| If you're looking for electronic medical record | | | | calling helpdesks or waiting for patches, fixes and |
| software for your hospital or surgery as part of | | | | updates to be implemented. |
| the NHS Connecting For Health programme, then | | | | 7. As well as meeting your current needs, you'll |
| you might have already chosen the right package | | | | need to ensure that the software you're |
| for your needs, and the needs of your patients. If | | | | considering is expandable so that it will meet your |
| you haven't, here are some points you should | | | | future needs. Your hospital might be in the middle |
| consider. | | | | of expanding, or you might need to take on |
| 1. The electronic medical record software you | | | | patients from another surgery. |
| choose needs to be easy to use. If the system is | | | | 8. You might need your new electronic medical |
| hard to use, complicated, or time consuming to | | | | record software to work with you other |
| learn it's likely that those that have to use it won't | | | | healthcare software. You'll need to make sure |
| like using it. | | | | that this is possible and won't cause any problems, |
| 2. By having a familiar interface, or looking like | | | | or affect patient care. |
| common desktop software applications, your new | | | | 9. Once you're got a shortlist of software |
| healthcare system software will be intuitive and | | | | packages, you'll need to ensure that they meet |
| the menus and other functions won't need a lot | | | | the needs of your patients, rather than just your |
| of explaining. | | | | staff needs. Patients won't care about the flashy |
| 3. It's important that the hospital of surgery | | | | functionality, or processing power, or additional |
| software is secure. You'll want to make sure that | | | | features, when they see a doctor, or are treated |
| there are different levels of security, and that | | | | in hospital. |
| different medical staff can only see the | | | | 10. One of the most important aspects to |
| information that they need to see. Administrative | | | | consider is the cost. Although you may have a |
| staff won't need to know a patient's full history, | | | | budget in mind, it's essential that you get the right |
| whereas a consultant will. | | | | system that will meet the current and future |
| 4. The electronic medical record software needs | | | | needs of your patients and staff. There's no point |
| to be quick in operation, so that time isn't spent | | | | in purchasing the cheapest system if it won't be |
| waiting for the computer to catch up. A slow | | | | right. The most expensive system might be right |
| system will soon become very frustrating for all | | | | either. It might offer far more functionality than |
| concerned. | | | | you'll ever need, and be confusing for medical |
| 5. As well as secure, it's essential that the | | | | staff. |
| software is stable and reliable. Although when a | | | | Now you know more about how to choose the |
| software package crashes it's annoying, if medical | | | | right features and what else you need to be |
| software crashes it could have disastrous effects. | | | | aware of, perhaps now is the time for you to get |
| 6. Because the software will be easy to use, and | | | | the electronic medical record software your |
| reliable, it is much less likely that support engineers | | | | patients need. |
| will need to visit. In addition, less time will be spent | | | | |