| Now that your office has decided to invest in an | | | | every location it sells EMRs, but it can still offer |
| Electronic Medical Record (EMR) system, you'll | | | | local support in many ways. That's important, |
| need to choose a vendor. What should you look | | | | because assistance with installation and training are |
| for? Electronic medical records are gaining in | | | | critical. Additionally, as with any software, you can |
| popularity. These legal medical records are digitally | | | | expect occasional problems-and your EMR vendor |
| stored on an organization's computer system. | | | | should be available to fix them quickly and |
| Examples of medical organizations that use | | | | efficiently. Then you can take advantage of the |
| electronic medical records include hospitals, | | | | benefits of an EMR software system: - Increase |
| outpatient healthcare facilities, and doctors' offices. | | | | Revenue- EMR software will enable you to code |
| Electronic medical records allow records to be | | | | higher, offer new services and help your practice |
| stored, manipulated, and retrieved at any time. Of | | | | conserve expensive office space by reducing the |
| course, there are some basic requirements that | | | | number of charts and filing cabinets in your office. |
| any EMR should meet, such as meaningful use. | | | | - Provide Better Patient Care - EMR software |
| The Certification Commission for Healthcare | | | | helps practices provide a higher quality service to |
| Information Technology (CCHIT) also now tests | | | | their patients by empowering providers with |
| EMRs for basic functionality and certifies vendor | | | | information at the click of a mouse or a tap of |
| products meeting the tested items. But you'll want | | | | the pen. With EMR, physicians can spend more |
| to look beyond these basics when selecting an | | | | time with their patients and less time on |
| EMR. First, you may require functionality specific | | | | documentation. EMR also helps reduce errors |
| to your medical specialty. Additionally, you'll want a | | | | through better, immediate documentation and |
| product that feels right, and the CCHIT tests only | | | | alerts. - Improve Productivity - EMR software will |
| for functionality, not for usability. Another | | | | nearly eliminate the task of looking for, pulling and |
| important-and often overlooked-element in EMR | | | | filing charts the first year. EMR also reduces the |
| selection is support. The EMR you choose will be | | | | amount of time it takes to refill prescriptions by |
| an integral part of your practice's operation for | | | | as much as 80% and aids in the management of |
| many years, so you'll want to select an EMR | | | | reports and images such as doctor reports, labs, |
| vendor that will be around to support it. Clearly, it | | | | x-rays and MRI's. The bottom line: Be sure to ask |
| isn't possible for an EMR vendor to operate in | | | | potential vendors about local support. |