Avoid These Mistakes While Weighing Eye Care Software

1
Avoid These Mistakes While Weighing Eye Care
Software For managing operations, storing
records, and communicating with patients, many
eye care practices use ophthalmology EHR
(electronic health records) software. As useful
as these platforms are, practices may find it
difficult to choose the right eye care
software. If theyre transitioning from paper
records to electronic ones, ophthalmology
practices might not know which products to buy
and how to best make this transition. Or, if
theyre already using EHRs, they could be
wondering if they should invest in new systems,
asking whether different platforms are
compatible, and harboring other concerns. Are
you in the market for EHR software? You might
want to learn from others mistakes and try to
avoid the common pitfalls listed here. Failing
to research Research is a crucial step of the EHR
software buying process. Learning about EHRs
beforehand can help you understand
EHRs, determine each systems features, and
discover the features it might lack. It can also
help you find a rough estimate of a systems
total cost so youre not facing sticker shock
when talking with a salesperson. Neglecting to
talk with colleagues A good way to research
different EHR systems is to ask your eye care
colleagues which ones theyre using for their own
practices. Since theyve used these systems in
the real world, they know their benefits and
drawbacks. They can also discuss what they wish
theyve done differently or suggest particular
questions to ask your salesperson. Not defining
what you need and want upfront Once youve done
some research, you should have a better idea of
what kind of medical EHR software you wantand
what you dont wantfor your
eye care practice.
2
Having more specific ideas could help you choose
or rule out specific systems. It could also
prevent you from being swayed by persuasive
salespeople who may be urging you to purchase
more expensive options or opt for solutions that
might not suit your needs. Accepting spoken
answers to your questions instead of written
ones Speaking of salespeople, theres a good
chance that even after you research and talk with
colleagues, youll still have some questions for
vendors. Thats normal but consider asking for
answers and other information in writing. It
might be difficult to understand new technical
information in a sales-type setting, so asking
for specifications and answers in written form
could give you opportunities to conduct further
research and weigh your possibilities. Skipping
price quotes Its also a good idea to ask for
price quotes in writing. Doing so could help you
further evaluate systems and compare them with
each other. Written price quotes could also serve
as proof and a paper trail if you need to discuss
financial matters in the future. Disregarding
the compatibility of your current EHR
system Its also good to consider compatibility
when evaluating different EHR software
systems. Are you using an EHR already? If so,
determine how compatible it is with the new
systems youre using. You might be able to
transfer information from one system to another,
or if youre entirely dissatisfied, you might not
mind adopting an entirely new platform. Overlooki
ng how many platforms youll be using Platforms
might be an important consideration in your
software choice. Will you be using separate
platforms for functions such as scheduling,
billing, and patient communication? Are you
looking to consolidate your practices operations
on one platform? Asking these questions could help
you find and implement the options that will work
for you and your practice.
3
Ignoring your staffs preferences and comfort
levels When considering platforms and other
options, youll also need to determine your
staffs preferences and comfort levels. Have
your staff members used cloud-based EHR software
before? If so, which features of the systems do
they like? Have they asked for specific EHR
features? Its useful to gather the input of the
people who will be actually using the programs on
a daily basis. Waiving access to use a
sandbox To determine whether your staff
members will like a specific form of EHR
software, consider asking for access to a
sandbox. Working in a sandbox means running a
program on your hard drive-in ways that dont
affect apps and other parts of your system. By
testing EHRs in sandboxes, you can practice using
them in real-time to decide what you like and
dont like about the systems. Not asking for
demos In addition to sandboxing your potential
office management systems, you should consider
asking your EHR software vendor for
demonstrations (demos) and training. Even the
most experienced techie is constantly learning
new things about hardware, software, and their
uses. One EHR may do things slightly different
from another, so its good to see how they
operate instead of just reading about
them. Skipping training offers After you
purchase and install an EHR, you and your staff
may still need assistance So, if your software
vendor or manufacturer offers additional
training, take them up on their offer. This
training could help familiarize you with an EHR
quickly, saving time, frustration, and even
money. Locking into long-term contracts While
you might be tempted to purchase a long-term
contract for your EHR, think carefully before
doing so.
4
You might be dissatisfied with your EHR and want
to change it. Or you could realize that other
systems or features might work better for your
practice. If you have a short-term contract, it
could be easier to switch EHRs, which could save
hassle and money. Sticking with a system that
isnt working In fact, for financial reasons or
other considerations, you might feel that youre
stuck with a particular electronic health records
system. But these efforts to save money could be
costing you. If your EHR is making it difficult
to track patients, you might not be able to
schedule them. If its delaying or losing email
messages, patients might become frustrated and
leave your practice. A bad or mismanaged EHR can
make your life more difficult in many
ways. Although choosing and switching EHR
systems takes time, a little investigation can
help you find the right software to manage your
practice. If you need help finding such systems,
you can contact Eye Care Leaders.