Keeping track of patient’s medical records has always been a hassle.  Today, because of regulations concerning patient privacy and security, it can be even more difficult and frustrating.

In years past, some doctors would hand the record of the visit to the patient including X-rays and test results.  This reduced the doctor’s need for an accurate filing system, but created even more frustration when the patient came in for a follow-up or new visit without the information in hand.  Needless to say, the patients and the doctors were unhappy.

Losing a patient’s record is an embarrassing situation that can be deadly.  Nurses and physicians have needed the latest tracking software for many years.  Luckily, now they can get it.

Through the use of barcodes or RFID tagging technology, medical records can be quickly located and followed via computer throughout an office or a hospital, regardless of the facility’s size.  

The office scheduling system can interact with the record’s database to create a pull list for the following day’s appointments.  This improves office efficiency.  Doctors and patients are not required to wait while the secretary or file clerk pulls a file.

The system can be even more efficient for handling paperless or hybrid medical records, which include both traditional paper and electronic notations.  

Generally speaking, the electronic records are more efficient and more secure, as long as the necessary precautions are taken when the database is created.  The system should be regularly updated against viruses and hackers.

The latest tracking software has the ability to instantly display a record’s location when the information is requested by someone in the office.  This function is beneficial for the single office and for doctors with multiple locations.  

All of the tracking software features make handling patients at multiple offices simpler and more efficient.  The scheduling system of each office should already be interfaced.  Programming the system to interface with a new tracking system is an easy task for a database designer.

The database can automatically generate referrals and other letters.  The tracking system can be integrated with the office billing system, ensuring that the costs of each visit are billed quickly, while allowing office workers to verify the patient’s insurance information at each visit.

Many other features can be built into these new systems.  Ideally, the database will be customized to suit the practice.  Trying to customize off-the-shelf medical records tracking software could actually add to the office’s frustrations.

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