Paperless clinics are a response to the need for healthcare to go digital. Our industry is dynamic and there is an ongoing conversation about data and technology changing the way in which we work. The NHS, for example, is in the midst of a digital transformation as part of their Long Term Plan - a goal for the 10-year advancement of public health that puts technology at its core.
Although the changes are slow to come into place, there is some work being done to recognise that digitising systems can put admin staff back into meaningful work. As the world progresses, so must the medical sector and, in turn, the way we care for others. Paperless clinics are the future, here’s why:
Flexible access to data
Efficiency
Sustainability
Better security
Improved goal tracking
Stay one step ahead of the curve
1. Flexible access to data
If your clinic is paperless, you can have access to your patients’ data wherever you are in the world. This is beneficial for two reasons. Firstly, this unprecedented access will give doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals more flexibility; they can work from home or from different sites. This can increase their job satisfaction and reduce stress levels.
Secondly, patients can be granted access to their own files electronically without having to go through the clinic, freeing up time for staff members to proceed with other tasks. Both of these factors improve the productivity and performance levels of your clinic.
2. Efficiency
With all of your patients’ information in one place, your file management will be significantly improved, making consultations more efficient. Healthcare automation means no time wasted sifting through a pile of paper prior to an appointment. It is much easier trying to retrieve information digitally with search functions rather than skimming through paper files. Not only does healthcare automation lead to lower error rates and much faster index and search facilities, but the time saved can also be better used getting to the crux of the problem quicker and aids your clinic in helping more patients day-by-day.
3. Sustainability
Paperless clinics are the sustainable option for more than one reason. The first is that less paper means less waste, which is better for the environment.
The second is that it creates a more sustainable business model: digital health is more economical as storing, printing and posting files and letters is not just wasteful, but also resource-intensive. Paperless clinics are, therefore, not just environmentally-friendly, but also cost-conscious.
4. Better security
Relying on paper copies could prove to be extremely risky - how do you back up this data? There are a lot of physical disasters that could threaten your files such as fires and flooding. Additionally, if you are worried about the security of paper vs. digital files, the former might not be as safe as you might imagine: a study by the UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office found that around 40% of data breaches are paper-based. Even accidentally sending a patient’s classified information to the wrong postal address is classified as a data breach which could put your whole organisation at risk.
Electronic records, if properly backed up together with strong data protection processes, are infinitely more secure than paper records.
5. Improved goal tracking
With all this patient data at your fingertips, you will find that analytics and reporting becomes a lot easier. Updating test results is also more consistent - not only can information from multiple appointments at different clinics and hospitals across a number of days be inputted together, but you can also easily ask for a second opinion on difficult cases. You can do more multi-disciplinary work without needing all the required specialists in the same building, helping you to improve the tracking of patient progress and be able to administer treatment quicker.
6. Stay one step ahead of the curve
It is important that clinics are not left behind because they are slow to keep up with a changing world. Current paper records could become obsolete very quickly and your clinic must be prepared for this. Getting a head start now will eliminate headaches further down the line. Besides the impact of losing this data or even potential clients, actively using digital healthcare automation software could help you get buy-in from partners who want to work with forward-thinking businesses and those who put advanced, smart technology at the heart of what they do.
Want to find out how you can make the switch to a paperless clinic? Get in touch with one of the team to discuss how you can implement OX Virtual Hospital into your processes.
