Many hospitals and doctors' surgeries still primarily use paper-based processes. Even when some tasks like patient admissions are partly digital, signatures are mostly collected on paper. Implementing digital signatures, such as for consent forms, can simplify tasks and improve efficiency for medical offices, testing centres, and hospitals.
Advantages of digital signatures in healthcare
Switching to digital signatures benefits healthcare providers and patients in several ways:
- Updated and accessible forms: Digital forms stay up-to-date and are easy for patients and healthcare staff to access.
- Faster consultations: Patients can fill out medical questionnaires in the waiting room, leading to more personalised and efficient consultations.
- Fewer errors: Digital processes reduce data loss and mistakes from manual handling.
- Better information sharing: Improves communication and data exchange across departments.
- Improved quality management: Allows for better quality control and data analysis, including anonymous patient surveys.
- Prepared patients: Patients come better prepared, which improves their care.
- Optimised processes: Makes workflows smoother and lessens the paperwork burden on staff.
- Cost savings: Cuts down on expenses for printing, storing, and mailing.
- Time savings: Frees up staff to focus more on patient care.
- Environmentally friendly: Reduces paper use and supports sustainability.
Are digital signatures legally valid for consent declarations?
Under the current eIDAS Regulation, electronic signatures are legally valid for signing declarations of consent. The regulation states that an electronic signature cannot be dismissed in legal proceedings just because it is digital or doesn't meet the standards for "qualified electronic signatures."
Given the demonstrated benefits of digital signatures—such as process simplification, time savings, and cost reductions—medical practices and hospitals should seriously consider adopting this technology.
Choosing the right digital signature solution
It is important to note that not all digital signature solutions are appropriate for healthcare applications. When selecting a system, it is essential to ensure that it is both legally compliant and highly user-friendly.
RSign offers a robust solution tailored to the healthcare sector. With features such as templates, multi-party and sequential signatures, real-time reporting, tracking, and more, RSign adapts to the diverse needs of medical institutions. Its intuitive interface, guided signing via checklists, and compliance with international data protection laws ensure both legal security and ease of use for electronic patient signatures.
