Having an Electronic Medical Record or EMR Software Solution used to be considered as a luxury not so long ago, however, it has become a necessity nowadays. More than 86% of doctors in the United States use EMR software in order to manage their patient’s records.
Even though the usage rate seems high, the experts speculate that the adoption rate of EMR software is only going to rise in the days to come. The main reason behind this is, an software helps you to improve patient records as well as save time and money.
However, there are various options of softwares that you can choose from. Therefore, choosing the right option, that works for you the best can be tricky.
Worry not, this article will guide you on how you can choose the right EMR software that solves all the problems specific to your practice.
So, here are the steps that you can take to select the best EMR software.
As EMR software can have vast features such as automatic billing, e-prescribing, scheduling features and many others, listing your major requirements is a must. This is because, choosing a software that has more features than you require can be costly.
Additionally, mapping out your patient visit flow and your ideal practice workflow can determine how the potential EMR software can complement your practice.
Furthermore, ensure that you involve all the staffs including the physicians to come up with the requirement list so that all the aspects of your workflow are considered.
As you might know, incorporating a new software to your workflow can prove to be costly. Nevertheless, choosing the correct software for your practice will be worth every penny you spend.
Moreover, the many benefits of EMR software will eventually help you save money in the long run.
The main things that will cost you money, while opting for a new EMR software, are the hardware, the implementation, training and eventually the maintenance cost.
If you have specific practice, then choosing an EMR software associated particularly in your field is the best way to move forward. This is because the specialty-specific software caters to the unique characteristics associated with your practice.
This is an important step in considering for an EMR software. You should always prioritize the software that is designed for your specialty rather than a software that you need to make adjustments for you to use.
Doing this will make your workflow effective and efficient.
This is another crucial decision that you have to make while choosing the right EMR software solution for your practice. The two main architectural difference between EMR softwares are one of them is web-based and the other is client/server.
For your information, it is not clear that one of them is better than the other in terms of usability and features, however, one can be a better option for your practice than the other.
Therefore, when choosing the right EMR software, you have to consider the type of architecture that is best suited for your practice needs and the one that complements your workflow.
Be aware that the software that you are considering to use must be certified by an ONC-Authorized Testing and Certification Body (ONC-ATCB). It is the responsible organization for EMR certification standards as well as certifying vendor EMR products.
The certified software comes with the required meaning use objectives and measures provided by ONC-ATCB. Not only this, but, not using a certified EMR software will have you prone to receiving penalties.
Although most of the software vendors provide a 24/7 support, you need to make sure about the type of support you will be getting. Ensure that they provide support in the weekends and night-time as well.
Moreover, you may need assistance or support on-site, so choose an EMR software vendor that is open to doing that.
Lastly, you may also need assistance in upgrading the software or adding a new feature, instead of technical support. So you should have a sound understanding of the extent of support you will be receiving.
Purchasing an EMR software is a huge commitment and has huge implications, hence, hiring an attorney to review the purchase agreement is the best way of ensuring that you will receive what you have been promised.
Furthermore, doing this will also give you a clear understanding of all the additional costs and fees associated with purchasing the software.
As you might know, transitioning to a new software can prove to be tedious so, you will require to put a lot of time and effort to make this transition process a success.
Besides the installation of hardware and software, you will also have to manually insert the existing paper records into the system. Therefore, you may need to hire additional people in order to get through this process.
Also read, 5 Advantages of Custom Software Development Services
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