EMR search, while tough, can be done

Practice Pointers. By Karen S. Schechter, AMNews contributor. Dec. 20, 2004.

PRACTICE POINTERS

Answers to questions about the business side of your practice

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Question: With so much information in the trade journals and on the Internet, and so many systems from which to choose, we're overwhelmed with the prospect of considering an electronic medical record system. How can we put our arms around this process?

Answer: First of all, just because everyone is talking about electronic medical records doesn't mean practices are jumping right into them. Most are discovering exactly what you are talking about -- selecting and implementing the best EMR for their office is not an easy task. It requires a great deal of thought, soul-searching and stamina to do it correctly.

We recommend addressing the following considerations when trying to determine which (if any) EMR is right for your office: the reasons for wanting an EMR, the features to consider, your budget, and availability of resources to implement and maintain an effective EMR.

What are the reasons for wanting an EMR? Some physicians want to merely eliminate the space being taken up by files and use it for something more productive. Other reasons include wanting to reduce staff size, being able to streamline processes and communications within the practice, having a method of collecting data consistently for research and/or other outcome measurement endeavors and reducing ancillary costs associated with transcription, copying and labor. Finally, there are those who want to implement an EMR because they think it is the right thing to do.