IoT is a technological revolution that can bring about great benefits in the healthcare sector if implemented and used effectively. Let’s look at the four main reasons why healthcare needs to embrace the Internet of Things.

The IoT and the Healthcare Industry

• IoT will help to enhance the diagnosis and treatment of patients – Cloud-connected medical devices can be used to improve diagnosis and treatment options for patients. Such as the capsule endoscopy which is a pill with a miniature camera and takes thousands of images once swallowed by the patient. The pictures can then be viewed by doctors to diagnose colon cancer. The successful diagnosis is supported by machine learning technology which automates the image analysis.
• Supports patient remote monitoring and remote health – Connected devices can help remote monitoring of chronic diseases and conditions. Wearable devices can help to monitor blood glucose levels regularly. This data can then be transferred to clinics to facilitate remote patient monitoring and enhancing patients’ overall health. By updating personal health data of patients on the cloud eliminates the need to feed it into the Electronic Medical Records EMR Software. IoT ensures decision support which enables healthcare providers in the best treatment of patients.
• Increased patient satisfaction and engagement – IoT can help to optimize surgical workflow which can increase patient satisfaction. For example, discharge information can be provided to patients’ family members. Devices connected to the internet helps patients to interact with their physicians supporting patient engagement.
• Helps in staff compliance and hygiene – The Center for Disease and Control (CDC) estimates that one out of 20 patients will receive an infection when admitted to the hospital facility due to lack of hygiene. Sensors can help to alert and notify a practitioner if they come near a patient bed without washing their hands from a previous encounter. These episodes can also be recorded in a database that will help hospital management to keep track of hygiene and address recurring cleanliness issues. During the COVID-19 outbreak, this is especially useful to combat the spread of the virus by making sure healthcare providers wash their hands.

Barriers of IoT in the healthcare industry

The most apparent roadblocks to IoT include storing, managing, and securing the data. Another barrier includes the lack of EHR software interoperability and integrations. Even if data flows freely many providers don’t have the infrastructure and training to access it. Good software vendors offer interoperability options such as athenahealth EMR Software and Cerner PowerWorks Practice Management Software.

The future

The future of IoT in healthcare seems promising and with the help of connected devices, clinicians will see a decrease in missed appointments and improved patient outcome levels with fewer hospital admission rates. Once IoT is completely embraced by the healthcare sector, patients, doctors, and each stakeholder will benefit from optimizing how things are done.

What is a patient portal?

Patient Portal Software is a robust platform that is designed to enhance how patients communicate and interact with their healthcare providers. There are two types of patient portal systems, a standalone system, and an integrated patient portal software system that comes with an EMR software system or a Practice Management (PM) Software System. Some examples of integrated patient portal software include; AdvancedMD EMR Software, athenahealth EMR Software, drchrono EMR Software and, Nextech EHR Software. The patient portals are web-based tools that allow 24/7 accessibility and connectivity.

What are the major benefits of using a Patient Portal Software System?

Patient portal adoption rates are increasing in the United States as more and more patients log onto the portal to interact with their clinician and care team. The Patient Portal Software provides great value to both patients and medical practitioners. Let’s look at the major reasons to go for this Powerful Software Solution.

• Encourages better physician and patient relationship – The platform provides a bridge of communication between both parties allowing them to exchange health information and review medical notes. This opportunity to connect keeps patients satisfied throughout their healthcare delivery process.
• Enhance clinical outcomes – The prescription refill and renewal features help to improve medication adherence.
• Automation helps to optimize daily workflows – By automating and digitizing tasks such as medical billing and scheduling helps staff members to focus on patient-related tasks and

What are the functionalities and features that make up a top-ranked patient portal software system?

To strike the right choice the potential buyer needs to be aware of the common features and tools that are found common in a great Patient Portal Software. The following are the powerful features that patients consider vital in the software system.

• Scheduling appointments online – This feature enables patients to book appointments online in a matter of a few minutes. The patients can set appointments with more than one physician and patients are even provided with available time slots options for the availability of the provider.
• Viewing important health-related information – This includes viewing lab results and or clinical notes in a click. A patient can even instantly message and question about lab results through the software system, for example, this functionality is offered by ElationHealth EHR Software.
• Online bill payment facility – All billing information is provided online and patients can easily pay their bills online without any hassle.
• Ability to attach and scan documents – The best patient portals allow patients to attach and upload images from results and MRI scans for the doctor to view and comment from the software.
• Automatic alerts when new messages or lab results are received – It can be quite frustrating for patients to deal with a patient portal platform that does not send automatic alerts and notifications to patients. Nobody has the time to manually check for new messages or any replies. Instant alert facility via email messages and SMS tell your software system provides access to all updated information.

Final Takeaway

Once the Patient Portal Software has been implemented it is important that you make sure that it gets used and patients are not reluctant in using it. You can train your staff about the benefits of the software solution so they can also communicate it well to the patients. As a provider, you need to make efforts from your end by talking about the patient portal during the visit and having an in-clinic demo for patients to see how it works.

A cardiology EMR software solution has a set of robust tools that supports the following cardiology specific procedures.

• Nuclear stress tests
• Holter tests
• Arterial duplex imaging
• Various templates for pacemakers and cath exams

A Cardiology EMR Software System helps cardiologists to streamline their workflows, enhance patient care, and increase revenue. Cardiologists in the United States rely on their EMR software system as they can easily optimize workflows by automatically sending patient details from medical histories to lab reports. This improves administrative procedures as the clinician does not need to manually enter data and reduces the chances of human error. It also reduces overheads related to sending bills and data entry.

Cardiologists count on their robust cardiology electronic medical record software to improve the overall patient experience which is crucial for maximum patient satisfaction. Patient experience can be enhanced through the functionalities of e-prescribing (e-Rx), automatic reminders, and the patient portal platform.

Documentation is simplified as all the data captured can be automatically populated into reports which eliminate the issue of duplicate data entry which ultimately allows clinicians to get more efficient with their daily documentation. Furthermore, template customization makes patient follow-ups more efficient within the patient’s record. Templates are created according to the patient’s individual needs and can be ordered according to the test ordered.

A cardiology EMR software solution helps to improve the care of patients and the 24/7 accessibility to patient charts through the software provides rapid and accurate information in cases of emergency situations.

Wrapping it up

To make sure you receive the complete benefits from your cardiology EMR software it is important that the following set of features are present such as; cardiology specific templates, device integration, cardiac data analysis, urgent alerts, ICD-10 coding ad billing, and PQRI reporting. There are some great cardiology EMR software options for your practice to consider which can help your practice succeed.

• AdvancedMD EMR Software

• athenahealth EMR Software

• drchrono EMR Software

• Kareo Clinical EMR Software

• CareCloud EHR Software

• PrognoCIS EMR Software

• ChartLogic EHR Suite

• Aprima EHR Software

These cardiology specific EMR options help cardiologists to realize clinical, financial, and operational results.

Technology such as patient portals, digital tools, telemedicine, artificial intelligence, EHRs, and online scheduling facility has made it possible for patients to feel an important part in their health care process and this has led to more patient-centered care. Patient adaptation rates to technology depend upon convenience, ease of use, and set of robust features that will reduce patient wait times. It is crucial that health IT integrates into the patient experience which will allow clinicians to better focus on their jobs.

1,000 patients were surveyed to reveal their opinions and preferences related to three major healthcare technologies; telemedicine, AI, and EHR software systems. Let’s dig deeper into each category to find out the preferences of patients in facilitating better patient experiences.

1. Telemedicine Software – Patients consider telemedicine software solutions as an effective platform to receive care remotely. It is both convenient and a user-friendly option to get prompt care especially amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the pandemic telemedicine adaptation rates have increased as both healthcare providers and patients see it as a valuable tool to extend care without having to worry about catching the virus. Patients are also most likely to choose a clinician that offers virtual sessions over those who don’t. Telemedicine is a top choice and preference of patients which will continue to enhance the patient experience in the long run.
2. Artificial Intelligence (AI) – Patients have a higher trust rate in healthcare when AI cooperates in it. Patients prefer artificial intelligence being used in different healthcare applications. It was revealed that out of the 1000 patients that were surveyed 64% believe that AI in healthcare ultimately improves patient experience through the use of medical chatbots and machine learning technology. If you’re a small healthcare provider adapting AI in healthcare might seem like an expensive and daunting task. But the good news is there are many EHR software systems that provide AI-powered functionality which does quite well. By running your notes through an intelligent system in your EHR software will support more accuracy in decision making and eliminate the possibility of any errors.
3. EHR Software – Patients don’t see how you integrate the use of EHR software system but they, of course, want that their providers use an electronic system which makes daily tasks more efficient. For example, a patient wouldn’t mind the facility to pay online, and the use of patient portals is extremely vital for patients as they can connect with their provider 24/7 and easily review their health information. The use of technology and digital tool to improve the diagnosis and treatment process will enhance the overall patient experience.

Bottom Line

Embracing technology in your practice is a good idea and patients will feel more content and satisfied throughout their treatment process. If you don’t have an EHR software its time you adapt it and look for options that integrate AI-specific features to further enhance patient care keeping in mind patient’s preferences. Many EHR software vendors come with an in-built telemedicine software platform which gives you a greater edge when it comes to remote patient care.

With so many software vendors claiming to offer the best electronic health records software solutions with the right set of features, ease of use, interoperability, and customer support it becomes quite a daunting and difficult task to make the best choice for your medical practice.

In order to help you out to assess and value your potential software options in the market, we have jotted down a handy evaluation checklist which will guide you to help evaluate your EHR software.

Handy Checklist

Our EHR evaluation worksheet comprises of the following points.

• Functionality – Does the software system provides the right set of tools that are powerful enough to help you achieve efficiencies? These tools may include clinical features, administrative features, and security features such as HIPAA Compliance. A top-rated electronic health records software solution may also provide a patient portal, patient scheduling, and reporting and analysis feature.
• Customer Support – Customer support is an important consideration to make before making your final decision. You should look out for software vendors that offer training material and provide office support to train staff members to use the software. The customer support tea should be reliable and quick to act in terms of any technical issues. It’s good to have assistance and backing when needed. They should preferably have a live chat option and a helpline number in case of emergencies.
• Deployment or Architecture – Two deployment options should be offered by EHR software vendors such as on-premise and web-based. Potential buyers can make a decision depending on their needs and preference. There are some cost considerations to be made for example on-premise tends to have higher upfront costs but usually lower recurring costs. On the other hand, cloud-based software has a lower initial cost but may tend to get expensive in the long-run.
• Integrations – This is a crucial point that cannot be ignored. It is good that your EHR software system integrates seamlessly with other software systems such as medical billing software and practice management (PM) software and revenue cycle management (RCM) software. The integration with other software systems allows the EHR software to work more efficiently.
• Pricing – The software system should fit your budget. Do they charge a monthly subscription fee and are there any hidden costs that need to be dealt with? There are also free and open-source EMR software options available in the market if you’re a small practice and don’t have the cash to invest in an electronic health records software system.

Moving Ahead

Furthermore, once you have decided on purchasing a specific software system you need to be sure if the EHR software will reward your practice with enhanced clinical results, efficient workflows, and empowered patients. You can use this checklist and also watch EMR demos to further see the software system working in real-time and be surer about the functionalities and ease of use of the software system.

With the surge of the COVID-19 pandemic telemedicine software has been deployed by thousands of hospitals and clinics to support prompt diagnosis and treatment of patients. The United States of America is implementing new telemedicine tools to treat patients remotely amidst the outbreak. Any hospital facility or medical practice is bound to make mistakes an error while implementing telemedicine software solutions. To avoid these mistakes we have compiled a list of best practices that will help your practice overcome the problems related to telemedicine software deployment and let your organization stay on the right path.

Best Practices for Telemedicine EMR & PM Software Implementation

1. Train your staff to use the new Telemedicine EMR & PM Software tools – Training is the first step to make sure that the software is used at its full potential. With many healthcare providers and staff members using the telemedicine platform for the first time, it becomes necessary that the users are trained to make use of the software system for their benefit. It is highly recommended that you chose a telemedicine software vendor that offers customer support and training material for you and your team members. The team should be first introduced to the new software tools and they should be allowed to explore it and hence get clarity in navigation.
2. Marketing new Telemedicine EMR & PM Software services to patients – Once your staff is comfortable in using the software system the next step is to communicate the functionalities of the platform with your patients. For this, you must have a patient portal to share information with patients in the best way. The provider can send an email about new telemedicine services to patients this can include information like; the possible benefits of the new service, instructions to get started, and customer support. Patients are more likely to go to physicians who offer consultations over HD virtual sessions.
3. Prioritize patient privacy and HIPAA Compliance – As a healthcare professional and a provider, you must consider the privacy of sensitive patient data. Before selecting a telemedicine software for your practice make sure that the vendor meets HIPAA Compliance for Meaningful Use and provides complete encryption of data that will be shared on the software platform. You would also need to create strong and secure links, which are easier to establish with HIPAA professionals. You must continue to monitor telehealth regulation changes and adjust accordingly. You can furthermore maintain privacy by only allowing authorized users to access confidential data and adapt a virtual private network (VPN) that ensures data protection on patients and the provider’s end.

EndNote

Before implementing a telemedicine software program you need to be sure to address any infrastructure challenges by mapping out all your clinical needs and also identify cost-saving opportunities. By defining your goals you will be in a better place to measure your success using the telemedicine program. If you implement the 3 best implementation practices mentioned above your telemedicine software will run smoothly and ensure that its maximum potential is realized.

These statistics are nonetheless alarming but the good news is that health systems in the USA are looking forward to ways to transform mental health care. These systems are looking at digital health options to find optimal and accessible solutions that can enhance mental care and lower costs.

4 Ways How Digital Health Can Help Improve Patient’s Mental Health Conditions

Let’s look at the 4 ways how digital health can help improve patient’s mental health conditions.

1. Increased access to care with digital therapy – A recent study conducted in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine found out that the majority of non-metropolitan areas lacked psychologists and psychiatrists. Digital health options and solutions can help patients to access therapists promptly regardless of where they are situated, this will help to fill in gaps of supply by healthcare systems as access increases. Digital therapy for depression and anxiety can be provided through online sessions with therapists. The easy connectivity with mental healthcare providers helps patients to seek treatment remotely.
2. Early identification through screening – When you have a shortage of therapists and mental health providers you are likely to grow up with behavior disorders as early identification is not made. Mental health conditions are usually under-diagnosed or under-treated. It is noted that have mental illnesses occur before the age of 14.  Digital technology helps to screen patients and provide a timely diagnosis. Screening for mental health conditions in the primary care space can support identifying concerns that the patient may not feel comfortable to voice them.
3. Convenient care options reduce the stigma of seeking a mental cure – Even in the US stigma is a great barricade in receiving mental care. Digital health solutions are breaking the barriers to that more and more patients can consult their therapists from the comfort of their homes. There is a sense of safety and convenience in getting the right mental treatment without having to leave your home. Digital therapy can be prescribed by providers to patients but they can also be acquired by patients who want the treatment privately.
4. Tracking of Outcomes – Tracking outcomes of mental health interventions helps to manage the patient’s mental health in the best possible way. Outcomes include medication and psychological assessments. Digital tools make it possible for mental healthcare providers to track if their patients are meeting their treatment goals or not. Through digital health technology, therapists can view patient trends which helps to improve patient care.

Wrapping it up

Digital health is being embraced by healthcare systems to improve care coordination and facilitate patient monitoring in the long-run. Many healthcare systems for example The Wisconsin Health network uses apps through its Epic electronic health records software system to help and support patients with mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression. Digital health empowers patients to take control of their health and care which is very important in the overall treatment process. We also need to break this stigma by making it easier for patients to access treatment and address their mental problems. Digital solutions are continuing to grow and evolve and it is good to see that both health care systems and patients are ready to make use of this robust option.

These robust software systems can easily be customized according to individual needs so they can easily adapt to practice workflows. Cardiologists can provide enhanced patient care and reap financial and clinical results by implementing a Cardiology Specific EHR Software Solution.

Features present in a Cardiology EHR Software

• Cardiology-specific templates
• Cardiology device integration
• Cardiac data analysis
• An alert system
• Cardiology specific CPT and ICD-10 coding and billing
• PQRI outcomes
• Order sets
• E-prescribing (e-Rx)

Functionalities present in a Cardiology EHR Software

All these functionalities help to provide many practice efficiencies and benefits to the cardiology practice which are quite clear. Here are the reasons why cardiologists rely on a robust software system.

1. Streamlined Workflows – Health care providers can optimize workflows by using the cardiology specific templates in their EMR software. Through the templates available the cardiologists need to enter data manually as all patient details are sent automatically from their medical history to lab reports. Daily workflows of data entry and sending bills are automated which also helps to reduce overhead costs.
2. Improved Patient Care – Features like health maintenance reminders and specialized alerts in your cardiology EHR software helps to improve patient safety and care. These alerts help to make the provider aware of any potential issues or problems. Order sets available in the EMR software promotes safe and efficient patient care.
3. Paperless Transactions – Cardiology EHR software helps to reduce any printing and paper costs through the robust tools of e-Rx, patient portals, and digital payment capturing. These features enable the cardiology practice to become more efficient by reducing any paper clutter and makes available for more additional storage space.
4. Efficient Documentation – Cardiology specific templates like a stress test, Holter monitor reports, and exercise stress helps to automatically populate the patient information which eliminates duplicate data entry. This allows the clinician to be more efficient in their documentation and overall speeds up the charting procedure.
5. Template Customization – Customized templates within the patient records help to promote efficient patient follow-ups. These templates can be easily organized according to the type of test ordered. Folders can be accessed in a breeze and the headache of not having the needed test results for each appointment is excluded.

Conclusion

The all in one solution of the cardiology EHR software system can improve efficiency at every step and helps your practice going forward.  To find the right electronic health records solution for your cardiology practice you should look for a software system that is customizable and flexible and should offer communication with ECG machines, Holter monitors, and other devices. It is further advised to look into cloud-based options as they facilitate secure access to patient charts, and practice schedule. Examples of top-ranked cardiology EMR software options include; AdvancedMD EMR Software, athenahealth EMR Software, Kareo Clinical EMR Software, ChartLogic EHR Suite, and CareCloud EHR Software.

Benefits of Patient Portal System

Patient portal systems are being embraced by clinics and hospital systems around the USA due to the many benefits it provides clinicians and staff members. You might want to implement a patient portal system because of the following reasons.

• Enhances medical outcomes generously
• Optimizes daily workflows by automating manual tasks of billing and scheduling which allows staff members to concentrate on other administrative duties.
• The better patient-doctor relationship is fostered with a platform where health information can be exchanged round the clock.

It’s pretty much clear that the patient portal is a powerful tool to lead your practice to efficiencies and helps to streamline and workflows. However to strike the right choice as a potential buyer or a user planning to switch over to a new patient portal software system you need to know the important features that need to be present in a top-ranked patient portal solution. To narrow down your options we have devised a list of the most fundamental tools that make up for a great patient portal software system. These features have the right capabilities to bring value to your practice.

12 features to consider in a robust patient portal software solution

Before selecting the right Patient Portal EMR software, you should make sure that it has the following key features and functionalities available to cater to your requirements.

1. HIPAA Compliant platform to ensure security and protection of messages and patient’s health data.
2. Clinical Summaries
3. Online Bill Payments
4. New Patient Registration
5. Capability to easily update demographic information
6. Appointment Requests
7. Appointments alerts and Reminders
8. Lab and Test Results
9. Medication Lists
10. Medical History
11. Educational Material for Patients to access online
12. Prescription Refills

These are the core tools that help to enhance patient care, maximize staff efficiency, and improve communication between the provider and the patient.

Top 10 Patient Portal Software By EMRSystems

EMRSystems values its customers and has compiled a list of the 10 best and top-rated Patient Portal Software solutions for physician practices in 2020. The list is completely based on authentic customer reviews and ratings:

• Epic EHR Software’s MyChart

• athenahealth EMR Software’s athenaCommunicator

• PrognoCIS EMR Software

• Cerner Specialty Practice Management Software

• eClinicalWorks EMR Software’s Patient Portal and Healow App

• Greenway PrimeSUITE EHR Software

• NextGen Healthcare EHR Software

• Allscripts Professional EHR Software

• CureMD EHR Software

When selecting an Electronic Health Records (EHR) or Practice Management (PM) software based on its patient portal it is important to make a selection that is user-friendly, secure, and offers features that will facilitate patient engagement.systems. Based on our conversations with the practitioners and medical officers, most of them find these features (besides a few) as redundant or irrelevant and often perceive them as a marketing gimmick. Our advice is to actually look at your clinical and administrative workflow to determine the aspects of the Patient Portal System you need and also consult your provider to ensure that the Patient Portal Software you are choosing only provides relevant features and not more than what you need.

Conclusion

 As a buyer, you have two options to consider a stand-alone patient portal software solution or an integrated patient portal. A stand-alone system is often less expensive as compared to an integrated patient portal software system. Once you decide on which option to consider you need to first a budget and read product reviews to narrow down your options. It is advised that you arrange product demos with each potential vendor option to see how the patient portal software system works. Also, make sure that the patient portal system you are going to purchase has a user-friendly interface that would not disappoint your patients and aid them.

Free patient scheduling software is a great solution for medical practices to combat the issue of missed appointments and that too without a cost. These solutions have a great set of features and work especially well for a small medical set-up as they may lack the cash to invest in a full appointment scheduling system or electronic medical records software.

Benefits of a Patient Scheduling Software System

Let’s first see how a practice can benefit from a patient scheduling software system.

• Increases practice efficiencies
• Saves your time and money
• Handles the grave issue of no-shows
• Generate more revenue
• Helps practices to utilize their employee time
• Attract and retain clients

5 Best Free Patient Scheduling Software Solutions

These are the top 5 picks of free patient scheduling software solutions that help to streamline and organize your practice workflows and daily tasks.

1. Acuity Scheduling – Acuity scheduling is a cloud-based patient scheduling software solution. The software system has a clean and intuitive user interface and can be customized according to one’s needs. In the free version, users can access unlimited appointments for as long as they desire and gives you one calendar. It has an excellent mobile app. Acuity Scheduling has robust online booking functionality. Patients can easily log in find an available time slot and make a booking online. The online scheduling software works well on Windows and Mac.
2. 10to8 – 10to8 Appointment Scheduling Software the powerful patient scheduling software system can be seamlessly integrated with popular apps and programs like; Google Calendar, Zoom, Slack, Microsoft Office, and Paypal. The software provides features of calendar and appointment management, online booking, and customer relationship management. The software also allows users to view a complete activity log to check any schedule changes and cancellations. Most of the CRM features can be used without a cost, the two-way messaging between users and customers allows real-time communication.
3. Setmore – The scheduling tool is easy to use and can be customized to meet your practice needs. The powerful patient scheduling software solution allows your clients to make easy online bookings. The free plan includes unlimited appointments and you can easily manage customers, staff members, and schedules. The appointment solution is a good pick for small practices having 20 employees.
4. SimplyBook – SimplyBook is an online booking app that offers a great user-interface. It has four plans including the free option and going to the premium plan. The look and feel of the booking page can be easily customized by several template options available. The robust patient scheduling software solution offers integration with Google Calendar and there are apps available for Apple and Android users. The excellent support system is a plus to users and their website offers helpful blogs and articles on a variety of topics.
5. Appointy – Appointy patient scheduling software offers great usability and seamless software integration options. The user interface is simple and intuitive and makes it one of the most user-friendly software options available. You can easily view and access your calendar, reports, and customers on the left panel. The software system works well on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. Users can get hold of free basic client activity reports which includes data regarding bookings, rescheduling, and cancellations. Email notifications are included in the free plan however there is a charge for SMS notifications. Nonetheless, the software system offers simplified online booking an effective calendar, and appointment management tools.

Final Note

Using a patient scheduling software system has quite many upsides for your practice. Before choosing the software system make sure it offers all basic features of online booking, calendar management, automatic reminders, and real-time automated scheduling. Also, security is an important factor to consider as essential patient data is stored in the scheduling software system. Security and protection is an important feature to consider before making a final choice. Talk to the software vendor about it and give thorough research by going through user reviews to make the best decision for your practice, best of luck!