When medical records need to be obtained, it’s vital that the relevant parties can access accurate information in a timely manner. If an insurance claim is waiting to be paid or legal action is underway, for example, obtaining medical records swiftly is essential.
Despite this, it can be difficult for anyone to access this type of information, even patients themselves! If you need to access medical information on behalf of a company or organization, you can simplify the process by ensuring you request the appropriate type of information. With this in mind, take a look at the differences between EMR vs EHR for insurance companies:
What Is EMR?
Electronic medical records (EMR) are usually stored in a doctor’s office or clinic. They’re simply a record of a patient’s interactions with their clinicians, as well as any treatment they’ve received, diagnoses they’ve been given, or medication they’ve been prescribed.
Doctor’s offices used to record this information on paper, typically referred to as ‘patient notes’. Since the rise of technology, however, these details are now stored electronically. In addition to this, historic patient notes may have been transferred to electronic systems and clinicians are finding innovative ways to use tech solutions to enhance digitization.
What Is EHR?
Electronic health records (EHR) usually contain information that comes from more than one clinician or medical provider. They give a more comprehensive overview of the treatment a patient has received over a long-term basis and contain information from a variety of sources, such as doctors, consultants, specialized care facilities, hospitals etc.
An EHR may not contain in-depth information regarding a patient’s medical interactions throughout their lifetime but, nevertheless, it does provide an insight into a patient’s medical history, treatment and health.
As electronic health records are shared between health care providers and updated regularly, they can provide useful information for insurance companies. If an insurer wants to understand whether a patient is in good health before providing a quote for medical insurance, for example, the individual’s EHR is certainly useful.
Accessing Medical Records
Now you have a better understanding of the differences between electronic medical records and electronic health records, you’ll find it easier to state exactly what information you need when requesting this type of information. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean the process will be straightforward!
For insurance companies, outsourcing medical retrieval can be a savvy way to reduce costs and increase efficiency. With a team of retrieval experts on hand to track down information, insurance providers can avoid having to hire in-house teams to carry out these functions. What’s more — medical retrieval companies typically have an extensive network in the industry, which enables them to access the information you’re looking for more quickly and more successfully.
Should Insurance Companies Outsource?
Outsourcing can be a cost-effective way to access the skills and resources a company needs. In fact, virtually all companies can benefit from outsourcing some processes or functions. Insurance companies could outsource medical retrieval along with accounts and invoicing to optimize in-house efficiency, for example. Ultimately, when you make strategic decisions about outsourcing, it’s possible to conserve your resources, increase productivity and enhance the service you can offer to clients and customers.
Reply