Does an iPad EHR actually save time?

The implementation of Electronic Health Records in the US was a golden step forward in the healthcare industry. Doctors, nurses, and other healthcare providers were able to document their data more effectively and consequently reduce the number of errors made in patient charts and claims. According to a survey conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics in 2011, nearly 55% of physicians had adopted EHR systems for their practices. Almost 74% of the physicians surveyed admitted that EHRs had improved the efficiency of their medical practices.

However, ever since the CMS brought forward its regulations regarding detailed documentation and penalties for documentation and billing errors, entering patient data on a desktop screen became a huge hassle. Many physicians and nurses now spend more time on patient documentation than on the patient himself. Another problem faced by healthcare providers is that they have to record patient data and situations from time to time, and on paper because let’s admit it; they can’t carry a desktop computer with them everywhere. Hence a lot of precious patient time is consumed on double documentation; first on paper and then on the desktop EHR.

EHR vendors and healthIT experts came up with an alternative solution for these problems; simply integrate EHRs with other portable technology gadgets. The most selling EHR among these portable devices is the iPad EHR, because it both easy to use and does not require physicians to stay seated on their desks to document patient data. Here are some interesting features of iPad EHRs that Help Reduce the Documentation Time:
1. Charting on the go
Unlike computers, iPad’s don’t confine physicians to their desks in order to record patient data. Nor are nurses required to carry around heavy paper files and records to document the patient’s vitals and other treatment conditions. Physicians and clinical staff can now enter and store patient information on their iPads; and all while looking at the patient.

2. Simplified documentationDocumentation had always been a time consuming task for providers. The iPad EHR is a more simplified version of desktop EHR. According to a survey, documentation and charting time reductions of 23% were reported by physicians who had shifted to the iPad EHR.

3. Lab Ordering and Prescribing
Another recent advanced feature available in some iPad EHRs is the ease of Lab ordering and medicine prescribing. Physicians can now select a pharmacy or lab in their desired location and send lab orders or prescriptions without leaving their offices. They can also receive lab results on their iPad, which are then shared with the patient.


The iPad EHR has become the new trend that is Reshaping Medical Practice Workflows in the healthIT industry. Kelly Rakowski, managing director health provider practice at Accenture, stated that she has seen physicians enhance productivity by using iPad EHRs because of the ease with which they facilitate information sharing. The results of another survey of iPad EHR users concluded that iPad EHRs increase operational efficiency of medical practices by 30% and improve quality of care by 16%. These analytics prove that iPad EHRs are the perfect alternative solution for modern medical practices that are facing productivity loss because of reduced patient care time.

read more about: Top Rated iPad EHR – MU Certified iPad EHR                                    

Does a medical billing software actually enhance efficiency?

Gone are the days when providers used paper for almost everything, be it prescribing medicine, making notes, mentioning patient symptoms, and billing the patients. With EHR technology becoming more and more popular among providers in the US, a lot of vendors have started integrating Practice Management Software to expedite medical billing in their practices.

Although providers have found EHRs to be very useful for their practices; some of them are still hesitant towards using medical billing software. The reason could be that several medical billing tools are quite complex and costly for practices to handle. Some practices still prefer manual documentation over electronic, in order to protect data from being hacked, stolen or even used for corrupt purposes. After all, the chances of data being accessed by unauthorized individuals are higher in electronic data as compared to paper based data.

However providers must realize that medical billing software are bringing about a new change in the healthcare industry. Now the rate of claims being denied or delayed are decreasing significantly. According to Reviews, electronic medical billing has successfully reduced error per claim ratio with latest technology like Claim Scrubber. Here are some common features of medical billing software that can contribute a lot to increasing practice efficiency:

1.       Access to Patient information

Medical billing software has enabled physicians to run background checks on patients’ medical and insurance history. Now it’s easier to access patient information from anywhere. Not only does this speed up the billing process but also helps practices avoid claim errors.

2.       Reducing claim denials

The biggest problem troubling medical practices is the increase in their claim denial rates. While dealing with several claims directed towards different insurances at a time, mistakes are inevitable. However, with recent upgrades brought by medical billing technology, it has become easier to identify such errors and correct them before sending out the claims. This way more than 90% claims pass through submission in the first go.

3.       Increase in cash flow

Another change observed in practices that have adapted to electronic medical billing is the increase in their cashflows. Medical billing software not only increases the rate of claim submissions, but also helps providers reclaim their fee early by reducing payment time. Some medical billing software even have the capability to auto-generate modifications through which providers can follow up on their claims via regular reports and tracking.

For small practices that have not yet adapted to electronic medical billing because of the pricey and complex software, Outsourcing Medical Billing to a medical billing company is another appropriate solution for improving practice performance.

Rad more: Top reasons to Outsource Medical Billing

Does an Oncology EHR help optimize physician workflows?

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.