If you work in a medical practice, chances are that you have been hearing the term electronic health records in many a conversation as of late. Many practices are currently moving to this advanced record keeping software, but you will need to carefully consider whether or not this system works for you.
There is a lot of debate about whether or not these new EMR systems should be adopted. While some fear that the systems will be buggy and still need some fixing up, others believe that they are highly efficient and the future of medicine and medical office management. One thing is for certain though, and that is that research should be performed before such a system is implemented.
When your practice uses electronic health records, also known as EHR, the documentation process is granted real efficiencies. Additionally, since the system is computerized there are often less mistakes when it comes to procedure codes and descriptions. Such information can also be put together quickly in case of audit, questions on billing or a patient or other physician’s request for files.
More Locations, More Advantages
Often, patients may need to visit other locations or various outside medical providers that are at a different location. The adoption and use of electronic health records enables easy data transfer from one office to the next. The ability to have these records so readily available will prove to be very beneficial not only to doctors but also to the patients that are seeking care or diagnosis from a physician, dentist or surgeon.
You shouldn’t rush into implementing an electronic system for your office. Instead, planning is paramount when considering how it will impact your practice and what the adoption issues may be. However, you should keep the advantages of switching in mind also, such as lowered expenses and more efficiently used storage space.
Even small medical practices can benefit from making the switch while saving significant long term costs. For example, office expenses can pretty much be cut across the board, along with transcription costs. Also, they may be able to aid in safeguarding patient confidentiality by increasing the security of your files.
The Importance of Simplification
You might think that you should buy the highest end product available. However, this may negatively affect the workflow of your practice. Instead, you should search for a solution that is easy to use and fast to learn. Such a program will make billing, reporting, and invoicing much easier and more efficient. In addition, your team will simply work better with your product.
Switching over to electronic health records can be a real game changer for both you and your staff. Once you understand how to use it to your benefit, you will all probably be thrilled with its efficiency building advantages. In fact, you might even wonder how you ever managed to run your practice without an electronic health records application.
Carl Hardy is a system trainer, developer and webmaster of http://www.electronicmedicalrecords.org. His company, EMRG, specializes in designing best of breed electronic medical records and offers a free online demo. Check out the site for tips on adoption, adopting EMR as part of the Stimulus package and more.