Choosing The Right Emr Software

By Author: Bruce Peters
Total Articles: 1
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Electronic Medical Records (EMR) is a computer-based system of entering, automating, and sharing medical information. EMR software is designed to increase the efficiency of patient record-keeping and sharing valuable health information between various medical specialists.

The ideal EMR software system would work on a patient-by-patient basis, be easy to use and easily accessed by any number of hospitals, practices, clinics, and specialists. It would contain information needed by the system from blood pressure and weight to address, phone number, and the name of an insurance provider. Finally, to allay the fears that patient records might be publicly accessed through Google, security and privacy considerations are critical.

Because EMR implementation is such a tremendous task, many companies have jumped onto the bandwagon as providers - but not all are created equal. There are, however, a number of questions you should ask when choosing your EMR partner.

1. Do you have a strong partner for long-term viability, support and service?
Having a strong partner will allow your investment to be maximized ...
... by using them as a consultant as your practice is met with new demands.

2. Does the solution have a solid foundation and technology that is stable, compatible, and flexible?
In the ever-changing environment of healthcare, a flexible and standard technological base - such as Microsoft SQL - allows for adaptation and change. As new measures or standards are added to the different aspects of the patient record, a solidly founded EMR can quickly adapt to these needs.

3. Is the solution CCHIT compliant today and in the future?
CCHIT is quickly becoming the standard for system interoperability. As the healthcare industry broadens to patient records from practice or provider records, the ability to communicate with other systems while maintaining patient confidentiality will be critical.

4. Does the system allow you to manage your practice's records using your methodology?
Each practice, provider and specialist differs on how they practice medicine and chart patient information. Since many EMR solutions focus on primary care, they are not equipped to meet the needs of specialties like cardiology, orthopedics, or urology - to name a few. A solution with specific content for individual specialties means higher levels of documentation, faster encounters, and better coding.

5. Does the solution provide a solid business case that meets your goals and offers a solid ROI for the coming years?
There is a difference between a system that improves a practice's documentation and one that will show a significant return on investment and offer a plan to meet its objectives. When considering an EMR system, a practice should base their choice on the total cost of ownership - not simply the price tag.

Electronic Medical Records are not restricted by the limitations of paper. The result of EMR implementation would be a sea change as the medical industry closes in on full participation, addressing the many problems of paper with the power of the computer.