The power of mobile technology is bringing the right work to the right person in the right place. Mobile devices, especially a mobile EHR, can help providers use time more productively in and out of the office. With EHR integration, providers can use their mobile devices anytime and anywhere to:

• Work their inbox (frequent users of mobile health have smaller inbox stock.)
• Document patient encounters
• View schedules
• View patient charts
• Prescribe medications
• Complete dictation and speech-to-text transcription

Much of the work that clogs providers’ inboxes can conveniently be handled out of the office with a mobile EHR. But one-third of providers say they do not have full EHR integration. That is, they do not have a mobile EHR optimized for tablet or smartphone use.¹

Cloud-based systems are strong enablers of EHR integration because: (1) all information is stored in a secure site and accessed via the Internet, (2) the cloud vendor can bring together data from multiple sources. For example, a cloud vendor creates a mobile EHR by integrating and optimizing the EHR with mobile devices. Providers can work anywhere and anytime on the mobile EHR to access secure, up-to-date administrative and clinical information.

Some health technology vendors go beyond a mobile EHR. They integrate a range of innovative mobile solutions to achieve a “next level” EHR integration. A cloud-based services solution, for example, can integrate solutions as such as mobile patient check-in and mobile appointment setting. This helps organizations use time-saving mobile health solutions for both patients and providers beyond the mobile EHR.

On the administrative side, smartphones and other mobile devices can be a valuable tool in the payment collection process, particularly at the point of care. For example, mobile charge capture technology helps providers use their mobile EHR to document care provided in different settings. Mobile charge capture extends from the practice to the hospital and the hospital back to the practice. This way, providers can stay on top of everything in real time and communicate efficiently from their smartphones and tablets. This helps increase revenue and reduce administrative work. Using a mobile EHR can also be an important part of successfully transitioning to the ICD-10 code set.

^{1 2014 Epocrates Mobile Trends Report}