Guide for selecting the right EHR for your Practice

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Guide for selecting the right EHR for your
Practice
Selecting the right electronic health record
(EHR) software is no small feat, especially for
small practices that often have budget and
resource constraints. Although EHR software is
intended to help you improve quality of care,
streamline clinical reporting, and enhance care
coordination, choosing the right EHR software is
essential for reaping these benefits. And, with
hundreds of vendors offering EHR systems,
cherry-picking the right system can be a
difficult decision. Follow these tips to choose
the best EHR software for your practice. How to
choose an EHR System? While different providers
might have different EHR selection criteria
depending on their unique needs and business
goals, we think these six factors should rank
highest when evaluating the EHR
software. Cost While the initial investment
must fit into your budget, there are also long-
term costs associated with EHRs that must be
considered. Typically, the prices of EHR systems
vary based on the vendor, features you choose to
include, and the number of providers or users in
a facility. When requesting an estimate, find out
about the licensing fees, initial activation
costs, and how much each additional feature, such
as a practice management system, will add to the
cost. Usually, for smaller practices, the price
is based on a monthly subscription fee multiplied
by the number of users. However, pricing can
fluctuate based on the specifics of individual
practice, system, and vendor. Also, when
assessing costs, dont forget to calculate return
on investment (ROI). User-friendliness Ease-of-u
se is what makes a good EHR system. If the system
isnt user friendly, it can bring your entire
workflow to a grinding halt as your staff
struggles to accomplish routine tasks. Most
vendors offer live demonstrations or free trials
of their systems to potential buyers. Make sure
to take advantage of these options to evaluate
whether the system would
increase or hamper your staffs productivity.
Remember, your employees
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will use this system for hours every day, so you
dont want one that will add hours to their
workload. Customization The ability to
customize the workflow of an EHR system is
crucial for success. Every practice has different
workflows, and there is no one-size- fits-all
system. Providers may want to talk with vendors
about the various customization options and how
the system can be altered to suit their needs.
However, the modifications should not compromise
security standards. You can take real case
scenarios to potential vendors and ask them to
demonstrate how the system can be adapted to
optimize productivity in real-life
situations. Cloud-based Hosting Being
cloud-based means, you can access your data
anytime, anywhere. The key benefits of using
cloud-based EHR are cost, scalability, anytime,
anywhere access, and data security. Most of the
EHR software companies offer cloud-based hosting
options, which means there are no servers or
hardware in your office other than your
computers. As a provider, you can go on and focus
on patients, and your vendor will take care of
the software and hardware. For small practices,
we would recommend you to opt for a cloud-based
EHR system unless you have a specific reason to
host servers and hardware onsite. Training EHR
implementation may take anywhere from a few weeks
to a few months, so its crucial to know your
vendors plan to get your system up and running.
Some vendors offer onsite training to make sure
everyone in your practice is up to speed and on
the same page. Some vendors also provide access
to live training sessions for a limited time
after the implementation. Ask the potential
vendor about the quality and amount of training,
and whether the training will be conducted onsite
or via online sessions. Integration Most of the
best EHR systems for hospitals offer features
like electronically ordering laboratory tests.
However, not every lab will be configured to
interface with every EHR software. To ensure
interoperability, which is a
crucial focus of the Meaningful Use Stage III
guidelines, talk to shortlisted
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vendors about the interfaces they employ and
whether or not those are compatible with the
local facilities in your area. Many vendors are
open to including additional integrations upon
request, so find out if this is an option and if
the cost would be included in your subscription
fees. Need help finding the best EHR software
for your practice? Our two cents do not rush.
The entire process of EHR selection and
implementation requires research, time, and
planning. Our experience says for a small
practitioner, adopting a new EHR system takes
about 12 to 18 months. This timeframe can be
longer in big hospitals with multiple users, as
there will be a greater number of modifications,
design changes, and templates to be made.
Dedicating sufficient time and planning is
crucial to success.