Top 10 Must-Have Features for Occupational EHRs

Occupational medicine EMR software is designed to specifically meet some of the unique needs of the field’s medicine practitioners. It allows them to provide primary care, urgent care, and preventative wellness programs. 

An excellent occupational medicine EHR system should integrate medical information, provide safety data, and manage cases in one place. The use of EMR software can increase clinic productivity, regulate patient workflows, and track claims. 

Understanding how the software works requires knowledge of its different features and functions to guide you on what EMR software you should invest in. Here are the top 10 must-have features for occupational care EHRs.

Top 10 Must-Have Features for Occupational Care EHRs

1. Employer Portal

Keeping track of employees’ medical records, especially work-related health issues, is easier with an employer portal. Employee health risks can be reduced if employers implement an employer portal, as they can fully understand the risks associated with their line of work and control them. 

Additionally, employer portals help employers comply with strict regulatory policies and maintain employee health and safety, ensuring workplace injuries are appropriately managed.

Additionally, there are the following benefits: 

• Paperless processes can be eliminated
• Make your users’ experience better
• Improve the productivity of your staff
• Ensure compliance with HIPAA

2. Medication Tracking

Large healthcare facilities are increasingly relying on centralized pharmacy databases. These systems, however, are limited in their ability to track patient medications for two reasons. 

• First, patients must fill their prescriptions at this location; otherwise, the database will not be notified that they are taking the medication. 

• Secondly, filling the prescription doesn’t necessarily indicate compliance with the regimen by the patient.

Organizations can keep track of medical prescriptions and data using an EMR with medication-tracking functionality. This way, practitioners can analyze patients’ medications whenever necessary and suggest alternative options for allergic reactions.

3. Customizable Templates

An EHR must have customizable templates and forms. As a result of these features, occupational health specialists can customize their documentation process to meet the needs of particular patient groups or workflows. An inflexible template can compromise the integrity of patient data.

The treating physician can therefore chart and record every detail in a way that preserves data integrity and is helpful in the future.

Using customizable forms, providers can easily apply SOAP notes to patient records (just by clicking or typing). This eliminates redundant narratives and allows them to enter only certain variables relevant to a patient. It helps you to focus more on the patient and spend less time typing and clicking.

4. Electronic Prescriptions

With e-prescribing, patients’ safety can be improved, and medication costs can be reduced, which are continuing to rise. Every year, medication errors cause approximately 7,000 deaths in the United States. These errors are due to illegible handwritten prescriptions, incorrect diagnoses, and missed drug-drug or drug-allergy interactions.

Through electronic data entry, clear communication eliminates confusion caused by the illegibility of handwritten prescriptions, reducing medication errors and liability risks.

5. Employer Billing

As a component of any occupational EHR system, employer billing is an important feature that should be considered. Employers have access to a secure portal that allows them to view work status reports, invoices with claims, and outstanding payments over some time.

6. Telehealth Solutions

A key feature in choosing an occupational EHR is telehealth solutions. Telehealth refers to the utilization of modern digital technologies for healthcare. It enables healthcare providers to provide patient care services remotely. These technologies refer to healthcare providers’ digital communication and care collaborations, patient consultations, and patient follow-ups.

When a telehealth system is fully integrated with an EHR system, clinicians enjoy the benefits of efficient data entry and access, can provide a better patient experience, and can optimize all phases of their practice’s operations.

Other benefits of integrating telehealth in your EHR include: 

• Automate data entry
• Synchronize patient insurance information
• Streamline the Provider and Patient Virtual Care Experience

7. Algorithm for Randomized Drug Testing 

Having this feature makes it easier for employers to hire drug-free employees and work with them. To confirm readiness for employment, employers conduct physicals and mental evaluations (as required). In the workplace, random testing discourages employee drug use, creating alertness and harmony.

Also, read on What Are the Benefits of a Drug-Free Workplace?

8. Clinical Workflow Management

A workflow management system provides a means of managing a series of tasks. In addition, it identifies areas that require a significant amount of time, along with a detailed analysis of data. Information about the flow of patients through the system and the processing of information is provided in this feature. 

EHR systems that efficiently manage clinical workflows offer the following benefits: 

• The ability to track in real-time. Tracking patient workflow in real time is essential to find the most efficient and cost-effective methodology. It is best to have a system that allows patients and physicians to access and update records.

• Keeping records. Occupational health EHRs offer a method of maintaining records that allow offices to identify workflow bottlenecks.

9. Lab Integration System 

Laboratory integration systems allow occupational health specialists to provide 24/7 care and improve patient health outcomes.

Using this feature, you can order lab tests quickly while charting, and the results appear directly in the patient’s chart. Integrating lab ordering capabilities into EHR software allows you to:

• Report abnormal lab results to providers.
• Ensure your organization is prepared to handle incoming lab results.
• Determine which patients have unusual lab results and ensure they receive follow-up treatment.
• Lab results can be readily accessed, which will lead to fewer tests being ordered for your organization.
• Improve the quality of care by providing lab tests electronically.
• Electronically transfers lab orders to meet Meaningful Use requirements.

10. Meaningful Use

Meaningful Use refers to the use of certified electronic health record software in medical practices, hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare providers to improve efficiency, safety, and quality of care. Monitoring and managing your Meaningful Use progress is possible through Meaningful Use dashboards. Real-time indicators of Meaningful Use levels are gathered, along with compliance percentages.

Additional benefits include:  

• Achieve attestation objectives
• Comply with Meaningful Use requirements
• Daily monitoring of problem areas

The Best EMR Software for Occupational Medicine

Providing quality patient care requires an efficient office. As a market leader in optimizing office efficiency and providing management solutions, our Intelligent Management Software, designed with occupational therapist input, helps improve patient care and increase savings.

Providing You With the Best

Choose only the best for your Occupational Health practice!

We also understand the need and expectations of our clients for a higher level of performance for billing software and EMR software. That’s why we only offer the top-tailored medical billing system and the best EHR features that will allow your practice to operate at its optimum potential, save time, and double your revenue. 

You can call us at (480) 782-1116 for immediate assistance or schedule a free demo with our experts TODAY.