Electronic health records (EHRs) have stolen a march over not just conventional paper-based records, but also electronic medical records or EMRs in several ways. The EMR vs. EHR debate can be put to rest with reports by Grand View Research that indicate how the global EHR market has achieved a valuation of $28.1 billion in 2022, with expectations of it touching $38.5 billion by 2030, growing by 4% (CAGR-compounded annual growth rate).
EHR implementation has become a foundational activity for healthcare players, functioning as digital or electronic patient records, including all vital data from notes and prescribed medicines to the history of symptoms and vital signs, radiology reports, lab information, and a lot more.
The entire clinical history of a patient is comprehensively held in EHRs while they also enable better optimisation and automation of workflows for healthcare providers, thereby contributing towards improved patient care at multiple levels. They also enable easier access to evidence-based tools for providers to come up with specific recommendations for patient care, which is another plus point to be noted in this context.
Deloitte reports state that factors like the interoperability of data, data-sharing, and growing consumerism will fuel a transformation of the healthcare sector by 2030, with electronic health records (EHRs) becoming key catalysts of this change.
The industry is now transitioning towards a more value-based model of patient care, with specific requirements for suitable EHRs from this perspective. Here are some additional points that you should also keep in mind:
Here are a few future trends related to electronic health records (EHRs) that should be noted:
It is pertinent to note that EHRs will play a vital role in lowering the time for documenting and maintaining patient records. They will also enable quicker and easier access to entire medical records and the history of patients while enabling quicker decision-making and personalised recommendations for improved patient care. They will also help boost relationships between patients and providers due to this personalised approach and easier access to entire interoperable data records and histories.
Participatory healthcare is the new buzzword today, where patients collaborate with their providers on their treatment journeys and decision-making. EHRs represent a pivotal step in enabling better outcomes for patients while offering clear benefits for the entire healthcare system at large.
Electronic health records are digital forms of patient records and data. They are different from paper-based records which have limitations in terms of space and legibility. EHRs enable electronic data recording and full understanding while being encrypted for higher security, unlike paper records which are vulnerable to damages, theft, exposure, transcription, copying, faxing, and scanning.
EHRs have greatly evolved over time to include more efficient capturing of data while automating several data-gathering procedures alongside. Automation has also enabled easier searching mechanisms alongside. EHRs are witnessing several trends including better result management, voice assistance, cloud platforms, better interoperability across systems, patient support and resource mechanisms, and reporting functions.
Some of the challenges include the implementation costs and resistance by healthcare personnel, along with the lack of proper digital training and knowledge. Training takes a lot of time, while data privacy and migration remain concerns as well.
EHRs enable better coordination and collaboration across healthcare providers for patient care and other purposes. It enhances patient care quality through interoperability and easy access to data across departments and healthcare providers. EHRs enable seamless access to patient records, enabling personalised recommendations and faster treatment decisions.
