Archive for December, 2008
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4 Free EMR Software – Is it Right for your Practice?
Dec 17, 2008. Insight.Web-based applications could very well be the future of software. There are many companies offering free web-hosted software, such as Google Apps. Practice Fusion, an EMR company uses the same model – software as a service that is hosted on the web and provided free of charge. What are the benefits and drawbacks of free, web-based software?
Like most savvy web users, I employ a variety of free web-based software in my daily life. I have a personal free email account. I use free instant messaging software. I use free antivirus software on my personal home computer. XLEMR even uses free email SSL encryption certificates. Free software is attractive because it has no apparent monetary cost, but what is the catch? Vendors of free software usually make their money through a variety of means.
Embedded advertising is the most common method. This is one of the ways Practice Fusion makes money. If you use an instant messaging program or free-web based email, you are familiar with this model. Advertisements constantly flashing and changing can be quite a distraction.
Data Mining is a second way to make money. It is basically a means of sifting through user data and targeting advertisements based on content, or selling it to third parties for research or advertising. Gmail uses this tactic to target ads. Although medical data is protected by HIPAA, providers should consider whether they feel comfortable having their data mined.
Feature limitation is a third tactic vendors use to gain revenue. They provide basic functionality for free, but hope to entice users to upgrade with additional features. Sometimes free software will embed a watermark into documents it generates, and the only way to remove the watermark is by purchasing a license.
Limited support is another widely used method. The email encryption we use offers only limited support for the free version. It works fairly well, but there are some reliability issues, and I have spent quite a bit of time on Google trying to track down solutions.
Finally, web-based software requires a constant high-speed internet connection. There are many practices in rural areas where broadband connections are not available. We have many clients that work in nursing homes or assisted living facilities where internet is not available. Consider what may happen if the internet goes down. If you use web-based software, you will be unable to see patients. How long is your internet usually out at your home? You can imagine that will be the length of time you are unable to see patients.
Free software is not necessarily bad, but healthcare providers should be aware of problems they might face while using a free EMR or any other software.
Ryan Ricks
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Security Officer
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0 An Open Letter to the Obama Health Team on Health IT Spending
Dec 14, 2008. Government Initiatives, News.An Open Letter to the Obama Health Team on Health IT Spending
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e-CareManagement blog
“…we must also ensure that our hospitals are connected to each other through the Internet. That is why the economic recovery plan I’m proposing will help modernize our health care system – and that won’t just save jobs, it will save lives. We will make sure that every doctor’s office and hospital in this country is using cutting edge technology and electronic medical records so that we can cut red tape, prevent medical mistakes, and help save billions of dollars each year.” -
0 e-Prescribing Helps Doctors Pick Cheaper Drugs
Dec 10, 2008. News, ePrescribing.e-Prescribing Helps Doctors Pick Cheaper Drugs
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InjuryBoard.com
Only six percent of U.S. doctors currently use “e-prescribing” although doing so may improve efficiency and reduce medication errors such as a pharmacy technician misreading a doctor’s messy handwriting or dispensing a different drug with a similar name. -
0 USB Drives Spreading Viruses
Dec 10, 2008. Implementation.The US-CERT (Computer Emergency Response Team) issued a warning in November that USB flash drives have become a popular vector for spreading computer viruses. Much like the floppy disks of yester-year, people carry them around and use them on different computers. Viruses and other malicious software can easily propagate from computer to computer via infected files. Some hackers engineer their malware to spread through USB devices.
The Windows auto-run feature helps spread viruses. It allows programs on CD Roms, USB drives, and other removable media to execute when they are inserted into your computer. Disabling auto-run can give you an extra measure of security. However, there is no substitute for having good anti-virus software on your computer. Some programs like Avast and AVG offer free versions for home users.
It is always a good idea to scan your USB drive for viruses after using it on a non-trusted computer. ClamWin antivirus has a portable version of their software that runs right off a USB drive; it does not have to be installed on a computer. You can use portable antivirus programs like ClamWin to keep your USB drives safe, and even scan other computers.
Losing sensitive information is another risk with USB drives. It is very easy to walk off and leave them plugged into a computer. There have been several cases documented in the news where important government or business information was leaked through lost USB drives.
Fortunately, there are many portable encryption programs you can use to secure the contents of your USB drive. Programs like TrueCrypt allow you to create custom secure vaults. The danger with these programs is that you can lose all of your data if you forget your password.
USB drives are very handy, but be sure you have policies in place at your practice to protect your computer systems against viruses propagated by USB drives. First and foremost, be sure each of your computers have antivirus software installed. Secondly, if you use USB drives at the office, be sure you encrypt any sensitive patient information.
Ryan Ricks
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Security Officer
www.XLEMR.com -
1 EMRs may Reduce Malpractice Claims
Dec 3, 2008. Insight.A recent study published in the November issue of Archives of Internal Medicine reports that physicians who actively use Electronic Medical Records (EMRs) face less malpractice claims than physicians who do not use an EMR. EMRs “are an essential foundation for the delivery of high quality care,” according to Steven Simon, Assistant Professor at Harvard University, and author of the study. The study surveyed 1,140 practicing physicians in Massachusetts during 2005.
Trends showed that 6.1 percent of physicians with EMRs had paid out malpractice claims, while 10.8 percent of physicians without an EMR had paid out claims in the past ten years. The study goes a step further and differentiates between active and less active users of EMR technology. 5.7 percent of more active users paid claims, compared with 12.1 percent of less active users.
Although the results are not statistically significant, reduction of malpractice claims is yet another reason to adopt an EMR, which improves quality of care in several ways. Unlike paper charts that are easily lost, electronic records are instantly available at your fingertips. Poor handwriting is a huge drawback of paper records. With EMRs, you do not have to waste time trying to decipher cryptic handwriting. EMRs can prevent allergic reactions to prescribed medications as well as dangerous interactions with other medications. Finally, EMRs are designed to follow best practices, so they act as a checklist to ensure the physician does not forget or overlook anything important.
EMRs benefit your practice in many ways. They improve the quality of care you can provide, reduce your operating expenses, and increase your revenue. If you have not yet adopted an EMR, now is the time.
Ryan Ricks
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Security Officer
www.XLEMR.com
