Source: RAND
A new report from the RAND Corporation says that smartphones are the key to the successful transfer of medical records between healthcare providers.
According to a 2014 report by the Federal Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology found that most medical record transfers between doctor’s offices are successful only 50% of the time. Common names and the lack of identifying details in a record are two of the major reasons that record transfers are so unsuccessful. This statistic needs to change to save both doctors' and patients' time and keep doctors' offices running smoothly.
The RAND study has found that smartphone and mobile apps are the keys to making the exchange of medical records more accurate and efficient. The study looked at many potential methods to match an identity to medical records, like fingerprint scanning or eye scans, but they found that the most effective method was through phone apps.
"Tools and methods that allow an individual's mobile phone or smartphone to be used for improving medical record matching among different health providers appear to be particularly promising for a patient-empowered approach to the problem," said Robert S. Rudin, lead author of the report and an information scientist at RAND, a nonprofit research organization. "But these methods will require development and testing."
The smartphone app method requires multi-part development that keeps the technology updated but it also needs a governance process to keep the apps secure. The smartphone apps would be used before a patient’s appointment as a check in to confirm their identity and update any necessary information.
The smartphone app method is just starting to be developed, but researchers and doctors believe that it could greatly improve the accuracy of medical record transfers.
"We found no silver bullet for empowering patients to improve record matching," Rudin said. "Engaging patients in solving the problem likely requires real-world pilot testing and evaluation of an array of approaches."
To read the study, visit RAND.
