Electronic Health Records (EHRs) have changed the way healthcare teams work, making it easier to document, track, and share patient information. However, not all EHRs are built the same.
One powerful and often overlooked feature that sets certain systems apart is the ability to use shorthands, which are customizable, quick-entry tools that let providers document faster without losing detail or accuracy.
Instead of typing out the same phrases over and over, providers can use a shorthand to quickly insert full sentences or blocks of text with just a few keystrokes. That might not sound like much, but in a busy practice, those saved seconds add up, giving doctors and staff more time to focus on patient care instead of paperwork.
When everyone on the care team uses the same shorthand tools, things can run more smoothly. Shared shorthands help standardize documentation across the practice, so notes are clear, consistent, and easy to understand no matter who wrote them.
This kind of consistency helps reduce errors, especially when multiple providers are involved in a patient’s care. Everyone is on the same page (literally), which makes communication faster and more reliable. It’s also easier to train new staff when there’s a common set of tools in place.
For practices with more than one location or different departments, shared shorthands make a noticeable difference. They help ensure that documentation looks and reads the same, no matter where the patient is seen. That makes it easier to transfer information between teams and reduces friction when coordinating care.
Outside of your practice, standardized documentation also helps when working with third parties like labs, specialists, or insurance companies. Clean, consistent notes mean fewer delays, fewer chances for something to get lost in translation, and faster time to reimbursement.
At the end of the day, faster and clearer communication helps everyone, especially patients. When providers spend less time typing and more time talking with patients, it leads to stronger relationships, better understanding, and more personalized care.
Reliable notes also make it easier for patients to get accurate, timely information about their conditions or treatments. That can lead to better outcomes, because patients are more likely to follow care plans when they feel informed and heard.
EZDERM makes it easy for dermatology providers to create and use shorthands in ways that match how they work. A shorthand is simply an abbreviation typed into a text field that automatically expands into a full sentence or paragraph, saving time and ensuring consistency in your notes.
Our team can provide a base package of pre-built shorthands, and each user can create their own custom shorthands for general use within the progress note or pathology documentation.
Since many EZDERM users operate on Apple devices, here’s an extra time-saver worth considering: Apple offers a built-in keyboard text replacement feature that allows you to create shortcuts that expand into full phrases or sentences. These sync automatically across all devices using the same Apple ID, making it easy to standardize quick entries across your entire team, even outside of the EHR.
While optional, this can be a great complement to EZDERM’s built-in shorthands, especially for internal notes, repetitive communications, or quick documentation tasks across your practice.
EHR shorthands may seem like a small feature, but they have a big impact. They save time, reduce errors, and make it easier for teams to work together, ultimately leading to better care for patients. As practices look for ways to be more efficient without sacrificing quality, tools like shorthands are an easy win.