Guide for selecting the right EHR for your Practice (1)

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Guide for Selecting the Right EHR for Your
Practice Selecting the right electronic health
record (EHR) software is no small feat,
especially for small practices that often have
budget and resource constraints. Although EHR
software is intended to help you improve quality
of care, streamline clinical reporting, and
enhance care coordination, choosing the right EHR
software is essential for reaping these benefits.
And, with hundreds of vendors offering EHR
systems, cherry-picking the right system can be a
difficult decision. Follow these tips to choose
the best EHR software for your practice. How to
choose an EHR System? While different providers
might have different EHR selection criteria
depending on their unique needs and business
goals, we think these six factors should rank
highest when evaluating the EHR
software. Cost While the initial investment must
fit into your budget, there are also long- term
costs associated with EHRs that must be
considered. Typically, the prices of EHR systems
vary based on the vendor, features you choose to
include, and the number of providers or users in
a facility. When requesting an estimate, find out
about the licensing fees, initial activation
costs, and how much each additional feature, such
as a practice management system, will add to the
cost. Usually, for smaller practices, the price
is based on a monthly subscription fee multiplied
by the number of users. However, pricing can
fluctuate based on the specifics of individual
practice, system, and vendor. Also, when
assessing costs, dont forget to calculate return
on investment (ROI). User-friendliness Ease-of-us
e is what makes a good EHR system. If the system
isnt user friendly, it can bring your entire
workflow to a grinding halt as your staff
struggles to accomplish routine tasks. Most
vendors offer live demonstrations or free trials
of their systems to potential buyers. Make sure
to take advantage of these options to evaluate
whether the system would increase or hamper your
staffs productivity. Remember, your employees
will use this system for hours every day, so you
dont want one that will add hours to their
workload.
Customization
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The ability to customize the workflow of an EHR
system is crucial for success. Every practice has
different workflows, and there is no one-size-
fits-all system. Providers may want to talk with
vendors about the various customization options
and how the system can be altered to suit their
needs. However, the modifications should not
compromise security standards. You can take real
case scenarios to potential vendors and ask them
to demonstrate how the system can be adapted to
optimize productivity in real-life
situations. Cloud-based Hosting Being
cloud-based means, you can access your data
anytime, anywhere. The key benefits of using
cloud-based EHR are cost, scalability, anytime,
anywhere access, and data security. Most of the
EHR software companies offer cloud-based hosting
options, which means there are no servers or
hardware in your office other than your
computers. As a provider, you can go on and focus
on patients, and your vendor will take care of
the software and hardware. For small practices,
we would recommend you to opt for a cloud-based
EHR system unless you have a specific reason to
host servers and hardware onsite. Training EHR
implementation may take anywhere from a few weeks
to a few months, so its crucial to know your
vendors plan to get your system up and running.
Some vendors offer onsite training to make sure
everyone in your practice is up to speed and on
the same page. Some vendors also provide access
to live training sessions for a limited time
after the implementation. Ask the potential
vendor about the quality and amount of training,
and whether the training will be conducted onsite
or via online sessions. Integration Most of the
best EHR systems for hospitals offer features
like electronically ordering laboratory tests.
However, not every lab will be configured to
interface with every EHR software. To ensure
interoperability, which is a crucial focus of the
Meaningful Use Stage III guidelines, talk to
shortlisted vendors about the interfaces they
employ and whether or not those are compatible
with the local facilities in your area. Many
vendors are open to including additional
integrations upon request, so find out if this is
an option and if the cost would be included in
your subscription fees. Need help finding the
best EHR software for your practice? Our two
cents do not rush. The entire process of EHR
selection and
implementation requires research, time, and
planning. Our experience says
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for a small practitioner, adopting a new EHR
system takes about 12 to 18 months. This
timeframe can be longer in big hospitals with
multiple users, as there will be a greater number
of modifications, design changes, and templates
to be made. Dedicating sufficient time and
planning is crucial to success.