Healthcare researchers are looking at EHR optimization to limit the spread of COVID-19 pandemic. The cases of patients suffering from novel coronavirus are increasing all around the world, big economies like the United States and Europe are struggling to prepare and fight this widespread pandemic. With advancements in modern medicine, EHR features and tools can be used to manage patients with diagnosis and treatment of the virus.
How can EHR Technology Help during the COVID-19 Pandemic?
EHR technology can be used by health care institutions and health care providers to track virus transmission in real-time and creating a virtual platform for meetings between health care providers and reaching outpatients remotely.
Health professionals at the University of California are creating coronavirus tools that help support clinicians and health care providers to limit the spread of the pandemic. The robust tools include a secure messaging platform to connect everyone in the health care process. Real-time messaging can enable patients to message their healthcare providers regarding symptoms to get immediate care without having to visit the hospital facility or clinics.
Additionally, electronic check-in facility, real-time data analytics, and telemedicine medicine features can help to extend care and limit the number of patients leaving their homes. These tools will help to ultimately lower the spread of the virus by limiting one on one human contact through virtual modules of patient engagement to receive care effectively. By enhancing communication health care coordination will improve and levels of care can be maintained.
A triage system was also embedded in the EHR. This system enables nurses and call centers to triage the patients properly by quarantining them at their homes or guiding them to nearby testing centers or emergency departments at crucial moments, to help diagnose symptoms of COVID-19 and hence limiting its spread. Two-way communication via messaging, voice and video features are important for the medical teams to stay coordinated. A secure messaging platform was integrated into the EHR to provide round the clock communication via mobile phones and desktops.
Furthermore, a COVID-19 operational dashboard will provide an all in one picture containing data regarding the number of patients tested, bed availability at hospital units and real-time test results.
Further Implications
The spread of novel coronavirus has a direct impact on healthcare systems and interoperability rules of EHR will play a positive rule. Data sharing due to interoperability will help to identify symptoms, spot symptoms and speed up diagnosis and treatment.
Resources:
(2020). Retrieved 1 April 2020, from https://ehrintelligence.com/news/using-ehr-optimization-to-address-limit-coronavirus-outbreak h
Why the new U.S. interoperability rules matter during the COVID-19 pandemic. (2020). Retrieved 1 April 2020, from https://www.medicaleconomics.com/news/why-new-us-interoperability-rules-matter-during-covid-19-pandemic
