subject: Electronic Medical Records Programs [print this page] Electronic Medical Records Programs Electronic Medical Records Programs
As more and more of our daily lives become integrated with technology, one of the areas that is rapidly advancing is that of medical record-keeping.
Electronic medical records or EMRs, are being used more and more frequently to help caregivers provide better healthcare, and to give patients more control over their health records.
EMRs haven't been implemented everywhere yet, though, and the first step to wide usage is deciding on which EMR software to use.
There is a staggering variety of software available, and in order to narrow down your options, you must first decide what you want the software to do for you.
The first and most important distinction to make is whether you want the program to keep records only for one practice or organization, or if you want the software to be capable of uploading patient information to a database which can be accessed by many other organizations and caregivers.
Electronic medical records, or EHRs, can fulfill all the record-keeping needs of a single organization, but for hospitals or other sites that might need to upload and download patient care files, an EMR system is more appropriate.
All Electronic medical records are capable of storing patient information, and cataloging their treatment and diagnostic history.
However, most programs are capable of doing a lot more than that, and the program you choose will be based on what other features it can provide.
Different programs provide different perks: practice management software, medical billing features, patient scheduling solutions, radiology information systems, picture and image archiving software, medical accounting features, and a variety of other integrated solutions.
Some are even able to do all of these things. Finding the right balance is important, because you want to purchase a program that will fulfill all of your needs, without paying extra for features that you won't use.
Whatever EMR program you decide to use, there is no doubt that, after the initial investment of time and money that goes into getting it up and running, it will save your staff a great deal of time, and help to prevent medical errors.
The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is still offering financial incentives for medical organizations to begin using this technology, so now is a great time to implement it in your organization.
If you would like more information on the best EMR system check out:
