Don’t Worry, You’re in Safe Hands: Helping Patients Adjust to Your Practice’s New EMR System
Transitioning your practice to Modernizing Medicine’s electronic medical records (EMR) software can be quite an adjustment for doctors, staff and patients alike. It’s important for patients to feel as comfortable as possible, and having doctors explain the capabilities of Modernizing Medicine’s Electronic Medical Assistant® (EMA) – including how the new system works and its benefits – can help put patient’s questions and concerns to rest.
Here are five ways doctors and staff can help patients adjust:
1. Re-assure patients that their personal information is safe
Initially, patients may be skeptical when they see doctors or medical personnel inputting personal information on an iPad or computer. Assure them that just like paper charting systems – all information is private and confidential and that HIPPA laws still apply to the digital system. With paper systems, confidential information can be misplaced, lost or copied; this is not the case with cloud-based EMR software. Many may be familiar with and utilize cloud technology for their banking, photo sharing and other needs.
2. Inform patients of immediate access to their medical information
Walking away from an appointment with a stack of paper brochures and handouts with information on health conditions is a thing of the past. With a tap of a finger, patients can enjoy a much more comprehensive overview than leaflets once provided (not to mention being better for the environment). Inform patients that they can log into the EMA patient portal and view medical information and treatment plans. Let them know that they can contact their doctor’s office through intramail located in the patient portal as well.
3. Share the mobile accessibility features
Unlike other antiquated EMR systems, EMA offers mobile, app-based solutions, which ensure more face-to-face interaction between doctor and patient during the visit. EMA offers mobility through the use of the native iPad app and also PocketEMA.
“PocketEMA is the smart phone counterpart to EMA that allows the doctor to have the app at his or her fingertips on the go!” shared Elana Oberstein, MD, Senior Medical Director of EMA Musculoskeletal.
4. Highlight the convenience factor
Unable to make it to the doctor for that stubborn eczema rash that keeps popping up? Not a problem! Thanks to modmed Telehealth, dermatologists can provide treatment, diagnosis and advice for patients when a virtual visit is appropriate. This opens up a new world for housebound or working patients, while increasing patient satisfaction by delivering timely and cost-effective care, and eliminating the need to wait days, weeks or even months for an unnecessary face-to-face visit to provide an effective treatment.
5. Enlighten patients on overall improved patient care
With EMA, doctors consistently report decreased charting time and increased patient contact. Positioning the benefits will allow patients to experience the value of a true, quality doctor-patient relationship. Unlike a disjointed and inefficient paper system, EMA is able to provide faster medical information for both patient and provider. Ordering tests, discovering treatments and E-prescribing medications have never been quicker.
“3,000 heads are better than one. Inform patients that through both EMA Grand Rounds® and EMA Outcomes®, you can now access data from over 15,000,000 patient encounters to discover top treatments for almost any disease — from rare conditions to common cases that resist first or second treatments. EMA Outcomes leverages the structured data that providers enter to track the progress of a disease or condition at a glance,” stated Michael Sherling, MD, MBA, co-founder and Chief Medical Officer.
With all of the new functionality gained by using EMA, there’s sure to be a learning curve. Sharing the multitude of advancements can help patients understand how they will truly benefit and put their concerns to rest.
Chantel Kelly is a Software Educator at Modernizing Medicine. |