Every day hospitals generate a large quantity of data and information, including patient files, laboratory reports, prescription reports, billing records, and more. Paper-based storage of this information quickly becomes a problem; it is not only inconvenient but also slows down hospital workflow and negatively affects both staff and patients.
Struggling Paper Storage Issues:-
1. Occupies Unnecessary Space:-
In fact, hospitals have entire rooms devoted to filing. As the years prolong, such rooms overflow and their management becomes increasingly difficult or even impossible.
2. Difficult in Finding Records:-
Searching through thousands of folders to retrieve one old file for a patient is time-consuming as such hindrances might even be dangerous in emergencies.
3. Great Risks of Damage:-
Paper is not very robust, and it can easily be damaged by water or fire or simply wear and tear. If the data gets lost, it gets lost forever.
4. Maintenance Costly:-
Caring for large volumes of paper brings in the entire collection of people, cupboards, and extra space, which all collectively increase the cost of the hospital.
Impacts of Storage Problems on Hospital Operations:-
Slow Treatment:- Patients have to wait longer for the doctors and nurses to get the history of the patient.
Delayed Communication:- Information sharing is not possible between departments in time.
Reduced Efficiency:- Patients spend more time on paperwork than receiving care.
Decrease in Patient Satisfaction:- Patients become irritated over time because of the repetitive tests.
Conclusion:-
These are the problems that would result from the storage of information in a paper-based system, which would slow down the operation of hospitals and waste precious time and cost. Faster and more efficient hospitals treat patients better through online and digital storage platforms.