Exclusive Article by Shira Sagal at EMRIndustry.com
Pros Of Using A Medical Tablet
Medical tablets are clearly the wave of the future in health care systems, and they are in reality already here. According to Manhattan Research’s “Take the Pulse U.S. 2012” survey, 62 percent of physicians used a tablet in 2012 compared to only 27 percent in 2011.
Medical tablets can be used to perform the same functions as smartphones, but they are easier to see and use. They can also support more complex features and be more versatile than smartphones. These are some of the pros of using medical tablets in hospitals, clinics and other health care settings:
More Efficient Administration
Medical tablets can make administration more efficient and save health care systems money. With electronic health records, unnecessary testing can be reduced because the medical tablet can notify the ordering doctor if the test was already performed.
Administrators can go paperless and save more money. Paperless billing also saves costs on postage, while it increases cash flow since people tend to pay faster when they can pay electronically. Using medical tablets throughout the system allows the information to be input and disseminated instantly, so patient records and payment statuses are always up to date.
Improved Accuracy
Medical mistakes are unfortunately all too common. Medical tablets can reduce them dramatically because of the use of electronic health records. First, the patient’s entire medical history is in a single file, so doctors are less likely to overlook relevant medical information when making a diagnosis or planning treatment. When prescribing medications, doctors will be less likely to prescribe interacting drugs because the electronic health records on medical tablets can be set up to automatically search for potential drug interactions, sending the doctor an automatic alert.
This can all happen while complying with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) regulations, since medical tablets can support software that has the required privacy safeguards and access features in place: Electronic health records can be more secure than paper.
Easier Scheduling
Time and scheduling are significant limiting factors in caring for patients; both in routine care and acute care settings. Consider the logistics of scheduling patient appointments. In a routine office, a patient passes a nurse’s station and then needs an empty examining room to see the doctor. There may be other necessary stops, such as at the lab for blood tests, in the pharmacy to pick up prescriptions, and in the radiology department for X-rays. Each of these requires a spot in the facility as well as the appropriate health care providers to attend to the patient plus the patient’s information. Imagine how much more difficult the process of scheduling is when patient data is not easily accessible.
Medical tablets can facilitate the process of moving patients through the health care system. Doctors and other health care providers can simply carry their tablets, thus accessing patient data and inputting new data without a hitch.
Better Patient-Doctor Communication
A survey conducted by the American Electronics Association asked patients and health care providers about their interest in using wireless devices. Patients and providers overwhelmingly expressed interest in communicating with each other using their wireless devices. The use of electronic health records also arose as a major desire. These were some of the findings from the survey:
- 34 percent want to send data to their doctors via their devices.
- 33 percent want to store and access their health records online.
- 32 percent are interested in video appointments with doctors.
Communication is clearly a highly desired feature between patients and doctors, and medical tablets can improve it. They can support software that enables them to communicate through video chats and audio.
Faster Care
The health care system exists to serve patients, and medical tablets support better patient care. One reason is because they facilitate communications. Doctors can consult with specialists remotely using their medical tablets. Together and possibly with the patient in on-site or remote attendance at the meeting, they can collaborate to decide on the patient’s condition, prognosis and best course of treatment.
The ability to collaborate remotely within hours or days can save weeks compared to the traditional alternative of scheduling an in-person meeting with one or more specialists. It is much easier to find common time in the schedule of multiple busy professionals when they meet through telecommunications rather than commute to a common site. Saving this time can save patients’ lives.
Better Care
In addition to providing faster service, health care providers can use medical tablets to provide better care. High-quality multimedia such as high-resolution medical images, video and audio can enable more accurate responses on the parts of doctors. They can, for example, better assess the progression of a tumor or vascular dysfunction, or use the audio component to hear irregular breathing sounds.
Investing in medical tablets can be well worth it. Health care providers can be more efficient and make fewer mistakes when providing care. The results can include better patient outcomes and lower operating costs.
Sources
http://www.amednews.com/article/20120604/business/306049967/2/, http://www.healthcareitnews.com/blog/usage-tablets-healthcare-industry?single-page=true
Author Bio:
Shira Sagal received her degree from Asbury University and is the Content Manager for Teguar Computers. Teguar provides top-grade medical grade computer solutions to healthcare facilities.
