Digital records management in the healthcare system is inevitable.
In About Digital Health’s interview, Dr. Charles Alessi, chief clinical officer at Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society, states that there must be a single place for data as prevention becomes more critical and care is delivered through a variety of places by a variety of people.
According to Alessi, digital records management is not merely a transcription of a medical record but rather an opportunity to re-imagine care for people. It enables the use of Artificial Intelligence to automate and gain insights to improve care as well as enables the use of precision medicine starts to become possible for the mainstream.
But, what is precision health?
Precision health, which is personalized, predictive public health, is achievable by using personal data and technology to direct people to the right advice and interventions that are relevant to the individuals’ requirements. It will also allow healthcare professionals to communicate risks in a way that invokes the right action, directing people to accurate screenings, health checks, prescriptions etc. Not only will it add a new perspective to datasets holding personal information, but it will employ real-time feedback and improvement to that information.
Overall, digitalization supports a better workforce where technology closes the gaps and ensures that the data remains central to each professional. As a “clinical extender,” it also better assists health workers to reduce the work used in other methods of digital records management.
There may be challenges for physicians when writing and tracking patient information (e.x behaviour modification is a non-communicable disease). For example, the information will be in a central location so there will be an increase of shared decision.
Transitioning to a technology-based system, dramatically changes the nature of relationships between the physician and patient. The physician will need to be trained in a new system as well as change the way they track client information. Patients will also become consumers as digital records management makes more customized and personalized approaches available. It will also let patients choose which physicians they will visit as they can get quality care in different geographic locations with the sending and receiving of their clinical data.
Alessi states that technology is filling the gap between the treatment and administration, making it more critical as patients seek care through a variety of places by a variety of people.
To watch the full interview, click here.