Today, increasingly more data is being stored online, including medical records. Healthcare services, from small private practices to large hospitals are moving away from paper records and opting for digital storage. Keeping records online provides many benefits for practices. It saves space. Files can be pulled up faster. Records are much less likely to get lost or ruined. Less paper reduces the practice’s carbon footprint
Online medical records aren’t just beneficial for practices. There are several benefits for patients as well. Here are six reasons why you should keep your medical information stored online.
Faster Office Visits
One of the most basic benefits of storing medical information online is that it allows for faster office visits. In many cases, you can fill out essential forms and submit them electronically, which helps you to avoid filling out papers in the waiting room.
During your visit, you won’t have to wait while your physician tries to locate test results or information from past office visits. With just a few keystrokes, the necessary information can be accessed, saving valuable time. With faster office visits, there are fewer disruptions in your already busy schedule.
Fewer Errors When Storing Information
In the past, your medical information was stored in a paper folder. The folder was placed in a filing cabinet among several other files. Important papers could slip out of the folder and get lost.
With electronic healthcare records, your information is stored in your digital file. Since there are no papers, you don’t have to worry about papers getting lost. Fewer errors mean that your physician is always able to provide you with optimal care. If there are errors found, they can quickly be corrected.
Easy Communication with Providers
Online records allow for easier communication with your providers. Both you and your physician can access your full medical history. With a more in-depth view of your information, your physician can provide you with a more effective evaluation and reach a more accurate diagnosis.
In addition to current visits, online medical information allows your physician to follow up with you and keep track of your ongoing care. And, if you have any questions about a test result or imaging, you can easily contact your healthcare providers and get the answers you need.
Transfer or Request Records
In the past, getting recommended to a specialist meant requesting a physical copy of your records to bring with you. After getting the copies you needed, you would need to make sure that they stayed safe and went with you to your next appointment.
Today, however, having your information online makes requesting and transferring your medical records much easier. Your referring physician can easily send the necessary information electronically. You don’t have to worry about getting the papers yourself or remembering to bring them with you.
Access Your Information
It used to be that getting your medical information meant making phone calls or visiting your physician’s office. Keeping your medical information online, however, means that you can access your information from anywhere. If you have undergone testing or had bloodwork done, you can view the results online as soon as they’re ready.
Beneficial in Emergency Situations
While we all like to think that bad things won’t happen if we’re careful, sometimes accidents and injuries happen. In an emergency, you may not be able to remember all of your allergies, medications, conditions, or the fact that you have gut syndrome. Or, if you are unable to advocate for yourself, you may not be able to provide this information.
When your medical information is online, anyone providing you with emergency care can quickly access it. This then allows them to view your allergies, medical conditions, blood type, and other vital information, whether you’re at a local hospital or being treated at a medical facility several states away. As a result, you can receive faster, more effective care, no matter where you are.
Keeping your medical information stored online isn’t just beneficial for providers. It also provides numerous benefits for patients. From filling out required forms to accessing test results to emergency care, online information helps your physicians provide you with the best care possible.
