VA says Alaska audiologists report time savings after switch to Federal EHR

An audiologist with the Alaska VA Healthcare System says the Federal Electronic Health Record (EHR) is saving her team time, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The system went live with the Federal EHR on Oct. 24.

Dr. Tiffany McDonald, a super user for the Alaska system, has set up productivity tools for the four-person audiology team serving Alaska, the VA said. These include auto-texts, order favorites and dot phrases for diagnostic codes. A dot phrase is a shortcut that inserts prewritten text into clinical notes. According to the VA, this means staff no longer need to create a new template for services such as hearing aid fitting.

McDonald said community care records, which once required opening a second system, are now in one location. The VA said this helps Alaska audiologists, who work extensively with community care providers across the state. McDonald also said the Message Center gives patients better access and lets staff see each day's schedule.

The VA said it is too soon to measure how much time the audiologists will save each day. McDonald said the extra time would let the clinic address specialty needs that, in her words, the clinic and patients "desperately need."

Source: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Originally published by True News: https://truenews.bagleyenterprises.net/stories/1005