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Published on: 04-Nov-2022

Medicine has developed significantly over the past years to meet the changing needs of patients. And, in this transformation, Electronic Health Records (EHRs) have played a pivotal role in boosting care quality, safety, and patient-centeredness. Nonetheless, according to HealthIT estimations, nearly a quarter of office-based physicians are yet to implement a certified EHR system, creating a gap in the quality of care provided. So, if you are looking for a specialist, it has never been more important to partner with a physician or clinic that supports EHRs. Here is what you need to know. 

Benefits of EHRs

From delivering more accurate diagnoses to reducing medical errors and providing more comprehensive care, EHRs offer endless benefits – and not only to healthcare clinics! As a patient and athlete, choosing a care provider that uses EHRs can make a huge difference. 

Even more importantly, ad hoc EHR systems designed around the needs of sports medicine enable specialists to look up patients by sport or name and record the treatments delivered in the training room, as well as within medical facilities.

Here are just some of the benefits you can expect from choosing a clinic using EHRs.

Monitoring Real-Time Health Data 

Although regular appointments might be enough to support recovery from injuries and create tailored treatment plans, partnering with a clinic that uses EHR might offer a wider range of benefits. 

For example, EHR solutions can acquire, track, and elaborate real-time health and performance data by integrating with wearable devices and wireless technologies. Your doctor will be able to tap into the datasets collected by smart clothing and medical devices, thus tracking recovery rates, progresses, patient safety, and treatment adherence.

A Telltale Sign of the Clinic’s Quality Standards

Not all sports medicine clinics or office-based physician practices have adopted EHR systems. But, from a patient’s viewpoint, this can be an indicator of the quality of the service and care a clinic provides. Generally, clinics that have invested in ad hoc systems and have followed a tailored guide to EHR implementation are able to provide patient-centered and quality care, more accurate diagnoses, and error-free treatment plans. 

Improved Communication with Providers

When choosing specialists to trust for your treatment, it’s important to review their communication style. Opting for a clinic that has successfully introduced an EHR system will give you access to a broader range of more efficient communication options, including live streaming platforms, telehealth services, and online patient portals. Ultimately, while sports medicine clinics already benefit athletes in multiple ways, EHR systems play a crucial role in leveling up the standards of care and communication provided.

Secure Data Handling

Although all sports medicine clinics emphasize data safety, not all systems provide the same levels of privacy and security to patients. When choosing a clinic that uses certified EHR systems, you can be sure that your provider has the necessary systems in place to protect your performance and health data. 

Six Key Questions to Ask

Whether you are an athlete looking for ongoing medical guidance or you are seeking professional support to speed up your recovery from a sports injury, choosing a sports medicine clinic is never easy – especially when your performance as an athlete might be at stake! Before committing to a provider, you should look for satisfactory answers to these key questions:

  • Do you employ a certified EHR system?
  • What communication and telehealth options do you provide?
  • Are your staff members and care providers trained in using electronic health records?
  • What systems do you have in place to protect my privacy?
  • What are your experience and credentials?
  • Do you provide assistance in the training room as well as in medical facilities?

If you are unsure about where to find viable candidates to shortlist, consider asking your primary care provider for recommendations and referrals. And, don’t forget to check online reviews to learn more about the experience that previous patients have had with the physician or clinic.