| A couple of years ago we faced a lack of office | | | | process the volume of paper documents without |
| space for our patient charts; we considered | | | | the expense of another EMR system. |
| purchasing more space. As I'd been examining | | | | This same practice can then shred documents as |
| EMR systems for ophthalmology practices, it felt | | | | they are scanned in, eliminating the need for |
| like the time to go paperless was finally at hand. | | | | storage space. There is a disadvantage here, |
| Since that time we've planned out and worked on | | | | however - since clinical data isn't entered into the |
| severing our ties to paper record-keeping. | | | | system, it can't be retrieved for meaningful use. |
| A full conversion to an EMR system requires a | | | | For example, the system probably couldn't follow |
| substantial investment in terms of both time and | | | | a trend in interocular pressure over time, or pull |
| money. As we are a medium-sized practice with | | | | up all the patients who have been prescribed a |
| nine physicians and more than one hundred staff | | | | particular medication. This sort of information may |
| over five locations, we have the required staff | | | | be extremely valuable for info auditing, as in the |
| and resources to realize this goal. But what can a | | | | case of pay-for-performance reviews. |
| smaller practice do, or one which cannot financially | | | | A less-expensive alternate would be a stand-alone |
| commit to such a large project? | | | | scanning solution; for example, the one offered by |
| Electronic medical records (EMR) systems require | | | | SRS Software: This could be used by practices |
| the input of data, and stores it electronically into a | | | | which don't have a complete EPM system in place. |
| database. The data can then be utilized in a nearly | | | | The solution can also be a temporary measure as |
| limitless way - or at least the limits are set by the | | | | a medical practice chooses a complete EMR |
| software and the imagination of the user. EMR | | | | system. Scanning solutions can also be quite useful |
| systems with increased levels of flexibility can be | | | | for archiving large volumes of paper records. |
| intimidating to the novice, which includes most of | | | | Again, no data entry is required as this is a digital |
| us physicians. However, once a system has been | | | | copy of handwritten charts. Some of the benefits |
| set up and modified, an EMR system can be quite | | | | of using a scanning solution like this are that they |
| powerful. In short, the more extensive the | | | | have a small learning curve, lower costs, and no |
| customization on the front end, the greater the | | | | require no real change in the way physicians |
| end user rewards on the back end. | | | | normally work. These systems have a higher |
| What are alternatives to a totally digital electronic | | | | implementation success rate, as compared to |
| medical records system if a practice wants to | | | | EMR systems. |
| bypass the initial expense and effort to customize | | | | Finally, practices which aren't yet ready to depart |
| these systems? Some medical practices have | | | | from the comfort of paper records still have |
| purchased EPM and EMR products but aren't using | | | | ways to increase efficiency while making patient |
| them at full ability. Staff write notes as they | | | | charts more legible. Many practices use |
| usually would, which are then scanned into the | | | | hand-written notes on blank paper, written by the |
| system. This is called a 'scanning solution.' Many | | | | physicians. It is unfortunate that these records |
| EPM systems, regardless of if they have EMR or | | | | are too often misinterpreted in audits, so the time |
| not, contain a module for scanning letters, paper | | | | savings of jotting a quick note can prove to be |
| records, or photos. The result is called an EMR | | | | quite costly if misunderstood. Several |
| EHR, or electronic medical record or health record. | | | | forced-entry forms require the checking or circling |
| However, because there's no actual data entry | | | | of symptoms and signs, along with clinical findings, |
| required by the user, it's not a true EMR system. | | | | in an entry. These ensure that the appropriate |
| The advantage of using this type of system is | | | | components for billing and coding are included |
| that practices can use the existing EPM to | | | | within the documentation. |