Physicians in the U.S. spend an average of 16 minutes and 14 seconds per patient encounter using electronic health records (EHRs), with chart review (33%) accounting for most of the time. For healthcare organizations already using an EHR, the next step is to take advantage of automation capabilities within the software. Solutions, such as AI-driven speech-to-text technology, like eClinicalWorks Scribe, and robotic processing automation (RPA) can manage repetitive or manual tasks, freeing up providers’ time. Additionally, intelligent cloud-based solutions that collate and compute data, like the eClinicalWorks Cloud and the PRISMA search engine, allow providers to better understand overall patient population health and promote more effective treatment and better patient outcomes.
It’s no longer enough to simply use an EHR for recordkeeping. Healthcare providers need a multidimensional EHR to increase productivity, stay on top of administrative tasks, and improve quality of care.
Speech-to-Text Technology and Bots are the Future of Automated EHRs
Though most providers no longer manually write notes or organize physical records, they still complete many other tasks manually. This presents an opportunity for automation. According to McKinsey, an estimated 33% of provider work can be automated, and automation represents an estimated $150 billion opportunity for operational improvement.1 With such potential cost savings, healthcare organizations need to assess where they might implement automation into providers’ daily routines.
One area ripe for automation is charting. With AI-based speech-to-text technology, like eClinicalWorks Scribe, providers can dictate into their phone immediately after a patient visit, capturing nuances from the appointment that might be lost charting at the end of the day or when looking at a screen instead of a patient. Streamlining documentation can save up to 24% of providers’ time, minimizing provider and administrative burnout.2
“Physician burnout is a real thing. It’s something that we see more and more,” says Dr. George Sanchez at Gastro Health. “Once I found out about Scribe, I started using it. It’s remarkable how accurate it is and how quickly you can speak. It detects your voice, language, and everything you’re trying to say.”
Though many practices use automated phone calls for outreach, they’re no longer enough to keep up with incoming requests from patients. Front offices should utilize integrated chatbots, such as healow Chatbot to answer patient questions at any time of day, reducing the number of phone calls an organization receives – empowering patients and reducing administrative burdens. Gartner predicts that by 2027, chatbots will become the primary customer service channel for roughly a quarter of organizations.3
Bots can also improve revenue cycle management (RCM). Bots automate routine tasks, like eligibility checking, real-time claim scrubbing, batch verification, and appeals generation. This automation streamlines back-office operations for maximum revenue collection.
A Better Provider Experience Equals a Better Patient Outcome
A study found that improving physicians’ work conditions are associated with better patient care and outcomes.4 EHR platforms can help by embedding intuitive search capabilities, keyboard shortcuts, and easy navigation for optimized workflows. PRISMA, the industry’s first health information search engine, brings together records from specialists, urgent care facilities, hospitals, and primary care providers who participate in the Carequality and Commonwell Health Alliance networks regardless of what EHR the other organization uses. Providers can easily and simply search patient records for conditions, diagnoses, treatments, and medications, thus reducing the risks of burnout. This is a win-win for organizations, reducing stress among providers while improving the patient experience.
“This is readily accessible information. We’re talking a click; we’re talking seconds. We don’t have to dig. We don’t have to wait,” says Trish Haynes, Practice Manager at Carolina Cape Fear Medical Group. “We’re able to efficiently care for the patient and focus more on them and less on paperwork.”
Technology to Enhance, Not Hinder, Healthcare Operations
As healthcare organizations become increasingly digitized, it’s important that technology adoption doesn’t get in the way of provider workflows. A multidimensional EHR like eClinicalWorks V12 can be implemented across specialty-focused workflows, from OB/GYN to pediatrics and dermatology. With tools like remote patient monitoring included in the software, real-time data is also possible. This data enables a deeper understanding of patient populations for a more proactive approach to patient monitoring. Exchanging data between health plans and providers improves scores on quality measures, help control costs, and promote better medical outcomes.
Learn more about how eClinicalWorks V12 software can provide a more streamlined workday.
About the author
Sameer Bhat leads the company’s sales department and oversees its technical direction. As a co-founder, he helped structure eClinicalWorks into a profitable, debt-free company with products used by doctors across all 50 states. Bhat holds a Bachelor degree in electronics and communications from Karnataka University.
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eClinicalWorks is a leader in cloud-based solutions for Electronic Health Records and Practice Management. More than 150,000 physicians and 850,000 medical professionals rely on the power and scalability of the eClinicalWorks Cloud for flexible clinical documentation, better front-office workflows, and more efficient billing. Visit www.eclinicalworks.com or call (866) 888-6929.