The Complete Guide to Choosing the Best EHR Software
The benefit of using EHR software is that everything is in one place – a patient’s whole medical history, the logistical aspects of running your clinic, and so on. Even better, EHR software enables providers at all levels of care to communicate electronically with one another. For example, if a patient goes to the hospital on Saturday, their primary care physician will be aware of it on Monday.
Physicians and employees can use EHR software to provide more effective care and produce comprehensive health records that can be shared at all points of care. However, because almost every major platform now offers EHR-like features, industry participants frequently use the terms EMR and EHR interchangeably.
The Advantages of EHR Software
These are some of the reasons why Best EHR Software is becoming more common in medical practices:
Simpler note-taking
Medical speech-to-text technologies are frequently include in EHR software. Which helps to expedite the note-taking process. You can emphasize hands-on patient care with these tools while the EHR converts your talks into notes.
Access to charts and notes is now easier
Your days of searching through overflowing file drawers are done with EHR software. Instead, you can instantly use a digital interface that simplifies the search for and retrieval of charts and notes. Better patient care results from increased access. In accordance with HIPAA laws, medical software keeps patient records.
Increased awareness of potentially hazardous drug interactions
Most EHR software will notify you if you administer medications that may interact dangerously with one another. This proactive safety element is not available with non-computerized charting and note-taking methods.
Improved collaboration with other practitioners
EHR software interoperability supports the rapid transportation of patient information from one party to another, whether inside or outside of your practice. This ensures that any medical experts who need to care for your patient will be able to do so without difficulty.
Types of EHR Software
There are four main types of EHR Software.
Physician-hosted
If your EHR software is hosted by a physician, all of your medical data is housed on servers within your institution. You are responsible for purchasing all data storage devices in this situation. You’ll also need to put in place information security procedures to ensure that your practice is HIPAA-compliant. Although onsite hosting might speed up your EHR software, it can be costly to adopt. It’s best left to larger practices like hospitals.
Remotely-hosted or dedicated remote
Remotely-hosted EHR software servers are located outside of your office. This arrangement relieves your business of the burden of data storage, but you still have responsibility for data security. In other words, it just reduces a portion of your IT strain. Remotely-hosted options, on the other hand, are advantageous for smaller practices that cannot afford physician-hosted solutions.
Subsidized remote
When your clinic uses a subsidized remote EHR, it pays another medical practice for access to its EHR. For example, if a neighboring hospital provides EHR access to your office, you’re operating with a subsidized remote system. Your EHR software management costs will be minimal in this scenario, but data ownership difficulties may develop.
Cloud-based
Cloud-based EHRs, the most prevalent type of EHR software, do not require onsite servers. Your cloud-based EHR vendor will instead keep all of your EHR data in the cloud. This cloud access improves data security, in part because your practice’s data is only accessible via the EHR vendor’s HIPAA-compliant platforms. It also removes practically all healthcare IT problems from your clinic.
How to Select EHR Software
While the advantages of well-functioning EHR software are obvious, deploying and adapting to an EHR program can be difficult. Consider your priorities before committing to a specific EHR system.
EHRs have an impact on all aspects of the practice, not only on physicians. This is particularly true when a practice management system or revenue cycle management system is integrate with the system. Everyone in the practice should be aware of the practice’s implementation objectives and long-term strategy.
Before making any judgments, consider all of your possibilities. Look around. Obtain various estimates, research the reputations of vendors, and ask for recommendations.
While the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) requires you to ensure patient data in any EHR software is secure, there are many additional factors to consider when selecting an EHR software. Here are a few examples:
Cost
The cost of EHR software is determined by the features you want, the vendor you select, and the number of providers in your practice. When getting an estimate, find out how much the initial license or activation charges will be, as well as how much each new component (such as a practice management system) will cost. For smaller practices, the pricing is typically based on a monthly membership cost multiplied by the number of physicians utilizing the system. Pricing varies depending on the characteristics of each practice and will be decide in consultation with the vendor.
Simpleness of use
If a system is not intuitive, it can stymie your business as your staff tries to complete regular activities. Most vendors offer free trials or live demos of their systems to prospective purchasers, so take advantage of these possibilities to see whether the system would be beneficial or detrimental to your business. Remember, you’ll be using this system every day, so you don’t want one that will draw you away from your patients or add hours to your daily workload. The ease of use does not stop with the supplier; office employees and billing managers must also grasp how to use the system.
Cloud-based hosting
Most major EHR suppliers provide a cloud-hosted option, which means there are no servers or gear to maintain in your office other than your own computers. Cloud-hosted systems are a relatively inexpensive solution to outsource the costs of IT maintenance and technical assistance to the provider. Unless you have a compelling need to host servers on-premises, we recommend going with a cloud-based solution.
Training and implementation
Implementing EHR software can take anything from a few weeks to a couple of months, so it’s critical to understand your vendor’s strategy for getting your system up and operating. Furthermore, some providers provide physician and staff training to ensure that everyone in your office is up to speed on the new software. Occasionally, a vendor will provide one-on-one support at no additional expense for a limited time after the system is installed.
Integration
EHRs include useful capabilities like e-prescribing and ordering laboratory tests and reports electronically. However, not every laboratory, hospital, or pharmacy will be set up to work with electronic health records software. Talk to suppliers about the interfaces they use and whether or not they are compatible with the surrounding facilities in your area to ensure interoperability, which is the main focus of the government’s Meaningful Use Stage III requirements. Many providers are prepare to construct extra connectors upon request. To find out if this is possible and if it is include in your membership fees.
Customer support
Acclimating to a new EHR system is a big undertaking. So make sure the vendor will be there to help you every step of the way. If its customer support is difficult to reach or uninterested in answering questions before you buy, the service may be ineffective later on when you’re attempting to figure out your new system. A good working relationship with the vendor you select is essential for a smooth transition to a new EHR system.
