Finding the right EMR is like finding a needle in a haystack. Not because there aren’t any services out there – but because there are so many. With the hundreds of software vendors to choose from, it’s difficult to know which one will work best for your medical practice
There are many questions to ask when figuring out what the right system will be. At the very least, the right EHR should provide the following patient care benefits:
Data Security and Backups
If you have a local server-based EHR system, then you are flirting with disaster. In the event that anything happens to your servers, do you have copies of your medical records stored off-site? Are you prepared for disaster management and data recovery? The right EHR solution should be able to safeguard your patients’ records. With a cloud-based EHR, there is no hardware or software problems to worry about. All patient information and records are stored remotely. Users can securely log in from anywhere they have Internet connectivity.
Reduced Patient Wait Times
Transitioning from paper-based methods to EHR technology should reduce patient times. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case. If your staff poorly understands the system or finds it hard to grasp, wait times may actually increase as they click around trying to figure out how and where to get information. The right EHR solution should make it easy to pull up patient records and cut wait times.
Easy to Share Patient Data
EHRs with HIE (health information exchange) functionality are perfect for data exchange between physicians. Yet this is not the case for server-based EHR systems that only handle local data, or even worse, paper-based systems that require the physical delivery of patient data. Sharing patient data via an HIE EHR allows for seamless exchange of information in real time. In the long run, HIE functionality will save time and money for you and your patients.
Improved Decision Making
The right EHR supports your decision-making process, offering you the tools and information to make the right call. With well-organized, comprehensive and extensive patient information at your fingertips, both from your practice and other providers the patient sees, you have more complete information for your treatment.
Better Patient Communication
Whether it’s requesting patients to update their health records — or sending them test results — the right EHR fosters better patient-provider communication. Through a patient portal, patients can update and verify current information prior to coming into the office. They can also receive test results, as well as medication instructions and educational material. Good patient communications also includes automated appointment reminders, recalls and health maintenance alerts.
With the push by the government to have patients to play a more active role in their healthcare, the right system will help you achieve these goals as well as Meaningful Use attestation.
With the right EHR, you can achieve great results at your practice – providing better healthcare, faster, resulting in satisfied patients.