Advancing system interoperability will be a key to the emergence of next-generation (“EHR 2.0”) systems in all their potential richness and functionality, not only from a mobility perspective. Whatever “system of engagement” (device or interface) a clinician uses to interact with the hospital’s system of record (EHR) and other departmental systems, all relevant clinical data must be available in one place, formatted and presented consistently, in order for clinical care to be delivered in a manner that makes sense to each individual provider. As HIEs grow, and more healthcare apps (both for patients and providers) are built using SMART on FHIR and other advanced development technologies, practical interoperability will move from the realm of aspiration to reality.
The value of “mobilizing” the hospital EHR goes far beyond effectively caring for patients under crisis conditions. It has become essential for provider collaboration on patient care generally, as physicians today are as “siloed” as patient records once were. We are not all in the same hospital at the same time. Remote access to records and the ability to easily communicate with each other within the context of a patient chart are key to the kind of collaboration that fosters better care.
Mobility also is a prerequisite for telemedicine. Without a mobile foundation, telemedicine would be relegated to a FaceTime conversation between doctor and patient. If it wasn’t for the initial work in simplifying the EHR on a mobile platform, the rapid scale-up of telemedicine during the COVID-19 crisis might not have been possible. In addition, mobility affords providers an opportunity to limit unnecessary personal exposure beyond patient encounters by removing them from common spaces and shared equipment. Following a patient encounter, a provider may review records and document the visit away from the nurse’s station, on their own tablet or phone.
The future is mobile. It's definitely where healthcare is headed. Well-designed mobile apps, which afford ready and actionable access to relevant patient data, can accelerate care. And if such apps are (a) an extension of the existing EHR, and (b) as intuitive to use as any consumer app on your phone today, then training and adoption shouldn’t be a problem.
We need to continue to develop mobile clinical workflow capabilities that allow clinicians to transcend the brick and mortar confines of the legacy EHR – in the interest of safety, efficiency, and improving the quality of patient care – during COVID-19 and beyond.
About the author: Dr. Christopher Maiona is the chief medical officer for PatientKeeper, Inc.
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