Overcoming Challenges: Cloud-Based EHR Adoption in Rural Hospitals

Healthcare practices have seen a rapid growth rate in adopting the EHR system to streamline the administrative workflow and focus more on better patient care. While large-scale healthcare practices have implemented the EHR system, Rural hospitals are facing challenges and barriers in adopting the technology.

Transitioning traditional paper works to digitalization requires huge investment, training, and financial resources, Rural hospitals often have limited IT infrastructure, staffing, and low budget compared to the Urban Healthcare Companies.

However, implementing a Cloud-Based EHR system in Rural Hospitals can help to break all the barriers and overcome the challenges with ease.

This blog post will guide you to the:

• Advantages of Cloud-Based EHR Systems for Rural Hospitals
• Challenges and Solutions While Implementation

Let’s embark on a journey of Cloud-Based EHR Systems in the Rural Healthcare Practice.

What is EHR and Cloud-Based EHR System?

In Basics, EHR (Electronic Health Records) is a system that allows healthcare providers to store all the patient’s health information. 

Patient’s healthcare information such as patient demographics, medical history, medications, e-prescriptions, lab results, diagnosis, and other health-related data about the patients. EHR systems have two types of categories:

• On-Premises EHR system
• Cloud-Based EHR system

Before knowing what is cloud-based EHR system, let’s have a quick overview of what is On-premises EHR system. The on-premises EHR system will have a locally hosted server within the healthcare organization which will store all the health-related patient data locally.

The cloud-based EHR system is a type of category EHR system that allows healthcare practices to store all the patient’s data on an external server which can only be accessible through the web. It requires a computer with a good internet connection to access all the patient information online.

Related: Emerging Trends in Cloud-Based EHR Solutions: Shaping the Future of Healthcare Technology

Advantages of Cloud-Based EHR System for Rural Hospitals

Apart from large-scale healthcare practices benefiting from the EHR system, Rural Hospitals can benefit greatly from adopting the Cloud-based EHR (Electronic Health Records) system. Here are a few ways in which rural Hospitals benefit from a Cloud-Based EHR system:

1. Organized Workflow

With the help of a Cloud-Based EHR system, rural hospitals can store all the patient’s essential information in the Cloud Storage and access using a web browser neglecting the need for paperwork. 

Over 53% of rural healthcare practices have mentioned that they have encountered significant improvement in the quality of healthcare and streamlined administrative tasks.

2. Cost-Efficiency

Unlike a standardized EHR system, a cloud-based EHR system provides a cost-effective solution for rural healthcare practices. Running an on-premises EHR system requires a huge investment in hardware installation, software, space for installation, and other cost. 

The cloud-based EHR system requires a computer with a good internet connection which can be cost-saving for rural hospitals.

3. Limited Staff Requirement

Cloud-based EHR system requires less IT staff to manage the cloud-based EHR system. This limited staff requirement ultimately leads to cost savings factors like salary and training expenses for IT staff.

4. Access and Collaboration

Cloud-based EHR systems can be accessed from any location with an internet connection. This accessibility allows healthcare professionals and staff to access the patient’s healthcare records remotely without the need for in-person visits and collaborate more efficiently across the departments or facilities.

5. Interoperability

Compared to the On-premises EHR system, the Cloud-Based EHR system facilitates better data exchange and interoperability with other providers and health information exchange. This enhances coordinated and connected care.

Related: Is Cloud EHR The Best Solution for Busy Hospitals in 2023?

Challenges and Solutions While Implementing the Cloud-Based EHR System in Rural Hospitals

Though a cloud-based EHR system provides many benefits to Rural Hospitals, there are a few challenges with cloud-based EHR systems for Rural Hospitals. 

1. Internet Connectivity

Cloud-based EHR systems require a good internet connection to access. Rural areas often have limited internet connectivity can make access to cloud-based EHR systems unreliable or inconsistent for rural hospitals. This can ultimately lead to disrupted workflow.

Solution

Rural healthcare hospitals have to evaluate connectivity needs and options like broadband, wireless, satellite connection, or fiber net that can provide stable internet access across the healthcare facilities. Access minimal bandwidth needs for optimal EHR system to ensure better performance.

2. High Risk of Security Breaches and Privacy Issues

More than a standard EHR system, cloud-based EHR systems have higher risk factors for security data breaches and privacy issues which is crucial. Storing crucial health data of patients with third-party vendors raises security and privacy concerns.

Solution

Choosing the right vendor is crucial in safeguarding data security. Research and analyze the vendors thoroughly on encryption, security protocols, standard IT compliance, and safeguards to identify a secure platform.

3. Adapting the Technology

Rural healthcare providers and staff have often been familiar with the traditional paper-based workflow for many years. Transitioning from paper-based workflow to cloud-based EHR technology can be a hassle for healthcare practice.

Solution

Provide training and ongoing support to help healthcare providers and staff to adapt the cloud-based EHR technology. Roll out to pilot sites first to demonstrate the benefits and work-out issues of using the technology before hospital-wide implementation.

Vozo Cloud-Based EHR System

For rural hospitals, implementing the Cloud-based EHR system in the workflow can be a hassle. Vozo Cloud EHR System will help you to navigate all the challenges to streamline your administrative workflow and let you focus more on better patient care.

• Vozo’s cost-effective subscription plans benefit rural hospitals.
• Our feature-rich Cloud EHR allows you to streamline your workflow.
• Our customized specialty EHR solution tends to specific requirements of your specialty healthcare practices.
• Our technical support team will be ready to assist you 24/7.
• Vozo Cloud EHR is continuously committed to scale to improve your EHR experience.

If you are looking for a reliable cloud ehr system for your rural hospitals? Vozo Cloud EHR is your go-to solution.

We will assist you in streamlining your healthcare workflow and help you to focus more on better patient care. Connect with us let us assist you in achieving your healthcare practice goals.