A question often disturbs many
users as to Why Web EMR? In order to decide between a desktop or web EMR a user
must analyze well the differences between the two. A number of health IT
consultants believe that there are huge advantages of implementing a web EMR as
compared to its counterpart desktop version. A desktop version of EMR is
installed on to the local machine of the user itself. The software and the user
data gets stored into the local hard disk of the user. This creates great
problem as regards accessing patient medical information.
There are times when a physician
would like to pull the patient medical records while on the move, however, in
case of a desktop version this flexibility is not available to the physician
(user). The user gets tied up with a particular machine; the biggest
disadvantage of a desktop version as against a web EMR can be experienced at
times of emergencies when it is required to pull patient information at places
other than the physician’s clinic.
According to industry experts, a
web EMR is a gift of advanced internet technology that provides with immense
flexibility as regards storage of patient data and its retrieval. In case of a
web based EMR, the data is stored centrally, which provides with all the
flexibility. As the data is stored centrally (server), it can also be used to
integrate / compile it with other applications like EMR and so on.
Security is one of the most
important concerns when using web EMR software. The web based software offers
more security than many small clinics can provide themselves. Provided server
maintenance is also a huge benefit to web-based software. The provider of the
software program takes care of server maintenance so that you can focus on what
you do best; take care of your patients.
The initial investment for web EMR
software is much lower compared to other systems. This is because you do not
have to purchase hardware, servers, or software that can be very expensive. The
initial investment is very low and the monthly fee incurred to utilize the
system can be written off as a monthly operating cost. The most outstanding
features of a new age web based EMR is that of “portability”.
