As hospitals and other healthcare providers transition from paper records to electronic records their workflow and information assets change significantly.
This “digital revolution” introduces a critical transition point: There is disparity between truly digital records and merely digitised paper records. Understanding and addressing this disparity makes a huge difference in a hospital’s ability to harness the full potential of the technologies that already exist in the environment with their ability to enhance data-driven decision making, predict patient condition trajectories, and streamline process.
A truly digital record conforms to the information that originates and exists in electronic format from inception. Digital records are by design dynamic, interoperable and accessible across various applications, systems and platforms. They are structured to facilitate seamless integration providing real-time data exchange between clinicians, patients and hospital leadership. Where data is captured digitally and managed well, the records allow for effective aggregation and the application of analytics to predict outcomes, future states and more effective decision making for clinical, research and administrative uses.
On the other hand, digitised records represent a static, digitised version of a paper record. Often, hospitals consider that converting from an existing analogue or paper record to have some advantages – specifically cost, but also reductions in the need for physical storage. While this provides some benefits, the disadvantages detract from the perceived lower cost. The records remain as “pictures” that do not offer interoperability, which means they can’t be aggregated in context to present trends, nor do they easily translate to support insights or any sort of analytics. The ability to use optical character recognition may actually increase errors and inefficiencies due to the translation between handwritten text and machine-readable data.
Introducing truly digital records does not need to be expensive. Rather, it can deliver significant savings in eliminating double handling of paper to scanned records and the management of paper. Further, digital records establish the basis for advanced analytics, machine learning and artificial intelligence supporting actionable insights, predict trends in patient condition, operating room utilisation, bed occupancy and revenue outcomes. The ability for clinicians to access comprehensive patient histories, reducing redundant diagnostic procedures and managing medications along with better coordination of care activities leads to improved clinical outcomes and cost efficiencies.
In contrast, the introduction and reliance on digitised records can inhibit access to comprehensive data, interoperability, aggregation of data. This in turn can lead to increased handling of paper, the need to include printed barcodes on stationary, along with adding the patient label to scanned documents resulting in increased document management, gaps in continuity of care and possible sub-optimal outcomes for patients with decreased cost efficiencies for hospitals.
As pressure is brought to bear for hospitals in the form of more stringent compliance requirements, tighter controls from health funds with less favourable contracting arrangements, hospitals need to prioritise the adoption of truly digital records. While this does require investment in interoperable platforms, it is an investment well considered. This is especially true when the solution can be delivered as a Service, responding to the critical requirements of cyber security, privacy and patient information security.
By prioritising digital over digitised, hospital operators are positioning to respond to the ever-changing challenges in healthcare and drive towards clinical excellence, increased productivity and profitability.
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