It’s hard to imagine how the healthcare industry survived without various software solutions. Thankfully, today, there are numerous types of software that healthcare businesses and facilities can make use of to provide better patient services and improve workflows.
While the precise types of software you use will depend on your kind of healthcare business, the following six types of software are must-haves for many organizations.
1. Electronic Health Record Software
Electronic Health Record software is one software any healthcare business should have. A patient’s EHR contains information like his or her medical history, medications, doctors’ recommendations, treatment plans, and laboratory results. Comprehensive electronic lab reporting ensures seamless integration of test results into a patient’s EHR, reducing errors and improving efficiency. This streamlined process allows healthcare providers to make quicker, more informed decisions about patient care, enhancing overall outcomes.
Authorized personnel can access such information in real-time, which means there is a higher level of accuracy and improved efficiency at healthcare facilities. Ultimately, that leads to better patient care.
More advanced EHR software systems include financial modules for payments and invoicing and messaging capabilities for internal communication between members of staff as well as patients.
Specialized solutions like Mental Health EMR platforms further enhance these capabilities by addressing the unique needs of behavioral health practices with tailored documentation and treatment planning tools. Implementing such focused software can streamline workflows and improve the overall quality of patient care.
Basically, EHR reporting software is similar to Customer Relationship Management software but it’s designed specifically for the healthcare industry.
2. Medical Diagnosis Software
Medical diagnosis software enables medical specialists to exchange real-time patient information that enables reliable diagnoses to be made in hospitals and other healthcare facilities.
Like EHR software, medical diagnosis software allows professionals from different medical fields to collaborate. Medical diagnosis software can also help to prevent medical malpractice.
Ultimately, the software can result in quicker and more accurate diagnoses. So, organizations benefit from an efficiency point of view and patients benefit in that they get proper diagnoses quicker.
3. Medical Research Software
When internal references are not available, medical professionals can use medical research software for training and supporting diagnosis. Basically, medical research software shares valuable medical resources.
So, primarily, healthcare institutes use this software for sharing research and development among the medical industry.
4. Imaging and Visualization Software
In certain settings, such as hospitals, imaging, and visualization software makes life a lot easier for medical professionals. The advanced healthcare technology can accurately visualize internal body damage. CT scans and MRI scans both use imaging and visualization software.
With the software, surgeons can plan operations and doctors can accurately diagnose different body systems in real-time.
5. Patient Engagement Software
Patient engagement software allows healthcare providers to engage with patients online. Patients can use the online software to schedule appointments, pay medical bills, communicate with doctors, and view their medical records.
6. Telehealth and Telemedicine Software
Telehealth is about using telecommunication and digital communication technologies to deliver health-related services like medical care, health information services, and patient education.
Since the Covid-19 pandemic, patients and healthcare professionals have increasingly been using telehealth services, so telehealth software is becoming invaluable to many businesses that work in the healthcare sector.
Likewise, telemedicine is on the rise. In fact, its market value is set to be worth a staggering $64 billion in the U.S. by 2025. Telemedicine refers to prescribing medications to patients safely and legitimately via the internet.
For that to be possible, healthcare providers and businesses need to use telemedicine software. Telemedicine improves efficiency and limits medication errors.
The Takeaway
At the end of the day, to choose the right types of software for your healthcare business, you need to spend time looking at the different software available and the features of each while evaluating your organization’s precise needs.
But the six types of software listed above are crucial assets for many healthcare businesses.
So, you should certainly consider using:
- Electronic Health Record Software.
- Medical Diagnosis Software.
- Medical Research Software.
- Imaging and Visualization Software.
- Patient Engagement Software.
- Telehealth and Telemedicine Software.
