How RPA Can Automate EHR Data – What Healthcare Professionals Must Know
Malcolm Baracho
Dad to Two Amazing Daughters | Director - Digital Health & Automation | Specializing in Healthcare Tech | Championing Healthcare Innovation for Better Lives.
Remember when Electronic Health Records (EHRs) were going to make everything easier? Well, they did transform healthcare. The numbers do tell an impressive story.
In fact, according to the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, almost 96% of non-federal acute care hospitals have adopted certified EHR systems in just the last decade.
But here’s the catch.
While EHRs have digitized healthcare, they haven’t necessarily simplified it.
Despite the widespread adoption of EHRs, providers are still drowning in administrative tasks, clunky systems, and inefficiencies.
Healthcare workers are spending too much time on data entry and not enough on patient care, which of course is frustrating and inefficient.
However, there's indeed a solution that’s transforming how healthcare institutions manage EHR data.
It's robotic process automation (RPA).
But how exactly can RPA improve EHRs? Let's explore this!
Read on.
The Current State of EHR Systems?
EHRs are the backbone of modern healthcare.
They help providers make informed decisions by storing patient medical histories, lab results, and everything in between. There has been significant adoption of EHRs in the healthcare industry in recent years.
According to ONC as of 2021:
? 78% of office-based physicians use certified EHR systems.
? 96% of non-federal acute care hospitals have adopted EHRs.
Why? Well, EHRs come with numerous benefits. And, on top, it has saved the healthcare system from tons of paper-based medical info storage.
Here's what EHRs offer-
? Accurate medical records
? Access to patient data
? Reduction in duplicate tests and medical errors
? Streamlined workflows for better patient care
Challenges with traditional EHR system:
However, the reality with traditional EHR systems isn't that smooth and no one signed up for that.
Traditional EHRs have certain challenges:
? Data entry is a drag – Clinicians spend almost 50% of their day entering data.
? Clunky UI – Many EHRs were designed without user experience in mind, so navigation is quite annoying.
? Can’t extract and analyze data – Providers can’t get meaningful insights from all that patient data.
? Not flexible – Many EHRs lack customization so they’re inefficient for specialty practices.
Clearly, EHRs need more efficiency. And that’s where RPA comes in.
Key EHR Processes That RPA Can Automate
? Patient Data Management & Registration
RPA bots can automate patient intake, data entry, and record updates, saving time and reducing errors. And fewer errors mean fewer discrepancies in patient records.
Also, scheduling becomes seamless as bots sync data across systems, reducing double bookings and administrative work. RPA makes patient data management more efficient as patient information is available to healthcare providers instantly.
? Billing and Claims Processing
RPA can streamline insurance verification, claims submission, data collection, billing, and much more. Plus, it also brings more cash flow for providers.
Also, bots do accurate coding and documentation, fewer rejections, and fewer manual edits. By tracking payments, RPA improves the revenue cycle and finds billing anomalies.
? Regulatory Compliance and Audit Readiness
Automating tracking and reporting compliance enables providers to comply with ever-changing regulations. Additionally, bots simplify audit preparation.
Through RPA, HIPAA compliance is monitored and patient access to data is protected.
And, when it comes to documentation, it happens in an automated fashion without any manual work, ensuring compliance with all regulatory requirements.?
领英推荐
? Data Extraction and Reporting
RPA provides speedy, precise retrieval and organization of EHR data. Providers can make better decisions about patient care and operations through analytics.
Bots extract data from multiple sources so users don’t have to put effort into manual data compilation. RPA helps with research and reporting by turning big data into insights.
? Enhancing Patient Communication:
Automated emails and messaging send patient follow-ups, appointment reminders, and treatment summaries. This enhances patient coordination and satisfaction.
RPA can generate and send personalized treatment plans and medication reminders based on your medical history. Bots route all patient inquiries to the right provider without missing a beat.
Benefits of RPA in EHR Automation
Reduced Manual Data Entry:
? Doctors and nurses spend less time on admin tasks and more time with patients.
? Studies show that reducing the documentation burden improves clinician satisfaction.
Increased Efficiency:
? RPA bots work 24/7 and do tasks faster and better than humans. That too with fewer errors.
? Automation means shorter wait times and better service.
Cost Savings:
? When organizations implement RPA, it's quite cost-effective than hiring more admin staff.
? According to McKinsey, organizations that adopt RPA can reduce operational costs by up to 30%.
Improved Data Accuracy:
? Automating data entry reduces human error, so RPA ensures accurate and up-to-date EHRs.
? Better accuracy means better patient care and less liability risk.
Scalability:
? It is easy to expand RPA to handle increasing patient loads without hiring additional staff. Especially when staffing shortages are severe.
? Bots can be adapted to new processes as healthcare evolves.
The Future of RPA in EHR Systems
Role of Big Data and AI in Healthcare
AI and data analytics seem ever more present in predicting patient outcomes, staff requirements, and financial performance.
RPA can cater to AI by extracting and indexing data from EHRs and collating useful information from it in a manner that AI can use effectively.
Potential future applications:
? Predictive analytics for patient outcomes: AI insights will help physicians to predict the needs of patients.
? Optimizing Staffing Levels: Hospitals may predict peak patient load and schedule staff accordingly.
? Enhancing Financial and Operational Performance: Healthcare facilities can boost RCM using automated reporting.
Wrapping Up
EHRs were meant to facilitate the efficiency of healthcare, and yet many providers have unending stories about the limitations of traditional EHRs.
RPA provides a feasible approach to automating mundane tasks so that healthcare professionals can devote their time and effort to patient care.
At OSP, we've built customized RPA solutions for healthcare providers and businesses to boost productivity and efficiency.
If you're looking to harness the power of RPA for your EHR system, let's connect and discuss.?
About Digital Health Today
Stay connected with the cutting-edge of digital health innovation. "Digital Health Today" brings you the latest trends, essential updates, and expert insights, equipping industry leaders with the knowledge to lead and succeed in the dynamic health tech landscape. Join our community of forward-thinkers who are shaping the future of healthcare.
Director at Techling Healthcare | Driving Innovation in Healthcare through Custom Software Solutions | HIPAA, HL7 & GDPR Compliance
1 个月Malcolm Baracho Spot on! Healthcare doesn’t lack data—it lacks usability. RPA and automation can transform EHR overload into actionable insights, freeing up clinicians to focus on what truly matters: patient care. The key is seamless integration without adding complexity.
At Pivotal Healthcare, we've done 2 things to reduce burnout: 1) dropped insurance. The endless clicks and onerous documentation is required by health systems to justify certain billing codes. Our providers only chart to record what the patient has and the treatment plan. No need to justify codes. 2) Longer visit times - because we got out of the FFS rat race, we don't have the pressure of needing to see 30-40 (or more) patients in a day. And I do understand that a health system can't just drop insurance. But there are lessons to be learned from the direct care world.
Healthcare Solutions Partner
1 个月This is a conversation every hospital administrator needs to be having. We can’t afford to keep pushing more admin work onto already overworked healthcare teams. Automating routine tasks isn’t about replacing people—it’s about letting them do the work they were actually trained to do.
Epic/ Cerner/ Nextgen/ Pointclickcare/ Meditech/ Veradigm - EHR Integration | Revolutionizing Healthcare Tech
1 个月I always wonder—how much of healthcare’s burnout crisis is actually a workflow crisis? If clinicians are losing half their time to admin work, no wonder they’re exhausted. Tech like RPA won’t solve everything, but it’s a step in the right direction.
Vice President of Operations
1 个月I’ve had so many conversations with healthcare professionals who feel like they spend more time clicking through screens than actually treating patients. The system is broken, but automation could be a real fix.