| If you're work for a hospital or GP or dental | | | | 6. You'll also want a familiar operating |
| surgery, the chances are that you've already | | | | environment, either running on familiar desktop |
| implemented Electronic Medical Records, and so | | | | software, or with the same look and feel. This will |
| you're already aware of the benefits they bring, | | | | help to reduce the amount of training and |
| and how to choose the most appropriate system | | | | associated costs that a new software system |
| for the needs of your patients and you. If not, | | | | needs. |
| then here's what you need to know. | | | | 7. If the system is easy to use, and reliable, then |
| 1. Going paperless brings about a myriad of | | | | there will be no need for dedicated IT staff. This |
| benefits, for patients, such as healthcare staff | | | | can help to ensure that people do use it, and the |
| instantly being able to see patient records, | | | | running costs are as low as they can be, so that |
| instantly being able to see images such as X rays | | | | resources can be spent on patients. |
| or ultrasounds, and doctors and dentists being able | | | | 8. You might also need to consider integrating with |
| to see what medication has been prescribed for a | | | | multiple sites, so you'll need to make sure that the |
| patient. | | | | software you use will be compatible. |
| 2. The EMR system that you choose needs to be | | | | 9. The system you choose will need to suitable |
| simple enough for all staff to be able to operate, | | | | and appropriate for the needs of your patients |
| and will need to be quicker to writing down notes | | | | first and foremost. They won't care about the |
| on paper. If the system is hard work, then it | | | | cost savings, or how future proof it is, if it takes |
| won't be well liked or used to it's full potential. | | | | ages to load, or doesn't meet their needs. |
| 3. The EMR needs to be reliable as it contains all | | | | 10. The Electronic Medical Records system will also |
| the records for all patients. | | | | need to be cost effective, to provide value for |
| 4. As well as reliability, security needs to be | | | | money. It is much better to spend a lot of |
| considered too. Only the authorised people should | | | | money on the right system that does everything |
| have access to the system, and be able to view | | | | it needs to, is reliable and future proof, and is |
| patient records | | | | easy to use, than to have to replace it, or make |
| 5. You may want to fully embrace the | | | | do with something that simply isn't up to the job. |
| technology, and want a system that is | | | | Now you know more about how to chose the |
| customisable to meet your future needs, as well | | | | right one, perhaps now is the time for you to |
| as your current needs. | | | | implement Electronic Medical Records. |