E-health records-the need of the hour...

Thousands of patients die every year from medical errors that can be forestalled. Standing in this scenario, it is quite imperative that we adopt the new technologies in the market. This is bound to improve the way health records are maintained all over the world, drastically.The Patient Protection and Affordable Healthcare Act being passed in the recent past, e-health records have been widely accepted across organisations in India and abroad, small and big. 

An EHR is an electronic version of the medical data of any individual, maintained by the service-provider and including all the main administrative as well as clinical data which is significant for that person’s care, including statistics, progress memos, diagnosis reports et cetera. However, in India, around 60% of online patients claim to possess an EHR, roughly 20% of them utilise it for more efficient medical care supply. 

The advantages include improved high rate of availability of data, allowance to digitalised medicos for entering orders from customers, efficient payment systems, encumbrance to health issues, and enormous comfort of access. The dark side however, entails lack of interactive ability amidst EHRs, extremely high expenditure for setting-p and maintenance, delays in database-entries as well as an ever-lasting updating system.

Assessing new technology on the rise, implement a new set of processes, managing workflows and recognising and deleting garbage value before taking to the society a new EHR system, will drastically help to better effectuation, build up communication, and de-limit non-value added work. This ultimately will lead to an increase in the acceptance of this feature in India to a greater degree.

By - Rounak bose

 

For more info : Electronic Health Records India

5 Reasons why EHR practice is not popular in India

Electronic Health Record (EHR) is a step forward in the improvement of healthcare system. It is a technology that saves the records of patient’s medical history, physical examination, prescriptions and treatment digitally. But, it is not being widely accepted in India due to the following reasons:

Doctors need to say: Yes Please!

The main reason why Electronic Health Records (EHR) system is not faring well in India is the reluctance of doctors to participate. They are not too enthusiastic about a system that, according to them, constitutes of time-consuming and burdensome writing of prescriptions on computers. In India, doctors see 40-60 patients per day and they have no time to put down the information on computer. But doctors are coming around slowly as big healthcare companies like MEDICOSA work on providing the best and most efficient EHR platforms.     

Two ‘I’s for Incredible India and Two for Illiterate India :

A big hurdle in the path of success of EHR system is the illiteracy rate in India, especially when 70% of Indians live in rural areas. IT is hard to get them to understand the technicalities of EHR system when they don’t even have the basic education. Measures are being taken to connect with the people living in villages. If villagers can’t come to you, you go to them. This is exactly what the healthcare system MEDICOSA does; it bridges the gap between rural and urban. 

No roots in Grassroots :

The metropolitan cities of India are equipped to welcome these technological changes but the problem lies with the grassroots levels. Government hospitals in small cities lack the resources required to make an initiative like EHR a success. There’s no money to invest on expensive interface, training of staff, migration of information etc. 

Government of India, Step Up :

There is a sort of laid-back attitude in the hospital administration when the subject concerns EHR. This is because there is no legal requirement or pressure from government for the implementation of EHR system. Unlike US government, Indian government has not yet made EHR practice mandatory. 

Scared of Change :

The new and fresh idea of digitizing medical records is intimidating to people, as people are used to, and they actually prefer the old method of storing data in files and folders. By – Muskan Gupta

For more info : Electronic Health Records India

ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORDS IN INDIA

Electronic Medical Record (EMR) is a technique used in noting the observations, diagnosis, treatment & any other medical parameter, electronically using the latest technology.

It can be described as a Summary of Any Observation or a Record, that is produced during any Clinical Observation or/and Practise.

Electronic Medical Record (EMR) is basically any technique used in noting the observations, diagnosis, treatment, and any other medical parameter, electronically!

We always make sure what we do, during any hour of the day, is arranged and well managed, so as to avoid any conflict.

Similarly, Any EMR/EHR has to be well managed and well arranged. The information uploaded in it should be arranged, as there is no problem in finding it when is needed the most, and using it to its full potential.

Electronic records are highly useful in many ways such as:-

• Medical history goes paperless now
• Healthcare costs are highly reduced 
• Empowering the doctors to be able to deliver right treatment at the right time 
• Practice of evidence-based medicine is being promoted
• Lifespan of the health records have now increased. Concept of forever implies over here.
• safety with access, audit and authorization can now be done easily

By - Trishala

For More Visit : Electronic Health Records India