Summary: Creating hybrid dictation systems for doctors to follow offers the best of both worlds: an easy way to update recurring patient info with a click of the button while allowing physicians to dictate longer, fuller notes when necessary.
Technology can be a double-edged sword. Often, when it improves one area of our lives, it can make another more difficult. Patient record management is a great example. For years, doctors simply dictated all their patient encounter notes and other documentation. That changed when electronic medical records, or EMRs, came along. EMRs are a great way to store and transfer data, but getting that information into the system in the first place isn’t always easy…
The Birth of Hybrid Dictation Systems for Doctors
The concept of medical dictation caught on very early with medical professionals. In fact, medical transcription dates back to at least 1,600 BC. It proved to be a useful multi-tasking tool, allowing the clinician to focus on the patient while someone else took on the chore of documenting the patient encounter.
EMRs changed the way physicians and clinicians managed documentation. The transition wasn’t so straightforward; for many, it certainly wasn’t smooth. Interfaces were counter-intuitive, tasks became repetitive, and systems seemed designed more for administrators than clinicians. This frustrating mix made documenting patient encounters more difficult and more time-consuming – the exact opposite of what they were intended to do.
This lack of user-friendliness for entering longer notes is part of the reason why doctors started creating hybrid dictation systems for themselves. The idea was to blend traditional dictation with direct EMR editing/updating.
The interesting thing is that some EMR updating is relatively easy. For example, clicking on checkboxes for yes/no answers is fast and straightforward. Where it gets difficult is when longer, fuller notes are necessary. These include in-depth observations, referral notes for specialists, and complex treatment plans. Not all doctors are born typists – hunting and pecking these notes seriously takes away from patient interaction. Even those comfortable with a keyboard notice the same issue of lack of face-to-face time with their patients.
A personalized hybrid dictation system for doctors provides the best of both worlds. He or she can quickly click the boxes directly in the EMR when it’s easy to do so and dictate notes for longer passages. This flexibility makes patient record management much faster, easier, and less stressful.
The Added Bonuses of Hybrid Dictation Systems
Hybrid dictation systems for doctors promote more patient interaction – including in ways you may not have thought of. Speaking your observations and treatment plans:
- Reinforces the information for patients, leading to better compliance
- Allows the patient to correct you if you have misinterpreted some information or remind you of something you forgot to add
- Opens the floor to more discussions when your verbal notes trigger a question in the patient
- Means you are less likely to miss important details
So not only do you improve the amount of time you’re spending face-to-face with your patient, the quality of your patient encounter improves, too.
You’ll also see improvements in other areas of your practice:
- Less time updating patient records
- Less (or no) overtime spent in the evenings and on the weekends with patient documentation
- Less burnout that comes with documentation responsibilities
- Better work/life balance
- Better job fulfillment
Contact iMedat to Find Out How Easy Setting Up Your Hybrid Dictation System Can Be
Every physician and clinician is different, and each requires a different approach to EMR management. iMedat can help you create the hybrid dictation system that works best for you and your workflows. Contact us for a no-obligation introductory meeting, and we will show you how you can integrate dictation back into patient record management your way. Fill out our email form here or call 888-779-5888.