As the healthcare industry continues to grow and evolve, it is vital to be aware of the risks associated with Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems. Downtime procedures and downtime solutions are essential for planned or unplanned downtime, but how do you know which solution is best for your organization? This post will explore comparisons between downtime procedures and solutions and why dbtech’s downtime solutions are the most viable choice for EHR downtime events.
What is a Downtime Solution?
EHR downtime is an inevitable part of the healthcare industry. Whether planned or unplanned, EHR downtime can disrupt critical healthcare operations and potentially impact patient care. Of course, hospitals and healthcare organizations have contingency plans in place, which frequently involve a downtime procedure to keep things moving.
On the other hand, downtime solutions offer a viable alternative compared to a standard downtime procedure. As such, it helps to keep healthcare operations running smoothly even when the unexpected arises.
How Do Providers Enter Their Notes During Downtime?
Providers can enter their notes using paper-based workflows during an EHR downtime event. However, paper-based downtime procedures can be time-consuming and error-prone. Provider notes taken during the downtime event can be illegible, and paper-based documentation is prone to be misplaced or lost. These pitfalls can lead to disastrous consequences for patient care.
Downtime solutions, however, enable seamless electronic data capture during downtime events. Providers can enter patient data electronically, effectively streamlining workflows and patient care continuity.
Downtime Procedures vs. Downtime Solutions: How Do They Work?
Born out of necessity, a downtime procedure refers to a predefined set of steps that healthcare organizations follow during system or network downtime. It is a short-term solution aiming to minimize disruption and ensure patient safety during downtime. The procedure involves communication, activating backup systems, accessing patient information, adjusting workflows, prioritizing patient care, and system recovery. The goal is to minimize disruption and ensure patient safety during downtime events. However, most downtime procedures involve paper.
Downtime solutions offer a long-term solution that allows for uninterrupted access to patient information and maintains essential operations during system or network downtime. It eliminates the need for paper-based processes, enabling seamless electronic data capture during downtime and automatically synchronizing the captured information to the electronic health record (EHR) once downtime is resolved.
dbtech: Your Trusted Partner for Comprehensive EHR Downtime Solutions
While downtime procedures are necessary to minimize disruption and ensure patient safety, downtime solutions streamline workflows, eliminate paper waste, and even save money. dbtech’s Downtime Solution, in particular, provides a comprehensive solution that minimizes disruption during EHR downtime and allows for seamless electronic data capture without any paper-based processes. In turn, providers benefit from access to electronic workflows, accuracy in data entry, a speedier recovery, and improved patient care delivery.
Contact dbtech today to learn more about our comprehensive EHR downtime solutions and how they can help you maintain continuity of operations during any unplanned or planned system downtime event.
