subject: The Advantages Of Electronic Medical Records Software [print this page] When a doctor considers medical records software for his or her practice, the huge burden of paper medical records becomes a distant memory. Using paper medical records is a huge productivity vacuum for every practice, and can drain the resources of not only staff, but practitioners themselves.
If your practice is large, and serves more than one thousand patients, what are you waiting for? Larger practices suffer immensely from productivity drain because of paper medical records, which is why larger HMOs and multi-location clinics were the first and earliest adopters. Medical records software not only adds productivity, but cuts the need for storage space and ensures no record goes missing ever again.
How EMR Software Helps Your Practice
Medical records software installation is more than just a plug-and-play situation - it transforms the way your practice operates. A good electronic medical records software system is dynamic and changeable, and enables you to easily access any required patient information within seconds. Whether by installed terminal or portable laptop, all patient histories can be accessed at a moment's notice.
Most industry leading EMR software is very easy to use, and will feature an interface based on that of most typical Windows productivity applications, meaning if you have ever used a popular word processor, as an example, you can quickly learn and use a medical records software system.
Installation Issues
Before you can install and implement your medical record software, your EMR company must create a workflow plan that will reflect the way you operate now, requiring thefewest changes overall, while integrating the new efficiencies of the software. Once this workflow design has been designed and approved, the actual installation can usually be completed within a few days to a week, depending on the number of computer terminals necessary for your practice setup.
Notes On Hardware
The 1990s was the boom time for electronic medical records hardware profits. With some of the legacy EMR systems proprietary UNIX equipment was necessary, with some products going for $25,000 per terminal and above! This is no longer the case, obviously, as inexpensive Windows and Linux PCs have made systems a fraction of the price they once were. The added bonus of using Windows EMR is that applications based on this operating system are far easier to train on and support than those with unfamiliar platforms.
Medical Records Software And Your Patient
Most industry-leading electronic medical records software systems offer charting and images, both to add to the aesthetic and practical elements of the system. Many physicians discover that when the patient can see what their diagnosis is, and the areas it effects, it can have much greater impact. EMR software-as-visual-aid is not a new concept, but is one that remains a crucial benefit. Basically, images help cut down on confusion, create better communication and build a more trusting doctor-patient relationship.
