We are excited to introduce Choosing the Right EHR, a blog series on the many factors to consider when purchasing EHR software. The EHR market is changing rapidly: companies are appearing and disappearing, federal requirements are changing, and technology continues to evolve. Recommendations that were helpful five, three, or even one year ago no longer apply. This blog series will give you tips that are applicable to today’s EHR market.
This is the first year since the advent of EHR technology that over 50% of doctors shopping for EHRs are second-time buyers. Purchasing an EHR is one of the most important decisions doctors will make in their careers, and yet many doctors still don’t have enough experience or information to make the decision that is right for their practice.
Our blog series will explain the following key points in detail:
When choosing the right EMR:
- Plan to invest time in your research
- Ask yourself “Why Now?”
- Never delegate your EMR selection to someone else
- Read reputable surveys
- Be aware of the dangers of templates
- Look at EMRs that are built for doctors
- View demos, but don’t stop there
- Watch a practice in action
- Focus on the software and the needs of your practice
Don’t be seduced by:
- Gadgetry: every good EMR is compatible with any device
- Interfacing and interoperability: every certified EMR is interoperable
- Dashboards: tracking performance criteria should be a built-in feature
- The myth of integration: choose software that is built for doctors, not for everyone else
- Web vs. server hosting: both are viable options
- Instant startup: the best and most sophisticated EMRs require training
Remember:
- Your EMR is a medical tool that should:
-Save you time
-Improve the quality of medicine you practice
-Reduce information overload
-Make your life easier and reduce stress
- The best EMRs require training
- The Gold Standard: does this EMR help or hinder my practice of medicine?
- Federal requirements and Meaningful Use are important, but not the only reason to buy
Stay tuned!
Dr. Miller makes an excellent point about filnilg out blanks divorces me from the patient. There are so many observations we miss if we are looking at the screen and filnilg in blanks, selecting drop-down choices, or free typing. Having a scribe solves this issue if it is not cost prohibitive and the scribe is very skilled to allow the examiner to focus on the exam and dictate the EMR entries. But the productivity issues for high volume specialties will be difficult to overcome, so the real cost is not the cost of the system and yearly maintenance but the decrease in productivity plus the checks that are written for hardware, software, and services. Plus, the medical record staff will be replaced by more expensive low and intermediate level IT staff. The inter-connectivity with other systems is not yet where it needs to be. So, waiting for the best system is superior to prematurely choosing one now that is not the best fit even if it is partially paid for by stimulus money. It makes no difference who pays for it if it is a bad purchase! And, then you still have to go through the process with another system. The time has not yet arrived.
There are so many observations we miss if we are looking at the screen and filnilg in blanks, selecting drop-down choices, or free typing. Having a scribe solves this issue if it is not cost prohibitive and the scribe is very skilled to allow the examiner to focus on the exam and dictate the EMR entries.
Your blog is really interesting. Your given key point is really awesome. These key points will be helpful for us in choosing right EHR.