Financial Benefits of Electronic Medical Records

Health care organizations are seeing productivitywebsite. This can help attract new business
improvements through the automation of medicalthereby reducing the load on the office staff.
records. Tasks such as pulling and filing patientGoing paperless with an EMR also allows the
paper charts are becoming replaced with the pointorganization to free up office space for treatment
and click functionality of EMRs. End-of-dayand sometimes allowing for an extra associate.
reporting activities can be generated directly fromImproving the coding and billing process can
the EMR system.increase insurance reimbursement leading to
1. Increased Productivityincreased revenue. Being able to monitor a
Health care organizations are seeing productivitypatients' treatment plans and filing documentation
improvements through the automation of medicalat the appropriate time can also help maximize
records. Tasks such as pulling and filing patientreimbursement, allow a practice to run more like
paper charts are becoming replaced with the pointan efficient business.
and click functionality of EMRs. End-of-day3. Avoidance of costs
reporting activities can be generated directly fromImplementing an EMR can help reduce expenses
the EMR system. Laboratory and imaging resultssuch as paper charts, poor documentation and
are placed directly into the EMR providing accesshigh malpractice premiums. Transcription costs can
to users in one place. Diagnostic devices canalso be reduced as an EMR can provide you with
report information directly into the EMR eliminatingeasier means for patient documentation and
the need to fill out different forms.report writing, with things such as voice
2. Increased Revenuerecognition software. Providers spend as much as
Physicians can realize increased revenue through$1500 each month on such costs. Offices can also
better coding recommendations and providingavoid expensive medications by offering patients
physicians with the ability to offer new servicesmore cost effective alternatives. High quality
to patients. EM level coding assistance can be adocumentation and drug prescription alerts can
huge financial benefit to family, pediatric, andlead to lower malpractice insurance premiums.
internal medicine practices. In a recent study by4. Increased Profits
the Medical Economics Magazine, it was statedIncreased profits as a result of improved care,
that physicians not coding to the maximum EMpatient satisfaction, and office image are very
levels could be losing $40,000 to $50,000 annually.difficult to quantify. All of these factors lead to
Many EMR vendors allow patients to schedule andincreased referrals and patient retention which in
cancel appointments, view medical information,turn result in increased profits.
and complete forms via the health organization's