9 ways mobile healthcare benefits clinicians and patients

Healthcare organizations around the world have spent a tremendous amount of time and resources creating electronic health records. But the question still remains, “How do these investments benefit clinicians and patients?”

The key to unlocking the value of these investments is mobile technology. Forward-thinking healthcare organizations are already using mobile medical solutions to help clinicians deliver faster and better care.

This was the topic of conversation in a recent interview with Joe Lavelle, co-founder and editor-in-chief of IntrepidNow, and Stacey Less, a business analyst with Hyland.

Here are nine highlights of that interview that show the benefits of mobile healthcare.

Benefits for patients:

1. No more redundant registration forms.

We’ve all been through it – walking into the hospital or doctor’s office and the first thing we’re handed is a clipboard full of registration documents. Why does each piece of paper in this packet need my name, address, phone number, email, mother’s maiden name, social security number and the last time I ate buffalo chicken pizza? Sorry, the craving got the best of me. The response to this frustration has been the creation of a paperless registration solution. Instead of filling in your personal information, again, you receive a tablet preloaded with specific questions you need to answer. Information that you have already provided is automatically populated.

2. Lower wait times for better care.

Since the healthcare organization already captures registration information electronically, administrators spend less time shuffling through paper registration content and digitizing it. As a result, patients get care quicker.

3. More personal clinician interactions.

Since clinicians can access all patient content in a single location directly from mobile devices, they spend more time with patients and less time behind computers searching for information.

Benefits for clinicians:

4. Easier to follow HIPAA.

Some clinicians take pictures on their phones and then email the images to themselves to import into the medical record. For those familiar with HIPAA, you can stop cringing now. Mobile healthcare applications, as an extension of electronic medical records and content management platforms, enable clinicians to securely capture this content without violating HIPAA.

5. One location for all patient content.

The right paperless registration solution empowers your staff with access to clinical content in a single place via mobile devices. X-rays, MRIs, lab results – you name it, you’ve got it. Consumers are used to finding the information they want through a search engine, now clinicians have the same convenience.

6. Access content whenever, wherever.

Pain and illness don’t wait for office hours. That’s why patient records shouldn’t be difficult to obtain when away from the office or hospital. With mobile access to patient information, no matter where they are, clinicians can make informed decisions, helping patients start the recovery process.

Bonus – Benefits for healthcare organizations:

7. Achieve prestigious HIMSS Stage 7.

Use mobile and paperless solutions to earn the distinction of “One of the world’s leading health IT deployments.”

8. Improve patient satisfaction scores.

Faster, more convenient care means happier, healthier patients.

9. Lower paper and administrative costs.

Less paper, less scanning and less staff time spent managing paper content means increased savings.

It’s easy to see the ways mobile healthcare influences patient care. And with the growing reliance on smartphones, mHealth will continue to grow in value for healthcare organizations, clinicians and patients.

So, are you using mobile technology to increase access and care?

If you’re not, you’ll see the kind of reactions you’re missing at the 5:55 mark in the IntrepidNow interview. Great way to start the week!