In today’s digital age, electronic health records (EHR) have become an integral part of medical practices. EHRs have revolutionized healthcare systems by improving workflow and patient care. For small medical practices, the use of EHR solutions can be a game-changer.
They offer numerous benefits, such as improving staff efficiency, enhancing patient engagement, and streamlining clinical processes. This guide will discuss how EHR solutions can improve workflow in small medical practices with a specific focus on patient engagement software, EHR solutions, practice management solutions, and Nexus EHR and PM.
Intake through the Patient Portal
One of the striking features of EHR solutions is the ability to use a patient portal for intake forms. A patient portal is a secure platform where patients can access various healthcare services, such as scheduling appointments, accessing their medical records, and receiving test results.
With patient portals, medical practitioners can provide efficient care while minimizing patients’ waiting time. The intake forms and data patients provide through these portals can be automatically uploaded into the EHR system easing the registration process.
Scheduling
EHR solutions provide real-time information about available appointment times. Patients can easily access their preferred appointment date, time, and location.
The appointment scheduling is done electronically with inputs from physicians, which allows the system to detect conflicts in the schedule quickly. EHR systems enable the automatic notification of appointment confirmation and cancellation reminders sent to both staff and patients.
Charting Templates for Patient Encounters
EHR solutions offer several charting templates for patient encounters. The templates are customizable to meet the patient’s needs, conditions, and other requirements. Physicians can use these templates to record patient information, including symptoms, medical history, and results of tests, which can be quickly retrieved for future reference.
Moreover, templates make it very convenient for providers to document CC/HPI, Review of symptoms, Physical exams and plan notes. Superbill templates make the process of sending charges to billing very effortless.
Accurate and up-to-date charting templates provide medical practitioners with valuable information that helps them enhance clinical decision-making and provide more comprehensive patient care.
Lab Ordering and E-Prescribing
EHR solutions can integrate laboratory coding and orders directly into the system, meaning that staff can electronically send orders to laboratories. The process is automated and less time-consuming, reducing the chances of errors during transmission.
Additionally, EHR solutions offer e-prescribing services. E-prescribing enables physicians to send accurate and secure prescriptions to pharmacies directly from the software. It eliminates the need for paper prescriptions, saving time and reducing the incidence of medication errors.
Billing Insurance from the Software
In EHR solutions, financial transactions, including billing insurance, can be done from the software itself. Medical practitioners can view patient insurance information, real-time eligibility verification details, and claims in real-time and create statements for insurance carriers in a few clicks.
The integrated feature ensures that all billing claims are accurate and eliminates the chances of errors in the billing processes.
Appointment Reminders, and eFAX
EHR systems provide appointment reminders via text, email or phone call. These reminders significantly reduce no-shows, which results in fewer lost revenue opportunities for the medical practitioner.
EHR solutions also offer efax services, which providers can use to send and receive faxes from within the EHR system. Efaxes reduce the costs of paper, toner, and fax machines.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, EHR solutions have numerous features within them that serve to alleviate the difficulties faced by small medical practices. These features make it possible for physicians and staff to concentrate on the medical side of the practice, leaving the administrative burden to be handled by the EHR system.
The results are happier practitioners, higher patient satisfaction, and well-run practices. The use of patient engagement software, EHR solutions, and practice management solutions create a better healthcare experience for all involved and are worth the investment. Implementing an EHR solution for a small medical practice is a step toward more efficient workflow and better patient care.
Nexus EHR & PM is a cloud-based, HIPAA-compliant platform designed for healthcare providers. It streamlines clinical workflows, maximizes physician-patient interactions, and is equipped with features like clinical alerts and claims management. This ONC 2015 Edition certified software caters to small to midsize practices, offering specialty-specific templates for various medical fields.
