Five Reasons to Ditch Your Paper Records

Paper-based record keeping and paper-based clinical notes (clinical notes, progress notes, DART, SOAP) have been on the way out for the past few years. As more people move to electronic record-keeping or Electronic Health Record (EHR), the time for paper records as a viable medium for medical documentation has come and gone. After all, who wants to spend their days shredding, filing, shuffling or stacking paper? And there are even more reasons to ditch the paper records and go the digital route to record-keeping and charting. Here are four benefits of EHR systems:

1. Provide better service to your clients

A good EHR system enables you to provide better clinical care, better customer service, and achieve better clinical outcomes for your clients. Consider all of the extra time you can devote to your patients when you are not searching through stacks of paper looking for a misplaced file or simply filing paper or juggling templates. With a cloud-based EHR, such as Skedulex Case Management Software, all your files are located in one place. Additionally, you may document or chart your files from anywhere and at any time, and especially from the comfort of your own home. The ability to add to your patients’ charting at your leisure makes your documentation more efficient. EHRs are also searchable; thus, with a few keystrokes and a minimal investment of time, you find what is most important to you.

2. Greater compliance

Information security is one of the biggest challenges facing healthcare companies. Given the ubiquity of technology, today’s therapist engages several devices in her daily routine. Most therapists transfer information from one program to another, often using programs without proper security provisions.

A good EHRs come with a variety of features that help you to deal with ever-changing regulations and reporting requirements and remain compliant. Today, the sheer number of requirements therapists must adhere to is challenging in the very least. For many therapists, it is impossible to remain compliant without the help of software. A good EHR software also provides training and ongoing help to keep you abreast with industry and regulatory changes.

Using a computer and the internet can be enormously rewarding and productive. At the same time, it can be dangerous and costly. Take the time to learn the rules and practice them diligently. You would not get a ticket for using an outdated antivirus or operating system, but worse you could lose your clients’ data and your job or business with it. A few simple but important precautions with your computer and internet usage can prevent you from becoming the next innocent victim. Be a smart user!

3. Impress your clients

Rehab therapy is a competitive profession. Your clients’ first impressions matter. Whether your clients look at your website, your office, or your documentation, the image you project is crucial in creating and building a healthy brand. Imagine the image you project when you’re flipping through sheets of patients’ charts looking to refresh your memory about the previous sessions. A good EHR, on the other hand, allows you to present your documentation in an organized and professional manner. Your EHR projects a modern, tech-savvy feeling. As a bonus, the notes you send to referring case manager or lawyer also create a professional impression. What if you are not a computer or tech-savvy. Don’t let this worry you. EHRs are easy to learn and use. If you are still not sure, pick an EHR that has free, unlimited training and accessible training.

4. Work from anywhere anytime

With a cloud-based EHR, you could work from anywhere and at any time. This means having full access to all the incredible features of your EHR, such as an integrated HCAI, a full calendar system, document management, and secure file transfer – all of which can help you provide improved care and a superb client experience. This type of fully connected, rehab therapy-specific practice management solution or PMS, empowers you to provide efficient, patient-centered care—which is crucial in today’s competitive environment.

Are you ready to investigate this change a bit further? A cloud-based EHR designed specifically for therapy – Counselling, OTs, Pts, SLPs, and Rehab may be the answer. No server, no complexities. And you may save enough time to pay for the cost of the new system. I suggest that you start with a System Demo. A Demo will answer many questions, such as costs, benefits, systems required, training, transition time, etc.

5. Increase profitability

The Healthcare sector is growing increasingly competitive. With human resources topping 80% of their overall expenses, managers face the challenging task of keeping non-billable hours to a minimum. In this environment, time-saving technologies can have a significant impact on your bottom line. Here are 3 ways to save time and reduce costs:

Duplicate data entries cost money

Some companies use several software programs and manual processes to manage their clients. As a result, the same information is entered multiple times. A case manager, for instance, averages 70-80 entries per month for clients. If the daily activities are recorded in a phone or Excel template and re-recorded again in HCAI for invoicing, the total number of entries is now doubled.

 An on-premise server is costly, cumbersome and restrictive 

A recent survey suggests that 65% of Healthcare companies continue to store their documents in folders on a network or local server.  Onsite employees navigate to the desired client folder to retrieve or save files. Therapists and employees, working outside of the office, have limited or no access to their client files. In the above case, the completion of tasks is done by support staff in the office. These disparate and disconnected systems require layers of duplicated effort to coordinate, execute and track routine tasks.

 Integrated Reminders and Task management save time

Task management, notes and reminders are critical to the success of a Healthcare Provider. Although a significant number of therapists still carry a paper Day-Timer of some sort, electronic devices are the most common task management tools. These tools are familiar and flexible but come with questionable levels of security and efficiency, requiring a significant amount of time to administer, at both ends.

SkeduleX Case Management software saves time

SkeduleX is an innovative Web-based software for managing Counseling, Therapy, Rehab, and Assessments.  It is widely used in Counseling, Psychology, Psychotherapy, Social Work, therapy, Med-Legal and IE Assessments.

SkeduleX improves your bottom line while allowing you to work from anywhere and at any time. SkeduleX is connected, integrated and easy to learn and use.

Get started with a FREE Demo. Click this Link:   Free Demo

EHR (Electronic Health Record)