| If you're a healthcare professional in the UK, then | | | | 6. Even thought the system might store |
| you're probably aware that electronic health | | | | thousands, or even millions of records, it still needs |
| records are being introduced as part of the NHS | | | | to be quick. Patients won't be happy, if they are |
| Connecting For Health programme. If you're | | | | made to wait whilst the electronic health record |
| looking for the right Electronic Health Record | | | | software brings up their details. Medical staff |
| system, then here's what you need to consider. | | | | won't be happy if their job takes a lot longer |
| 1. The electronic health record software needs to | | | | because they can't get the information they need |
| easy to use, so that your staff feel comfortable | | | | in a timely manner. |
| using it, and that staff are able to update patient | | | | 7. When investing in an electronic patient record |
| records, or find out information from it. A system | | | | system, it's essential that it meets current and |
| that is hard to use won't be well liked. | | | | future needs. A system that barely meets |
| 2. It's important that the electronic medical record | | | | current needs is hardly likely to still be capable in a |
| software doesn't require lot of additional training in | | | | few years time. You might also have additional |
| order for staff to be able to use it. You'll want | | | | specific requirements for your system. |
| your staff to be able to carry on with their duties | | | | 8. The reporting ability of your chosen electronic |
| without needing to factor in time for training. In | | | | health record system is important, so that you |
| addition, patients won't be pleased if their care is | | | | can find out the information you need quickly and |
| disrupted, they are delayed unnecessarily, or their | | | | easily. You might need to be able to report on |
| health is put at risk due to training issues. | | | | several sites, or by department, or by any other |
| 3. The system you choose should be easy to | | | | pre defined, or custom reports. This needs to be |
| manage so that it doesn't need lots of additional | | | | easy to manage and set up so that you have the |
| support. You won't want to have to have | | | | facts and figures you need when you need them. |
| technical support staff on site, or be on the phone | | | | 9. It's important that you choose a cost effective |
| to the customer care department all the time. | | | | electronic health record system. There's no point |
| 4. The electronic patient record system needs to | | | | in choosing the cheapest if it doesn't meet your |
| be reliable as it holds the details of all of your | | | | needs, and no point in choosing the most |
| patients. A system that often crashes, or brings | | | | expensive if it offers features that you'll never |
| up the wrong information won't be well liked, and | | | | use. |
| will give patients the impressions that their data is | | | | 10. Most importantly, the electronic health record |
| not secure, and that the service you are offering | | | | system needs to meet patient requirements. |
| isn't very good. | | | | Your patients won't care about the cost saving, |
| 5. It's essential that the system is secure so that | | | | or scalability or processing power, if their details |
| patients can feel confident that their personal | | | | can't be changed, or appointments are always |
| information is kept away from prying eyes. With | | | | running late due to software issues. |
| different levels of access, and certain information | | | | Now you know what sort of things to be aware |
| only available to those people who really need it, | | | | of, you're sure to be able to find the right |
| you need to be assured that the software you | | | | electronic health record system. |
| are using is right. | | | | |