Both formats can result in theft and be exposed to the risk of loss from other events such as floods and fire. With paper records that are limited to one copy, EHR provides a security edge with backup copies.
In terms of quantity and quality content, paper-based records were better than electronic health records. The study affirmed the poor quality of nursing documentation and lack of nurses' knowledge and skills in the nursing process and its application in both paper-based and electronic-based systems.
However, the risk of a HIPAA violation is still a lot bigger with paper records than with electronic ones. EHRs have built-in security measures like password protection and data encryption to prevent attacks, whereas a physical record simply has to be left in the wrong place to be a violation.
When comparing EHR vs. paper records for medical billing, EHRs are more accurate, which can help boost revenue. When EHRs are used as part of a medical billing system, prompts appear when codes are input to suggest commonly used diagnoses. 2 Prompts cut down on the use of “unspecified” as a diagnosis. Errors in billing are also detected by the EHR before they’re submitted. More accuracy in billing means fewer rejected insurance claims and increased claim reimbursement.