Patient health records play a crucial part in healthcare services, influencing the type of care patients receive and the clinic’s success. In the dental industry, patient health records keep dental workers in the know regarding past and current treatments, X-ray scans, and general medical knowledge, from allergen information to prescriptions. A patient’s dental record also includes other important data like the patient’s personal information, which affects their relationship with their dental team and their privacy. Because health records contain abundant essential and sensitive information, handling health records is integral to running a successful dental business and providing patients with maximized care.
In the past, all dental records were handwritten hard copies kept in the clinic’s filing cabinets. With the evolution of modern technology, a new method and form of patient records arose—electronic health records. If your clinic hasn’t made the switch yet, check out some of the benefits of electronic health records for your patients and discover how going electronic guarantees better success for your dental business.
Improved Patient Accessibility to Their Health Records
Giving patients access to their health information offers many benefits.
- Increases patient knowledge
- Promotes informed decision-making
- Creates transparency
Simply put, electronic health records are more accessible and therefore more useful to patients. They can access e-records from anywhere and at any time as long as they have permission and correct security information. Before electronic records, patients had to jump through many hoops before obtaining their information. Whether they were collecting their dental records via mail, in-clinic pick-up, or by fax, getting hard copies of records took time and came with more risks. Records could get lost in the mail, damaged, or delivered to the wrong place and person.
Electronic records, on the other hand, streamline how patients access and receive information. Your clients can access information in their patient portals at any time and from anywhere. Sending or uploading health records to and through your secured network is also an easy and quick process. Electronic patient information improves your patients’ record accessibility, allowing them to quickly request and receive the data at their own convenience. Instead of driving back and forth from the clinic, your patients can simply log in to their online portals from wherever they are at any time.
Better Communication and Record Comprehension
Proper communication is a key proponent of dental OSHA training. Successful communication, especially when conversing about hazards, reduces miscommunication and, in turn, enhances safety. Better communication with patients effectively informs them about their conditions and treatments, allowing them to better care for themselves when not under your team’s direct watch.
Electronic patient records improve communication comprehension by providing clear, readable, and user-friendly formats. Formatted electronic notes are easier to read than hand-scribbled ones. E-records also help communication comprehension between staff, making sure everyone is on the same page in providing the appropriate care for the client in question.
Miscommunication between staff can cause many issues around the workplace and for the patient. Misinformation can lead to safety risks like accidental prescription of wrong or harmful medication, unsuccessful treatments, and poor customer service satisfaction. Electronic patient information improves communication and comprehension, making sure everyone, from your dental clinic staff to your clients, is properly informed in terms of treatment and care.
Enhanced Dentist and Client Relationship
Client relationships shape your business’s success in many ways, affecting your patients’ loyalty, experience, and satisfaction. The stronger your clinic’s relationship with your clients, the better your reputation, the happier your clients, and the more inviting your clinic becomes.
Electronic health records enhance your dental clinic’s relationship with its patients by streamlining communication methods, providing care transparency, and building trust. Communication between patients and their care providers strengthens relationships, keeping the two parties connected. Providing transparent care makes your patients trust your services and staff, increasing their likeliness to return and improving their comfort and experience. Transparency also improves patients’ decision-making authority, further strengthening the bond your patients have with your clinic.
Enhancing your patients’ relationship with your clinic guarantees better retention rates and makes your business more appealing. E-records allow you to build connections with online, user-friendly communication between your clinic and clients.
Easier Treatment Management
Whether your clients come to you for their annual teeth cleaning, teeth realignment, wisdom teeth removal, or another requested service, most dental treatments require an aftercare regimen. For example, after whitening, clients should avoid eating and drinking for 30 minutes. Clients with new braces should avoid certain foods and maintain a strict teeth and braces cleaning routine. Recovery from wisdom teeth removal involves regular, gentle warm salt water soaks, specific dietary changes, and ice packs.
Electronic records make sure your patients can easily access necessary information for their aftercare routine and better manage their treatments. E-records also make it easier for your dental staff to manage patients’ treatments, providing clear and easily accessible notes on their treatment plans. Instead of digging through cabinets and folders or home portfolios and handbags, your dental staff and patients can quickly and easily access all the information they need to maximize and manage treatments.
Streamlined Data Organization
Electronic data filing systems consist of automated organization mechanics. Your devices can automatically organize your records alphabetically, by date modification, and file type. Electronic file systems allow you to create multiple folders and subsections within seconds, enhancing your record organization and streamlining how you navigate the data. Many programs effectively organize electronic information, improving your clinic’s recordkeeping.
Managing hard copies of records requires a lot of manual labor. You have to sort information by hand, requiring precious time, designated space for the filing systems, and resources such as folders and printer ink. Keeping your patients’ records digital streamlines your recordkeeping and, in turn, makes sending your clients their information simple and easy.
Increased Privacy and Security
Along with automated and streamlined filing organization, using electronic health records also increases your patients’ privacy and security. Digital security systems like two-factor authentications, password setups, and firewalls provide effective and reliable security. Meanwhile, hard copies rely on locks and alarm systems for protection. It is easier to keep electronic data safer than hard copies. The more secured patient health records, the less threat to your clients’ safety.
Electronic health records offer many benefits for your patients and your dental clinic. If you haven’t digitized your recordkeeping and notes, consider doing so to enhance your clinic’s success, patients’ experiences, and services in many ways. With Gamma Compliance Solutions, you can further improve your dental clinic services for your clients by successfully and effectively training your employees. Explore our training courses for dental clinics, switch to e-records, and improve your business for your clients and staff.
