What are the advantages of using an electronic health records system for a doctor in the Philippines? A lot, actually. But first, I’d like to share a little about my experiences visiting clinics around the country.
I’ve personally visited clinics with records up to the ceiling of the clinic.
I’ve been to clinics with boxes of paper in one room or behind the doctor’s chair.
I’ve been to clinics with piles and piles of those plastic box containers on top of each other with labels.
I’ve been to clinics with file cabinets that’s just so full, the support for the drawer already got bent and it was not possible to close it anymore.
I mean, I understand that it was how it’s done for decades before.
It’s how it was taught and passed down, but is it really the only way?
Of course you can always say that “it’s my secretary’s job, it’s up to her to organize that, make it work.”
I’ve spoken to a lot of doctors with that mindset and I totally understand but it’s pretty obvious that there’s something wrong. Whether their staff isn’t built to organize things or too overbooked with the number of patients coming in and out or just the overall lack of space or whatever the reason, the job isn’t being done, that’s why the problem is there.
I also understand that doctors are busy.
There’s a huge hole in Philippine healthcare as the ratio of doctors available to patients is very much lopsided. There’s simply not much time to organize and adding another problem, such as worrying about how things are filed or changing 1 part of their workflow, it’s just asking a bit too much for many to even think about.
Nothing will be more important than saving lives and helping your patients.
BUT since you are searching for content regarding an electronic health records system here in the Philippines (you landed here for a reason) then that means you probably are considering one and looking at how much it will help you.
Well, let me help you with that.
5 Advantages of Using an Electronic Health Records System for Doctors in the Philippines
There are a bunch of benefits and advantages of going electronic and though a lot of doctors have told me stories of other advantages they’ve discovered as they used the SeriousMD app over time, I’ll be sticking with the most obvious and critical ones.
1. Organizing Patient Records
Going electronic means that you can pull up your patient records/charts anytime you need them.
For you, that’s instantly having access to your records. Organized and easily understood.
For your staff, that means no more filing and no more wasted time searching.
2. Accessing Records Anytime, Anywhere
If you use software like SeriousMD, then you’ll be able to access the records anytime you need it, for all your clinics. Left your device? Use the computer.
Going on rounds? Bring out your smartphone. In the car but your sectretary calls you asking for details about a patient’s prescription? Pull out your iPhone and check.
On a golf course (or overseas) and your patient calls you but you just could not remember who the patient is? Whip out your iPad and voila!
3. Reports
Since you are electronic now, it means you can create reports about your patients.
What’s your most common diagnosis? What’s the most common ICD code you’ve used the past year? Need to generate a list of EDD’s for your pregnante patients? There’s so much more doors this can open up for your research and this is all instantly done inside the app.
4. Tracking Appointments
An EHR software like SeriousMD won’t just handle your patient records, it’s going to manage your appointments as well. Inside the SeriousMD app, you’ll be able to look at your calendar, block off events so you don’t schedule patients on those days and you’ll be able to manage & sort your day-to-day queue. (Your staff does this, you don’t have to be the one that does it.)
5. A Boost In Productivity
What’s one of the things that you might have noticed that’s pretty redundant? It’s writing prescriptions, right?
How long does it take you to write one? How many times on average do your write the same or a similar prescription each week?
What if you can just press a button and it generates that list of meds for the prescriptions you create, including your instructions? Just print it out and sign it. Plus, the pharmacist doesn’t have to bother you because he couldn’t read your handwriting.
That’s a lot of time saved and that’s just for prescriptions alone.
Everything you do now can be done faster and in a more systematized way, as it should be.
There’s a reason why doctors tell me “Dennis, I can finally get home in time for dinner! I literally can see more than twice the number of patients now and still finish on time.”
The list above is just the tip of the iceberg.
There are other benefits, like automated patient reminders for their appointments, lower no show rates, tracking outstanding balances and HMO, securing & backing up your data is a breeze, being able to check your patient’s data during rounds and many, many more!
Going electronic is (still) practically “new” in the Philippines but it’s been around for a while now. It’s only a matter of time until the push for going electronic by organizations, the government etc. happens.
It’s better you jump aboard now, rather than later.