| Without the help of technology, keep any kind of | | | | understanding of how your business works, |
| records can be a nightmare. Over time, the | | | | designing your custom built software seems to |
| mountain of records just keep building and building, | | | | make sense. However, custom built software |
| until the entire system becomes unmanageable. | | | | solutions often cost a lot more than other types |
| Records get lost or buried, and they become | | | | of software solutions. That's because the solution |
| impossible to find. This happens to many | | | | is developed solely for you. Also, there is the |
| businesses that require record keeping like medical | | | | development time frame to think about. A |
| practices or financial companies. | | | | custom built software can take months or |
| Aware of the benefits presented by technology, | | | | sometimes years to perfect. |
| many medical practices are starting to adopt | | | | Off the shelf, standalone solutions. |
| Electronic Medical Records systems. Such | | | | Given the drawbacks of the first two software |
| systems allow medical records to be filed away | | | | options, off the shelf standalone solution seems to |
| electronically so that they can be retrieved quickly | | | | be the logical choice. The pricing is definitely much |
| and efficiently by anyone who needs access to | | | | more affordable, and you get to use the |
| the information. | | | | software immediately. |
| In general, there are 3 types of EMR software | | | | Standalone EMR software may be developed by |
| solutions that a medical practice can choose to | | | | a programming language such as Java. They work |
| adopt. | | | | on multiple operating systems like Windows, Mac, |
| 1) Web based software solutions. | | | | and even Linux. There are no additional |
| 2) Custom built solutions | | | | components required, and all you have to do is to |
| 3) Off the shelf, standalone solutions. | | | | install the software in the computers. |
| Web based software solutions. | | | | Established EMR software often has a more |
| Web based software is easy to adopt. There is | | | | comprehensive feature list. That means there is |
| usually minimal installation and integration issues, | | | | no need for you to define your own feature list. |
| and all you need is an Internet connection and you | | | | You just install and use. Some features that you |
| will be able to access the information you want to. | | | | should look out for include Automated data |
| The problem with web based software solutions | | | | backup, E&M code suggestor, Intra-office |
| is that since it is on a public network, there is | | | | instant messaging (great for communications), |
| always the concern of security. Medical records | | | | Patient scheduler, Patient tracker, Problem list and |
| are private and sensitive information. So they | | | | more. |
| should be kept as securely as possible. And the | | | | When choosing EMR software, you can always |
| Internet hardly appears to be the ideal place. | | | | evaluate the software by requesting for a trial |
| Custom built solutions. | | | | period and access to any demo materials available. |
| Custom built software solutions give you exactly | | | | That way, you can make better decisions down |
| what you want. You have full control over how | | | | the road. |
| the software works. Since you have the best | | | | |