1. Inventory Tracking
1.1. Prosthetic Devices
1.2. Durable Medical Equipment
1.3. Tracks Serial Numbers in patient's chart in case of adverse events or for posthumous idetification
1.4. Can even tell a practice which DME's are profitable
2. Medication Management
2.1. E-Prescribing
2.1.1. Direct Communication with Pharmacy
2.1.1.1. No lost paper scripts or misinterpreted handwriting
2.1.1.2. Reduces risk of falsified prescriptions
2.1.2. Built-in decision support for prescribers
2.1.2.1. Flags allergies and adverse reactions; suggests alternatives
2.1.2.2. Reduces prescribing errors
2.1.2.2.1. Reduces prescribing errors
2.1.3. Narcotic Tracking
2.2. Medication Administration Record (MAR)
2.2.1. Ensures "rights" of medication administration
2.2.1.1. Time
2.2.1.2. Dose
2.2.1.3. Patient
2.2.1.4. Route
2.2.1.5. Medication (with lot # & exp. date)
2.2.2. Reduces Bedside Medication Errors
2.3. VAccine Administration
2.3.1. Scheduling Support
2.3.2. Adverse Events Reporting & Monitoring
2.3.3. Documentation of administration site, route, vaccine brand, etc.
3. Scheduling Software
3.1. Utilizes Automated computerized templates for patients to schdule appointments with ease
3.2. Software sends texts/email reminders of appointment time and location
3.3. Frees up man hours for more advanced tasks and reduces patient wait times on phone calls
4. Medical Billing
4.1. Automated billing and coding technologies as well as processing of medical claims
4.2. Helps to prevent mistakes with internal auditing systems using AI and machine learning
4.3. Can break down transparent claims for patient understanding and allow them to pay bills online
5. Healthcare Communication Technologies
5.1. Telemedicine
5.1.1. Increases access to critical services (including therapy) by removing physical nd emotional barriers
5.1.2. Brings specialists to the patient's bedside in rural hospitals or remote health facilities
5.2. Virtual Visits
5.2.1. "Zoom for Healthcare" HIPAA-approved
5.3. Wearable Devices
5.3.1. Monitor and collect health data to support preventative and personalized medicine
5.3.1.1. Fitness Trackers (Biosensors, Smartwatches)
5.3.1.2. Glucose Meters
5.3.1.3. ECG Monitors
6. Digital Patient Records
6.1. Electronic Medical Records (EMR)
6.1.1. Software that replaces paper charts to organize diagnostic and therapeutic patient information within a medical facility
6.1.2. Physician-hosted
6.2. Electronic Health Records (EHR)
6.2.1. Can be physician-hosted, cloud-based, or hybrid system
6.2.2. Compilation of EMRs from different sources, providing a more comprehensive view of patient's history and demographics
6.2.3. Designed to be used by multiple healthcare professionals to facilitate communication and improve coordination of care
6.3. Personal Health Records (PHR)
6.3.1. Protected Health Information (PHI)
6.3.1.1. Patients have rights to access their own information to track their health
6.3.1.2. Patients can send PHI to other providers and specialists
6.3.2. Patient Portal
6.3.2.1. Patients can communicate with providers through messages
6.3.2.2. Patients can request refills
7. Health Information Exchange (State & National Databases)
7.1. Cancer Registries
7.1.1. List of cancer patients, types, locations
7.1.2. Identify patterns, geographical threats
7.1.2.1. i.e. EPA warns of cancer clusters (thyroid, eye) in my town due to coal ash
7.2. Disease Registries
7.2.1. Tracking of communicable diseases to identify severity of threat and contain infection
7.2.2. Available to the public (as we saw with COVID)
7.3. Organ Donor List
7.3.1. Vital to care teams treating patients awaiting transplant to know time frame and act accordingly