A Complete Guide On Electronic Health Records Software

Healthcare professionals face significant challenges when managing patient records and information within traditional Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems, where every moment is critical and patient health outcomes are of utmost importance. These challenges include time-consuming data entry tasks, potential documentation errors, difficulty in accessing relevant patient information quickly, and limited interoperability between different systems.

The infusion of AI into Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems has transformed healthcare data management. AI-powered EHR systems transform user experience by effectively eliminating the need for labor-intensive manual data entry. This innovative approach boosts efficiency and alleviates the administrative workload on healthcare professionals, enabling them to dedicate more time and attention to patient care. Moreover, machine learning algorithms sift through vast patient datasets, offering valuable insights, personalized treatment suggestions and timely alerts regarding potential health risks.

AI algorithms can analyze patient data to identify patterns, predict outcomes, and recommend personalized treatment options. This capability could help the healthcare sector by enabling more accurate diagnoses, optimizing treatment plans, and reducing medical errors.

This article provides an in-depth exploration of how Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing Electronic Health Records (EHR) systems, highlighting its diverse applications and the advantages it brings to the healthcare industry.

• Understanding Electronic Health Records (EHR)
• What is the difference between Electronic Health Records (EHRs) and Electronic Medical Records (EMRs)?
• Key features of Electronic Health Records (EHRs)?
• What are the advantages of Electronic Health Records (EHRs)?
• Navigating the EHR workflow: How EHR systems streamline patient care
• Types of EHRs
• How can you successfully implement Electronic Health Records software?
• What are the various compliances you should consider for EHR development?
• AI-enhanced EHR systems: Transforming healthcare delivery
• How is AI transforming traditional EHR systems?
• Why should you get a customized EHR software?
• Building an AI-powered EHR software- key steps
• AI technologies used to build EHR systems
• How to find the best EHR software development company for you?
• What are the various services that EHR software development companies offer?
• How does LeewayHertz aid in building a custom EHR system?

Understanding Electronic Health Records (EHR)

Electronic Health Records (EHRs) are digital repositories containing a patient’s complete medical history, health-related details, and treatment records. Stored and managed electronically, these records facilitate easy access for authorized healthcare providers and patients, replacing traditional paper-based medical documentation and offering numerous advantages to the healthcare industry.

Electronic Health Records (EHRs) are comprehensive digital systems that contain a wide range of patient information designed to provide a holistic view of a patient’s health history. EHRs encompass diverse patient information, including:

• Medical history: Documentation of past illnesses, surgeries, treatments, and physician notes.
• Allergies: Information about any known allergies to medications, food, or other substances.
• Medications: Details of current and past medications prescribed, including dosages and duration.
• Laboratory results: Results from blood tests, urinalysis, and other laboratory tests.
• Imaging reports: Reports from X-rays, MRIs, CT scans, and other imaging studies.
• Vaccination records: Details of past vaccinations and their dates.
• Demographic data: Information about the patient’s age, gender, race, and contact details.
• Progress notes: Documentation of patient visits, assessments, and treatment plans.
• Vital signs: Measurements like blood pressure, heart rate, temperature, and respiratory rate.
• Problem list: A list of current and past diagnoses or health issues.
• Surgical history: Information about past surgeries and procedures.
• Family history: Health information about the patient’s family members, which can be relevant for genetic or hereditary conditions.
• Social history: Information about the patient’s lifestyle, including smoking status, alcohol consumption, occupation, and living situation.
• Consultation notes: Notes from specialists or other healthcare providers who have been consulted regarding the patient’s care.
• Advanced directives: Information about the patient’s wishes regarding medical treatment in the event they are unable to communicate these wishes themselves.
• Billing information: Details related to insurance, billing, and payments.

EHRs are designed to make it easier for healthcare providers to make informed decisions and coordinate care, improving the overall quality and efficiency of healthcare delivery.

What is the difference between Electronic Health Records (EHRs) and Electronic Medical Records (EMRs)?

Both Electronic Health Records (EHRs) and Electronic Medical Records (EMRs) are digital versions of patients’ health records. However, there’s a difference between them.

Electronic Medical Records (EMRs) are the digital version of a patient’s records stored and maintained by one provider. They include all the patient’s information and details from one practice and aren’t usually shared with anyone else. So, if the patient changes his/her doctor, the EMR is unlikely to be shared.

Electronic Health Records (EHRs) consist of a patient’s records from multiple sources. They provide a more detailed and long-term view of the patient’s health as they contain more information from various sources. The wide range of information available enables specialists to provide better and more attentive care to the patient. EHRs can also be securely shared with different doctors.

This table summarizes the key differences between Electronic Health Records (EHRs) and Electronic Medical Records (EMRs) in terms of scope, interoperability, accessibility, patient engagement, legal requirements, data integration, and population health capabilities.

Differences between EHR and EMR

Key features of Electronic Health Records (EHRs)

The pivotal features of Electronic Health Records (EHRs) that transform healthcare and streamline patient management include:

Patient portal or profile:

In the EHR system patients typically receive instructions from their healthcare providers to set up their portal accounts. The portal enables patients to:

• Access personal health data shared by the healthcare facility.
• Schedule in-person or virtual appointments online.
• Review past appointments and manage future ones.
• Download and complete registration forms before appointments.
• View diagnostic test results and medical images 24/7.
• Update personal information.
• Receive notifications for new information such as test results, medical documents, prescriptions, or bills.

Patient portals provide patients with the ability to access their medical information conveniently from any location and at any time.

Communication features:

Patient portals facilitate efficient communication between patients and healthcare providers through various channels, including messaging, voice calls, and video calls. These features enable appointment follow-ups, inquiries, and prompt responses from healthcare specialists, enhancing patient engagement and satisfaction. Direct and secure messaging and voice and video calls provide patients with convenient access to healthcare professionals, promoting effective communication and improving overall care delivery.

E-prescriptions:

EHR systems support electronic prescribing, eliminating the need for handwritten prescriptions. With an e-prescribing feature, medical specialists can electronically provide prescriptions to patients. The prescriptions can also be regularly saved in health records so that doctors and patients can easily trace them for future purposes. E-prescriptions streamline refill requests, facilitating efficient medication renewal. Authorized personnel access patient medication history to prevent adverse drug interactions. Electronic records ensure accurate dosage and prompt patients to seek clarifications or report side effects.

Charting and lab analytics

Charting, the process of documenting patient information, can be time-consuming for healthcare professionals. Electronic Health Record (EHR) software offers features to streamline charting, making it less tedious:

• Customized charting templates: EHR software provides pre-designed templates tailored to different medical specialties, making it easier for healthcare providers to document patient encounters efficiently and accurately.
• Voice recognition integration: Voice recognition technology integration allows healthcare providers to dictate patient notes directly into the EHR system, reducing the need for manual typing and speeding up the charting process.
• AI and machine learning integration: Advanced EHR systems leverage AI and ML algorithms to analyze patient data and suggest relevant information for charting. This can help automate certain aspects of charting and provide insights for better decision-making.

In addition to charting, integrating lab software with EHR systems enhances the management of laboratory processes:

• Sample tracking: Integration facilitates healthcare providers in effortlessly monitoring samples from collection to analysis, thereby minimizing errors and preserving the accuracy of test results.
• Status monitoring: Healthcare professionals can monitor the status of lab reports in real time through the EHR system, allowing for timely follow-up and treatment decisions based on test results.
• Data integration: Lab information seamlessly integrates with patient charts within the EHR software, providing a comprehensive view of the patient’s health history. This integration facilitates informed decision-making.

Integrating lab information systems with EHR enhances the efficiency, accuracy, and accessibility of patient data, ultimately improving patient care outcomes and optimizing laboratory processes.

Reporting:

Effective reporting in Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems enhances patient safety, usability, and decision-making by providing comprehensive clinical and financial data insights. By examining these reports, healthcare providers can detect patterns, trends, and areas needing improvement, leading to enhanced patient care results and more efficient resource allocation in the long run.

Task management:

Task management capabilities in an EHR system streamline daily workflows by handling ancillary tasks efficiently. The system prompts users to sign notes, review lab results, approve medications, and respond to patient messages, ensuring nothing falls through the cracks. With a centralized view of pending tasks, healthcare professionals avoid wasting time searching for misplaced charts or lost patient information, leading to increased productivity and better time management.

Templates and order sets:

Templates and order sets in an EHR system enable healthcare providers to streamline treatment for patients with similar conditions. Providers can efficiently document care plans and orders by creating templates, and order sets during patient encounters. Later, these templates can be reused for patients with similar diagnoses, significantly reducing documentation time and expediting clinical encounters. This feature enhances workflow efficiency and allows providers to focus more on patient care than repetitive documentation tasks.

Medical history:

The medical history section in an EHR encompasses a patient’s complete record of past illnesses and treatments, offering crucial insights, especially for those with serious conditions like cancer or coronary heart disease. It includes details of past medical conditions, specific health problems, and treatments administered. In emergencies, this comprehensive record enables healthcare providers to quickly access vital information about the patient’s prior care, facilitating prompt and informed decision-making for immediate treatment.

Reminders

The “Reminders” feature in an EHR system benefits doctors and patients.

For patients, the system sends alerts to:

• Avoid missing appointments
• Obtain medication refills
• Schedule routine check-ups

For doctors, the system sends alerts to:

• Review patient records
• Monitor patients’ lab results
• Manage appointments
• Provide reminders of upcoming appointments and meetings

This feature enhances communication, improves adherence to treatment plans, and facilitates proactive healthcare management for patients and providers.

Payment management:

Electronic health records software can significantly enhance payments and billing systems by integrating financial information directly into the patient’s medical records. This includes:

• Record of previous bills and payments
• Tracking pending payments
• Notifying patients of upcoming expenses
• Generating and storing invoices
• Monitoring medication refill expenses

This streamlines billing processes improve payment collection and enhances transparency for patients regarding healthcare expenses.

What are the advantages of Electronic Health Records (EHRs)?

As both healthcare providers and patients use electronic health records, various benefits are offered to them.

For healthcare providers, EHRs offer the following benefits:

1. Reliability
2. Regular Updates
3. Reduced Mistakes
4. Group Management

For patients, EHRs offer the following benefits:

1. Increased Access To Doctors
2. Appointment Management
3. Tracking Records
4. Communication

Let’s discuss these benefits in detail.

Advantages of Electronic Health Records (EHRs) for Healthcare Providers

We have explained four advantages of electronic health records for healthcare providers:

1. Reliable

Electronic health records can be accessed from anywhere in the world, especially when they’re cloud-hosted. Also, they can be backed-up. Hence, doctors don’t have to worry about losing the records or the servers getting crashed. The records can be quickly restored.

2. Regular Updates

All the updates happen according to the various healthcare guidelines and compliances followed for electronic exchange of information via EHRs. All the updates made by doctors or nurses are saved and backed up instantly. If the EHR software is cloud-hosted, healthcare providers don’t have to worry about the software updates.

3. Reduced Mistakes

All data saved electronically is easy to read and manage. As compared to handwritten records, electronic records are more accurate. Whenever the doctors need to refer to a patient’s details, there won’t be any misunderstandings as all data has been correctly saved. Also, since EHRs facilitate regular follow-ups, the scope of errors in the patient’s records reduces.

4. Group Management

Healthcare providers can create groups of patient records according to diseases, treatment methods, demography, etc. This way, records of patients with similar needs can be managed as a group, reducing the providers’ effort. Also, customized templates can be used for such groups, making recording updates easier for the doctors.

Advantages of Electronic Health Records (EHRs) for Patients

We have explained four advantages of electronic health records for patients:

1. Increased Access To Doctors

As EHRs can be accessible from anywhere and at any time, patients can always view them and get in touch with their doctors immediately. This way, patients can receive medical guidance at any time.

2. Appointment Management

Patients can manage their appointments via EHR software. They can:

• view their previous appointments
• go through the notes and prescriptions of previous appointments
• book future appointments with their doctors

3. Tracking Records

With EHR software, patients can conveniently track their:

• test results
• prescriptions
• online consultations
• appointments
• refills
• notes
• treatment records
• payment records

4. Communication

Communication is enhanced by the use of electronic health record software as there are features like integrated chats, reminders, etc., which keep reminding the patients about:

• routine check-ups
• refill dates
• upcoming appointments
• pending payments, etc.

Electronic Health Records offer many advantages, but how do they work? Let’s discuss how they work to understand this concept.

Navigating the EHR workflow: How EHR systems streamline patient care

Here is the detailed workflow of an electronic health record (EHR) system:

• Patient registration: The workflow begins with the patient registering at the clinic, either through a self-service system or at the front desk. During registration, patients provide essential details such as their medical history, allergies, past treatments, and billing information. Once registered, patients gain access to a personalized patient portal where they can view visit summaries, request appointments, and more.
• Appointment scheduling: In the front office, a receptionist schedules the patient’s appointment using a centralized scheduling system. This system manages each doctor’s workflow and organizes patient queues from various sources, including online scheduling, check-in counters, and reception desks.
• Physician consultation: Once the appointment is scheduled, the physician is notified and accesses the patient’s demographics, medical history, and symptoms from the EHR. After the consultation, whether in-person or virtual, the physician enters a comprehensive clinical note into the EHR system, documenting diagnoses, prescriptions, and further instructions. Other healthcare professionals, such as nurses and therapists, can refer to these notes for necessary procedures.
• Pharmacy: If medication is prescribed, the order is sent to the pharmacy, which then prepares the medication for the patient to pick up, reducing wait times.
• Billing and insurance: After the patient’s visit, the finance department uses the EHR’s billing module to create an invoice for the services rendered. The billing module also prepares an insurance claim, which is checked for errors at the clearinghouse, reformatted to meet the insurer’s standards, and transmitted to the insurer for coverage.
• Lab tests: If lab tests are required, the EHR system integrates with labs to enable physicians to request tests and receive results for review.
• Continuity of care: If a patient requires further treatment from other doctors or specialists, each subsequent visit generates its own record within the respective doctor’s EHR system. This highlights the challenge of linking the patient’s disparate records from different facilities and emphasizes the need for interoperability solutions to ensure continuity of care across healthcare settings.

Post-encounter, if a patient requires further treatment from other doctors or specialists, each subsequent visit generates its own record within the respective doctor’s separate EHR system. This raises the challenge of linking the patient’s disparate records from different facilities, emphasizing the need for interoperability solutions to ensure continuity of care across healthcare settings.

Types of EHRs

There are mainly two types of electronic health records, based on where they are stored:

1. Locally-hosted EHRs
2. Cloud-hosted EHRs

Let’s learn about both types in detail.

Locally hosted EHR:

Locally hosted Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems operate on servers within the premises of a healthcare organization, restricting access to users within that organization. Physicians working within the facility can access the EHR system without relying on an internet connection. Patient health records are securely stored within the organization’s network.

The advantages of using Local EHR are:

• Data security and control: Healthcare organizations have more direct control over who can access the system and how patient data is secured.
• Potential for faster performance: Accessing patient records on a local server can be faster than relying on internet connectivity in a cloud-based system.
• Customization: Organizations may have more flexibility to customize the EHR system to meet their specific needs.

Cloud-based EHR:

Cloud-based or web-based EHR systems are developed and managed by third-party vendors utilizing cloud infrastructure. These solutions are accessible to multiple users simultaneously, allowing real-time updates to patient data. With cloud-based EHR, data synchronization ensures all users can access the most up-to-date information when reviewing patient records. Maintaining the system’s functionality and performance lies with the cloud provider, alleviating the healthcare organization from the burden of managing the solution internally.

The benefits of cloud-based EHR include:

• Accessibility anywhere, anytime: Cloud-based EHR systems enable users to access medical records from any location with an internet connection. Users can retrieve patient information beyond the office, enhancing care continuity and convenience.
• Real-time collaboration: Multiple healthcare providers can access and update patient records simultaneously. This fosters efficient communication, reduces decision-making delays, and improves care coordination.
• Reduced burden for clinics: Cloud vendors handle system maintenance and updates, freeing up clinic IT staff. Automatic updates and scalability ensure the clinic stays current with technological advancements seamlessly.

If you plan to implement an EHR system in your healthcare institute, cloud-hosted EHRs are the better option. They offer numerous benefits and make the system even more convenient to use.

In addition to the hosting method, EHRs can also be categorized based on their functionality and scope:

• Ambulatory EHRs: Designed for outpatient care settings, these EHRs are used by clinics, physician offices, and other healthcare providers who do not offer inpatient services.
• Inpatient EHRs: These EHRs are used by hospitals and other acute care settings where patients are admitted for overnight stays or longer. They often include more comprehensive features to manage the complexities of inpatient care.
• Specialty EHRs: Some EHR systems are tailored to the specific needs of particular medical specialties, such as dermatology, ophthalmology, or orthopedics. These systems include features and templates specific to the workflow and documentation requirements of the specialty.
• Integrated EHRs: These systems combine EHR functionality with other healthcare management software, such as practice management and billing systems. They provide a more comprehensive solution for managing all aspects of a healthcare practice.

Each type of EHR has its own set of advantages and challenges, and the choice of an EHR system depends on the specific needs, budget, and workflow of the healthcare provider.

How can you successfully implement Electronic Health Records software?

Successfully implementing an electronic health records software can be challenging because there are many aspects to be addressed. Even though you might be working with an EHRs software development company or vendor, you still need to follow a few steps at your end for successful implementation. A thoughtful and planned implementation can help you complete the process and also benefit your healthcare staff and patients.

Here, we have listed seven steps that a healthcare organization should follow to implement electronic health records software successfully.

Step 1: Form An Implementation Team

Before starting the EHRs software implementation, the first step would be to create an implementation team. This team may include several people, such as:

• doctors
• nurses
• receptionists
• administrative staff, etc.

However, there are three critical roles which must be performed by the compatible staff:

Project Manager

As the title suggests, the project manager is responsible for managing the project. S/he has various responsibilities, such as:

1. cooperating with the EHR software development company/vendor
2. ensuring that all deadlines are being met
3. tracking the project’s progress
4. managing everyday issues

Head Physician

The head physician is responsible for guiding your healthcare organization throughout the implementation process. S/he ensures effective communication between the front-end users, the technical staff, and the administrative staff so that all procedures are clear to everyone.

Head Super User

Generally, a super user is a person in an organization who profoundly understands all the internal procedures and is responsible for managing knowledge inside a department/organization.

Here, the role of the head super user would be to:

• configure the software
• create templates
• design workflows
• address the issues of front-end users

After you’ve made the implementation team, it’s time to move on to the next step.

Step 2: Set Up The Software

To set up the electronic health records software, you work closely with your IT department and the EHR software development company/team you’ve chosen. If you haven’t found a company yet, we have explained how you can find an EHR software development company suitable for you later in this article.

In this step, you list the features you require in the software, such as:

• customized templates
• medication management
• billing management
• task management
• lab analytics, etc.

You also work with your vendor and IT team to:

• identify the legal compliances and standards you need to follow according to your geographical area (HIPAA, CCDA, GDPR, etc.)
• ensure that all compliances and standards are met.

After creating an implementation team and configuring the software, the next step should be to take care of the necessary hardware.

Step 3: Determine Hardware Requirements

Identifying the hardware requirements is essential to ensure that electronic health records software is implemented seamlessly. Determining and installing the right hardware can save your healthcare organization a lot of time and money.

The hardware requirements can vary from one healthcare organization to another. For example, one organization may need to install a printer in every doctor’s office to save time and effort while the other may provide their specialists with portable devices to save paper and time.

If you have an in-house IT cell, they can help you determine and install the necessary hardware. Otherwise, you can also hire an IT company to help you out. In some cases, the hired EHRs software development company can also help healthcare organizations identify the EHR system’s required hardware.

Now that you’ve set up your software and hardware, it’s time to move on to the next step, which requires the transfer of data to your new system.

Step 4: Transfer All Data

After the system is set up, it is essential to plan out a way to transfer all your data from your previous record-keeping system to your new electronic health records software.

The previous record-keeping systems can differ from one practice to another. Some may have all their data saved in a computer while others may have only hard copies. Hence, it is essential to follow the following steps to transfer your data smoothly:

• Prepare a list of all the data which needs to be transferred.
• Divide the data into categories, such as patient-wise categories, disease-wise categories, demography-wise categories, etc.
• Plan out the amount of time required to transfer each category of data to the new system.
• Allot tasks to a team of your staff members, so that there isn’t excessive workload and there are fewer mistakes.
• If you don’t have enough staff, you can temporarily hire additional staff to help you transfer all data quickly.

After you’ve transferred all your data to the new electronic health records software, you must move on to optimizing your workflows.

Step 5: Optimize Workflows Before Implementation

Optimizing workflows before implementation may seem like an unnecessary step. However, it is imperative to determine and optimize your workflows before launching the new system. Many practices determine the workflows after launching the new system, which sometimes ends up in chaos and time wastage.

It is important to determine your workflows before the final launch so that:

• Everyone is aware of the tasks they’re going to be responsible for
• Alot of tasks can be taken off doctors’ plates as you realize those tasks don’t require medical expertise to be fulfilled
• There is smooth flow after the EHRs software is launched
• There is less chaos, mistakes, confusion and problems
• The right order of getting things done can be determined

After determining and optimizing the workflows, you should finalize your launch approach.

Step 6: Finalize The Launch Approach

The launch approach differs from one healthcare organization to another due to their differences in workflows and procedures. Usually, there are two types of launch approaches followed by healthcare organizations while implementing a new electronic health records software:

1. The Immediate/Big Bang Approach
2. The Incremental Approach

Let’s learn about these approaches.

The Immediate/Big Bang Approach

The immediate or the big bang approach refers to converting all users to the new electronic health records software on the same day. This approach offers benefits like:

• quickly actualizing the benefits of EHRs
• reduced effort in managing both paperwork and electronic records
• less confusion as all tasks are being managed electronically

The Incremental Approach

The incremental approach refers to implementing the system one step at a time. Some features are introduced first and then gradually, the entire system is implemented. For example, you may implement the e-prescribing feature first, followed by “adding notes to the documents” functionality, etc.

You may also follow this approach by implementing the electronic health records software department-wise and gradually covering the entire organization.

This approach offers various benefits like:

• Problems are easier to solve.
• It allows staff to learn and efficiently use the system gradually.
• Productivity is maintained even if the team cannot utilize a specific functionality, as the entire software has yet to be launched.

After you’ve decided on the launch approach, it is time to proceed to the final step of the implementation procedure.

Step 7: Schedule Training For Your Staff

Staff members and specialists will regularly use the new EHR software. Hence, it is essential to properly train them so that they don’t face any problems while working.

Creating a training plan and scheduling training sessions can help you systematically train your staff and address each issue individually. This way, you will ensure that all staff members:

• Can efficiently use the system
• Are aware of the functionalities

It will also give you an idea of your team’s weak areas to identify what kind of help you can possibly need in the future and plan for that accordingly.

Now, let’s learn how you can find the best electronic health records software development company for you.

What are the various compliances you should consider for EHR development?

Here, we have listed six compliances and standards that the EHR software should follow:

FHIR

FHIR stands for Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources. It is a standard for the digital exchange of healthcare information, which describes:

• elements
• data formats
• API

With the growing use of electronic health records in the healthcare sector, FHIR was introduced to ensure that the records are developed in a way that they can be seamlessly interpreted by different systems. The goal of FHIR is to standardize the exchange of patients’ medical information so that the data can be shared and used by other doctors, even if they are not using the same software.

HIPAA

HIPAA signifies the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. It is a compliance which sets standards for the security of private patient information.

Even though new technological innovations in the healthcare sector like electronic health records can provide numerous benefits to practitioners and patients, they can also put patients’ privacy and data security at risk. HIPAA compliance ensures the benefits of EHRs that can be enjoyed without putting the patient’s privacy at stake.

With HIPAA compliance, a patient’s private medical data cannot be shared without his/her consent. HIPAA has many rules and regulations for electronic health records software development concerning the gathering, processing, and saving of patients’ health data.

DICOM

DICOM represents Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine. It is an international standard for the communication and management of medical imaging data and related information. DICOM deals with five general application areas:

• network image management
• network image interpretation management
• network print management
• imaging procedure management
• off-line storage media management

CCDA

CCDA stands for Consolidated Clinical Document Architecture. It is a markup standard for creating templates and documents for medical information. It attempts to reduce vagueness and conflicts in medical documentation.

The CCDA standard comprises a library of clinical document architecture template standards. It represents an individual and unified implementation guide for numerous electronic clinical documents or electronic health records.

It is a base standard that provides:

• a common architecture
• coding
• semantic framework
• markup language, etc.

It can be used to communicate about:

• any type of patient health data, like electronic health records
• administrative healthcare data
• patient population data

SNOMED CT

SNOMED Clinical Terms is a systematically organized, computer-processable collection of medical terms that provide codes, terms, synonyms, and definitions used in clinical reporting and documentation. SNOMED CT is:

• considered to be the most comprehensive and multilingual medical terminology in the world
• a set of given standards for use in U.S. Federal Government systems for the electronic exchange of healthcare data
• a necessary standard in interoperability terms of the United States Healthcare IT Standards Panel

SNOMED International owns and maintains the clinical terminology.

GDPR

GDPR represents the General Data Protection Regulation. GDPR is a regulation in European Union law for digital data privacy and protection. It requires adherence to policies for gathering, processing, and securing personal data. It controls gathering and using personal data in the EU, such as:

• names
• addresses
• demographics, etc.

It is applicable in the healthcare industry because providers must:

• ensure supreme protection of patient information
• incorporate a system to correct or delete data right away

The rules and regulations regarding electronic health records software development may be country-specific or differ from one area to another. It is essential to check the rules and compliances for your geographical location before starting the process of electronic health records software development.

AI-enhanced EHR systems: Transforming healthcare delivery

The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies such as Machine Learning (ML) and Natural Language Processing (NLP) into Electronic Health Records (EHR) systems has transformed healthcare record-keeping. AI-powered EHR systems offer functionalities that improve efficiency, accuracy, and provide deeper insights into healthcare processes.

Machine learning algorithms are capable of analyzing vast amounts of patient data to identify patterns, trends, and correlations that might not be evident to human analysts. This capability is particularly useful in tasks like medical transcription, where speech from voice recognition systems is transformed into text, thereby streamlining the organization and searchability of documents within the EHR database.

Natural Language Processing enables EHR systems to understand and interpret unstructured data, such as clinical notes and patient narratives. This ability allows for comprehensive analysis and supports informed decision-making processes. By leveraging these AI technologies, healthcare providers can quickly access relevant information, make more informed clinical decisions, and enhance patient health outcomes.

Furthermore, predictive analytics models powered by AI can forecast patient health risk factors, predict treatment outcomes, and assess patient satisfaction levels. The integration of AI in EHR systems enables healthcare organizations to streamline processes, improve the quality of care, and ultimately enhance the overall patient experience.

By incorporating AI into EHR, healthcare providers can proactively intervene in patient care, identify potential risks early, and customize treatment plans according to the specific needs of each patient. This approach not only improves patient outcomes but also contributes to more efficient and effective healthcare delivery.

In addition to ML and NLP, other AI technologies, such as computer vision for analyzing medical images and AI-powered chatbots for patient engagement, are also being integrated into EHR systems. However, it’s important to acknowledge the challenges and limitations of integrating AI into EHR systems, such as data privacy concerns, the need for high-quality data, and the importance of interpretability in AI models. Overcoming these challenges is essential for fully realizing the potential of AI in enhancing EHR systems and improving healthcare delivery.

How is AI transforming traditional EHR systems?

The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Electronic Health Records (EHR) has transformed the way healthcare data is managed and utilized. From improving patient outcomes to streamlining administrative tasks, AI applications in EHR are transforming the healthcare landscape.

• Medical transcription: AI-driven speech recognition technology automates the transcription of physician dictations into text within EHR systems. This advancement not only accelerates the documentation process but also minimizes transcription errors. Healthcare professionals can devote more time to patient care by seamlessly transcribing spoken words into written text. This integration enhances efficiency, streamlines workflows, and ensures accurate documentation of clinical encounters. Additionally, it alleviates the burden on transcription staff, allowing resources to be reallocated for other critical tasks. AI-powered speech recognition technology significantly improves productivity and quality within healthcare settings.
• Clinical decision support: AI algorithms within EHR systems offer healthcare professionals real-time, evidence-based recommendations for diagnosis and treatment. Analyzing patient data instantly, these algorithms aid clinicians in making informed decisions aligned with medical guidelines, enhancing accuracy and efficiency. By swiftly accessing pertinent information, clinicians can expedite diagnosis and personalized treatment plans, optimizing the utilization of EHR data.
• Predictive analytics: By scrutinizing vast amounts of data within electronic health records, AI models can discern trends, anticipate potential health issues, and recommend tailored strategies. This predictive capability empowers healthcare providers to intervene early, mitigating risks and improving patient health outcomes. Through continuous learning from new data inputs, AI algorithms refine their predictions, enhancing their accuracy over time. Ultimately, this integration of AI in EHR systems transforms healthcare delivery by shifting towards preventative and individualized approaches.
• Natural language processing (NLP): AI-powered NLP tools integrated into EHR systems efficiently extract pertinent information from unstructured clinical notes and documents. This capability streamlines data retrieval and analysis processes, facilitating quicker access to crucial patient information for clinicians. By automatically identifying and categorizing key data points, such as symptoms, diagnoses, and treatment plans, AI enhances the accuracy and completeness of patient records. Moreover, it enables healthcare providers to derive actionable insights from large volumes of unstructured data, contributing to more informed clinical decision-making.
• Drug interaction detection: AI algorithms integrated into EHR systems can efficiently analyze medication lists and patient health records. These algorithms can identify potential drug interactions, allergies, and adverse reactions by leveraging advanced data processing techniques. Moreover, they assist health providers in prescribing appropriate medications tailored to individual patient profiles, enhancing treatment efficacy and safety. Additionally, AI-powered medication analysis supports medication reconciliation processes, ensuring accuracy and completeness in patient records. This capability significantly improves patient health, reduces medication errors, and enhances overall healthcare quality within clinical settings.
• Disease detection and diagnosis: AI in EHR systems leverages lab results and medical history to assist in the early detection and diagnosis of diseases like cancer and diabetes. By analyzing this comprehensive data, AI algorithms can identify subtle patterns and markers indicative of potential health conditions, enabling healthcare providers to intervene sooner and initiate appropriate treatment strategies. This proactive approach enhances patient outcomes and reduces the burden on healthcare resources by addressing diseases at earlier stages. AI-powered EHR facilitates more accurate and timely diagnoses, improving patient care and management within clinical settings.
• Personalized medicine: AI in EHR can leverage genetic and clinical data to customize treatment plans according to each patient’s traits and health requirements. By analyzing this comprehensive information, AI can optimize treatment efficacy while minimizing the risk of adverse effects. These algorithms consider genetic predispositions, previous treatment responses, and lifestyle factors to recommend personalized interventions. Through continuous learning and adaptation, AI in EHRs ensures that treatment plans evolve alongside patients’ changing needs and health status. This tailored approach enhances patient outcomes, improves medication adherence, and fosters a more patient-centered healthcare experience.
• Patient portal: Through AI-powered natural language processing (NLP), patients can easily search and retrieve specific information from their records, such as lab results or medication details, using simple queries. Additionally, AI algorithms can analyze patient data to provide personalized recommendations or alerts regarding medication adherence, preventive care, or potential health risks. This approach enables patients to take control of their health. AI enhances the patient portal experience by making EHR data more actionable, personalized, and accessible to patients.
• Virtual medical assistant: AI-powered virtual assistants automate administrative tasks such as appointment scheduling, patient record updates, and basic patient inquiries, allowing healthcare providers to prioritize patient care. By leveraging AI algorithms, these assistants streamline workflows, saving time and improving efficiency in healthcare settings. This automation reduces administrative burdens on medical professionals, enabling them to allocate more time and attention to delivering high-quality patient care. Additionally, virtual assistants can enhance patient satisfaction by providing timely and accurate responses to inquiries, contributing to an overall improved healthcare experience.
• Image and signal analysis: AI excels in analyzing medical images such as X-rays, MRIs, and signals like ECGs to identify anomalies and diagnose various conditions. By training on extensive datasets, AI algorithms continuously refine their ability to recognize patterns and abnormalities, leading to enhanced accuracy and efficiency in diagnosis. This technology enables healthcare professionals to expedite the interpretation of medical images and signals, facilitating quicker decision-making and treatment planning. Additionally, AI-driven analysis can help detect subtle abnormalities that might be overlooked by human observers, improving overall diagnostic outcomes and patient care.
• Medical reports translation: AI is employed in Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems to translate medical reports by leveraging Natural Language Processing (NLP) algorithms. These algorithms analyze unstructured clinical notes and other textual data, extracting key information and translating it into different languages. By automating the translation process, AI facilitates communication between healthcare providers and patients from various linguistic backgrounds, enhancing accessibility to medical information and improving care coordination. Additionally, AI-driven translation in EHRs reduces the time and resources required for manual translation tasks, increasing efficiency and workflow productivity within healthcare organizations.
• Scheduling appointments: In EHR systems, AI aids in scheduling appointments by analyzing doctor’s notes and patient data to determine optimal follow-up schedules. AI algorithms can suggest suitable appointment times and dates by considering factors such as treatment plans, urgency, and patient preferences. Additionally, AI can automate appointment reminders and notifications, sending alerts to patients and healthcare providers to ensure timely follow-up visits. This proactive approach streamlines appointment scheduling processes, reduces no-show rates, and improves overall patient engagement and care coordination.
• Automated instructions: In EHR systems, AI offers personalized guidance and support to patients following discharge. These instructions are tailored to each patient’s unique condition, treatment plan, and recovery goals, improving comprehension and adherence to post-discharge instructions. AI algorithms analyze patient data, including medical history and current health status, to generate context-aware instructions that address specific needs and preferences. Integrating EHR systems, AI streamlines communication between healthcare providers and patients, enhancing patient education, self-management, and overall care continuity. This proactive approach facilitates better outcomes, reduces readmission rates, and empowers patients to play an active role in their recovery process.
• Data management and organization: AI algorithms can efficiently manage and organize vast patient data, including medical histories, diagnostic tests, and treatment plans. By utilizing machine learning techniques, AI can classify and structure data for easy retrieval and analysis, thereby enhancing the overall efficiency of healthcare providers.
• Security and privacy: AI safeguards sensitive patient data through advanced cybersecurity measures. AI algorithms can detect anomalies in user behavior, identify potential security threats, and mitigate risks of data breaches. Additionally, AI-powered encryption techniques ensure robust patient privacy and confidentiality protection within EHR systems.
• Revenue cycle management: AI optimizes revenue cycle management processes by automating coding, billing, and claims processing tasks. Machine learning algorithms analyze billing patterns, identify coding errors, and streamline reimbursement workflows, accelerating revenue operations and improving financial performance for healthcare organizations.
• Quality improvement: AI-driven analytics enable continuous monitoring and evaluation of healthcare quality metrics within EHR systems. By analyzing clinical outcomes, patient satisfaction scores, and adherence to best practices, AI identifies areas for improvement and facilitates evidence-based decision-making to enhance the overall quality of care delivery.

Why should you get a customized EHR software?

Every healthcare institute has different needs. However, not all electronic health record software have features that fulfill the specific needs of healthcare institutes. Hence, it is preferable to get customized EHR software built instead of compromising on any requirement. Here, we have listed four reasons why customized EHR software is the better option:

1. Regional Certifications and Compliances
2. Security Measures of your choice
3. Custom UI/UX Designs
4. Preferable Features (Billing, E-Prescribing, etc.)

Let’s learn more about them.

Regional certifications and compliances

You can get certifications and build software that meets compliances according to your geographical area. Sometimes, the ready-to-use EHR software you prefer may not comply with your area’s required standards, and the ones that do comply don’t have the features you desire.

With customized EHR software, you can get the certifications and compliances required in your geographical area without compromising the features.

Security measures of your choice

With customized EHR solutions, you can get all the security measures you want to ensure security of your patients’ information. You don’t have to compromise on anything. You can integrate as many security measures as you want. You can also integrate the EHR system with other technologies like blockchain to increase security.

Custom UI/UX designs

Obviously, you want your EHR software to be easy to use, well organized, and good to look at. With customized EHR software, you can get custom UI/UX designs to ensure that the software’s workflow is smooth and everything is organized.

• You can get the color schemes you want.
• You can keep the design as minimalist as you desire.
• You can ensure that it is easy for front-end users to navigate around on the software.

Preferable Features

A customized electronic health records software gives you the freedom to get the features you require in your practice and eliminate all the features you don’t. For example, if you already have a separate cloud-based billing system, you don’t have to invest in getting that functionality built into your EHR software. You can simply integrate it with the software and save a lot of time and money.

When you select the features you require and eliminate the unnecessary ones, your front-end users won’t get confused by the multiple options, and your UI/UX design becomes more precise.

Building an AI-powered EHR software- key steps

Developing an AI-powered Electronic Health Record (EHR) software involves integrating various technologies and methodologies comprehensively. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to develop such a system:

1. Define objectives and requirements: Start by outlining the objectives of your AI-powered EHR software. Determine the key functionalities you want to incorporate, such as patient data management, clinical decision support, predictive analytics, etc. Gather requirements from healthcare professionals, administrators, and potential users to ensure your software meets their needs.
2. Data collection and integration: Gather relevant healthcare data from various sources, including patient records, lab results, imaging scans, etc. Ensure compliance with privacy regulations such as HIPAA (in the US) by actively integrating this data into a centralized database or data lake, ensuring interoperability and seamless communication between different systems.
3. Data preprocessing and cleaning: Cleanse and preprocess the collected data to remove noise, inconsistencies, and redundancies. This step ensures data quality and accuracy for effective AI-driven analysis and decision-making.
4. AI model development: Develop AI models tailored to specific tasks and objectives, such as natural language processing (NLP) for extracting information from unstructured text, ML algorithms for predictive analytics, computer vision for interpreting medical images, etc. Train these models using labeled data to achieve optimal performance.
5. Testing and validation: Thoroughly test the AI-powered EHR software to ensure functionality, performance, and reliability across different use cases and scenarios. Conduct usability testing with healthcare professionals to gather feedback and identify areas for improvement.
6. Integration with EHR system: Integrate the AI models seamlessly into the EHR system, allowing them to analyze patient data in real time and provide actionable insights to healthcare providers. Ensure compatibility with existing EHR platforms and workflows to minimize disruption and facilitate adoption.
7. User interface design: Design a user-friendly interface for the EHR system, incorporating intuitive navigation, customizable dashboards, and interactive visualization tools. Ensure that healthcare professionals can easily access and interpret the insights provided by the AI models, enhancing clinical workflow efficiency and effectiveness.
8. Security and compliance: Implement robust security measures to protect patient data from unauthorized access, breaches, and cyber-attacks. Encrypt sensitive information, enforce access controls, and regularly audit system activity to maintain compliance with relevant regulations and standards.
9. Deployment and maintenance: Deploy the AI-powered EHR software in healthcare facilities, providing training and support to users to facilitate adoption and usage. Continuously monitor system performance, promptly address issues or vulnerabilities, and incorporate updates and enhancements to keep the software up-to-date and effective.

Following these steps, you can develop AI-powered EHR software that leverages advanced technologies to improve patient care, streamline clinical workflows, and enhance healthcare outcomes.

AI technologies used to build EHR systems

Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies are increasingly integrated into Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems to enhance various functionalities and improve healthcare delivery. Some common AI technologies used in EHR systems include:

1. Natural Language Processing (NLP): It plays a crucial role in converting unstructured clinical notes into structured data. By utilizing NLP algorithms, EHR systems can automatically extract relevant information from physician notes, patient histories, and other textual documents. This structured data can then be used for various purposes, such as documentation and analysis, ultimately improving the efficiency of healthcare workflows.
2. Machine Learning (ML): Machine Learning (ML) algorithms within EHR systems enable predictive analytics and clinical decision support. ML algorithms can identify patterns and trends that may not be immediately apparent to human clinicians by analyzing vast amounts of patient data, including demographics, medical history, and treatment outcomes. This allows for predicting potential health outcomes, risk stratification, and providing personalized treatment recommendations tailored to individual patient needs.
3. Deep learning: Deep Learning, a subset of ML, is particularly powerful in analyzing medical images and signals within EHR systems. Deep learning techniques can process and interpret complex data from medical imaging modalities such as X-rays, MRIs, CT scans, and physiological signals like electrocardiograms (ECGs). By leveraging deep learning algorithms, EHR systems can assist clinicians in detecting abnormalities, making accurate diagnoses, and improving patient care outcomes.

How to find the best EHR software development company for you?

Finding and hiring an electronic health records software development company that fits best with you requires a lot of research. Here, we have listed five steps you can follow to find a suitable EHR software development company for you:

1. Talk To People

While looking for good EHR software development companies, the first step is to talk to people who have hired such companies in the past. If you work in the healthcare sector, there must be many people in your network who would have engaged companies to help them with EHRs development. Listening to people, talking about their reviews of specific companies and reading reviews online can help you filter out the incompetent companies at the beginning of your research process.

2. View Work Profile

After you’ve talked to people in your network and read reviews online, you must have received a considerable number of suggestions for companies to hire. Now visit the websites of these companies and look at their previous work. Checking out a company’s previous work can help you identify very quickly if they would be able to work for you, if their work quality is fine, etc. Also, look at their social media handles and blogs to see how active they are, their work process, etc.

3. Shortlist

After looking at the work profiles, shortlist the companies you wish to contact. In this step, make a list of the desirable companies, figure out the specific EHR-related service you want to get from them and write down their contact information.

4. Communicate

After shortlisting, now contact these companies and schedule a meeting with them. When you meet the team, you can judge how dedicatedly they would be working for you. Also, in the discussion, talk about:

• the price structures
• the time which they will take to get your work done
• the resumes or experience of the team that’ll be working on your project

5. Hire

After communicating with these companies, evaluate their costing, team experience, etc. Choose the one that fits best with you and hire them.

What are the various services that EHR software development companies offer?

The services of EHR software development companies may differ. Here, we have listed five general services which almost every EHR software development company offers:

1. Custom EHR software development
2. EHR implementation and integration
3. EHR mobile app development
4. Support and Maintenance
5. Compliances

Let’s learn more about these services.

Custom EHR software development

EHR software development companies offer the service of a custom EHR software development. They can build customized EHR software for you, with the features you want and the standards you prefer.

They can provide you with robust EHR solutions with high-security features.

EHR implementation and integration

EHR software development companies provide implementation and integration services. They can seamlessly implement electronic health record software in your existing system or integrate it with third-party systems like document management software, cloud-based billing, etc.

EHR mobile app development

EHR software development companies can build electronic health records mobile applications, which are secure and scalable. These applications can be used by doctors and patients to exchange health records and information seamlessly. EHR Mobile Applications increase accessibility to patient records and enable remarkable results in healthcare quality.

Support and maintenance

EHR software development companies also provide support and maintenance services, where they help their clients whenever they face any issue with the software. They also offer regular maintenance services to resolve issues and bugs and perform any upgrades if required.

Compliances

EHR software development companies help their clients ensure that their software meets all compliances and standards necessary to exchange information electronically. These compliances ensure patient data security and privacy. It is essential to follow compliance according to the government rules of your geographical area.

How does LeewayHertz aid in building a custom EHR system?

LeewayHertz, a distinguished AI development company, excels in crafting both AI-powered and conventional EHR systems tailored to the unique requirements of healthcare providers. Here’s how they can assist in building custom EHR solutions:

Customized solutions: LeewayHertz specializes in developing personalized EHR systems, whether AI-enhanced or traditional. By closely collaborating with healthcare organizations, they ensure that the EHR software aligns perfectly with specific workflows, enhancing efficiency and patient care.

AI integration and conventional options: LeewayHertz offers the flexibility to integrate AI technologies into EHR systems for advanced features like predictive analytics and natural language processing or to build more traditional EHR solutions focusing on core functionalities.

Scalability: Regardless of the technological approach, LeewayHertz builds EHR systems that are scalable, allowing healthcare providers to adapt to changing needs, whether it’s expanding the patient base or incorporating new features.

Security focus: LeewayHertz maintains a strong emphasis on data security in both AI-powered and conventional EHR systems, ensuring compliance with industry standards and regulations to protect patient information.

User-centric design: LeewayHertz prioritizes user experience, creating EHR systems with intuitive interfaces and easy navigation, whether they are AI-enhanced or not. This approach facilitates user adoption and satisfaction.

Comprehensive support: LeewayHertz provides ongoing support and maintenance services for all EHR systems, ensuring their smooth operation and keeping them up-to-date with evolving healthcare needs and technological advancements.

By blending their expertise in AI development with their capability to create standard EHR systems, LeewayHertz offers healthcare providers versatile and customized solutions that meet their specific needs, driving efficiency and improving patient care.

Endnote

Electronic Health Records (EHR) have become integral to modern healthcare, offering a digital solution to managing patient information and administrative tasks. Their implementation has significantly improved the efficiency of healthcare delivery by facilitating better communication and coordination among healthcare providers. Additionally, EHR systems have been instrumental in reducing errors associated with paper-based records and enhancing patient safety.

The evolution of EHR systems is expected to bring further enhancements in functionality and usability. This includes the integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms to analyze patient data and provide valuable insights for clinical decision-making. Moreover, the ongoing shift towards patient-centered care will likely drive the development of EHR features that empower patients to engage in their healthcare journey actively.

The widespread adoption and effective utilization of EHR systems have undeniably transformed the landscape of healthcare delivery, paving the way for more efficient, accessible, and patient-centric care.

Transform your healthcare with custom EHR software! Experience the power of AI-enhanced and traditional solutions tailored to your needs. Book your free consultation now and elevate your patient care!