It is a fact that accurate and timely medical records are crucial for proper patient care and medical transcription outsourcing has played a key role in ensuring this. Electronic health records (EHRs) rule the roost in modern healthcare and have transformed the way patient information is accessed and managed. Center Watch News Online recently reported on a survey which found that patients see medical information sharing and EHR interoperability as critical for high-quality care.
Up to 97% of the respondents in the digital survey conducted by Transcends Insights said they believe it is important for all types of health institution everywhere to have access to their full medical history in order to receive high-quality care. Having access to their own medical records was also a top priority to receive personalized care. The key findings of the survey are as follows:
- Patients rated the factors crucial to receiving personalized care as: access to their own medical records (92%) and ability of care providers to easily share and receive important information about their medical history-wherever they needed treatment (93%).
- 72% of patients believed that their doctors could easily share and access important information about their medical history, whenever or wherever they needed care.
- 64% of respondents said that they use a digital device (including mobile apps) to manage their health and 71% believed it would help if their physician had access to this information as part of their medical history.
- Patients were found to be more likely to completely trust the healthcare they receive from any medical professional when he or she has access to their full medical history (38% versus 27%).
- Most of the respondents believed that clinician access to their full medical history is important to receiving high-quality care, with 87% of respondents saying that primary care physician (PCP) access is extremely or very important to getting high-quality care.
In fact, the findings of the survey indicate that patient care can be improved by:
- Giving providers and health systems the tools to stay connected
- Facilitating patient access to their medical records
Due to ongoing hitches involved connecting the expansive healthcare system, the type of open access to medical records that patients envisage is still non-existent. However, according to the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT, there are many ways providers can ensure patient-centered medical records:
- Allow patients to use patient portals to request and gain access to their records easily.
- Set up an electronic records request system distinct from online portals.
- Offer an online process that is clearly spelt out in user-friendly language.
- Use electronic verification processes to more quickly confirm the record requester’s identity.
- Offer an online tracking facility for requests in patient portals.
- Inform patients that records can be requested in both physical and digital modes.
- Encourage greater use of patient portals by also offering features such as appointment scheduling, prescription refills and secure physician messaging.
As providers and patients push for patient-centered records to improve care, EHR-integrated medical transcription services are a valuable tool to ensuring timely and accurate updating of health information. Experienced medical transcription companies are well-equipped to provide EHR feeds for multiple specialties. Their services go a long way in improving the quality of medical information which is critical to minimizing errors and enhancing care.