EMR Integration Challenges and Solution
What is EMR integration? The process of integrating patient data present in multiple EMRs is called EMR integration. It is not to be confused with high-quality patient care as the need for detailed and accurate data is a must. Thus, many organizations use EMR systems to maintain the records of their patients. But these systems are exposed to retirement or expiration, and hence the data often needs to be transferred from the old system to the new system. This often leads to loss of data. There are other factors like the use of multiple EMRs that increase the complication and chance of data loss. Data integration in EMR is thus extremely important for the satisfaction of the patients and efficiency of the staff at clinics. Down below we have discussed some of the commonly faced challenges of EMR systems, their integration, and their solutions. Challenges related to EMR integration Multiple numbers of EMR containing patient data is hard to manage. It includes immense labor. At the same time, it also enhances the process of providing quality service to the patients. Detailed patient data is important for a thorough follow up and continual care. But every time an EMR system retires the process of transferring legacy data to a new EMR system becomes complicated. In many cases organizations even choose to maintain their records through multiple EMRs. As a result, clinicians are forced to manage two or more platforms at the same time. Service providers of the healthcare department agree that high-quality patient care requires a thorough patient data. However, it is often seen that patient data is lost in the transferring process from an old EMR to a new one. It is the opinion of many that records based on follow-ups on medications, problems, allergies, recent lab tests, etc. must be transferred as it is.
However, there are other elements as well that affects the patient care, such as scans and other medical anatomical images, family and hereditary and social history. These are often left behind even though the need for the later may be rare but in case of sensitive issues, it may prove to be life-saving. The loss of data often proves to be inconvenient for both the clinicians and the patients as they are often subjected to retests and other inefficiencies resulting in the dissatisfaction of the patient. Thus 1. 2. 3.
the basic problems that remain are: Inability to transfer precise and accurate data of certain types. Lengthy conversion timelines. The lack of resource owing to cost-cutting.
Effective Solutions Solutions that suit such problems will include ensuring the clinicians and their staffs to retain access to complete records of the patients that may be stored in two different systems. They should be accessible from a single portal. At the same time, it should ensure 100 percent security to privacy and accuracy of the records of patient data. The next factor is cost-cutting. The offered solution must be budget friendly and provide opportunities for resourceful operations. Precisely stating, the solutions must involve: 1. Integration of multiple EMRs with less hassle and reduced expenses than traditional approaches. 2. Access of the clinicians and the staff to full patient data in minimal time. 3. Complete and accurate data to provide high-quality patient care. Even though EMR integration may appear to be troublesome with advanced technologies and solutions, they are becoming adaptable and preferred technology among the healthcare department. As it cannot be denied that the technological aspect always affects every other industry of a country and the world as a whole.