How does an EHR system work?

Electronic medical records software has replaced traditional paper-based records. The paper-based records were inefficient and took up lots of office space.

EHR solutions have patient data digitally stored in them. The system allows healthcare providers to enter patient data and easily update it. The records include all important patient details such as family history, medication history, allergies, and lab tests that support the patient’s diagnosis and treatment path.

Key features in EMR software

A top-ranked and modern Electronic Medical Records (EMR) Software system will offer the following functionalities to optimize workflows and enhance productivity levels:

• Cloud-based functionality
• Full-featured mobile app
• Care management tools
• Charting features such as voice recognition capabilities
• E-Rx tools
• Seamless integration with controlled substance database
• Patient scheduling
• Appointment reminders
• MIPS support
• Patient Portal
• Billing features
• HIPAA-compliance

EHR software benefits clinicians

• Quick access to patient records – The use of EMR technology by providers offer them prompt access to patient records. This way they are well-informed to provide the right patient diagnosis and treatment.
• Supports care coordination – Interoperability options in the software solution enable providers to seamlessly exchange patient data with other providers. When doctors can work together they can communicate crucial data at the right time, reducing fragments in care. Care needs to be coordinated when there is follow-up care after an emergency and when the patient’s primary care provider needs to communicate with multiple specialists for a chronic health condition.
• Financial benefits – According to a study published by the American Journal of Medicine, using EMR software offers a positive return on the financial investment made. There have been savings in drug expenditure, reduced billing errors, and efficient recording.

EMR System advantages for patients

• Improved patient safety – EHR-integrated alerts can streamline transitions of care, and chronic care management, and enhance patient safety levels. The alerts functionality informs nurses when duplicate or wrong medicines are getting administered. This reduces the possibility of adverse drug events and improves health outcome levels.
• Better security and patient privacy – HIPAA-compliant EMR software offers end-to-end encryption of sensitive patient data. Digital records offer better security and hence peace of mind to patients.

Moving ahead

Electronic health records software has improved hospitals’ operations and provided them with new avenues to improve patient care through AI tools. Many EMR vendors are working hard to offer the best features, innovations, updates, and support to providers so they can offer high-quality patient care.

Highlights from the ONC data brief on the use of EPCS and PDMPs among office-based physicians

• The use of electronic prescribing of controlled substances increased greatly between the years 2019 to 2021, from 37% to 62%. Though, the use of EPCS varied by practice size, practice specialty, and EHR software developer market share.
• The use of prescription drug monitoring programs remained stable. 65% of physicians reported checking the robust program before prescribing controlled substances to patients.
• Clinician prescribers who accessed the PMDP through EMR systems rather than a portal increased from the years 2019 to 2021.
• Physicians revealed that checking the state’s PDMP helped them to experience at least one benefit.

Physician use of EPCS varied by practice characteristics

The following findings were revealed about clinician PDMP usage according to practice specialty and size. It gives us valuable insights into which medical specialty has used prescription drug monitoring programs to prevent any prescription drug errors and monitor controlled substance prescriptions.

• The use of PDMP was higher with primary care providers as compared to surgical specialists.
• The rate of EPCS use was greater among primary care physicians compared to medical and surgical specialists.
• Electronic prescribing of controlled substances was lower among solo practices compared to practices with 4 plus physicians.
• Physician-owned practice’s usage of EPCS was lower compared to other ownership types.

Importance of interoperability to combat the opioid crisis

Interoperability options within the workflow are important in making prescription drug monitoring programs more effective and efficient. With better interoperability, healthcare providers can leverage both patient and prescriber data between healthcare organizations. When more hospitals are seamlessly connected with a unified workflow, it boosts the exchange of patient prescription information between organizations. The power of interoperability allows clinicians to check prescribing practices across state lines and save more lives.

What are Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs?

PDMP programs are electronic databases that monitor controlled substance prescriptions at the state level. This facilitates healthcare providers better comprehend the patients that are at opioid risk and then provide targeted treatment or therapy. Once targeted care can be offered with this vital information substance abuse can be reduced.

The Benefits of PDMPs

Prescription drug monitoring programs help to elevate patient safety as clinicians can easily identify the patients who are using controlled substances. Healthcare providers can also detect patients who are obtaining opioids from multiple pharmacies. Some states in America have made it compulsory for clinicians and pharmacists to check PDMPs before prescribing controlled substances.

PDMPs make it simpler for healthcare providers to understand a patient’s complete medical history. These robust programs help prescribe appropriate drugs which will keep patients safer and also enhance health outcome levels.

Targeted treatment can be provided to patients as providers have a better insight into every detail of the patient’s medical history and other risk factors. Once an effective treatment plan can be rolled out, patients can be on the road to recovery.

On a statewide basis, these programs are powerful enough to act as public health tools to proactively inform interventions to be taken by professionals or state health departments which will impact care decisions nationally.

Why is it important to use a PDPM partner?

• The seamless integration with Electronic Medical Records (EMR) Software or EHR software solutions offers ease of usage for users.
• Prescriptions can be easily tracked like never before.
• State requirements and standards can be easily met.

Positive Outcomes of PDMP

The states with PDPMs have a decrease in the following in contrast to the states without these programs.

• Drug abuse and misuse of drugs.
• Oxycodone shipments.
• Use of benzodiazepine especially in young women.
• Prescription opioid treatment admissions every year.

Best practices for prescription drug monitoring programs

In 2016,  National Governors’ Association suggested five steps to optimize PDMPs and also enhance their effectiveness. The recommendations were as follows,

• Step 1 – Before prescribing controlled substances providers need to check the prescription drug monitoring program.
• Step 2 – The data from PDMP should be leveraged to provide analysis and reporting to law enforcement.
• Step 3 – Pharmacists should report to the PDMP within 24 hours.
• Step 4 – Make the programs easy to use by integrating PDMP data into the EHR Software.
• Step 5 – Ensure PDMP interoperability through states.

Moving Ahead

The use of prescription drug monitoring programs in the US has helped to decrease the number of inpatient stays due to opioid usage and also decrease the number of opioid-related cases in the ER. When armed with the right information about patients risk providers are well-equipped to provide prompt treatment to patients to combat substance abuse. PDPM aims to reduce opioid misuse, overdose, and abuse to improve patient safety.