Switching To Electronic Medical Records Can Increase Productivity

Switching To Electronic Medical Records Can Increase Productivity

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The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (known elsewhere as the "Federal Stimulus Program") has put electronic medical records (also known as EMR or EHR Software) in the spotlight like never before. Known before mainly as a purchase for large medical organizations such as hospitals and HMOs, smaller clinics and single physician practices are now looking at adopting EMR systems in larger numbers than ever before.

Despite reports to the contrary, EMR software isn't just for huge organizations that benefit from "economies of scale". In fact, smaller practices have observed the huge advantages of EMR, and are reaping the benefits.

1) Workflow Gets A Boost - One of the important things about this type of application, is the way it can be customized for any type of practice. The EMR software company will take the time to help the business owner develop a workflow that maximizes efficiency in the office. Users will be able to process records and files faster and more effectively. Incorporating these products is an effective way to increase daily productivity.

2. Storage Room - Much like time, if there's something in this world the single doctor medical practice or clinic rarely has too much of, it's storage space. Paper medical records take up space. Sometimes quite a lot of it, particularly in a practice with a smaller office. At the same time, electronic medical records are completely portable, and are stored on a database, accessible via either secured WiFi or cabled network. No longer is it required to dedicate a room to storing paper medical records. By computerizing, the amount of storage is greatly reduced.

3) More Accurate Information - Digital medical records are built using a consistent format which allows for less mistakes. Completing paperwork by hand can lead to errors because illegibility is rampant in the medical field. This is the source of a lot of miscommunication within a practice. Everything that is entered into the electronic medical records system is displayed with the same parameters, so any missing or incorrect information is more easily noticed.

4) Easy Access to Patient Data Wherever It's Needed - There was a time when doctor spent more time in the practice than any other locations, but this is no longer the case. Clinicians today have much of their time taken up by commutes between multiple office locations, hospitals and outcalls. By going electronic, physicians can easily gain access to patient records instantly as long as they can get a cellular or WIFI signal. The cost savings on couriers alone is spellbinding!

#5 - Financial Incentives - Physicians may take advantage of Medicaid rebate incentives available up to $64,000 and $44,000 in additional Medicare rebates if they make the switch to digital medical records in their practices. Doctors effectively will see these incentives dissipate as we get to 2015. Beginning in 2015 there will be payment reductions in both Medicaid and Medicare for those who retain their paper file systems.

So the real choice for today's physician is adopt today, and possibly have your electronic medical records software paid for by the US government, or wait a few years, pay full price for EMR software, and be penalized for being a late adopter. The answer for most seems quite straightforward.

About the Author:
Getting your practice started with electronic health records can work wonders for your practice. Check out http://www.electronicmedicalrecords.org/ for a variety of tips on how to achieve "meaningful use", how time is your enemy when it comes to incentives, and how the best EMR offers extremely fast ROI.



Article Originally Published On: http://www.articlesnatch.com


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