So you have decided to implement an electronic medical record system in your healthcare center- what should be your next move?
The market is flooded with vendors that are competing to tap this lucrative market segment and it is easy to get confused with so many choices. Some vendors focus only on niche products while others cater to a larger audience. One size doesn’t fit all and healthcare providers must be careful while selecting an electronic medical records company that addresses their unique requirement.
Have a checklist of your requirements and right questions readily available for the vendor. This will help you select the best vendor and increases the chances of return of investment-
Size of your practice- Doctors with larger practices may consider going for on-site software combined with information technology support. An off-site arrangement works best for those having smaller practices with limited staff and space constraints.
Features in an EMR package – Buyers must ask about the restrictions related to total number of users, as some solution providers cap the number of users. Try to search for electronic medical records companies that offer site licenses with no restrictions on the number of users.
Don’t hesitate to ask questions about all of the features included and excluded in the package. Some practices may require certain applications including appointment scheduling, billing and patient education software. Some vendors may be offering these features with the entire package while other may ask you to choose a select few. A vendor may sell you something you don’t need which will significantly increase the price of the EMR package.
Technical support- Healthcare practices cannot run an EMR system without technical support and the buyers must ask if it is provided by the solution providers. In contrast to some solutions that offer free technical support, many EMR have to pay a fee for support.
Price of an EMR system- EMR packages are available in a wide range and prices to suit various budgets. Basic packages are available for $3,000 and more advanced packages can cost over $100,000. EMRs may appear to be very expensive but it is possible to find an affordable solution. Try to select a product where you will use every aspect of the EMR. This will make your medical practice very efficient and contribute to the bottom line.
Tags: Companies in Action, electronic medical records, electronic medical records companies, emr, emr vendors
6 Comments
Leslie Smith - Sep 22, 2009
Do you believe that it is more important to get an emr that is designed specifically for your specialty – or is it better to get a general emr that has been designed for physicians in general – but that might have more malleability and more features??
Thanks
-Leslie
Paul Roemer - Sep 22, 2009
Well done. May I add a few thoughts? If one is looking at an EMR simply because of stimulus money or to avoid penalties, you will likely make a poor choice. Do not base your decision on certification or meaningful use as meaningful use has no meaningful use, and certification will likely change. Who ever heard of certifying anything at the start of a project?
Meaningful Use should be one of the requirements you demand of the EHR vendor, not some vague requirement you hope the system lives up to after the vendor leaves.
You need to be able to define your requirements in some detail and prepare those requirements in such a manner so as to enable you to make a wise selection among the handful of vendors whose application suits your type of practice. That same requirements document should be a part of whatever contract agreement you reach, and should provide you a way of validating that the EHR vendor lived up to their end of your agreement.
There are firms like mine who can help you define those requirements, and there are attorneys like Tim Nuckles who specialize in looking out for your interests in healthcare software agreements.
A thought about EHR companies « EHR: How difficult is it without the correct strategy? - Sep 22, 2009
[...] http://www.ehrscope.com/blog/electronic-medical-records-companies/comment-page-1/#comment-792 [...]
blogger - Sep 23, 2009
It is important to understand what you are looking for. Many physicians just want to get a system because of the stimulus (like Paul stated above). You need to make sure the product fits your practice needs. If you fail to plan – - your practice may waste thousands of dollars on a system that you are unhappy with. We have heard about way too many unsuccessful installations, which is why we suggest that you follow a basic planning strategy to find the best EHR for your practice.
blogger - Sep 23, 2009
Leslie-
To answer your question… it completely depends. If you are a cardiologist you may want to consider a cardiology specific EHR system because there are specific workflows that you follow. However, if you are Family Medicine, you may want a more generic system that can be more malleable.
The most important way to evaluate if a specialty specific EHR is for you is to address the following:
1. Your current office workflow
2. Practice problem areas that need improvement
3. Practice strengths
4. Your budget
My suggestion after you address basic issues is to narrow down the search to 5 EHRs. Then set up demonstrations to see which one works best for you. You may think that first that you want a specialty specific EHR, but then see a general EHR solution and find that it is easier to use.
http://www.emrconsultant.com is a website that will provide your FREE EHR recommendations.
Ferdinand Felix Casantusan - Sep 24, 2009
Very interesting points, Paul and Leslie.
We all know that clinics across the U.S., big ones and small ones, house doctors who specialize in various practices. Secure, Accurate, Flexible, Efficient and Reliable (S.A.F.E.R.) on-line clinic management solutions give more meaning to what is referred to as “meaningful”. We customize according to our clients’ needs.
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Cheers!