Technology plays a vital role in today’s healthcare landscape with the overall goal of driving down costs and improving patient outcomes. It has the potential to connect patients, doctors and payers within the healthcare ecosystem and simplify how they access health information through patient portals, wearable devices and mobile apps. Essential to connecting all of this technology and making it meaningful is an electronic health record (EHR) system that acts as a central database that provides doctors with easy access to crucial patient information.
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Fifteen years ago, healthcare was lagging behind other industries when it came to high-tech innovation and changing Americans’ perception of “the way things had to be done.” At that time, having your health records available electronically was just starting to resonate. Now that the majority of physicians use electronic health records (EHR), the industry is still innovating and at an even more rapid pace to bring consumer-facing health apps, wearables and telehealth to the market.
As talked about as patient engagement is today, there is still plenty of confusion around how to maximize it. Enterprise solutions such as EHRs and revenue cycle management streamline the healthcare process therefore simplifying the patient’s experience, and with telehealth, mobile and wearable devices, patients can experience a more personalized experience. My son uses his mobile phone and a QR code to buy coffee, why not also use the same technology to check-in at his doctor’s office?
In an age where connectivity is constantly accessible, the term “Big Data” has quickly become a buzzword favored by any business seeking information about its customers, products and even its performance. But this seemingly ambiguous term has a place in the healthcare industry as well. “Big Data” is more than a buzzword for doctors, researchers and patients – it means easier access to health information, predictive medicine, quicker diagnoses and better treatment.
What a busy, informative and excellent week we’ve all had at HIMSS! There were so many lessons learned throughout the show and confirmation that the possibilities for healthcare IT are just beginning.
As various options for healthcare reform are considered, the patient-centered care model and shared savings programs have come about as alternative approaches to care delivery, performance measurement and value-based payment reform, shifting the focus to preventative care. The pay-per-service model is viewed by some as being similar to driving through the rear-view mirror. What is behind you provides insight, but it is what is in front that is really telling.
The 2012 National Users Conference has come to a close and on behalf of all of us at eClinicalWorks, I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to all of you that took time from your busy schedules to join us in Washington, D.C. Given the timing of Hurricane Sandy, we hope your travels were uneventful. The time you spent with us at the conference fuels our enthusiasm for innovation. We pay close attention to your ideas and your experiences in a continual effort to improve the eClinicalWorks experience. I am proud to be a part of this dedicated community as we seek ways to not only impact healthcare, but to improve healthcare together.