The Reasons Some Physicians Haven’t Yet Adopted an EHR System

In the world of digitization, everybody’s life revolves around smartphones and artificial intelligence assistants, but still, some physicians have not chosen an EHR system. The EHR system is an advanced method to digitally keep all patient medical records. 

EHR Software Development Company has made the system based on real-time requirements as well as patient-focused. It makes patient medical information accessible quickly and safely to accredited healthcare providers. 

The EHR system seems like a blessing at this time. During the pandemic, the healthcare system has faced uncertain hindrances, especially coping with a current superfluity and shortage of data. It isn’t easy to remember all the patient’s medical history in their mind. The EHR system rapidly tracks the patient’s clinical history, analysis, drugs, treatment plans, vaccination dates, sensitivities, and lab test outcomes.

Even though there are a lot of benefits of the Electronic Health Records System, why do some physicians still don’t feel like using the EHR system will be beneficial for them? Let’s explore these hidden loopholes that stop physicians from choosing an EHR system.

The Reasons Some Practitioners Haven’t yet Adopted an EHR System

Along with the benefits of the EHR System, the following drawbacks hold physicians back from not going for an EHR system.

Cost of the EHR system

The one reason behind this is the cost of the EHR system. The administration may have tried to convince the physicians to use it for some time, but still, they seem dubious about it. It is pretty challenging for them to bear its cost. The expense of setting up and shifting to an entirely new system, which doesn’t come modest, is enormous. However, things have started changing. The number of players in the EHR system commercial centre has been growing, so the price competition has risen in the market.

Did you know the cost of buying and setting up an electronic health record is $15,000 to $70,000 per supplier?

Time

Even though you decide the budget and the EHR system attributes you need, do you know how long it will take to set up an electronic health record system? It can take months to even years. Shifting from manual paperwork to entirely going digital, it’s pretty tough. 

Sometimes people are afraid of changes. They only feel happy in their comfort zone if everything works fine for them.

There is a lot of competition in the market, and it requires the investment of time while trying to find which EHR system suits your budget and your requirements. After demos, haggling with electronic health record system traders about the price and selecting and executing the suitable system for your patient handling consumes a lot of time and attention.

People need time to acclimate to new technologies. Even after buying and setting up the electronic health record system in the clinic, staff needs time to learn how the EHR system works. The process of learning and executing the EHR system is time-consuming. 

According to Annals of Internal Medicine stats, while considering all things, a physician takes around 16 minutes and 14 seconds when using the EHR for each patient. 

Not Able to Care the Way they Do

Everyone has an idea of how the internet and mobile applications can cut the various expenses and improve the health care system. Then what is going wrong? Why didn’t doctors want to adopt these fascinating information systems? 

A Harvard internist, Jerome Groopman, has mentioned in his book “How Doctors Think” that clinical algorithms can be helpful for the diagnosis of diseases and treatment. But when symptoms are unclear, or test outcomes are ambiguous, doctors need to think of something extraordinary. Then clinical algorithms don’t work here. 

Also, the physician needs to make eye contact with the patients and read their body language to know more about them. You cannot read their body language while looking at the computer. Physicians seek signs, symptoms, and tales from patients to know the reason behind their illness. For that, they need to talk to patients, not to a clinical algorithm. 

Moreover, patients trust their physicians, so how will you sympathize or empathize with the patient without looking at them? How will the patient feel about it? These are questions haunting physicians who feel a connection with their patients.

Inconvenience and Inefficiency

The maintenance of the EHR system is quite challenging. If you use the EHR system, you have to update it regularly. Otherwise, your records could lose their precision and their worth.

What if you have a power cut or system failure? You require a computer and internet connection to access all the data. Nothing will work without an appropriate system and power, and data can become difficult to reach. But it can be solved if the provider has an efficient IT team. They can resolve technical problems promptly so that the interruption would be less to patient care.

Cybersecurity Issues

Technology has become more advanced, so the risk is. There are high chances that hackers and online predators can invade patients’ privacy. Hackers can easily hack any system and use the information for their lousy intent. Like other computerized systems, the electronic health record system is vulnerable to invasion by hackers. It is one of the preeminent causes of low EHR adoption by various healthcare groups. Safeguarding massive sensitive patients’ medical data in different forms is one of the significant challenges of EHR.  

Can you imagine what could happen if any private patient information gets into the wrong hands? It can be a disaster. EHR Software development company should invest in keeping sensitive data in strongbox through advanced security features.

Conclusion

 It is evident why numerous doctors are discontent with their electronic health record (EHR) system. Undoubtedly, electronic health records have innumerable benefits that physicians cannot overlook. But also there is an area of improvements that EHR Software development company should consider to make this system more efficient, less expensive, time-consuming, and secure for the physicians and patients.

Experts believe that when electronic health record (EHR) systems are embraced and thoughtfully utilized on a broad premise, they can significantly assist patients, vendors, and the community. Always take the guidance of an expert before you choose an EHR system that is ideal for your practice.