crucial that the healthcare industry gives in to the fad of digital transformation? 

Innovation is the name of the game. Introducing digital transformation in your healthcare organization will ensure that the main goal of enhancing patient outcomes is streamlined by optimizing systems and improving healthcare service providers’ works, how patients’ data is shared across various service providers, and how decisions regarding treatment plans are made to reach the goal. 

There is a rapid rise in consumer demands who want services on their own terms, wherever they happen to be, and on their own time. The healthcare industry is bound to be entering the era of digital transformation as patients seek on-demand healthcare services that fit in their busy schedules. Consumers have become far more mobile than they were in the past few decades.

Statistics suggest that more than 50% of the consumers want to be able to book appointments and scroll through their medical history at their convenience on their smart devices. As per a recent study conducted by an organization, most consumers are going online to obtain the following medical information: 

• 47% are research doctors
• 77% to book their medical appointments
• 38% to research on medical and hospital facilities

An online marketplace for people who provide healthcare services is making it easier for doctors and other healthcare professionals to provide on-demand healthcare services to consumers in specific circumstances, schedules, and expertise. It enables the healthcare industry to provide the changing needs of consumers. This is one of the biggest USPs of digital transformation in the healthcare industry.  More than 4 Billion across the globe are using the internet on an everyday basis and as a business owner and healthcare organization one must see the possibilities that digital transformations in the healthcare industry have to offer. 

How are Electronic Medical Records impacting the healthcare industry today? 

Electronic Medical Records also known as Electronic Health records have been used by various healthcare organizations lately. The EMRs have gained substantial popularity over the last couple of years and are known to enhance medical operations considerably. These solutions come with a range of features and it is easy to get overwhelmed but this system is much more sophisticated than the usual paper-based operating systems that are prone to human errors. 

With the pandemic last year, it was a year full of surprises for the healthcare industry. Digital transformation, however, was a pleasant surprise. It was the need of the hour for organizations within the healthcare industry to take the leap of faith and move forward with various apps and software that will make it possible for hospitals and other healthcare organizations to work efficiently and reduce employees. 

If as a business owner you are evaluating the features that should be a part of your EMR solutions, or as a healthcare service provider you wish to change the existing system of your healthcare establishment; here are a few EMR features that you must consider: 

Patient Schedules: These features enable patients to book an appointment at their convenience and allows healthcare professionals and other service providers to register their appointments and schedule the appointment. Once the appointment is booked both the healthcare professional and the patient will receive a text confirming the booking. 

Portals for Patients: The whole purpose of digital transformation in healthcare is to improve consumer outcomes. Having an Electronic Medical Record that will provide patients access to the following: 

• Educational materials
• Allergies
• Lab results
• Medications
• Immunizations
• Discharge summaries
• Recent doctor visits
• Forms for download

Other Advanced Tools: 

• Coverage and benefit checks
• Prescription refill  forms
• Appointment scheduling
• Payment method
• Contact information and updated forms

Electronic Prescriptions: An electronic medical report that provides the facility to add electronic prescriptions offer instant and automatic notifications of potential drug allergies and interactions and helps in faster decision making and faster treatments. 

Access to Patient History: It is crucial that an EMR app makes it easier for consumers to have access to their health history. This allows healthcare professionals to better manage the patients’ medical and surgical history, review and capture various positive and negative accounts and make informed medical decisions. 

Complies with Your Evaluation and Management Standards: It is crucial that you have an EMR system that allows recording the following information: 

• Physical examination results
• Various health risk factors
• Diagnosis and treatment codes
• Legible and complete medical records
• Prior diagnostic test results
• Valuation, clinical imprint, and diagnosis
• Medical care proposal
• Reason for encounter and applicable medical history

Conclusion:

For years healthcare professionals have been trying to come up with doable solutions for storing fragmented medical records. Medical data is being stored in stretched and unstructured formats and an Electronic Medical Record is a safer and faster way to store huge amounts of data. This ensures 100% accurate records that are difficult to be hacked. It has a significant impact on your daily operations and is vital to help you stay on track with the changing times. If you wish to make this change in your organization, SoftGrid Computers is your one-stop solution.