Help Get Patients To Appreciate Your Emr System

Adopting an EMR system is a major transition for a medical practice

. It can be hard to convince doctors and staff it's the best move but once they have used it for a while they come around. The hardest group to win over may be the patients.

Get Used to the Software

Patients pick up on office attitudes toward EMR systems. If the doctor struggles with the software, how much faith is the patient going to have in it? If nurses are overheard complaining about the system, patients will wonder how useful it is.

Studies have shown that when the medical staff is comfortable with the EMR system, patients are more likely to view the software as a beneficial change. It's important everyone involved embrace and adapt to the new system because if the office doesn't have confidence in it then neither will the patients. Each user should determine the best most efficient way to get things done. One doctor might prefer using keyboard shortcuts, a second a mouse and a third the laptop touchpad. Whichever way feels most comfortable to an individual should be used.

Never Forget About the Patient

Another common patient objection to EMR systems is it gets between the doctor and the patient. If the computer is set up so the doctor has to sit facing away from the patient asking over the shoulder questions, the patient is going to feel left out. How the system is physically set up in the examination room is an important consideration for deployment.

It's easy for users to get focused on the software rather than the patient, especially during the initial learning curve. Doctors need to remind themselves to tear their attention away from the software and engage the patient. The machine is a tool but it's still the doctor-patient relationship that is vital to proper medical care.

Software Benefits

As the office staff discovers the benefits of EMR systems to their ability to provide care for patients, they should make a point of mentioning that fact. As patients hear good things about the new system, they will be more comfortable with the changes. This strategy is especially important to any patients who appear uncomfortable with the office's use of the software.

Doctors can casually mention any number of benefits of the EMR system. A patient's lab tests or x-rays are available almost immediately even if done in a facility across town. E-prescriptions can be transmitted to pharmacies so the medication is ready as soon as the patient arrives plus the records greatly reduce the chance of adverse drug interactions. Records are centralized so a patient can visit any doctor on the same system and not have to keep filling out the same paperwork in every office.

Winning patient over is a vital part of the EMR process. When patients see the advantages of the new system, they have more respect for the doctor's ability to care for them.

by: Christine Harrell

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