Benefits of EMRs for CLINICS:
• Save space by eliminating the need to store, manage, and retrieve paper records;
• Improve workflow and increase the number of patients served per day; and
• Reduce administrative difficulties and operational costs.
• Easily communicate with hospitals, pharmacies, labs, and state health systems
• Electronic records that are customizable and scalable
• Gather and analyze patient data to enable outreach to specific populations
• Provide clinical alerts and reminders
• Improve documentation and coding
• Enhance research and monitoring for clinical quality improvements
• Provide built-in safeguards against prescribing treatments that would result in adverse events
• Track electronic messages to staff, other clinicians, hospitals, labs, etc. EMRs don’t just contain information they “compute” it by beneficially manipulating the information.
For example:
- EMRs can help providers quickly and systematically identify and correct operational problems when a new medication is prescribed to a patient and potential alert conflicts with the patient’s other drugs or health conditions.
- Identifying such issues on paper is much more complex, and correcting them can take years.
EMRs have financial benefits in addition to improved systems and patient care quality. The workflow efficiency reduces a clinic’s operational costs and overtime labor expenses.
Furthermore, the ability to process patient billing more accurately and efficiently improve the clinic’s bottom line. Any disadvantages of electronic medical records can be found in the initial (and natural) challenges of investment, preparation, and training in the system
What Exactly Is an EMR System?
EMR systems offer a wide range of functionality and user interfaces, and they serve as the focal point for all clinical activity in the office. The EMR system is used daily to process payments and insurance claims, schedule patients, share information with other clinic staff, add new patients, and update and record patient information.
Clinics can also use EMR software systems to seamlessly integrate the regulatory and reimbursement changes brought about by Meaningful Use attestation, ICD-10, and HIPAA 5010 requirements.
Each clinic’s EMR system implementation is tailored to their specific needs, customization requirements, clinic staff availability, and SMR software staff availability. Each implementation has its timeline, and a dedicated implementation specialist will be assigned to your clinic to help guide you through the entire project.