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How Can Physicians Save Time On EHR Documentation

A feature image showing a group of doctors trying to save time on EHR documentation A feature image showing a group of doctors trying to save time on EHR documentation

Healthcare professionals today face a growing challenge: balancing patient care quality with the demands of extensive documentation. Modern digital systems were supposed to make things easier. However, it often results in more time spent on data entry and record management, especially for the unfamiliar. Fortunately, EHR-compatible transcripts made by professional medical transcription companies can help physicians save time on EHR documentation.

In this article, you’ll learn:

  • Integrating EHR-compatible transcripts from HIPAA-compliant medical transcription companies improves accuracy and saves time.
  • Optimizing prescription refill management through EHR systems improves efficiency and medication adherence.
  • Efficient EHR systems can increase revenue by improving billing and reducing denied claims.

Why is EHR Efficiency Important in the First Place?

Clunky electronic health record systems can waste doctors’ time and energy. They can reduce doctor-patient interaction time and could contribute to healthcare workers’ burnout. A study conducted by Arndt et al. found that primary care physicians spend about 2 hours working on EHR tasks for every hour they spend with patients.

Besides saving time, efficient EHR documentation saves physicians and medical practices money. Streamlined systems can increase revenue by nailing on-time billing and cutting down on denied claims. Plus, an efficient EHR machine means better teamwork, as it lets healthcare professionals share patient information without a hitch.

Medical Settings Where EHR Documentation is Essential

EHR documentation is generally utilized in most medical settings, especially for the ones below.

SettingImportance
Hospital Inpatient CareEnsures continuity of care, tracks patient progress, and facilitates communication among healthcare providers during a patient’s hospital stay.
Emergency DepartmentEnables quick access to critical patient information, helps prioritize care, and supports decision-making in high-stakes situations.
Outpatient ClinicsMaintains comprehensive patient records, supports preventive care, and enables long-term management of chronic conditions.
Surgical CentersDocuments pre-operative assessments, intraoperative details, and post-operative care for patient safety improvement.
Telehealth ConsultationsCaptures patient information, treatment plans, and follow-up instructions in virtual care settings.
Long-Term Care FacilitiesFacilitates care coordination, medication management, and monitoring of residents’ health status over extended periods.
Mental Health PracticesSupports continuity of care, tracks treatment progress, and ensures compliance with legal requirements in mental health settings.
Specialty ClinicsEnables focused documentation of condition-specific assessments, treatments, and outcomes to support specialized care.

Strategies for Physicians to Save Time on EHR Documentation

There are multiple ways to reduce EHR documentation time, depending on the EHR system and the physician’s proficiency. Here are some of them:

Streamline Access with ID Badge Login

Secure, automated ID badge logins are crucial for doctors and even more so for medical assistants. They can zip into the EHR without the hassle of typing in passwords each and every time. It’s not only about time savings, though; it’s also about getting rid of mental clutter and minimizing unauthorized access to patient data.

With this level of accessibility, doctors can hop from one workstation to another without missing a beat, pulling up patient info wherever they are in the hospital. It means less time wrestling with tech while more time focused on what really matters: high-quality patient care.

Simplify the Process of Ordering Imaging Tests

A streamlined workflow should minimize the number of clicks required and reduce unnecessary questioning. For example, a “quick order” button for common tests like chest X-rays or abdominal ultrasounds—that’s a time-saver right there.

Smart EHRs can even suggest the best imaging option based on what’s going on with the patient. Include evidence-based clinical decision support tools that can guide physicians in selecting the most appropriate imaging modality based on the patient’s presentation and indications, and ordering tests becomes so much quicker.

A few tweaks here and there can make a world of difference, and it lets doctors perform their core duties.

Reduce Inbox Clutter by Filtering Out Unnecessary Messages

Depending on the software, physicians can configure their EHR settings to automatically filter and prioritize important messages, such as critical lab results, urgent patient inquiries, messages from specific colleagues, and so on.

For instance, the EHR can be set up to categorize messages based on their level of urgency so that doctors can attend to high-priority tasks first. Also, some systems can be configured to archive irrelevant messages like system-generated notifications or non-essential announcements—it helps minimize distractions.

Optimize Prescription Refill Management For Efficiency

A well-designed EHR protocol can significantly reduce administrative time spent on prescription refills. Automatic reminders for patients with chronic conditions ensure timely medication adherence and minimize manual follow-ups. Also, secure patient portals can allow for refill requests, which physicians or designated personnel can then review and approve.

In addition, adapting to e-prescribing systems will allow for faster transmission of refill orders to pharmacies while significantly reducing pesky human errors in the process. Optimizing prescription refill management saves valuable healthcare workers’ time and allows for greater focus on delivering high-quality care. 

Enhance EHR Proficiency Through Targeted Training

Tailored training sessions can significantly improve physician proficiency with EHR systems. These personalized lessons should focus on each doctor’s specific needs and skill level to help them navigate the system more efficiently.

The training might cover time-saving features such as customizable templates, shortcuts, or anything designed to reduce manual data entry. Regular follow-up sessions can also help keep physicians up to date on new EHR features and updates to ensure they can utilize the system to its full potential.

Integrate EHR-Compatible Transcripts From a Medical Transcription Company

HIPPA-compliant transcription companies, like Ditto Transcripts, can turn audio recordings of patient visits, phone calls, or dictated notes into well-structured documents that slot right into the EHR system. These reports are custom-tailored to fit the specific templates and formats of the physician’s EHR software to ensure a smooth, consistent workflow.

Also, handing off the time-consuming workload to experts lets doctors zero in on what they do best—providing patient care—while still keeping medical records thorough and up-to-date. However, implementing EHR-compatible transcripts doesn’t just help save healthcare workers’ time; it also eliminates errors that can creep in with manual data entry. 

Can Automated Transcriptions Be Used in EHR Documentation?

While it’s true that automated transcriptions can save you a few bucks, they’re still too unreliable for medical or laboratory uses where accuracy is everything. Current AI is only about 86% accurate at best, and AI-generated transcripts can potentially miss medically relevant terms, which means opting for automation puts patient health at risk.

Medical providers must continue relying on skilled human transcriptionists for precise documentation until automated solutions can consistently deliver 99% accuracy—which won’t likely happen anytime soon.

What To Consider When Outsourcing Medical Transcription

Many transcription companies offer medical transcription services, but it can take time to identify the best ones, especially those that are HIPAA-compliant and can provide EHR-compatible medical transcripts, like Ditto Transcripts.

Here are some of the factors that you can look for:

American-Based and HIPAA-Compliant

Ditto TranscriptsOffshore Companies
CJIS compliantYesNo
HIPAA compliantYesNo
Certified transcriptsYesNo
US-basedYesNo
US workersYesNo
Passed criminal background checkYesNo

Look for American transcription companies that adhere to HIPAA compliance standards. American transcriptionists can easily catch slang and local accents that a foreign company can’t. HIPAA-compliant companies employ rigorous security measures to protect your patient’s data.

Near-Perfect Accuracy

Doctors, clinicians, family physicians, etc., should choose a medical transcription service company with a specialty for high accuracy—99% or better—to avoid lawsuits and putting your patients at risk. Most of these companies offer free trials backed by positive client reviews.

Volume Capacity

Look for a transcription provider that is ready to handle large-volume orders. Individual freelancers are good but most likely can’t meet high demand. If the transcription provider cannot meet your project’s demand, it could cause issues.

Turnaround Time

Transcription turnaround times range from a few hours to weeks and highly depend on the service provider. More experienced providers can offer faster turnaround times within 24 hours. 

Meanwhile, Ditto provides healthcare professionals with more options. Our medical transcription services can deliver projects as fast as 4 hours or can take up to 72 hours, depending on your requirements and budget. 

Cost

A single patient can generate hours of audio, meaning a high per-minute rate can become costly. Try to look for budget-friendly transcription pricing; you may need large-volume transcriptions down the line.

At Ditto, our standard rate starts at 10 cents a line and goes up to 16 cents a line for projects that need a faster turnaround.

Ditto Transcripts Can Help Physicians Save Time On EHR Documentation

Your care team shouldn’t worry about wasting time on inaccurate EHR documentation. We’ll handle the paperwork so you can focus on more important things. 

At Ditto Transcripts, we guarantee 99% accuracy rates with all medical transcriptions we provide for the healthcare industry, all delivered on time, every time. We offer affordable rates, flexible options, fast turnaround times, HIPAA-compliant security, and the best customer service in the industry. 

Ditto Transcripts is a HIPAA-compliant Denver, Colorado-based medical transcription services company that provides fast, accurate, and affordable transcripts for individuals and companies of all sizes. Call (720) 287-3710 today for a free quote, and ask about our free five-day trial.

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