Smaller healthcare organizations don’t always have access to the same advanced digital tools as larger organizations do. Even when under the umbrella of a huge healthcare system, small hospitals won’t necessarily share EHRs, virtual environments, or other key technologies with the bigger facilities in the system.
This causes issues when patients are referred to providers that don’t have simple, secure ways to share detailed medical records and streamline workflows
Common problems include:
- Slowed workflows and inefficiencies
- Duplicate, incomplete, or inaccurate patient records
- Increased costs due to performing redundant tests or procedures
- Misdiagnoses or medical errors due to insufficient, incorrect, or duplicated patient information
- Insurance billing issues
One way that smaller hospitals can overcome resource limitations and improve care quality is by taking advantage of options such as becoming an Epic Community Connect site. When larger hospitals extend their Epic EHR functionality to smaller organizations as hosts, data sharing is streamlined. Error-prone inefficiencies such as manual documentation are eliminated, and problems are avoided.
But they won’t be able to enjoy the full benefits of the EHR without also adopting tools and strategies to address the challenges that organizations of all sizes face when implementing EHRs. For example, organizations of all sizes credit single sign-on for helping boost EHR adoption.
Solutions to optimize the EHR should provide the ability to:
- Grant access rights quickly and in alignment with each clinician’s workflows
- Secure access without workflow hindrances such as having to log in with complex passwords, multiple times a day
- Adapt to new workflows and EHR features
- Simple authentication methods that meet high cybersecurity and compliance standards
- Mobile tools to improve efficiency and bring the power of the EHR to the patient’s bedside
H2: Extend the EHR, increase productivity, and streamline workflows
The EHR can’t help to increase productivity and streamline workflows without solutions that balance usability, security, and efficiency. To support adoption and see improved patient outcomes requires seamless workflows that enhance user experience. Clinicians need to have fast and secure access to the EHR, so they can focus on patient care without compromising security. That’s the case at the largest organizations to the smallest.
Imprivata collaborates with the Epic EHR to enhance the integration and interoperability of the entire EHR ecosystem. Adaptable access management tools make integrating the EHR into clinical workflows seamless, secure, and ultimately cost-effective.
Want to learn more about how smaller hospitals can have the same technology toolbelt as larger hospitals and make the most of it? Then register for our June webinar, Empowering small healthcare with Imprivata and Community Connect: Increasing clinician productivity and streamlining clinical workflows. You can also check out the May webinar in this series, Bridge IT resource constraints and streamline patient care: Enhancing efficiency and security in healthcare operations, on-demand.
Christina Berg, RN MHA, is the Director of Healthcare Strategy at Imprivata. To learn more about Imprivata, visit http://www.imprivata.com.