OneClickMed Blog

by Jullie Chung, Senior Editor
OneClickMed.com

Physicians and medical practices are increasingly moving towards electronic medical records and paperless office systems. This trend is driven by the government mandate requiring that all systems eventually be electronic. But what does the term “paperless office" or “electronic records” mean?

Both terms can be as basic or as complex as any given program or subscriber might choose to make them, but the basic principle involves the most obvious definition: eliminating or reducing the use of paper files and forms and converting everything on paper into computer or web-based electronic files.

Paperless office solutions can host a multitude of features such as the option to scan patient records into digital format, create or import custom medical forms, import faxes, interface with existing billing software, manage electronic remittance notifications and explanation of Medicare benefits from Medicare or other third party sources, allow for database search capabilities, and make sure all forms and transactions stay HIPAA compliant.

Additionally, medical IT technology allows for more advanced integrations into paperless office systems with the use of hand held devices. These can be voice activated dictation devices, physician PDA tablets, or even physician cell phones. More advanced electronic record systems may have the capability to send and receive patient diagnostics and informatics in electronic format, such as x-rays, MRI or CT scans, and diagnostic test results.

Other systems allow for secured patient access to parts of their own records. With this feature patients may have access to their test results via the electronic system as opposed to the office needing to phone the patient with the results.

The goal of the paperless office system is to streamline the administrative process and allow for faster, more efficient access to information, as well as exchange of information. Many practices are still in transition between paper and electronic systems, but better progress is being made towards full electronic records with constant development of ever more efficient software and features.