Electronic medical records are a necessity in the health care industry, as they're simple to access and keep patient information safe and secure at all times. The fact that these records are mobile means physicians can use their iPads to update patient charts with current and accurate information. Here are just a few ways that mobile tools can benefit your practice:
"Having to update a paper chart takes significantly longer than documenting information on an iPad with the swipe of a finger."
1. Patient interaction is more efficient
Having to update a paper chart takes significantly longer than documenting information on an iPad with the swipe of a finger. Plus, with the use of mobile tools, patients will no longer be required to fill out the same forms every time they visit your practice, which cuts back on the minutes they must be there and makes for a more pleasant experience overall.
Mobile devices also allow physicians to quickly and efficiently transfer patient information from department to department with the touch of a button. This leads to a quicker, and likely more accurate, patient diagnosis.
2. Saves your practice money
Paper chart transcription, storage and re-filing costs can begin to add up, but when physicians are able to access every patient's medical record right on their iPad, they're saving your practice money that can be used elsewhere to improve patient care.
Mobile tools such as iPads can save money and give physicians access to a wealth of information.3. Improves diagnosis
With mobile tools like an iPad and the apps that can come with it, doctors will have immediate access to a wealth of information, including prescribing, diagnosis and treatment. This could help to immensely improve the quality and convenience of patient care. With multiple practice departments such as labs, inpatient wards, etc., patient information often needs to be transferred to different areas, and mobility tools can help get that job done quickly and effortlessly.
4. Enhances accuracy
With talk-to-text dictation, like Nextech's NexSpeak, physicians don't even have to use their hands to update charts and integrate patient information. Dictation programs like NexSpeak are created to recognize medical terminology and accurately translate words into text so doctors can spend less time looking at charts and more time interacting with patients directly. Entire patient visits can be transcribed, which not only saves money on transcription costs, but also helps eliminate errors, and hopefully, lead to better patient outcomes.
5. Improves patient communication
In order for patients to really understand their diagnosis and treatment options, they must be explained to them in a simple, easy-to-process way. Having an iPad at your side means you can show them diagrams, charts, pictures and information that may help them better understand exactly what's going on. Surgical procedures, illness progression, injuries, physical therapy regimens, etc., can all be easily illustrated to patients with the use of mobile health care tools.