Medical forms: Digitization reduces risks

To collect medical data directly on-site with tablets and immediately, without delay, integrate it into clinical and administrative processes, ensures more security, transparency and efficiency.

Despite of the increasing digitization of medical and administrative file systems, the first step of the documentation in the first personal contact between the patient, caregiver and doctor is still often done on paper. Medication is prescribed on paper, protocols, forms and data are recorded on paper …

These processes are well established. But they are not secure. Retyping from paper – this is still common practice – causes errors (incorrect reading, transposed digits, illegible handwriting and guessing words and digits) in the range of 3% to 5%. Studies identify this as a significant patient risk in the health sector.

As long as the data are available only on paper, they cannot not be digitally processed. Forms and notes are collected and later transported for retyping on the computer. This procedure is responsible for a delay of hours to days. During this time, additional process steps could be already done.

Microsoft and the Austrian partners icomedias and PROLOGICS offer a mobile digital solution that significantly accelerates the collection and processing of data and thereby essentially reduces the risks. Simply because information that has been collected digitally is faster and more secure than paper and can be immediately recorded and further processed.

Be productive instead of using paper: fill in forms with tablets and synchronize all data already during the input with automatic workflow control tasks and accelerate processes – this is possible through HybridForms by icomedias and the FireStart BPM Suite from PROLOGICS.

To digitize a paper form is very simple – but the feature is to give the electronic form “skills” that simplify your work. The reports of the emergency medical services are good examples to demonstrate this.

Reference customers for HybridForms are for example the Federal State Government of Styria/Austria (emergency medical and rescue services) or the Hospital Group Spital STS in Switzerland (medical services). The savings on administration of more than 3,000 hours speak for themselves. Time that can be used for the essential tasks – the care for patients. The error rate is significantly reduced through transparent and continuously traceable documentation. This way projects can yield a quick return on investment within a few months.