Guest article provided by: prognocis.com
Overview – What is Real-Time Data in Healthcare?
Over the past few years, the field of healthcare witnessed a massive process of digitization. As a result, real-time data entry became very important to optimize the system and improve patient care.
Real-time data entry refers to documenting the patient’s findings, test results, and additional information as soon as they are available. In other words, the physician can treat their patients without worrying that some information may be missing from their electronic health records software since everything gets registered in real-time.
However, despite the benefits of a real-time health system, there are still several challenges that need to be addressed.
This article will cover the benefits of real-time data entry and the potential challenges faced by this technology.
Benefits of Real-time Data in Healthcare
- Improves decision-making
Real-time data entry allows physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals to make decisions based on comprehensive information that considers treatment approaches. As a result, patients will receive high-quality care.
Additionally, browsing and recording data immediately will give physicians more time to focus on the patient instead of looking at their screens during the visit.
- Lowers cost
Fortunately, the cost of setting up a real-time health system is decreasing year on year. Additionally, the time that would have otherwise been wasted on entering data manually and checking for errors can get invested elsewhere, which increases the efficiency of the workplace.
Real-time data also allows for the detection of a patient’s deteriorating condition on time. Consequently, healthcare professionals can intervene before the patient reaches a critical state.
All these factors will contribute to lowering the cost of this technology.
- Enhances patient care
EMR integration of real-time data is a positive change for patients since it supports their objective of receiving top-quality care at affordable costs.
When physicians have comprehensive data collection on a patient’s overall health, they will order fewer unnecessary tests and measurements, which improves patient care.
Every maneuver, test, and decision will be based on reliable information that uniquely matches the patient’s medical history and chief complaint.
The Challenges to Real-time Data Entry
Some of the challenges faced by real-time data entry include:
- Siloed technology systems
- Device mobility limitations
- Logistical issues in some EHR systems
To chart data that is accurate, actionable, and timely, the system must be supported by an integrated solution that simplifies real-time data charting in the EMR.
How can Real-time Data Improve Patient Care?
- Outsmarting Alarm Fatigue
Clinicians can make appropriate care decisions thanks to the intuitive predictive data at their disposal.
By moving toward comprehensive surveillance, clinicians can use real-time data to divert adverse events. So you see, as a doctor, you will get a complete view of the patient’s past medical history and present illness, allowing you to become more efficient at diagnosing and managing their condition.
- Proactive Measures
Working with real-time data will give the healthcare system a more proactive role by identifying at-risk patients, which reduces intensive care unit readmissions and predicts patients’ lifespans.
How to Achieve Real-Time EHR Data Entry
Healthcare IT integration can be a very complex process. However, the right technology can integrate disparate IT, clinical, telecom, and EMR/EHR systems to permit information flow.
As a result, you will have a cohesive, integrated communication ecosystem that makes sure the right piece of information is available at the right time.
Here is what an ideal solution that supports real-time charting would look like:
- Intelligent field mapping to decrease duplicate data entry.
- A user-friendly interface with all information available on a single platform
- Voice-to-text capability to speed up and simplify data entry.
- Easy transfer of clinical notes for rapid documentation
- Immediate delivery of critical lab and test results to the right clinician with date, time, recipient, and delivery status
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is an EHR entry?
Electronic Health Record (EHR) data entry is part of a physician’s job. It involves registering patients’ data into their EHRs, which can take up to 40–50% of the physician’s time during working hours.
Is EHR structured data?
That is correct. Data sent by medical devices to EHR systems will typically be structured data.
What data is available in the EHR?
– Data available on EHR may include:
– Demographics
– Vital signs
– Medical history
– Medication and allergies
– Immunization status
– Laboratory test results
– Radiology images
– Personal statistics (e.g., age, weight)
– Billing information
Takeaway Message
Real-time data entry can significantly improve the efficiency of a healthcare system when combined with EMR integration.
We hope that this article highlights the potential role of a real-time health system in improving patient care and helping physicians invest their time in worthy tasks. You can also listen to the Podcast here
If you have any questions or concerns about data entry or EMR integration, please do not hesitate to share your thoughts in the comment below.
Authors Bio –
Andrew Fearnley is a Senior marketing manager at Bizmatics (A leading EHR software provider). He is very creative and he knows the importance of effective content marketing in building companies.. He is a regular reader of healthcare marketing which he channelizes through the Prognocis Blog.
Twitter accounts – @prognocis
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