It goes without saying that when physicians have complete access to information, their patients will receive better care.
Electronic Health Record or EHR has provided physicians with access to their patient’s information. EHRs can store different types of patient information such as medical history, medications, laboratory results, demographics, and a lot more. One reason why storing your patient’s health records online is better than the usual manual paper settings is that physicians can have a stable source of updated information.
Problems of Filipino Doctors in Patient Care
A good electronic health record system also lessens the usual medical errors like illegible physician handwriting, which is common in Filipino doctors and doctors in general. When a prescription or a physician’s note cannot be read and understood well, miscommunication may surely happen.
Another benefit is the efficiency of the data this electronic health system gathers. When the information is up-to-date, duplication's and delays are lessened. When all of the patient’s attending physicians can simultaneously access information, diagnoses may be more effective and efficient.
The global COVID-19 pandemic has not made physicians’ lives easier. In fact, the pandemic has worsened the mental, emotional, and physical health of physicians. Delivering patient care has been a struggle. Not only are the physicians delivering bad news to a patient’s family, but to their own families as well.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the Filipino Healthcare System has a history of unfair and unequal access to health services that consequently affect the poor and marginalized. The Philippine government spends less money on healthcare programs which further widens the gap between the rich and the poor.
Only 30 percent of the healthcare professionals in the Philippines are working under the government. 70 percent of them are working under a privately-owned company. This results in a shortage of human healthcare resources. The shortage will ultimately lead to inefficiencies in the country’s healthcare system.
Because of these problems, advances have been made to further improve the quality of healthcare and patient care. One of these advances is Telemedicine such as Electronic Health Record and Electronic Medical Record system.
Physicians and healthcare facilities are encouraged to invest in these digital innovations to improve the overall quality of care they will give their patients.
Barriers to EHR System Implementation
Surely, just like any other innovations, the Electronic health record system does have its barriers as well. It is important for physicians to identify these barriers so that they can truly be knowledgeable and aware of what they are getting themselves into.
Barrier in Technical Ability
Since the electronic health records system is cloud-based, its main component is the internet. If there are healthcare facilities that are located in hard to reach areas with intermittent internet access, retrieving and uploading of data may be slower than usual.
Barrier in The Cost of Use
As mentioned above, an electronic health records system is an investment. Physicians may be drawn back because of the total cost of the system. Yet it is important to look at the ROI and the results of investing in this digital innovation.
Barriers in Manpower
Since digital innovations in healthcare may be new to some healthcare workers and patients. Their initial thought may be to back out of the idea. It is important for physicians to have a conversation with their staff and patients before shifting to an electronic health record system. Training's of staff should be given to ensure improved workflow processes.
Barriers in Privacy
While full privacy cannot be guaranteed in the usual paper settings because anyone can have access to it, in an electronic health record system cyber attacks may happen as well. The difference is, in a digital system, privacy is improved through constant system upgrades. In these upgrades, not only will the privacy concerns be lessened but also the whole system as well.
Barriers in Usability
Not only is the whole concept of the electronic health record system challenging to comprehend for some physicians and patients, the usage of it may be tricky too. Some might find it hard to navigate through different types of devices. This might be frustrating to some healthcare staff that are not very familiar with working with technology. When healthcare staff do not understand how to properly use an EHR system, medical errors may arise. Again, proper training and good communication must be given.
In identifying the barriers of an electronic health record system, physicians can now create realistic goals and expectations. Although, admittedly, digital innovations may sound risky and challenging at first, but once you get a hang of it, most of the time workflow processes are indeed smoother than the usual paper settings.
Planning on investing in an EHR system, requires healthcare facilities and physicians to analyze what tasks need to be done and completed in a timely manner, and also the changes in their current workflow processes.
It is crucial to find a suitable electronic health system provider that works best for Filipino physicians and patients. The provider must have a knowledge and understanding on how healthcare facilities in the Philippines provide patient care.
Global MD Plus is a Philippines-based electronic health system provider that aims to improve the quality of health care here in the Philippines. They understand that choosing a provider requires thorough discernment, this is why, they are giving their clients a FREE 30-day trial to access all of their services. All you have to do is register on their website. Simple and easy as that.
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