The days when the global health system was based on paper data are long gone. In 2022, the jungle of bureaucracy has been successfully replaced by digital workflows, specifically electronic health record systems.
In this manual, we will focus on the existing types of EHR software and the differences between them. Read on to find out if you should give EHR development a try.
What is an EHR system?
The EHR system is a multifunctional medical software that meets the special needs of a particular healthcare institution. The most common tasks an EHR can perform include:
- patient record storage
- appointment scheduling and management
- reminder system for medical workers
- pay
- online communication
- insurance fee
Please note that the number of features listed is not exhaustive. The functionality of each individual system can be very different. It all depends on the needs of the medical staff and administration of the institution. This is exactly the reason why EHR development services are gaining popularity. Many companies prefer to invest in custom software built specifically to meet their needs rather than spend money on off-the-shelf solutions.
What are the types of EHR systems?
Electronic medical record software is different, not just when it comes to actual functionality. There are other approaches to its classification. We will take a closer look at two of them.
Classification according to application
Different medical facilities may require an EHR solution for different reasons. In this case, the classification of EHRs by application is useful.
- Administrative EHRs handle most aspects of the doctor-patient interaction. It includes appointment history, appointment scheduling, test results, health-related data migration, and other types of administrative tasks.
- Reporting EHRs are designed to collect and store available information (eg, statistics, financial data, clinical data, workload information, etc.) for later analysis and performance measurement.
- Research EHRs are used when an institution needs a large amount of (usually anonymous) medical data to support future clinical research.
- Finance/Billing EHRs collect and store patient information that will be needed for a simple automated billing process. Includes easy-to-use billing tools, insurance information, billing cycles, and more.
- Clinical EHRs are developed to provide personalized healthcare with maximum efficiency. Through this type of software, medical professionals gain access to the most relevant information related to the health of their patients (current treatment, recent test results, allergies, etc.)
Classification according to application
Another way to categorize electronic medical record systems is by configuration options. In other words, this classification determines where the digital data will be stored.
host to the doctor
As the name implies, in this case, all data will be stored on the servers of a specific object. This means that the organization will need to provide hardware that is powerful enough to keep the EHR running at all times.
The benefits of a medical EHR include higher levels of performance, maximum control over system security, and protection of sensitive data. However, there are also some drawbacks. Firstly, not all medical organizations will be able to afford the necessary equipment for the proper functioning of the system, since it is quite expensive. Secondly, it will be necessary to have a technical expert (or even a team) on staff, to monitor the system and take care of maintenance/troubleshooting when necessary.
Consequently, medical EHRs are not the most popular these days. For the most part, this type of deployment is the prerogative of companies and large medical institutions.
remotely hosted
If an organization cannot (or does not want to) invest in a medical EHR, an alternative is a remote EHR. This means that storage, maintenance, and other IT needs are taken care of by a third party.
This option is often preferred by smaller practices and organizations with a primary focus on data collection/analysis. Although remote hosting requires regular payments, the costs are not as high as a doctor-hosted EHR.
It’s crucial to mention that every remotely hosted EHR falls into one of three subtypes: cloud, subsidized, and dedicated.
Let’s start with the most popular option: cloud-based EHRs. The popularity of cloud-based systems is based on two significant advantages. First of all, it is the cheapest. In addition, it allows medical professionals to quickly and easily access all data through any device connected to the Internet. The principle of cloud-based systems is also very easy to understand: the selected IT provider stores the available data in the cloud, resolves issues when necessary, and ensures unimpeded access for all authorized users.
The subsidized model is much less popular. Mainly because it offers the professional zero control over any data. A subsidized approach means that the healthcare organization with which the medical professional collaborates subsidizes the costs of the EHR. In this case, all possible technical problems are again resolved by a third party, but all control is on the side of the subsidized entity.
Dedicated hosting is something of a compromise between the two options above, suggesting that a medical center choose a provider and entrust the data storage on their servers. The server location is usually chosen to ensure maximum operational efficiency and smooth workflow. However, even though professionals know the location of the server, the level of data control is still quite low.
Last words
The adoption of electronic health records is still a long way off. The global pandemic has boosted the development process (by 2022, the global EHR market size will reach USD 26.78 billion), but in some countries the prospects are much better than in others.
This means that any healthcare related business has little time to choose the right EHR system, think carefully about the implementation strategy and finally reap the benefits that this innovative software brings!
There are many options in the modern EHR market: different types of systems. Numerous vendors and IT service providers offer development and maintenance services, hundreds of hosting payment plans, and out-of-the-box solutions. Take your time and analyze all the available information. Choosing an EHR system wisely can really make or break the future success of your business.
Categories: How to
Source: HIS Education