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EMR software handles the electronic medical records generated by and necessary for your medical practice to function in the 21st century. Electronic medical records (EMR) fall under the protective umbrella of HIPAA laws, as they contain protected health information.
What Are Electronic Medical Records (EMRs)?
An EMR is a digital version of the traditional paper patient charts compiled in a clinician's office. Your EMR contains the full medical information and history of the treatment you've provided to your individual patients. It includes patient contact information as well as their medical data.
EMRs have multiple advantages over the traditional paper records. When a clinician uses EMR software for his medical records, he has access to these capabilities:
- tracking data over time
- automatically identify which patients are due for routine or follow-up checkups or preventive screenings
- allows monitoring of specific aspects of patient care, such as blood pressure readings over time or vaccination records
- monitor, assess and improve quality of care provided within the practice
The information contained in the EMRs within your practice are specific to your office. If a patient needs a referral to a specialist or other care team members, the EMR system can print the relevant portions of the record for delivery via mail or through the patient.
Advantages of EMRs
The medical field is in the midst of an ongoing invasion of health information technologies ( IT). This has brought new, innovative digital devices and systems to physicians and other health care providers. One of the most widely used is the electronic medical record software (EMRs.)
EMRs replace the traditional paper-based medical records. In fact, paper records are almost universally obsolete in 2019. The advantages of EMRs drives it to replace the pen-and-paper method of generating and maintaining medical records.
- Recording notes and the specifics of patients' health records by hand writing them is time consuming, often illegible and frequently must be manually transcribed before they're shared with different physicians and providers. EMRs expedite the process.
- Paper records are costly to store and copy, and are at higher risk of being accidentally destroyed or lost. EMRs can be electronically stored and can be easily printed or transmitted.
- An EMR system improves and enhances office workflow and productivity. Sensitive personal medical information and patient data can be easily accessed within the office, eliminating duplication of tests.
- Easy to generate patient notes and schedule appointments, procedures and reminders.
- Fast and simple transfer of patient medical records between various departments and physicians within your practice.
- Reduced storage space because all information is in one secure place.
- By digitizing health records, physicians are free to see more patients.
- Documentation is virtually error-free.
- Electronic billing and prescribing improve efficiency.
- Accuracy in billing ensures improved collection and a better bottom line.
Top EMR Software
A top-notch EMR system can make or break your medical practice. The choices of software to handle the electronic medical records in your medical practice are almost endless. In looking over the myriad available software options, five stand out above the rest. Here are some of the top EMR systems, in no particular order:
- EpicCare EMR. Ease of use is one of Epic's most impressive features. It includes built in shortcuts but still allows the user to personalize the EMR to suit your needs and tastes. The software is highly intuitive, making it easy to learn in a few hours if you happen to miss the training time. It includes billing features and the ability to access records from outside your office.
- eClinicalWorks (ECW). This EMR system offers some uniquely progressive innovations. For example, data from home glucose meters and fit bits is downloadable if the patient links an account through the portal. Scheduling and prescription servicing can be automatically set up. Inexpensive check-in kiosks and phone or tablet apps are available. It can be an installed application or web-based.
- Praxis EMR. This is an AI-based EMR/EHR system. The interface for Praxis is easy to use, eliminating time spent searching through menu lists. Because of the AI component, there is a tremendous amount of automation within the system. There is a learning curve for the software but once mastered, notes on patients--even those with difficult diagnoses--take only a matter of minutes to compose.
- IMS. This EMR includes multiple features, such as appointment scheduling, charting, HIPAA compliance tracking, e-prescribing and a self-service portal for patients. The user interface is intuitive with a short learning curve. The included billing feature allows for easy follow up and management of accounts receivable.
- My Clients Plus. This system is entirely web-based. It is ideal for anyone in private practice or a group practice. It can include specifics for behavioral, occupational, speech, physical therapy and other health care specialties. It is HIPAA compliant and meets insurance industry standards. Primary and secondary claims can be electronically filed with insurance companies. Add on programs that interface with all aspects of a medical practice are available.
Get with the Program
Electronic medical records and the ability to electronically exchange health care information can help your practice provide higher quality and safer care for your patients. The tangible enhancements a good EMR system can provide for your practice and office means you can better manage your patients' care. And that, after all, is the ultimate goal.
If you are interested in learning more about how adNET can help your Chicago medical office with it’s EMR software, please give us a call or click to learn more about our specialization in IT Services for Healthcare and Medical Offices.
