How Cloud EHR’s Workflow Automation Cuts Down on Manual Tasks in Your Clinic

Healthcare practices are progressively implementing cutting-edge technology such as Cloud EHR to enhance patient care and expedite operations. However, what is a Cloud EHR, and why is it so crucial? An electronic health record system stored on distant computers is known as a cloud EHR. In contrast to conventional systems that are installed on local computers, it is accessible through the internet.

This implies that staff members and clinicians can safely access current patient data at any time and from any location. All they require is a device that can connect to the internet.

The management and storage of medical data has been completely transformed by cloud EHR systems. Compared to conventional on-premise systems, they provide significantly more flexibility and efficiency.

Workflow automation is one of Cloud EHR’s greatest benefits for the healthcare industry. By leveraging cloud technology, clinics can automate many routine clinical and administrative workflows that were once done manually on paper or standalone systems. 

This post will explore key Cloud EHR workflow automation features, from scheduling to charting, and how they reduce manual tasks in daily clinic operations.

Key Workflow Automation Features in Cloud EHR

Cloud EHR platforms have automation features that eliminate the need for manual labor.

These characteristics make it easier to complete daily duties. Here are some major workflows that a clinic might optimize using a Cloud EHR:

1. Automated Appointment Scheduling & Reminders

Instead of managing appointments with phone calls and paper schedules, Cloud EHRs offer online scheduling tools and calendar management. Patients can book or request appointments through a portal. The system automatically updates the provider’s calendar.

The EHR can also send automated reminders to patients before their appointments. Clinics experience fewer no-shows and spend less time calling patients. Most practices find that automated reminders reduce no-show rates and save staff time. This time savings improves overall efficiency.

With 24/7 self-service scheduling and timely reminders, staff no longer need to handle repetitive scheduling tasks. The software takes care of it, ensuring patients arrive on time and well-informed.

Related: 6 Ways to Make EHR Appointment Scheduling Process More Efficient

2. Streamlined Clinical Documentation

Cloud EHR workflow automation greatly eases the burden of charting and documentation. 

• Providers can generate encounter notes more quickly and accurately with features including voice recognition, clinical macros, and template-based notes.
• For example, doctors can use editable templates for typical visit types or dictate notes straight into the EHR. Writing everything from scratch is no longer necessary as a result.
• A Cloud EHR’s automated documentation technologies guarantee that charts are completed more quickly and precisely. 
• Patient data is frequently auto-populated by the system, which also makes sure that no necessary fields are overlooked.
• This method improves record consistency while saving doctors’ time.

Manual labor after hours has decreased as handwritten notes and transcribing are now done in real-time during the visit.

3. Integrated Billing and Coding Automation

Cloud EHRs have made it possible to automate billing and coding procedures that previously required a significant amount of manual data entry. These systems frequently incorporate modules for billing or practice administration.

These modules automatically extract the chart-documented services and translate them into billing codes so that claims can be submitted. Cloud EHRs connect clinical documentation with billing operations, eliminating the need for manual data re-entry.

• The appropriate diagnosis and procedure codes are automatically included in an electronic claim when a provider completes a visit note.
• The previous procedure, in which employees had to copy codes from paper charts, is now eliminated.
• Accurate and timely billing of services is guaranteed by this technology. Furthermore, it lessens human error in insurance details and coding.
• Manual billing is prone to errors, according to one study. Claims may be rejected for any mistyped code or inaccurate patient information.

By obtaining billing information straight from the EHR, these mistakes are prevented. This lowers billing errors and expedites reimbursements. Faster claim processing and less time spent correcting paperwork are the results of cloud EHR automation in billing.

Related: How to Seamlessly Connect Your EHR with Lab, Pharmacy & Billing Systems

4. Electronic Prescriptions and Refill Management

E-prescribing tools that automate the prescription procedure are commonly included in cloud-based EHRs. With a few clicks, providers can electronically deliver prescriptions to pharmacies. This takes the place of the previous manual procedure for handling faxes and writing paper scripts. Additionally, medication renewals are expedited.

Refill requests made by patients via the patient portal are automatically forwarded to the clinic for approval. Employees can handle fewer phone calls thanks to this workflow automation, which also increases safety.

• Errors brought on by unreadable handwriting or transcription errors are significantly decreased by electronic prescribing.
• Only 2.5% of electronic prescriptions had errors, compared to 35.7% of handwritten prescriptions, according to research. This indicates a notable increase in precision.
• E-prescribing reduces the likelihood of drug errors and the number of pharmacy callbacks for prescription clarification.
• Errors are further decreased by automated safety checks, such as alerts for drug interactions or allergies.

By moving to an automated electronic prescription workflow, a quick, safe digital system takes the place of the manual method that is prone to errors.

Related: Configuring E-Prescription and Medication Management in Cloud EHR: A Technical Guide

5. Patient Follow-Ups and Communication

In addition to appointment reminders, several systems include the ability to automatically send follow-up messages or recall reminders. The EHR might, for instance, inform a patient of the results of a blood test. The next steps or a reminder to arrange a follow-up appointment may also be included in the message.

It is possible to send out routine reminders for health maintenance without staff participation. Patients are protected from falling between the cracks thanks to these automated notifications. They also reduce the amount of time that staff must spend making phone calls or sending emails.

Workflow automation uses rule-based triggers to replace tedious outreach chores. For example, it can provide instructions or a typical follow-up survey after a visit to each patient.

By automating such communications, clinics enhance patient engagement while freeing up staff from making dozens of phone calls. These interactions can be automated to increase patient involvement in clinics. Moreover, staff members no longer have to make dozens of phone calls.

According to a study on healthcare automation, contemporary providers use workflow automation to cut down on delays and administrative friction. Real-time alerts and information are automatically directed to the appropriate locations. The result is that both patients and staff stay on the same page, without the clinic staff having to manually coordinate every single touchpoint.

Benefits of Cloud EHR Workflow Automation

By automating these key workflows, cloud-based EHRs deliver tangible benefits to clinical operations. U.S. clinics that embrace cloud EHR automation can expect improvements in multiple areas:

1. Improved Efficiency and Time Savings

Clinical workflows become more efficient when routine operations are automated. Previously, labor-intensive tasks can now be finished in minutes by staff members or done automatically by software. Clinics can run more quickly and efficiently as a result. They can therefore handle more patients without experiencing undue stress.

• Even after business hours, the clinic remains operational thanks to automated scheduling and billing processes. This expedites procedures that physical labor might otherwise slow down.
• According to one investigation, there were notable operational improvements for healthcare institutions that implemented cloud-based EHR platforms.
• Employees no longer waste time searching for information or entering data twice. There is very little downtime since the workflow proceeds smoothly from one phase to the next.

The net effect is a more efficient clinic where providers and staff can accomplish more in the same amount of time.

2. Reduced Administrative Burden

Clinics can greatly lessen the workload of their employees by assigning repeated administrative duties to the EHR system. Routine processes, including data entry, record filing, scheduling, and billing, are managed via workflow automation. Front desk and billing staff have less physical labor as a result. Employees save time and feel less stressed when there is less busywork.

Fewer hours spent on paperwork means fewer opportunities for burnout. A recent industry survey even found that over half of healthcare staff identified manual data entry as the “most hated” and productivity-hindering task in their jobs. 

Cloud EHR automation directly addresses this pain point by eliminating much of that data entry and paperwork. Staff no longer need to copy information from form to form or system to system; the EHR links these processes. 

Administrative burden is lifted, allowing a small clinic team to manage operations that would otherwise require additional personnel. This is especially valuable for smaller practices that can’t afford extensive clerical staff. Automation empowers them to do more with a lean team.

3. Lower Error Rates and Improved Accuracy

Human error is inevitable in manual operations, whether it takes the form of a miscoded bill, a missed follow-up, or a transcribing error. By standardizing procedures and eliminating the possibility of human mistakes in numerous steps, cloud EHR workflow automation significantly lowers error rates.

For instance, coding errors that frequently happen with human entry are avoided when an EHR automatically generates billing codes from a chart. Electronic prescribing’s decision-support tools highlight dosing mistakes or allergies that a busy doctor would miss on paper.

• Because patients are continuously informed, automated reminders guarantee a decrease in missed appointments and no-shows. 
• The evidence supports this: by offering checks and protections that were not achievable with solely manual systems, the use of EHR and automation has been demonstrated to reduce medical errors and enhance patient safety. 
• Errors in scheduling, invoicing, prescription management, and documentation are reduced in clinics that use cloud EHR automation. 
• Better treatment and fewer time spent repairing issues after the fact are the results of every error that is prevented.

4. Enhanced Staff Productivity and Morale

Clinical personnel and providers may concentrate on what really matters, patient care, by automating repetitive processes. Automation of cloud EHRs frees up staff members’ time so they may work on important projects or interact with patients.

• Nurses help patients more often and spend less time reminding them on the phone. 
• Billing specialists devote more time to enhancing the revenue cycle rather than resubmitting claims. 
• Increased productivity also results in higher levels of job satisfaction.
• Employees can make greater use of their skills when they are not burdened by repetitive work. 
• They feel more involved in their work as a result. 
• Research indicates that decreasing monotony boosts employee satisfaction and lowers burnout.

Automation guarantees efficient and standardized workflows, which lessens trouble in the clinic. A less stressful work environment results from staff members having defined procedures to follow that are supported by technology. 

Clinics that use cloud EHR automation frequently report happier, more productive staff members who can focus on patients rather than paperwork.

Vozo All-In-One Cloud EHR for Healthcare Practices

From managing and organizing patient health records digitally to reducing medical errors, it significantly empowers providers to improve healthcare quality.

If you are searching for the best EHR system for your healthcare practice, Vozo EHR can be your go-to choice. Our comprehensive EHR solution lets you focus more on patient care while carrying all the burdens and simplifying them.

• Vozo Cloud EHR’s cost-effective cloud subscription benefits all levels of practice.
• Our feature-rich EHR helps you rectify mistakes efficiently and speed up the process.
• Vozo Specialty EHR aligns with the needs and requirements of specialty practices.
• Our expert technical team has got you covered 24/7 if any needs arise.
• Our EHR System continues to scale as your healthcare practice grows to improve the user experience.

The Vozo Customized EHR solution benefits your healthcare practice by:

• Streamlining the administrative process
• Improving workflow efficiency
• Reducing proneness to errors
• Managing all the patients’ records in one place
• Offers greater efficiency and cost savings across the board

Our specialty-specific tools, such as scheduling, patient portals, lab integration, cloud hosting, and more, meet the specific needs and requirements of your healthcare practice.

“Embrace Vozo EHR to reduce your burdens and enhance patient care”.