EMR system implementation will increase over the next five years due to direct pressure from the United States government. A majority of health care providers are expected to be using some type of EMR system by 2014. As physicians become aware of EMR benefits, more clinics and hospitals will convert to a paperless system. The small percentage of health providers that have already made this change will agree that picking the wrong system, or choosing a system that is under supported can be catastrophic.

Finding an EMR system and understanding what it can provide is a confusing process. Knowing what your EMR system needs to be capable of will allow you to start identifying possible solutions. Good companies will let you demo their software. The company should offer template modification for a fee so their EMR is customized for your practice. Primary care providers typically have the easiest time finding a system to fit their needs because of their generic nature. There are many EMR systems that come tailored just for this type of environment. Practices that specialize in a certain area will have to narrow their search to systems created for that specialty.

It is important to select a system that is well supported by a strong IT and development team. These teams will make sure that the EMR system will interface with your appointment scheduling system and or billing system. They will be able to create and implement a custom interface for your EMR system so that it will work with your other systems. The IT team will let you know if local servers are needed in all practice locations so that there is not a decrease in system speed from remote sites. The vendor of the software will need to offer all of these premium support services in order for your EMR to be a success.

Interfaces for the EMR to communicate with other systems in the practice are vital. Your patient process needs to be as automated as possible. If you schedule an appointment with your scheduling software, your EMR software should create the patient record. Entering a diagnosis into the EMR should automatically update your billing system with the treatments prescribed for the patient. The coordination of these systems creates a true paperless environment.

A correctly implemented EMR system will save you time, money, and resources. It will increase your productivity and decrease error rates. The system will allow you to manage not just your practice, but the needs of your patients.