Five Challenges Solved by EHRs
Electronic health records (EHRs) play an important part in shaping the student experience. EHRs serve as the backbone of modern campus health services. These systems offer a secure, digital platform to access and share student information, streamlining communication between departments and ensuring continuity of care. Moreover, EHRs empower healthcare providers to deliver more coordinated, efficient, and personalized care, while also enhancing the student experience and helping institutions improve overall student well-being.
Together, let’s explore five common challenges faced by college health professionals and how implementing EHR solutions can address them. Continue reading to learn how EHRs can transform your campus health operations.
1. Enhancing Mental Health Support
According to the 2022-23 Healthy Minds Study, anxiety and depression have become more prevalent among college students, with over 40% of students reporting symptoms of depression, and over 36% experiencing anxiety. EHRs can help providers track mental health histories and coordinate care across multiple clinics and departments.
Moreover, the study also notes that only a fraction of students with mental health issues access treatment, which emphasizes the need for better integration of services—something that EHRs can facilitate by ensuring continuous care and timely interventions.
With an EHR system, providers can:
- Access a student’s mental health history
- Monitor treatment progress
- Share information securely to ensure highly coordinated care
Learn more about how EHRs enhance security here.
Integrating mental health data into a centralized system, EHRs empower providers to deliver timely, personalized support that meets students’ evolving needs.
2. Supporting Chronic Disease Management
Furthermore, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that 60% of Americans have at least one chronic disease, while 40% live with two or more. These statistics emphasize the importance of efficient chronic disease management systems to support students experiencing these conditions.
EHRs simplify chronic disease management by offering a centralized location for critical health data, including:
- Lab results and diagnostic reports
- Medication lists and dosages
- Individualized treatment plans
With an EHR, providers can monitor symptoms, adjust care plans, and ensure students receive quality care—even during a busy semester.
3. Ensuring Comprehensive Sexual and Reproductive Health
Additionally, sexual and reproductive health care plays a critical role in ensuring the well-being of college students, addressing key areas such as STI testing, contraception, pregnancy care, and gender-affirming care. EHRs significantly enhance the quality and delivery of this care by streamlining provider communication and ensuring secure access to sensitive health information.
EHRs enhance this type of care for students by enabling:
- Seamless communication between different providers
- Secure access to test results and treatment options for patients
With EHR systems, students can trust their care is both comprehensive and discreet.
4. Supporting Student-Athletes
EHRs play a vital role in managing sports injuries among college athletes, offering a centralized platform to streamline care and improve outcomes. EHRs provide easy access to critical data, including:
- Injury history and treatment plans
- Rehabilitation progress and milestones
- Safe return-to-play protocols
Beyond physical recovery, the mental health of student-athletes is a growing concern. A 2023 NCAA study revealed that 9% of male and 27% of female athletes reported experiencing overwhelming anxiety. Addressing this challenge requires a holistic approach that includes collaboration across multiple clinics and departments.
Additionally, EHRs enhance this comprehensive care by enabling seamless communication between athletic trainers, healthcare providers, mental health counselors, and academic support staff. These systems ensure all aspects of a student-athlete’s health—physical and mental—are considered, promoting faster recovery and better overall well-being. Integrating mental health resources in EHRs also helps identify at-risk athletes earlier, fostering proactive interventions and personalized care plans.
5. Immunization Compliance and Preventive Care
Immunizations are essential for safeguarding community health, particularly in situations where close contact increases the risk of disease transmission. A proactive approach to compliance and care ensures campuses are prepared to protect their communities and prevent outbreaks.
EHRs support this effort by:
- Consolidating vaccination records in a secure and easily accessible digital platform
- Sending timely reminders to students about upcoming vaccinations or booster shots
- Providing tailored preventive care guidelines to meet the specific needs of students
- Facilitating campus-wide communications that promote campus health and wellness
This streamlined approach enables colleges to foster a culture of health awareness and readiness.
Key Takeaways
EHR solutions , like those offered by Medicat, are transforming the way college health providers deliver care. From addressing mental health challenges, to managing chronic diseases, sexual health, and sports injuries, EHRs empower providers to deliver coordinated, comprehensive care that improves student outcomes.
As technology continues to evolve, the role of EHRs in college health will only grow. These platforms not only facilitate better communication and care coordination, but also help providers focus on what matters most—student well-being .