The use of Electronic Medical Records (EMRs) could be widespread soon in the United States, and health professionals need to efficiently plan for their implementation.
When putting together an EMR system, organizations need to decide where to store patient data, according to Gettry Marcus, a CPA firm which handles many professional practices. There can be onsite storage, with backup storage off-site, or storage in the cloud. The cloud provides flexibility and personalization, Gettry Marcus explained in a statement, adding that “cloud computing can eliminate many of the complex constraints of traditional computing environments, including space, time, power and cost.” For example, patient records and charts can be stored electronically and retrieved when needed.
Healthcare organizations need to consider their needs, features, functions, technical and physical infrastructure, and budget restrictions, the CPA firm said. Consider too any space and technology constraints. On the other hand, some healthcare organizations may opt for an onsite system, given their technology resources.
One big reason why CIOs and other healthcare managers were initially reluctant to go to the cloud was security concerns, according to a Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) Analytics focus group.
“Some participants said they’d be comfortable using a private cloud hosted by their software vendor,” Information Week said in a report. “Others said the cloud was fine for business-related information, but that they wouldn’t trust it for storing personal health information.”
One interesting angle to the story is that some cloud vendors have yet to sign business associate agreements (BAAs), which are a requirement under HIPAA rules. Yet, other vendors, such as Box, Microsoft and Verizon, did sign BAAs.
Still, Information Week reports there is increasing popularity of cloud-based EHRs among physicians. Among medical practices replacing EHRs are those often switching to cloud-based systems because upfront costs are less, according to a Black Book survey. They do not require investments in software or servers. For example, an onsite server is not needed to store and back up records – when using the cloud. Also, many practices are outsourcing billing to cloud-based vendors.
The move to the cloud among independent practices is being pushed by economic reasons and government regulations, Black Book added in the survey. Via the cloud, the practices can remain independent using integrated practice management (PM)/EHR systems, and the outsourcing of revenue cycle management (RCM).
According to the survey, some 86 percent of business managers at practices said current PM systems could not meet future regulatory requirements.
In a related event, a recent study in the “New England Journal of Medicine” showed that more than 100 doctors from several hospitals offered 20,000 patients to view their medical records—and doctor’s notes—via an online portal. The study showed that 80 percent of patients read the notes. The patients said they were more in control of their health and better prepared for office visits – as a result. The patients were also more likely to take medications correctly and on time, the study said. Doctors were also happy with the program.
The U.S. government is giving providers incentives to start use EMRs. Over 2 million patients can access them. Also, some 24 percent of Americans are already using EHRs, studies said.
According to one study, from the Asbury Group, all U.S. medical records will be digital by 2019. “Hospitals will be judged—and reimbursed —on how well they’re managing to keep patients from returning,” Chip Burns, president of The Asbury Group Integrated Technology, told Healthline. “Having monitoring technology and two-way streams of information in place are key to doing that.” Source
