| EMR stands for electronic medical records | | | | software is able to save important data so that |
| software and there's no question that having a | | | | you can still keep up to date with your future |
| highly advanced system can help save you | | | | appointments. |
| money and make you more money. Let's | | | | 6. Integrated Patient Portal |
| consider 10 outstanding features of the best | | | | The EMR system should be able to let your |
| electronic medical record software programs on | | | | patients connect your office using an integrated |
| the market. | | | | patient portal. Patients can use this for |
| 1. A Fully Integrated System | | | | appointment scheduling, re-fill requests, messaging, |
| The best feature to look for is a system that is | | | | education and more. |
| integrated with a larger medical billing practice | | | | 7. No Rigid Templates |
| management application. Integration simply means | | | | Medical Software should not have pre-defined |
| that all of these applications share the same | | | | templates that can only be changed by vendors |
| database, so you don't have to worry about | | | | or high-tech wizards. In fact, the best systems |
| buggy interfaces and other inconveniences. | | | | today are run by a technology known as "chief |
| 2. Integration of Software With E-Prescription | | | | complaint" which allows the doctor to "chart at |
| In the last two years of practice, providers who | | | | the speed of thought." This is far more |
| use EHR Software along with qualified electronic | | | | convenient that dealing with frustrating templates. |
| prescribing systems are eligible to earn bonus | | | | 8. Effective Document/Image Management |
| payments of 2% of their total allowed charges | | | | Web-based EMR software should let physicians |
| through Medicare Part B. You can look forward to | | | | and staff record and manage records (via copying |
| efficiency gains and enhanced patient safety. | | | | documents or linking) with ease. The best |
| 3. System that Supports PQRI Automation | | | | software is cable of reading large files, converting |
| PQRI refers to Physician Quality Reporting | | | | picture data into database form quickly and |
| Initiative. This refers to a quality-measures policy | | | | accurately. |
| that states that through for the 2009-2010 period | | | | 9. Voice Recognition and Handwriting Recognition |
| physicians can earn a single consolidated incentive | | | | Technology |
| payment of 2.0% of the estimated total allowed | | | | Practice management software should equipped |
| charges for Medicare Part B covered services. | | | | with the latest advanced features in recognizing |
| 4. Software That is Also Adaptive Learning | | | | human speech (with a 98% accuracy) as well as |
| Adaptive learning refers to the electronic health | | | | handwriting. When you get used to the system |
| record software's capability of remembering how | | | | you will find that writing down a signature on a |
| each physician enters in data entry for treatment | | | | tablet PC will be far more convenient than typing |
| and documentation. This essentially means that | | | | words into a database. |
| the software is capable of "remembering" names, | | | | 10. Meets All Technical and Legal Requirements |
| lists, assessments and prompts based on | | | | There are numerous federal and state regulatory |
| previously entered information. | | | | and compliance issues that you must be aware of. |
| 5. Secure Portability Without Internet Connection | | | | Having an EMR Solution that has guidelines |
| The best systems of today allow total portability, | | | | programmed in (and is constantly updated by the |
| meaning you can access your software and | | | | vendor's system) will keep you legally safe all |
| databases from any location or computer. | | | | year round. |
| Additionally, this access must not only work | | | | These are just a few of the features to look for |
| through a secure Internet connection if possible, | | | | in the newest EMR software. |
| but also be able to work offline. The best | | | | |