When the federal government first started talking about mandating electronic health records (EHRs), there was plenty of speculation as to how far any subsequent regulations would reach. No one knew back then just what practical EHR implementation would look like. Years later, we know. In our industry, we are very familiar with the idea of integrating with EHR systems.
Medical answering services are increasingly integrating with EHRs in order to provide seamless service to their clients. Integration can be achieved directly by way of software that is fully compatible on both ends, or by exporting answering service data to a client’s software package.
Integration and Data Sharing
The benefits of a medical answering service integrating with a client’s EHR should be self-evident. Such benefits begin with improved data sharing. With full and proper integration, medical answering services can access and update patient information seamlessly. It matters because:
- Recording patient data requires accuracy.
- Real-time access to patient information increases efficiency.
- Integration improves interoperability between multiple apps and systems.
When an answering service does not fully integrate with client EHRs, that seamless flow of data isn’t possible. Things are less efficient, the likelihood of errors is higher, and software systems between answering service and client are at odds.
Integration and Operational Efficiency
One of the main reasons for implementing EHR is improving operational efficiency within healthcare. Integration contributes to efficiency through data entry automation, streamlined appointment scheduling, and faster clinical decision making.
It is all made possible due to readily available data on both ends of the answering service-client relationship. All parties needing access to information have that access, no matter where they are. No one is shut out of the data stream because everything is fully integrated.
From the answering service’s perspective, operational efficiency plays out in several ways. At the top of the list is the initial care provided to patients. Integration improves patient care by reducing the potential for errors when handling patient information. Integration also allows for more timely interventions and proactive patient health management.
Integration and Service Customization
Despite the obvious benefits that come with medical answering service and EHR integration, there are challenges. Among them are service customization and HIPAA compliance. From a customization standpoint, medical answering services are known to offer flexible and customized solutions. But some solutions may not be practical or doable if full integration cannot be achieved.
This often forces a medical answering service to:
- Tailor integration alongside the services it offers.
- Invest in compatible EHR platforms.
- Invest more heavily in accommodating scalability.
The reality is that EHRs are simple and straightforward in principle only. In practice, they aren’t so easy to work with. Software vendors have their own ways of doing things. Sometimes their practices and policies make full integration with medical answering services a challenge.
From the HIPAA perspective, system integration must be in compliance with all applicable regulations. Medical answering services must maintain secure data transmission. They must limit access to sensitive information. Answering services must maintain patient privacy and data security.
Getting It Right Matters
Here at Apello, we take the position that integrating with client EHR systems is non-negotiable. We also believe that getting it right matters. We are committed to ensuring that every medical client we serve gets the best we can offer. So seamless integration is part of the deal.
Please reach out to our team if you would like to know more about Apello medical answering services. Our services can be customized to your needs. Best of all, each service is provided by fully trained and qualified Apello team members.
