EHRs: The Future of Patient Care

If your facility hasn’t yet caught on to the technological breakthrough that is electronic health records, change is likely on the horizon. More and more healthcare institutions are being prompted to make the transition to EHRs in order to facilitate reporting and help deliver better overall patient care.

EHRs connect all facets of the patient healthcare cycle, merging each part of a patient’s history into a single unified record easily accessible by nurses, physicians, pharmacists and other care providers. Not only that, but EHRs reduce the possibility of human errors in reporting, and doctors and facilities who implement EHR programs may qualify for federal incentive payments.

The change from paper healthcare records to the electronic medium stems from the Affordable Care Act, which aims to increase the number of people who can receive patient care. In addition, the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act requires a large portion of federal funding to be spent on a financial incentive program for hospitals to accelerate the adoption of health information technology.

Depending upon the facility, with the help of EHRs patients may be able to retrieve test results, refill prescriptions, schedule and manage appointments, as well as interact directly with care providers, and in a recent survey three out of four people said healthcare providers that use electronic health records (EHR) deliver better care.

A Light at the End of Carpal Tunnel?

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) affects nearly 3 percent of all Americans. In fact, it’s one of the most commonly diagnosed occupational disorders in the United States. And because older adults have a higher risk of developing CTS, post-acute care providers (including physical and occupational therapists) need to stay informed.

Research proves that early intervention is crucial to helping prevent the onset of CTS symptoms, but what exactly does that mean? Well, it starts with educating at-risk patients about certain actions that can increase their chances of developing CTS—things like stressful or repetitive motion of the wrists or arms, any activity that causes numbness or tingling in the hands or fingers, and even sleeping in certain positions.

Once caregivers are able to identify CTS risk factors, they can then begin to develop a prevention plan. This may include things like daily stretching/flexing exercises focused on the wrists and arms, as well as using wrist splints for added support.

The bottom line is that knowing the risk factors and addressing early signs of CTS is the key to ensuring positive patient outcomes. Carpal tunnel doesn’t have to be debilitating, and having the right information is often the first step toward providing better care. To find out more about CTS—including common symptoms as well as prevention plan strategies, view our helpful video!