Using EMRs to Improve Veterinary Care

EMRs are quite popular in the human health sphere. Most people reading this articles will have made use of EMRs to manage their own health. But what are EMRs and why should they be applied to animal care as well? 

Medical records are essential for providing continuity of care in veterinary services. They provide a full record of all the treatments and services given to an animal or group of animals, making sure that care can be continued without interruption from one veterinarian to the next, or from one visit to another. Furthermore, these records serve as legal documents which demonstrate a veterinarian’s thought process, decisions, judgment calls, actions and interactions with those around them (clients, colleagues, other caregivers and service providers such as specialists and laboratories), all of which can have an effect on the outcome for the patient.

The number of clinics and hospitals using EMRs has skyrocketed over the past few years thanks to the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH Act). As of 2014, around 8 out of 10 office-based physicians were using them—a number that’s likely to be even higher now.

So why should you consider transitioning from a paper-based system to an electronic one?

EMRs Improve Consistency and Accuracy for all users

The use of handwritten medical records in veterinary practices may lead to decreased efficiency and compromised patient safety. Illegible handwriting, abbreviated entries, and missing information can result in lost time, billing errors, and mistakes in patient care. In contrast, electronic medical records (EMRs) can eliminate the challenges posed by illegible handwriting, which may present a significant liability for veterinary practices. EMRs allow for quick and convenient access to the most relevant patient information, ensuring that crucial information is readily available when needed.

The ideal veterinary software system features preselected templates, prompts, and intuitive workflows to facilitate accurate and comprehensive data entry. This ensures that all team members enter the appropriate information in the correct locations, making it easy to reference and follow up on patient care. The use of this system reduces the risk of missing vital patient information, disorganized records, or incomplete SOAP (subjective, objective, assessment, plan) notes.

Ease of Access and Data Sharing

The use of cloud-based software enables veterinary practitioners to access electronic medical records (EMRs) from a wide range of devices, including tablets and smartphones. This allows practitioners to access patient records instantly from remote locations, such as during farm or house calls, curbside consultations, or while working from home. In addition, the use of EMRs eliminates the need for scraps of paper that can easily be misplaced, as exam findings and recommendations can be entered directly into the pet’s SOAP notes.

Mobile access to veterinary software promotes better collaboration between practitioners and their teams. EMRs like Shepherd Veterinary Software facilitate the easy sharing of patient records with colleagues, consultants, and referral specialists. This capability streamlines administrative workflows and reduces reliance on traditional methods such as faxing.

EMRs Provide Clarity and Directness

Electronic medical records (EMRs) provide veterinarians and their teams with a comprehensive patient database that can be accessed quickly and easily with just one click. EMRs offer a scannable snapshot of the pet’s signalment, status, and essential information, including any relevant alerts or pet preferences, all available at the user’s fingertips. The risk of missing patient charts is eliminated, as the records are accessible to all team members.

The use of a simple keyword search feature enables practitioners to quickly retrieve any necessary information from the pet’s record. This saves time and allows for greater focus on the patient at hand. Our veterinary software also includes integrations with many reference laboratory partners, which allows for easy viewing of patient test results within each pet’s record. The use of EMRs eliminates the need to wait by the fax machine, sift through email inboxes, or log in to a separate database.

EMRs Alleviate Administrative Burden

With the implementation of electronic medical records, you can reduce the tedious and repetitive tasks that occupy your administrative team’s time. Tasks such as locating, preparing, and filing physical charts, as well as deciphering handwritten notes, can be eliminated. The front desk staff can easily retrieve, review, and share patient records with just a few clicks. The integration of additional EMR tools, such as automated client reminders and online pet owner portals, can also help reduce the volume of incoming and outgoing phone calls. This can free up your client services team to provide clients with more personalized and high-quality service in-person.

Continuous and Immediate Information Recording

Electronic medical record (EMR) portability and integrated services offer the convenience of recording exam findings quickly and easily, thereby minimizing the need for accumulating large chart piles. With EMRs, practitioners can input their findings in real-time, allowing for a continuous flow of information, instead of the more traditional approach of manual note-taking, which can lead to mistakes or omissions.

The EMRs provided by our Veterinary Software provide an array of convenient features to simplify the documentation process, such as the use of talk-to-text dictation apps or the ability to input data minutes after the pet’s visit. Additionally, shortcuts such as templates, auto-fill options, and prompts reduce duplication, thereby enabling practitioners to focus on the new information gathered during the examination.

Confidentiality and Data Protection  

Traditional paper-based medical records are vulnerable to being altered, damaged, copied, or stolen, which puts your patients and your business at risk. Even small accidents like a fire, flood, or a malfunctioning sprinkler system can destroy years of confidential patient information.

Cloud-based EMR systems offer a safer solution. They are protected by rigorous cybersecurity protocols and advanced data encryption, with regular monitoring to ensure the safety of patient, client, and business data from virtual threats. Additional security measures, like password protection, assigned permissions, and access restrictions, help prevent in-house tampering, data manipulation, and theft. Electronic records are also safe from natural disasters, which means you don’t have to worry about losing important patient data due to physical damage.

What to Take-Away from EMRs

If you are still using traditional paper-based records because you think electronic medical records are too complicated, consider how much time and money your current system is costing your practice. Our veterinary practice management system can improve your practice’s efficiency, accuracy, and productivity, allowing you to focus on delivering quality care to your patients and reducing stress for yourself and your team.

Contact us at sales@celeritasdigital.com to learn more about our services and portfolio.