Patients report communication with healthcare providers is the most important factor in high-quality care, even above accurate diagnosis and competence. Recent studies also show that most patients rate communication as a key priority when evaluating their care experience. Electronic health records (EHRs)/ Electronic Medical Software (EMRs) can offer comprehensive solutions to improve provider-patient communication, support patient-centered care, and enhance overall patient experiences.
In this guide, we will explore three practical techniques that can help practices use EHRs to elevate patient engagement and strengthen the relationship between patients and healthcare providers.
EHRs are integral for enhancing patient communication, as they provide a centralized digital platform that facilitates seamless information sharing between providers, patients, and healthcare settings.
Many providers find themselves asking the question, "how does EHR improve communication?" The answer lies in the numerous benefits of electronic health records, such as reduced wait times for appointments, improved online scheduling, and quicker responses to patient inquiries about care instructions, follow-up guidelines, and billing questions.
Below, we will cover some ways EHR implementation in your healthcare facility can advance patient access and engagement.
Patient Portals
Most EHR systems include patient portals that support two-way communication and give patients access to their medical records throughout their care journey. These portals allow patients to schedule visits, access health records, request prescription refills, and view lab results.
Paul Brient, chief product officer at athenahealth, describes a patient portal as “a website where patients can go to get information about their health or manage the logistics around their health.”
For example, Daymark Recovery Services, a well-known health provider, uses patient portals to enable patients to schedule appointments, pay bills, and communicate with doctors. Additionally, these portals support telehealth and remote patient monitoring, allowing patients to manage their health outside the facility.
Top EMR vendors like Epic Software, Tebra, AdvancedMD EHR, and Cerner EMR (Now Oracle) offer robust patient portal features as part of their broader EHR solutions.
Secure Messaging
Secure messaging is a built-in feature in many EHR systems that facilitates quick communication between providers and patients. A study affiliated with Washington University and BJH Healthcare shows a 29% increase in median daily message volume within EHR systems over six months, illustrating the growing reliance on this feature across the healthcare system.
Dr. Lou, an anesthesiologist with the Washington University School of Medicine, notes, "It’s not just doctors, not just nurses or advanced practice providers, but therapists are using it, case managers, social workers, medical assistants, people doing patient transport and patient placement."
This widespread adoption enhances patient-provider communication, streamlines care coordination, and ensures all members of the care team are aligned.
Prescription Management
EHRs help providers manage prescriptions more efficiently and minimize the risk of adverse drug interactions. Real-time, shared access to prescription data is crucial, especially in highly specialized care areas like oncology or intensive care departments.
For example, Temple University Health System (Temple Health), a 900-bed facility in Pennsylvania, addressed these challenges by integrating AI-powered medication history and real-time prescription benefit checking solutions into its Epic EHR system.
Overall, this specific use of EHR in healthcare can automatically fill gaps in patient medication history records and create a more accurate medication reconciliation process.
AI-Powered Tools
Many healthcare IT vendors are integrating AI into their EHR systems to assist providers in drafting accurate responses to patient inquiries. Dr. Paul A. Testa, chief medical information officer at NYU Langone, highlights the growing demand for these solutions, noting, “It is not uncommon for physicians to receive more than 150 messages per day.”
To meet these challenges, leading EHR vendors have introduced advanced AI tools. For example, Oracle has launched its AI-powered Clinical Digital Assistant, which uses voice technology and generative AI to enhance patient interactions. Similarly, Epic has implemented AI-powered solutions to automate responses to patient queries.
EHRs play a significant role in advancing health literacy, a key component of effective patient communication. These tools provide clear and timely health information to facilitate productive patient engagement.
Health literacy is important to achieve several key outcome priorities set by the Health IT Policy Committee, including:
- Engaging patients and families in their healthcare
- Enhancing care coordination
- Advancing population and public health
Integrating Patient Education
Integrating patient education tools into the EHR system streamlines access to digital resources across various care settings. This integration allows both ambulatory and acute care teams to provide patients with timely, relevant information, supporting their understanding of conditions and encouraging healthier lifestyle choices.
A survey commissioned by Wolters Kluwer Health reveals that 68% of patients keep coming back to providers who offer educational materials. To meet that requirement, healthcare IT vendors like Tebra offer integrated patient education tools to provide accurate and up-to-date information based on the patient's age, gender, medications, and diagnoses.
Electronic Health Record-Enabled Interventions
EHR systems enhance health surveillance and patient satisfaction by providing comprehensive data on patient interactions and health metrics. This data can be used to identify patients at risk for chronic diseases, create population samples, and facilitate targeted interventions. Automated reminders and follow-up messages within EHR software ensure that patients adhere to treatment plans and attend necessary screenings.
EHR-enabled interventions have been shown to improve lung cancer screening compliance by over 30%. Additionally, Tufts Medical Center has integrated nutrition screening within its EHR system to identify patients facing food insecurity and facilitate timely interventions.
Despite the common belief that physicians who spend a significant amount of time entering data into an EHR may struggle with effective patient communication, these systems can actually enhance empathetic care when used thoughtfully
AI and data analytics within EHRs, for example, can offer personalized patient insights, which helps healthcare professionals manage their time more efficiently and engage more deeply with patients. Similarly, telemedicine tools integrated into EHRs help broaden access to care for remote or underserved populations.
By using these tools effectively, healthcare providers can ensure that technology enhances rather than detracts from the human connection that is essential in patient care.
Improving Communication Efficiency And Accuracy
A research study highlights both positive and negative aspects of EHRs for patient-centered communication. It shows that EHRs improve the capture and sharing of biomedical information. However, the study also notes that electronic health records use can sometimes disrupt nonverbal communication between patients and physicians.
To address the question, “How does EHR improve patient care?” and to mitigate the concerns mentioned above, healthcare providers can implement strategies that prioritize empathetic patient interactions. This may include:
- Scheduled EHR time
- Training and best practices
- Patient-centric EHR design
Enhancing Trust And Patient Relationships
One of the main advantages of electronic health records is that they can strengthen patient relationships and build trust. Healthcare providers should integrate EHR data thoughtfully into patient interactions to offer personalized and timely information. This approach helps providers better understand each patient's needs and enhances the overall care experience.
For example, sharing lab results and medication history during a consultation can make the interaction more transparent and informative, allowing patients to feel more involved in their care decisions.
EHRs have great potential to improve communication across the healthcare system. These tools can help healthcare teams streamline interactions and enhance the patient experience. When EHRs are used with a focus on patient needs, they can significantly boost communication efficiency and support better care.
To realize the full benefits of EHR, it's important to integrate them thoughtfully into your practice. This includes techniques such as involving patients in viewing the EHR, maintaining eye contact, and using the EHR as a tool for education and engagement.
For personalized guidance on choosing the right EHR software to improve patient communication, contact us at (661) 384-7070. We will help you find the best solution to enhance your patient interactions and overall care.
