Thinking of Switching EHR Systems?

Since their first use over 30 years ago, electronic health records (EHR) have become commonplace in both healthcare policy and practice. Since the 2009 adoption of the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act — an initiative designed to increase the use of
 EHR systems — their use has become widespread. In recent years, new certification timelines and “meaningful use” requirements have prompted many practices to reevaluate their current EHR systems with long-term goals in mind.

It’s possible that your organization has already gone through the laborious and painstaking process of selecting, implementing and learning an electronic health record system for your practice, but now the system may no longer meet your needs. Perhaps the functionality is not quite right, or the system is failing to do enough to help you meet your business goals.

In many ways, purchasing an EHR requires a high degree of commitment, as it is a significant financial investment and often drastically changes the way daily tasks get done. However, if your practice has invested in an EHR system that is not working the way it should, there’s no reason to feel tied to it.

If you are thinking of switching EHR systems, you are not alone. According to an April Buyers Report by review site Software Advice (see the WRS Health profile here), 40% of new EMR purchases are by buyers replacing their current systems. The main reason cited has been the desire for better integration between applications. The good news for practices seeking better integration is that the process of switching to new and enhanced systems is easier and less costly than in years past.