Answer: Automation of forms is an important step toward a paperless registration process. Through electronic forms technology, Registration personnel are able to automatically generate a unique set of admission forms, pertinent to the admission type. Therefore, the paperless registration process can be achieved at the comfort of the patient bedside or designated registration area.

A paperless patient registration process features the following gains and efficiencies:

• Reduction in errors associated with auto-generation of correct forms, leading to significant time savings and enhanced patient throughput and flow.
• Increased patient satisfaction and enhanced privacy through seamless registration process, at comfort of bedside registration
• Immediate capture, authentication and access to patient data and applicable consents
• Reduction in costs associated with paper production, processing, storage/retention and faxing
• Elimination of future scanning and/or paper retention
• Integration of data with the organization’s health information technology systems
• Increased compliance through the automatic production of forms, which becomes a resource in achieving legal requirements (state-mandated consents, reporting requirements)
• Increased efficiency and security, through electronic patient signature capture

Patient registration is a major component to the healthcare system, where data is integrated with all modules that utilize patient information. Capturing data on paper will become less and less of an option as we aim to improve the quality and safety of patient care, as well as the job satisfaction of those working in healthcare. Due to today’s improving, powerful and intuitive technology, the migration away from paper is becoming a straightforward path.