Since the global COVID-19 pandemic, the healthcare industry has seen great shifts. These changes have drastically impacted how medical professionals conduct business and provide care. While electronic medical records are not a new phenomenon, they have evolved significantly since the pandemic, and likely will continue doing so moving forward.
So, what new trends can we expect to see with new healthcare technology? Prism Career Institute serves students in Philadelphia, PA, and Cherry Hill and West Atlantic City, NJ. Here, we help answer this question and also discuss why it is important for a medical assistant to keep up with software and technology such as electronic medical records.
What May Affect Electronic Medical Records
Electronic medical records became an invaluable resource amid the pandemic, helping solve many issues medical facilities faced during this trying time. Even as the public health crisis has subsided, this technology has become a mainstay in the healthcare industry.
According to a report conducted by Grand View Research, the global electronic medical record market was valued at $28.1 billion in 2022 and is expected to reach $38.5 billion by 2030, rising at a compounded annual growth rate of 4%. Electronic medical records have all but replaced paper-based record-keeping in modern medical facilities.
For medical assistants and other healthcare professionals, it is important to keep an eye out for what may come. Here are some trends you can expect to impact electronic health records soon:
Cloud Computing
One of the biggest challenges healthcare facilities are currently navigating is a shortage of workers. Many medical organizations are working tirelessly to provide quality care to patients while being understaffed.
These shortages pose a unique opportunity to use electronic medical records in a new way. Cloud computing and electronic medical records allow medical organizations to outsource administrative and clinical duties, such as medical billing, reporting, and lab integration.
Telehealth
The pandemic brought the need for telehealth to the forefront. Since then, telehealth has continued to rise in popularity, making electronic medical records even more necessary.
By integrating electronic medical records with telehealth platforms, healthcare organizations can easily provide remote care and improve clinical workflows. This integration also enables physicians to swiftly and securely pass patient information from one interface to another.
Error Reduction
For healthcare organizations, one of the key components in providing quality care is accuracy. With paper-based medical records, there is always the possibility of error. These mistakes can have serious consequences and play a major role in a patient’s overall well-being. Electronic medical records and other computer-based charts have helped reduce these errors, enhancing overall care for patients.
Wearable Devices
The use of technology is nothing new in the medical field. However, we are starting to see the extent to which it can be used thanks to electronic medical records. Overall, the amount of connected wearable devices is expected to surge in the coming years. The data collected by these devices offers healthcare professionals the information they need to enhance patient care. Now, healthcare facilities, caregivers, and physicians can remotely monitor the health of their patients with the digital medical data these wearable devices produce.
Keeping Up With the Times at Prism Career Institute
For medical assistants and all other healthcare professionals, staying up to date on the most current technology and software is imperative. Patients are becoming more aware of different technologies, and implementing these approaches empowers medical workers to deliver the best care.
At Prism Career Institute, we understand this need and strive to assure our Medical Assistant Program is at the forefront of technological change. Our career-focused curriculum is constantly evolving to include the most up-to-date technological advancements.
Medical assistant programs like the one offered at Prism Career Institute serve as the ideal stepping stone toward a rewarding healthcare career. In addition to discussing new developments in technology and software, our program stresses the most current best practices. Our goal is that graduates leave ready to pursue the career of their choice.
Individuals interested in learning more about the medical assistant program or other programs offered at our Cherry Hill, NJ, West Atlantic City, NJ, and Philadelphia, PA, campuses can contact us today at Prism Career Institute.