Implementing An EMR, Is It Worth It?

 

An EMR (or electronic medical records) is a patient's medical information in an electronic format. EMRs contain information regarding the past, present, or future physical and mental health of a patient, medical test reports, medical images, financial and demographic information. In addition, the ordering of medical tests, medications, treatments, and clinical guidelines are accessible within the EMR. The data contained in HER can be captured or transmitted securely and in real-time by users at the point of care. This medical information is accessible via computers on a network, to provide health care and health-related services.

In spite of the widespread advantages associated with the EMR implementation, it is estimated that EMR use is about 20% in the hospital sector in the US (less in Canada) and about 5% in clinics (probably about the same in Canada). Some studies report the major barriers to widespread EMR implementation. They analyze different criteria, among which the major ones are: doubt as regards the achievement of the objective of implementation, the cost of EMR purchase; the adaptation time; the length of a patient encounter; the time required to record the encounter, etc.

A question often disturbs – Implementing an EMR is it worth it? Truly speaking if a right EMR is selected for the practice and used in an optimum manner, it can help to reduce overhead costs and minimize wasteful expenses. Is it really true though that you can actually increase your revenue using EMR (electronic medical records) software? Yes, because the same measures that allow you to streamline your operation also help facilitate new patients and new business, not to mention retain your patient base.