Choose the Right Electronic Health Record (EHR) for Your Practice

 Electronic health record (EHR) systems are an essential aspect of today's health care system, but choosing the appropriate one can be difficult. There are several critical features to look for when comparing EHR choices to assist clinicians in deciding which is best for their practice's needs. As you'll see in the table below, most EHR systems on the market today aren't one-size-fits-all; instead, they're frequently tailored to a particular specialty or have a limited set of capabilities that only cover one area of a practice's operations. We recommend opting for an EHR that can quickly adjust to your clinic's specific demands.

But first, here's some background on the Electronic Health Record System.

What is an electronic health record (EHR)?

An Electronic Health Record (EHR) is a system that allows a practice to keep track of their patient's health and financial information in one place. It's a piece of software that keeps an electronic copy of all patients' medical records. From their full names and addresses to their medical condition, treatment, and insurance coverage/payment plan, we have all you need to know about them. Increased efficiency, which allows for improved workflows and simple access to information, is critical for keeping everything in one system.

Benefits

The advantages of electronic health records are numerous. Not only will professionals be able to access patient data (charts, diagnoses, etc.), but they will also be alerted to any potentially dangerous drug errors. Interoperability allows the best EHR to share health information with other providers and EHR systems as needed. They are allowing a clinician to learn about essential lab values swiftly. This type of information exchange is a step toward enhancing a patient's long-term health outcome.

Types of Electronic Health Record (EHR) Systems

A variety of ways can customize Electronic Health Record systems.  Each has advantages and disadvantages, depending on the demands and requirements of medical practice at the moment. The following are the three most common EHR systems:

1. System hosted by a physician

 The physician stores all patients’ data on the servers. The physician or practice is solely responsible for the ongoing maintenance and security of the patient data kept.

For larger practices that can afford the overhead costs of such complex software, an EHR system controlled by a physician at their medical practice is advantageous. Furthermore, having the servers on-site increases efficiency and provides a dependable source of information.

2. System that is hosted remotely

Data storage is moved from the physician to a third-party service provider with remote-hosted systems. Maintenance, data backup, and security are all handled by this third party. Small to mid-size practices that desire to focus more on gathering information rather than preserving it will benefit from this duty shift.

It also removes all IT headaches that can divert attention away from providing high-quality patient care.

3. Remote Control Systems

A remote system might be one of three types.

Subsidized

 A physician usually creates a relationship with a hospital, which is in charge of the data. However, legal difficulties such as antitrust and data ownership may arise due to this type of remote system.

Dedicated

A dedicated host system allows physicians to keep their electronic health records on a vendor's server. These servers are normally housed in a specific area under the vendor's control.

Cloud

As part of the modern health system, a remote cloud system eliminates the requirement for a physician to store data on their server or the server of any third-party vendor. Instead, all information is kept "on the cloud." That means the data is constantly safe and accessible, and there's no need to spend money on expensive hardware to keep it running.

Server-Based EHR vs. Hosted EHR

A hosted system is one in which an entity hosts all software on its servers. This organization will be in charge of data security and backup. Despite the low upfront cost, a hosted EHR can be slow or lag depending on the distance between the practice and the computers storing the data.

A server-based Electronic Health Record, on the other hand, uses servers located at the medical office. Although there are additional upfront expenditures, including hardware and installation, these costs can be amortized compared to leasing hosted EHR software.

Local vs. Cloud Server (On-Premise)

The critical distinction between these two is who is in charge of the patient information. The data stored in the cloud is constantly managed and maintained by third parties in a cloud-based system. On-premise systems allow physicians to host and control software as well as data on their terms.

Potential Consequences of Using an EHR System

When it comes to adopting EHR, there are liabilities and risks to consider. Here are a few pointers to help you handle any liability risks.

Security

A physician should be aware of the terms of an EHR vendor's agreement to preserve patient data. This involves understanding where data is stored and who has access to it. Choose a vendor judiciously, one that complies with all applicable state and federal laws for the confidentiality and security of health and personal information, such as MediFusion, which is HIPAA-compliant.

Integrity of Data

An EHR is only as accurate as of the data it receives. Incorrect data could jeopardize the system's effectiveness. Ensure that information is entered correctly for the correct patient; otherwise, it may be impossible to determine which physician or staff person logged potentially crucial data.

Contractual Agreements

When signing a contract with an EHR vendor, one should be cautious. You should only sign the contract after carefully reading all of the terms and reading every element of the agreement. This can make all the difference since failing to read the terms might expose your practice to medical malpractice and lead to lawsuits.

Ownership

A good EHR vendor relationship begins with a mutual understanding between the practice and the vendor. A physician should own Patient data. Patients may suffer harm if they cannot obtain vital health records for personal lawsuits, continued care, or disability claims.

Technology that is no longer relevant

Just because there are many cloud-based EHR systems on the market with big promises doesn't imply they're trustworthy. Choose an EHR system that will not render patient data useless if the vendor goes bankrupt. If you cannot access the data housed in an EHR, this can be a severe issue for your clinic.

Make an informed decision.

To summarize, understanding the benefits and drawbacks is the first step toward finding the ideal EHR for your practice. You want to choose something unique to your company rather than something generic.