Patient referrals help find your patients with the specialists they require. A hospital system needs the right medical management tools to simplify the referral process which can get complex at times. A robust Electronic Health Records (EHR) software system can help practices locate specialists within your network to refer to patients with the functionality of internal provider data and information. Quick and easier access to doctors can be maintained if patients stay in-network.
The struggle with in-network referrals
In-network referrals are very important as they help to retain patients and enhance the care coordination between different healthcare providers to deliver quality care. Though, an assessment conducted by Kyruus revealed that 79 percent of clinicians still refer to healthcare providers that are outside their network.
The percentage is high and of course, there is a reason behind it. Mainly, it is due to the absence of data and information related to schedules and specialties. When caregivers have seamless access to this type of data then the referral process goes without any hitches for the patients. A powerful Electronic Medical Records (EMR) software system provides a solution to gives your patients the high-quality care they deserve and also make it appropriate for them.
The benefits of in-network referrals for patients
In-network referrals are mostly local to the patient, meaning patients have easier access to providers as they are close by and receive care with convenience. When patients are unable to connect with a provider then that’s a big issue and in-network referrals solve it effectively.
When a physician refers a patient out of their network then the patient would have to pay more as many insurance companies would pay less for going out of network. By referring to doctor’s close by patients can save up costs and also improves the hospital’s medical management. If there’s an unusual case then the patient can be referred out of network however it is best to provide affordable care opportunities to the patient.
The benefits of in-network referrals for healthcare providers
In-network referrals makes things simple for the doctor and help them to provide patient-centered care. When physicians share the same network they seamlessly and easily share their patient’s care plan with other providers which supports coordinated care.
The interoperability functionality in the EHR software system helps doctors share patient data easily and as the data is stored in one place the doctors can be on the same page to offer the best treatment and care plan to their patients.
How a robust EHR software system supports an increase in in-network referrals?
It is important to understand that all EHR software systems are not the same as they may differ in functionalities and features. If the data is not available in the software system then the provider has to do their research and therefore referrals may not be the best for the patient.
The lack of information may make the physician refer to the same provider which ultimately causes poor network usage and can cause issues with scheduling meaning patients can get frustrated waiting longer in the waiting room. Through a robust Electronic Health Records software, these challenges can be overcome as data will be accessible by the provider. Better EHR software is a powerful tool to generate more revenue for networks.
Concluding remarks
It is advised that the software system you select is certified for meaningful use and has all the necessary features such as referral replies, patient portal platform, e-Rx, and data sharing opportunities.
