Health Information Technology — Tech Triumphs at the Forefront in 2020

Health information technology is a driving force behind the fast-paced improvements happening in the healthcare industry. It is the area of healthcare that oversees the technology systems healthcare providers — and increasingly, patients — use to store, share and analyze information.

You interact with health information technology all the time and probably didn’t even give it a second thought. If you’ve ever checked into a healthcare facility electronically or received the results of a blood test through an online medical chart, then you’ve been directly impacted by health information technology.

American Family Care uses various forms of health information technology in our franchises to stay on the cutting edge of health care.

Electronic Medical Records

One of the biggest advances in health information technology is electronic medical records, or EMRs.

The EMR system at American Family Care is a game-changer and allows our franchises to share patient data across our entire network. A comprehensive patient history empowers doctors to more accurately treat ailments and prevent over-prescribing medications. It also gives patients more control over their health through increased access to information.

If a patient visits an American Family Care in San Diego and then needs care during a trip to Boston, their records can be pulled up by the staff. The patient’s entire medical history will be available in seconds — an important distinction that shows how AFC strives to become a fully integrated network.

The AFC electronic medical records system also allows franchises to partner with bigger health networks. For example, if a patient comes in with a complicated fracture that needs a specialist, we can easily refer them out to an orthopedist accompanied by the medical history we have on file. This saves both the patient and medical staff precious time.

Telehealth

Health information technology is also helping tackle a challenge many people face in the United States, which is access to healthcare. American Family Care offers an integrated telehealth service to bridge that gap.

Telehealth allows people who live in remote areas to connect with an AFC physician online. It can also be a valuable service for employers. If someone is injured on the job, our telehealth system can be used by the employer to allow American Family Care to triage the patient over video. This allows the doctor to determine whether they need to be seen at a nearby AFC facility or head to an emergency room. While telehealth doesn’t take the place of a face-to-face visit with a doctor, it does make a huge difference in the ease of access to quality medical care.

Voice to Text for Physician transcription

The newest health information technology advancement will help physicians gather accurate medical transcriptions. Many physicians use a recorder to dictate notes that are sent to a third party who manually transcribes the voice file — an expensive and time-consuming process that takes multiple days to complete.

American Family Care allows physicians to use speech recognition tools to enable them to speak into a computer or wireless device for uploading directly into the patient’s EMR.

Voice-to-text physician transcription can also improve the patient’s experience and satisfaction. When a doctor dictates the patient’s history and medical assessment in front of the patient, the patient can hear every word the doctor says. This helps the patient better understand their diagnosis and treatment protocol.

Out of all the improvements to health information technology, maintaining patient privacy is of the highest priorities for American Family Care. We are continually improving our health information technology networks to keep them safe and secure, and HIPPA compliant.

So, as you can see, there is much to be excited about when it comes to technology and healthcare. Health information technology improves the quality of healthcare delivery, increases patient safety, decreases medical errors, and strengthens the interaction between patients and healthcare providers.

If you want to partner with a leader in the healthcare industry, click here to learn more about franchising opportunities with American Family Care.