7 features to look for in your next – or first – electronic health record system.
This right electronic health record (EHR) system can benefit both your medical office and your patients. That's because this type of system keeps patients' health information in digital format and therefore easily accessible by authorized medical professionals, which is especially helpful for patients being treated by multiple doctors at different offices. Considering the convenience of an EHR -- along with available incentive payments -- it's easy to see why about 59% of medical providers now use one. But more than half of those providers have reported being unhappy with their EHR system. If you want a better chance at EHR satisfaction, make sure the system you choose has the following features.
1. The Ability to Manage a Wide Range of Patient Information
The point of EHR is to get paper medical records online, which means an effective system needs to be capable of managing a lot of patient facts. Patient history is just one example, since the EHR system you use needs to keep track of both the clinical history of the patient and his or her family history. It should also record and organize medication lists, clinical notes, problem lists, treatment plans, authorizations, test results, and any other documents that doctors need to have in order to properly treat patients.
2. Easy Document Scanning
Part of storing patient information involves scanning important documents so you have a digital version for your records. This is much easier to deal with than the paper copy, since you often have to send certain information to other offices, which requires you to fax. Having it already scanned on your system makes the process faster and easier, benefitting both your office team and your patients. In addition, the ability to scan and store documents digitally should free up space in your office. As long as the EHR system's document-scanning feature keeps the documents easy to read and impossible to digitally edit, it should meet the needs of your medical office.
3. Interoperability
Silos of information will short-circuit any of an EHR’s other benefits. Look for a system that can integrate as easily and as tightly as possible with the other programs you use in your practice. This might include billing systems, e-prescription systems, and a number of different devices, such as tablets. Interoperability is important because it's another way in which your EHR system can streamline the workday in your office. In fact, certified EHR systems need to include interoperability as a feature in order to meet the Meaningful Use requirement set by the government.
4. Intuitive Interface
The EHR system you choose for your medical office needs to be nice to look at and easy to use. Otherwise, your staff members will be put off by it and may avoid using it as often as possible. In fact, ease of use is often identified as one of the most important features to look for. So for the sake of your staff, try to find a system that has a visually-pleasing and intuitive design. This means that the fewer clicks it takes to complete a task, the better. The need to scroll down the page should also be as minimal as possible, and the ability to simply drag and drop items as needed is helpful with this type of system. Lots of EHR programs offer introductory videos to show you how they work, so consider letting your staff watch a few of these and then offer you their input on their favorite system. And, allow the folks who will use the system to provide feedback on any product you’re considering using (this is good advice for ANY software implementation you consider too).
5. Cloud Hosting
Many EHR systems now no longer back up only to a computer or server. Instead, the information can be stored in the cloud. This allows staff in multiple offices to log on to the EHR system and access patients' medical information. Keeping medical records on the cloud also allows for automatic backups and system upgrades, ensuring that your staff doesn't have to spend time on these tasks. Be sure to double-check the system is compliant with all regulations regarding cloud storage.
6. Training
Once you choose an EHR system for your office, you need to make sure your team knows how to use it. The best systems usually come with the offer to train your staff onsite. This means you can expect certified technicians to come to your office and teach your staff how to use the system prior to you putting it into use. Before you choose a system, find out not only if your staff will be trained to use it, but also how long it usually takes for medical professionals to learn how to properly implement it. Depending on the system, it can take weeks or even months, so plan accordingly.
7. Excellent Support
Even after your staff seems comfortable with the new EHR system, you need to make sure you have access to continued support in case you encounter a problem. This is why you should choose a vendor that is known for offering great customer service, preferably 24/7 and through a variety of methods. Examples might include support over the phone, online chat or in-person support when necessary. This way, you can rest assured that the system will be fixed quickly if you ever experience a technical issue. For offices that rely on their EHR system, this is critical.
These are just the main features to consider before you choose an EHR system for your medical practice. After all, you'll find most of these traits in the top systems available, so keep them in mind before you make your decision.
Software from Laserfiche offers document management and process support not always available in EHR products. For some applications, Laserfiche software can function as a practice’s EHR. For help managing your healthcare documents in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, let’s talk.
