6 Tips for evaluating Electronic Medical Records
Which EMR / EHR Provider is the Right Provider?
Whether you are looking for additional functionality such as health management reminders, want to start ePrescribing or are looking to demonstrate standards for pay-for-performance Electronic Medical Records (EMRs) can be a useful tool. But with hundreds of EMR vendors in the marketplace how do you know who to add to your short list?
Tip #1: Get others in your practice involved. Find out what they want from your Electronic Health Records. Get their buy-in early. Hold regular meetings with providers and staff to discuss needs, concerns and questions, and list the problems you want to solve with Electronic Health Records.
Tip #2: Look carefully at what the different vendors are offering. Concentrate on those that are well-established in the medical software field and that offer comprehensive training and support. Consider how well they are prepared to face future standards and whether they are CCHIT CertifiedSM, which demonstrates Electronic Health Records software functionality, interoperability and security.
Tip #3: See the program for yourself. In-person demonstrations are vital to determining whether a system will meet your specific needs. Request them from each short-listed candidate. Run through a number of scenarios that are likely to test the product’s suitability. Create a checklist of all the important features and requirements, and note whether the Electronic Health Records meet these requirements.
Tip #4: Ask about implementation. No two practices are alike. Electronic Health Records implementation requires tailoring and fine-tuning to meet your specific needs. Find out how far each company is prepared to go to provide customization for the particular needs of your practice.
Tip #5: Set a timetable. Find out how long each candidate system will take to become operational. Integrated systems may be much easier to set up and resulting in less disruption to your practice than separate systems interfaced together.
Tip #6: Finally, evaluate each of the candidate systems with your colleagues. Make a decision based on long term value, not on price alone. Develop a scoring system based on your research and demos, or submit requests for proposals (RFPs) to each potential partner and compare the responses side-by-side. And don't forget: include questions regarding training and ongoing support—this element is critical to the successful implementation of your Electronic Health Records.
Computer Systems Support & Design, LLC based in Fairfield County helps medical provider offices get the most out of their IT infrastructure and supports them in implementing and maintaining their systems. We are vendor-neutral. Please e-mail me your question and I will try to answer all of them as they come in. Want to learn more quickly? Call me on my Cellphone (203) 216-9902.
Successful EHR/EMR Adoption - Eight Tips
More Money, More Time, and More Control for Medical Provider
Only a small fraction of physicians in the U.S. fully use an electronic health record. Barriers to adoption include costs for setup and maintenance, disruption to physician productivity, and insufficient financial or clinical benefits. But HITECH Act incentives, technological progress, and consumer demand are overcoming resistance. In fact, tens-of-thousands of medical providers have registered for EHR incentives certain to be able to show Meaningful Use.
The process of vetting and implementing an EHR is challenging for any medical group.But the right EHR can help get your practice more money, more time, and more control — enabling you to focus on patient care.
Transforming Your Practice
The concerns over apparent risks are well-founded. The 2010 Physician Sentiment IndexSM, found that while doctors’ opinion of EHRs is highly favorable, current solutions are seen as too costly and too likely to compromise physician time and patient care:
Only 51% of physicians feel that EHRs are designed with them in mind
54% strongly agree/agree that EHRs slow down the doctor during patient exams
60% strongly agree/agree that EHRs distract from face-to-face interaction with patients
81% expressed a very favorable/somewhat favorable opinion of EHRs In the NEJM study, an overwhelming majority of physicians said that using electronic records improved the quality of clinical decisions, helped to avoid medication errors, and improved the delivery of preventative care.
8 Tips for Successful EHR adoption
The right planning includes four major steps: Assessment and goal-setting, creating a budget and project team, managing change, and redesigning practice workflow. A critical component is to find the right EMR vendor and IT support firm — one that provides excellent service over the long term, and offers an integrated solution with a proven return on investment (ROI).\
- Assess practice readiness
- Establish budget and project team
- Manage change
- Redesign workflow
- Choose an IT / EHR partner, not a product
- Consider a network-based service (not software-based)
- Ensure long-term readiness to adapt to changing reimbursement environment
- Choose a well-established certified PMS A EHR implementation does require careful research, planning, time, resources and commitment.
Choosing the right partners can help you a long way to success. Computer Systems Support & Design, LLC based in Fairfield County helps medical provider offices get the most out of their IT infratstructure and supports them in implementing and maintaining their systems. We are vendor-neutral.
Want to learn more quickly? Call me on my Cellphone (203) 216-9902.
