Welp MagazineHaving an electronic health record (EHR) is no longer a luxury in the health industry. The healthcare industry has grown exponentially and so does the amount of data to be handled. Doing things manually can greatly affect service delivery, even in small facilities with a few new visitors daily.
If you’ve been in this industry for a long time, you understand the need for keeping accurate patient records and the need for a system where the data can be retrieved faster whenever it’s needed. There are many EHR systems out there, but you need to choose the right one for your practice by considering the following six factors:
1. Cost
If you need EHR for small practice, the budget can be your greatest concern. The good news is that the price of an EHR system depends on the service provider and the features you choose.
So when you have a small facility, choose the features you can’t do without at the moment to keep your costs down. Getting quotes from two or more service providers is important before settling on the most affordable and qualified provider.
2. Ease of Use
Since you may not have EHR experts among your in-house team, you need a system with a friendly and easy-to-use interface. You don’t want a system that your staff will struggle to understand and use.
You can take advantage of vendors’ live demonstrations or free trials to test different systems and get a feel of how they operate. Remember, the EHR is something that will be used daily in your facility, so it should be able to make your work more efficient and productive.
3. Where the System Is Hosted
Today, most EHR vendors have moved to the cloud. Cloud hosting is more secure and affordable because there is no physical hardware or servers to maintain in your facility. All your data will be held in the cloud, where it’s easy to access and work on.
When choosing a vendor, find out whether they host their system in the cloud; if not, look elsewhere.
4. Integration
The most important features of an EHR system are the e-ordering of lab tests and the e-prescribing of drugs. However, not all pharmacies and laboratories are configured to integrate with EHR systems. Such integration is very important because it makes it easier to do all things in the same place.
Before you subscribe to any EHR system, find out if it can integrate with other systems you already have in place. Some vendors can build such integrations upon request, so you have to find out about any additional costs before subscribing.
5. Customer Service
Customer service is very important in any organization. It’s one of the things you can use to determine whether a company is worth working with. Your vendor should have a robust customer service department with qualified, knowledgeable, and friendly staff.
6. Training and Implementation
An EHR service provider should be willing to offer training to your in-house team. The training should be part of the package they offer. The training is important for the implementation of the system in your facility.
Also, find out what level of support the vendor offers. The vendor should be readily available any time your team needs help. Training is also necessary if there’s any upgrade in the system. Just make sure everything is clarified to you beforehand.
Deciding on One System
An EHR system has many benefits that you’d not want to miss out on. But the success of its implementation and use depends on the vendor you choose. By considering the above factors, you should be able to get the best EHR service provider.
