Software Pedia

The Importance of Electronic Medical Records

The traditional hospital setting would include nurses and physicians carrying the conventional paper-based charts wherein the patient’s information will be seen in that bunch of papers. These charts are very important since this is where healthcare physicians write their orders, and this is also where nurses write their patient’s progress.

Through the years, advancements in technology had already occurred and the conventional papers had been replaced with <a rel=”nofollow” onclick=”javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackPageview', '/outgoing/article_exit_link']);” href=”http://www.healthtec-software.com/electronic-medical-records.htm”>Electronic Medical Records</a>. These records are basically computer based. Since electronic medical records were invented and developed, there had been a noticeable drop in medical malpractices. As a matter of fact, some studies showed that medical malpractices were caused by not properly understanding the handwriting of physicians and some other nurses as well – an unintentional mistake if I should say.

Since everything is going to be computerized, there is no way that healthcare professionals would not understand the orders and information that has been indicated on the records.

<a rel=”nofollow” onclick=”javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackPageview', '/outgoing/article_exit_link']);” href=”http://www.healthtec-software.com/electronic-medical-records.htm”>Electronic Medical Records</a>

or EMR for short is being used by most hospitals in the United States of America. Some other countries are using it, but the other parts of the world are still getting to know the product. Most healthcare professionals would say that the use of electronic medical records helped their lives become less complicated and easier, since they would not struggle and go through the different pages of the patient’s records with everything scribbled on it. With just a click of a mouse and some buttons on the keyboard, healthcare professionals including nurses and doctors can easily access the patient’s chart as fast as possible.

Instead of doing the charting manually, which takes a lot of time, healthcare professionals can delegate most of their time in providing quality health care to their patients. This has been scientifically proven already. Some tests were conducted in the United States of America, and it has been shown that patients were a lot more satisfied with the kind of care that they have received from hospitals who use electronic medical records from hospitals and healthcare professionals that who doesn’t.

Data and other important information are backed up just in case something unexpected might happen. However, be cautious in choosing which software to use. There are some, that doesn’t have back-up storage – that may cause a lot of problem in the near future. Information from patients is very important and without these, the hospital may be at great loss. It is important that before you decide on which software to use, you have to ask the manufacturer what kind of database system that they use, and if the package would include backing up of data and information.

Health Tec Software Inc. offers electronic medical records, and they have been producing this type of software to large hospitals in the United States. To visit and see a range of other medical software products that they have in store, you may visit their website at http://www.healthtec-software.com/. Health Tec Software Inc. is a company that is well-known all over the world that gives value to the money that you have worked for. Thus, they ensure that they would be providing products at affordable prices.

Where Does Software Come From?

Software usually comes in three forms: 1, pre-installed on your computer, 2, on a CD—either a performance program (like Microsoft Word) or the driver software that came with new hardware (like a modem), or 3, as a download from the Internet. Let’s explore these individually:

Preinstalled Software

When you buy a computer, there is an operating system (usually Microsoft Windows) and several programs already installed. Typically, these would include a word processor and other tools and applications, like Word pad, Solitaire, etc., and an Internet browser like Internet Explorer. All the software that makes you’re computer function and runs hardware is system software. All the programs on the All Programs list is application software.

Some programs come preinstalled, usually as a marketing tactic, and use system resources by starting up every time you turn on your computer, like Windows Messenger and sometimes a free trial of Norton Antivirus, or some other security software. Of course, just because these programs are installed doesn’t mean you have to use them. You should probably uninstall anything you won’t use to avoid using your system resources.

CD Software

Since software is basically just a complicated string of digital codes, the only way to physically buy it in a store is to buy a CD with the code stored on it. You then put the CD in your computer and install the program to use it. The majority of software programs (including the ones in the other categories) can be bought on a CD. Office tools, games, music players, security packages, and photo-editing programs are all typical software applications that are often purchased in stores. This is probably the most expensive route, but if it didn’t come preinstalled on your computer, it is usually worth it.

The best reason to buy software on a CD is because you can always reinstall it from the CD. Software can become corrupted, lost, or damaged after it was installed. Or worse, your computer could crash and you would have to reinstall everything back onto it. Having the CD means you can always reinstall the programs, or install it on a different computer in a matter of a few minutes.

Drivers are another type of CD software. All hardware is useless until it has the correct software that will make it be recognized by your computer’s system software. When you buy a new printer, modem, or other attachable hardware, you are always prompted to install something from a CD. This is the driver. Most manufacturers will also list free links to download drivers in case you lose the CD, or the CD becomes damaged or outdated.

Downloadable Software

The Internet is one of the best and easiest ways to obtain software. You can download almost anything from the Internet, and much of it is free. There are antivirus and other anti-malware programs, browsers, games, photo/video editors, word processors and other office tools, etc. Download.com is one of the best places to find free downloads.

Most people download programs because it is easier and cheaper than finding and buying it from a store. Sometimes tools and programs can be downloaded to troubleshoot hardware issues (like a corrupted driver), find and remove malicious software, and perform maintenance tasks, like scanning your computer or cleaning up unnecessary files.

You must be careful with Internet downloads, as some of them are disguised malicious software. Research a program before you download it if you’re not sure that it’s legitimate. You should be able to find reviews of the download fairly easily by doing a Google search for that program name.

Easy Online DOT Training for Drug and Alcohol Education

Any online DOT training that is provided by your company should assist you in the goal of reaching every supervisor needing drug and alcohol education. You have already guessed that you must do this over the web, but you want it simple. Simple, because your busy. So let’s turn to how easy this can be because it is also less expensive.

The first thing you need to know is that there are two ways to offer online DOT training to supervisors. The first is contracting with a provider who will bill you for a license to access their online training. That’s ouch #1. Then  you may pay user fees. That’s ouch #2. And of course if you get rid of your subscription, you’re disconnected. Ouch #3.

So, online DOT training needs a better method. This choice is “platform independent software” for upload to your website. That’s the secret. You own it. You control it. You keep it. Your supervisors access it, and if needed you purchase an update in the future for a small fee. Done. Everything is in software including text, sounds, images, your drug and alcohol policy, referral forms, test questions, feedback on wrong answers, and Certificate of Completion with score and person’s name. Sound impossible? Not at all. And it is less expensive.

There are many choices for online DOT training. If you go to YouTube.com, and google “online reasonable suspicion training” you will find a dozen choices.

AMPLE PRINTABLE HANDOUTS

Ensure that your online DOT training program has pop-up printable handouts. Your supervisors will be in the field and you can’t hand them or mail them the handouts, so make sure PDFs are embedded in the course. Providers offer this. Also, without charging you an arm and a leg, make sure the online training software will allow you to insert your own handouts like your policy and supervisor referral forms.

DEAL WITH THE MYTHS

Ensure that the online DOT training of your supervisors deals with common myths regarding alcoholism and drug addiction. These myths are so rampant in society that even a hint of their being challenged drives many people to fits rage. This is especially true of family members of alcoholics–now supervisors in your company– who have enabled for years and will do so in your workplace with employees they supervise.

For example. Many people use the term “Functional Alcoholism”. This term is a powerful example of enabling and it only means one thing: “The drinking problem of the alcoholic does not bother me.”

If the online DOT Training in Reasonable Suspicion does not address these myths, it is too superficial. You want supervisors finishing a web course and saying to themselves, “WOW! I never thought about that!” Get that reaction, and you have motivated supervisors who will take the next step and behave differently to protect your company. Other myths that a web course should address include understanding drug tolerance, definition of denial, enabling behavior, how addicts think and survive their disease to continue drinking, cognitive distortions, manipulation, and classic excuses that emerge when employees are confronted.

4. SOUND-BASED.

Ensure that your online DOT training course has sound. Don’t let it be simple text. Your supervisors will fall asleep, out of their desks, and onto the floor. If you have a training program that uses different voices to break things up a bit, so much the better. The web course should be “click through” format from frame to frame so images can be viewed along with the voice that describes what the supervisor is seeing.

5. SCORED TEST QUESTIONS

Ensure that your online DOT training program has enough test questions about alcohol and drug abuse that your compliance effort has a strong retention factor. This is only possible with test questions that supervisors self-score, and then rescore so they get 100%. This also, if your lucky, can get you a discount off of your workers’ compensation premiums. And you should ask for it and kick the insurance company until they give it to you. After all you are now a safer risk.

6. TEST QUESTIONS ON HANDOUTS

Ensure that there is a test question on each of the handouts from the course. This will help ensure that supervisors read the handouts in the online DOT training when they pop-up. Pretty simple, but necessary.

7. EDUCATION ON MANIPULATION AND VERBAL EXCUSE TRAPS

Ensure that the online DOT training includes excuses and communication traps that supervisors will face with their employees. They must be given awareness for how employees avoid tests.

Many courses or handouts exist on what employees will do to thwart a test, but guess what, their first step is to avoid the test in the first place. To do that, they rely upon extraordinary and seductive verbal debate and rationales to get the supervisor to back off.

Some employees will even confess to using drugs or alcohol to avoid test. Why? They do this because they know there is no way out, and their only hope at that point is to confess their alcohol or drug problem, elicit sympathy from the supervisor, and convince the supervisor they are in treatment or just got started in treatment, so in fact, there is no need for a test. Believe it or not it works for some employees because the supervisor does not need to be the bad guy.