Electronic Medical Record or EMR software is a thoroughly modern way to manage information about patients. Storing paper records requires a lot of spa...
Electronic Medical Record or EMR software is a thoroughly modern way to manage information about patients. Storing paper records requires a lot of space as a physician's practice grows. Factoring in the space required to keep paper records available means increased cost of operating a practice. Electronic records mean lower overhead costs for the doctor.
Using software for patient records also means that people needing health care services can enjoy a higher level of care. When a doctor or other health care provider has access to up to date information,
he or she is much better able to understand the patient's health concerns. Better treatment options and a higher quality of care can be offered when medical personnel are armed with more information.
Before making a decision about which EMR software package to buy, you will want to consider whether the one you are looking at is whether it offers security. Patient records contain highly personal and sensitive information, and patients need to be able to trust that anything they communicate with their doctor will be respected and kept confidential.
Not everyone involved in a medical practice should have the same level of access to the information in patient files. A good quality software package will offer the option of setting up different levels for physicians, nurses and administrators. That way, people performing different functions have access to the type and level of information they need to do their job.
Data security is another consideration when you are considering software for medical records. The software should be protected from threats presented by those who may want to hack into the system, as well as be easy to back up so that the records can be accessed if the office computer system crashes.
Even the most secure EMR software isn't a good buy unless it is easy to understand and use. Ask about how the product was developed and whether doctors and nurses were asked to provide input during this process. The software should reflect the needs of the end user, and who better to comment on what doctors and nurses would find useful and challenging than people working in the field?
The software package under consideration should also be something that can be customized to meet the needs of a particular medical practice. Not all doctors operate their practice in the same way, and the software should be flexible enough to accommodate different user needs. The software should make it easy to access and update the patient's medical history, including previously-prescribed medications and any drug allergies the patient has.
Another factor to consider when looking at medical records software is whether it has features that will help to streamline your billing process. Find out whether the package remembers the billing codes that you use most often to generate bills to insurance companies more efficiently. Being able to forward bills to insurance providers electronically is an important consideration, and should be part of your evaluation process. Less time spent on billing means more time that can be focused on providing services to patients.
When looking for EMR software, the first thing you need to look at is what you want the package to do to help make your practice run more smoothly. Once you have identified your priorities, you can start working on finding the right one for your needs. Not every medical practice is run in the same way, and by focusing on which aspects are most important to keeping yours running smoothly, you will be able to find the best fit.
