What is EMR Software?

EMR software is an application that integrates all of the aspects of clinical practice management in order to make patient care and administrative workflow more efficient. While EMR software packages vary in their scope and capabilities, comprehensive packages encompass all aspects of a patient's care, from registration and insurance verification to evaluation, treatment and billing. In addition to facilitating administrative processes, EMR software should allow clinicians to document care and coordinate diagnosis and treatment.

EMR Software Capabilities

EMR stands for electronic medical record. Comprehensive EMR products allow clinicians to input data about a consultation or assessment, assign a diagnosis, order tests, prescribe medication and refer the patient for additional evaluation or treatment using different interfaces within the same system. In the past, all of these processes were handled using paper forms, and in many practices, record keeping, scheduling and billing on paper are still the norm.

Some EMR software packages focus primarily on clinical documentation and patient care management, while others incorporate procedure coding, insurance verification and billing. Documenting patient care may be more accurate in an electronic interface, where writing is less likely to be misinterpreted, and EMR software security ensures HIPAA compliance. Doctors and nurses can document their treatments at the time of care using computers that are connected to a centralized application. The data becomes part of the clinic's electronic record system, and patient information is accessed only by authorized users.

Many EMR software packages have scheduling capabilities. With electronic scheduling, front office staff and clinicians can view a patient's scheduling history, create or reschedule appointments and send out patient reminder letters when a follow-up is due. Electronic scheduling may reduce the number of appointment conflicts and make more efficient use of clinicians' time.

If account management features are included in an EMR software application, insurance information can be collected from the patient at the time of registration. Some programs allow staff to verify insurance and record coverage status in the registration interface. Procedure coding, billing and collections are also included in a comprehensive software package. The patient's electronic medical record remains the core of the program and the primary source of data for clinicians and administrative staff alike.

Adopting EMR Software

Converting paper based record keeping to an electronic system is a challenging step for most medical facilities. While some of the staff members are always eager to adopt the system, others are reluctant to give up procedures that have been proven to work efficiently in the past. Most EMR applications can be customized to reflect the existing work processes of a clinic, so that effective procedures and important paper forms are not lost during the migration.

Adopting EMR software may require an investment in new hardware as well as the software itself. The application may be hosted on a computer that acts as a server, with multiple connections through separate desktop computers. Most EMR packages are also compatible with portable devices, so that physicians can have access to vital patient information at the clinic, at the hospital or at a diagnostic facility. EMR software helps clinicians document treatment accurately and make decisions about patient care.

The migration from paper records to electronic medical records is a significant step. Understanding what EMR software is and how it can affect your practice is the first phase in making the transition to electronic records. Clinicians want to know how much the software will cost, how it can improve workflow and how the security of patients' records will be protected once the records are created electronically. A knowledgeable software vendor can guide your practice through the process of choosing and implementing EMR technology.

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