Oncology has a unique set of terms and protocols as compared
to other medical specialties. The intensive data and procedures involved in
oncology list it among the most complex medical specialties. Therefore it is
reasonable to understand why oncologists dislike using a generic EHR that
doesn’t suit their practice. EHR vendors have tried coming up with an Electronic
Health Record (EHR) system that can cater to oncology practices, but many have
failed in doing so. However few have succeeded in either modifying their
generic EHR to accommodate to specific oncology requirements or redesigning an
EHR solely for oncology practices.
Oncologists expressed the urgent need for EHRs that could help
them with more accurate documentation and safe-keeping of patient data,
ordering and administration of chemotherapy drugs, clinical trials etc. The
most useful features in an Oncology EHR that can drive outcomes, productivity
and financial growth, are as follows:
1.
Chemotherapy automation:
An Oncology-specific EHR
simplifies chemotherapy automation for oncologists. Orders can now be delivered
electronically and oncologists no longer need to manually calculate the amount
of dosage to give to their patients. The automated dosing and scheduling
function in these EHRs helps prevent dosage calculation errors.
2.
Customized templates and digital imaging
The availability of customized templates for various tumor-stages
assist oncologists in the creation of structured notes. Many EHRs also have the
feature to capture, scan and attach clinical images, lab tests and photographs
directly into the patient chart, or through an integrated PACS. Additionally,
these notes and images can be emailed or faxed to the referring physicians.
3.
Patient portal:
Patients need to be updated about changes in their condition
from time to time. The patient portal facilitates patients in receiving test
results as soon as they become available, and it also helps in keeping tabs on
their health status. Moreover, some EHRs help patients in requesting
appointments and refills online.
The Oncology EHR assists oncologists in improving their
practice workflows by offering features including cancer mapping and stage
identification, treatment recommendations, clinical trial support etc. However
it is necessary for oncologists to recognize which EHR will be suitable to meet
the needs of their specialty or subspecialty before purchasing any.
Read more: We did it again! CureMD ranks 3rd in the Top 20 most Popular EHRs.
Read more: We did it again! CureMD ranks 3rd in the Top 20 most Popular EHRs.
