Case Study: From Paper Charts To Digital Health Records, Joseph Medical Centre's Journey With Eka Care EMR

Dr Arun Kumar
on
January 2, 2025

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Faster Retrieval of Patient History

Joseph Medical Centre, situated in the heart of Indira Nagar, Bangalore, stands out as a pillar of the local healthcare community, renowned for its dedication to patient-centric care. Led by Dr. Amalaselvam, a Consultant Physician and Diabetologist, the center has taken pride in providing personalized approach to patient care, dedicated to the diagnosis, management, and treatment of chronic conditions such as diabetes and hypertension.

Recognizing the challenges of maintaining paper-based medical records, Dr. Amalaselvam envisioned a more streamlined and effective approach. To achieve this, the center recently transitioned to a digital Electronic Medical Records (EMR) system powered by Eka Care EMR. This strategic move has not only optimized daily operations but also significantly enhanced patient care by enabling more accurate and timely management of chronic diseases.

This case study delves into the transformative journey of Joseph Medical Centre as they adopted Eka Care EMR. It explores the experiences of  the doctor and his staff, highlighting how the digital EMR solution has improved their workflow, increased productivity, and elevated the standard of care they provide to their patients. 

Problem Statement:

1.Voluminous paper files: Stacks of patient files made it difficult to retrieve past medical history ,manually searching through paper records became time-consuming for both doctors and administrative staff.

2.Overlooked Follow-Ups: Lacking a quick way to verify previous prescriptions or lab reports, the doctor sometimes had to rely solely on patients’ recollection.

3.Administrative Hurdles: Calculating daily patient inflow and revenue required manual cross-checking, burdening staff during peak hours.

4.Ineffective Appointment Management: Managing appointments manually led to scheduling conflicts, missed appointments, and difficulties in tracking patient schedules. This not only caused frustration for patients but also increased the burden on staff, reducing overall clinic efficiency.

“Now, as the patient comes, we know the number of visits, the ailment they have come for, past history, past medication, and even old reports are all accessible within seconds. That is one of the advantages of Eka Care EMR.” - Dr Amalaselvam

The Solution: A Digital Shift with Eka Care EMR

To address these inefficiencies, Dr. Amalaselvam and his team implemented Eka Care EMR, a comprehensive electronic medical records platform that seamlessly integrates clinical, administrative, and research functionalities. 

1. Instant Access to Patient History: By digitizing all patient records, Eka Care EMR allows doctors and administrative staff to instantly access previous visits, prescriptions, and lab results for informed decision-making.

2.Streamlined Time Management: Reception staff utilize Eka Care EMR to schedule appointments and manage patient flow more effectively. Automated scheduling of follow-up appointments ensures continuity of care, enhancing patient outcomes and reducing the administrative burden on staff.

3.Enhanced Administrative Efficiency: Eka Care EMR automates the calculation of daily patient inflow and revenue, alleviating the need for manual cross-checking. 

4.Optimized Appointment Management: The transition to a digital appointment booking system centralizes patient scheduling and incorporates automated reminders and notifications, effectively preventing scheduling conflicts, reducing no-show rates, and enhancing patient satisfaction.

“In another 5 years, I believe every doctor and medical professional will adopt EMRs. Patients will use a single code to access their data from any hospital, making it easier to maintain records. Though security remains a concern, advancements will ensure data safety, enabling seamless access and better patient care.” – Dr Amalaselvam

Most utilized features by the clinic: 

AI Powered Prescription Pad: 

Eka Care EMR simplifies the prescription writing process with customizable templates, smart suggestions and a user-friendly interface. Doctors can quickly generate accurate prescriptions, reducing errors and saving valuable time during consultations.

AI Powered Prescription Pad

Clinic Management Dashboard:

This centralized dashboard provides an overview of daily operations, enabling seamless management of patient queue and clinic activities. The intuitive user interface and accessibility allows doctors and staff to navigate the system effortlessly, enhancing overall productivity.

Product screenshot of Eka Care tool showing detailed reports of appointments and reveune
Clinic Management Dashboard

Appointment Management:

The digital appointment booking system has revolutionized how the clinic manages schedules. Automated follow-up appointment scheduling, appointment reminder and notification system, minimizes missed appointments and scheduling conflicts. This improvement not only enhanced patient satisfaction but also contributed to increased revenue by optimizing patient flow.

Product screenshot showing history of the appointment from booking to billed and everything in between
Appointment Management

Digital Health Record Management:

With prior records easily accessible via Eka Care EMR, the doctor spends more time addressing current patient complaints instead of revisiting past treatments. This has significantly improved patient outcomes. Patients also benefit from health monitoring features available through the patient app, enabling them to actively participate in their own care. 

Digital Health Record Management

AI-Assisted Summarization:

Eka Care EMR’s AI-powered automated health summary feature allows for efficient summarization of patient data. This advanced capability provides doctors with immediate access to comprehensive, clearly categorized patient history, facilitating informed decision-making and improving patient care.

AI-Assisted Summarization

Financial and Reporting Tools:

The EMR is equipped with internal tools that streamline revenue tracking and financial management, coupled with advanced data analytics for both clinical data and operational management.

Product screenshot showing how you can manage billing and pending payments on Eka care tool
Financial & Reporting Tool

Data-driven insights:

Eka Care empowers the doctor to analyze patient data for trends and patterns. This capability helps identify areas for improvement in practice and opens the door for conducting targeted research on specific patient populations.

Data-driven insights

“With EMR and AI, the generated summaries are a great advantage. Previously, doctors would spend time manually summarizing patient reports, especially for things like drug-to-drug interactions”, according to Dr. Amalaselvam.

Staff Perspective

Reception personnel report a noticeably smoother patient-registration process. One staff member points out that the transition from paper to digital was easier than anticipated:

  • Faster Service: Automated appointment reminders keep patients on schedule, reducing wait times.
  • Clear Instructions: With instant print orders, staff can efficiently process injection and medications, working swiftly and without any confusion.
  • Reduced Errors: Clear digital prescriptions replace hurried handwriting, making it simpler for both staff and patients to understand and follow.

Key Takeaways & What’s Next

1.Training : Additional training and support are needed for advanced AI features—like voice transcription and smart insights—so doctors and staff can fully tap into Eka Care EMR’s potential.

2.Procedural Templates: Introducing more customizable fields for minor surgeries, therapy sessions, and other clinical procedures can elevate the platform’s capabilities.

3.Holistic Integrations: Integrating diet charts, exercise guidelines, and specialized care plans can boost patient engagement and long-term adherence.

Conclusion

Joseph Medical Centre’s successful adoption of Eka Care EMR underscores the real-world advantages of going digital, faster patient visits, streamlined administrative tasks, and a foundation for future AI-driven enhancements. As the healthcare landscape continues to evolve, pioneering clinics like Joseph Medical Centre are setting new standards for patient-centric care in a digitally empowered world.

Featured

Advanced AI-Powered Clinic
Data Driven Chronic Care

100%

Follow up: Appointments on Autopilot

50%

Faster Retrieval of Patient History