How fast is technology changing in healthcare?

Healthcare technology has slowly and surely changed the way we used to function and perform. Progressively we became acquainted to the specialized amazing factors as they were incorporated into our lifestyles. 21^st century has seen both the unmatched growth of technical innovation, especially the IT and our dependency on the same. In the IT age, technical innovation is creating our lifestyles easier by managing the reasons for us, up to the level that its unavailability or an interruption in the solutions that it provides could negatively impact almost everything from the healthcare companies to our day to day lifestyles.

New technological innovation is vital to every market, but the healthcare market grows on it. Patients need quicker, more precise access to therapy, and doctors need the technological innovation that can create their tasks easier. Sometimes this technological innovation is patient-centric like picture machines and therapy technologies; other times it's behind the curtain like digital payments and information storage. An administrator is given the job of creating sure a hospital, medical centre or other practice operates easily, effectively and on-budget, and new technological innovation is an essential element in this process.

Health IT can start as simply as getting a trip to a doctor, up to building a easily incorporated wellness care work-flow. On the one hand, IT functions as an enabler in providing faster and more accurate medical details to end users and simultaneously reducing the guide labour-intensive procedure. An example is the use of the CPOE program that helps physicians to get different clinical assessments and recommend medication for patients. Appearance of more sophisticated portable medical devices is creating an opportunity for utilizing innovative technological innovation to push the point of wellness care distribution to the home. Tele monitoring and video conferencing with care co-ordinators will enable the management of patients with serious illnesses away from the serious care setting. The aging inhabitants are going to result in a higher individual to health professional rate.

Technology will probably never be able to replace a physician's verdict or a nurse’s touch. But it can help tip the balance by enhancing work-flow and creating guide and routine projects more efficient. Most of us are moving towards an electronic wellness record (EHR) program that unifies patients’ information. But the new-era EHR will offer the physician with techniques that could distribute the course of action through analysis of the track record and the evaluation of the present ailment. Doctors should be able to focus on creating actual choices that require human verdict assisted by IT. Requirements such as the ICD-10 will be used pervasively, and physicians will become acquainted with codifying determines and procedures since the language of wellness care will be global. This provides for great opportunities for the globalisation of wellness care where information could also be recovered from overseas where the affected person looks for therapy. Common standards and language will make this possible.

Technology will progressively be applied right next to scientific care and the affected person in various ways. Using of biometrics, RFID, and bar code to establish individual identity before therapy administration shows to keep patients involved in their own care. Evidence-based motivated guidelines will carry about rule-based analysis and therapy. Algorithm-driven analysis is already well tried and tested and will be applied in EMR to carry about cost-effective analysis and progressively, the same will apply to the therapy of serious illnesses.

Besides technological innovation, the other two important components for any program currently are company route and individuals engagement. With route from the top of a company, any effort will have a better possibility of becoming a reality. People, including both wellness health care providers and consumers, must also be involved in the game from the very beginning of any project. Then the outcome will have a better opportunity to benefit all parties.

Read more »

Top 5 reasons why understanding your EMR reports are valuable

EMR techniques have totally changed the medical market and the scientific advantages are unarguable. EMR can generate income and cut expenses. Here is a list of top 5 reasons why understanding EMR reports are valuable:

• ·         Digital lab interfaces
• ·         Patient Portal
• ·         Storage space and safety
• ·         Electronic Prescribing
• ·         Save Time

Digital Lab Interfaces- Lab connections remove guide procedures and allow lab outcomes to be sent electronically- straight into the EMR.

Patient Portal- Patient Portal allows patients to recover medical care details from their company at any point of time. In addition patients also have the ability to pay expenses, make sessions, modify census, set pointers, etc. Features like this are the purpose why EMR techniques are in the long run of medical care.

Storage and Safety of this program are completely web-based. That means the protection of patient details has never been, well, more protected. Patients and suppliers have protected access to their details which outcomes in better interaction, in-turn decreasing mistakes. The other significant advantages with web-based EMRs are more effective for back-up and problems restoration. 

Electronic Prescribing- this is an essential one. This program will aware the doctor for allergies or of medicines that will communicate adversely with other medicines that the affected person takes. This will reduce hospitalizations and assist in saving life.

Save Time: Doctors can finish the entire details from a single note and deliver retrievable details immediately across the details. Now doctors will have a lot of time they need to pay attention to more significant things, like patient care.

The benefits described above are just a few the significant benefits of EMR other than Significant Use. The opportunities of EMR are just about limitless. One of the most significant benefits is a finale of everything above: quality of care. The main point here is that EMR improves the performance of methods and allows the doctor to pay attention to the most critical facet of his job, looking after for patients. In addition to the advantage described above, our workplace can almost completely remove costs from emailing and shifting individual information such as lab outcomes, medications, consultation pointers, etc. Also, delivering claims electronically decreases mistakes and gets compensated quicker.

These are just the key ways our exercise can advantage from EMR, but the opportunities are truly limitless. Using an EMR program should not be a pressure on physicians; EMRs were designed to help doctors provide better care. We should not buy an EMR because we are compelled to, but because we think it can drive efficiency, income, and individual care.

Read more »

What is ePrescribing?

ePrescribing(Electronic prescribing ) is the computer-based electronic generation, transmission and filling of a medical prescription,in effect automating the prescribing processes. E-prescribing allows a physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant to electronically transmit a new prescription or renewal authorization to a community or mail-order pharmacy.

Along the way, the system offers instant access to patient medication history, formulary coverage and decision support, helping you make the best possible medication choice for patients.

ePrescribing is a viable solution to counter shortcomings of the current paper-based prescribing processes that are in large part responsible for these errors

Benefits of ePrescribing:

1. Improved patient safety and overall quality of care
2. Reduces phone calls and call-backs to pharmacies.
3. Eliminates faxes to pharmacies.
4. Streamlines the refill's requests and authorization processes.
5. Offers true Provider Mobility
6. Improves reporting ability
7. Increases patient compliance.
8. By checking with healthcare formularies at point-of-care, generic substitutions and generic first-line therapy choices are encouraged thus reducing patient costs.
9. Increases patient convenience by reducing patient trips to the pharmacy and reducing wait times.

Useful Aids:

Find a System and Read Reviews:

Calculate Time Savings and Medicare Incentives

Implementing a System

Click to Learn About the ePrescribing Incentive Program

Contact Us at TechnicalDr Inc. and We'll be Happy to guide you further

Read more »

Terminologies profiling IT usage within Healthcare

Health Telematics
Health Telematics is a composite term for health-related activities, services and systems, carried out over a distance by means of information and communications technologies, for the purposes of global health promotion, disease control, and health care, as well as education, management, and research for health.


eHealth
E-health is the combined use in the health sector of electronic communication and information technology (digital data transmitted, stored and retrieved electronically) for clinical, education and administrative purposes, both at the local site and at a distance.

mHealth
mHealth (also written as m-health or mobile health) is a term used for the practice of medicine and public health, supported by mobile devices. The term is most commonly used in reference to using mobile communication devices, such as mobile phones, tablet computers and PDAs, for health services and information. The mHealth field has emerged as a sub-segment of eHealth

Telemedicine
The delivery of health care services, where distance is a critical factor, by health care professionals using information and communications technologies for the exchange of valid information for diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease and injuries, research and evaluation, and for the continuing education of health care providers, all in the interest of advancing the health of individuals and their communities.

Electronic Medical Record (EMR)
An electronic record of health-related information on an individual that can be created, gathered, managed, and consulted by authorized clinicians and staff within one health care organization.

Electronic Health Record (EHR)
An electronic record of health-related information on an individual that conforms to nationally recognized interoperability standards and that can be created, managed, and consulted by authorized clinicians and staff across more than one health care organization.

Personal Health Record (PHR)
An electronic record of health-related information on an individual that conforms to nationally recognized interoperability standards and that can be drawn from multiple sources while being managed, shared, and controlled by the individual.

Health Information Exchange (HIE)
Health information exchange (HIE) is the electronic movement of health-related information among organizations according to nationally recognized standards. It refers to the process of reliable and interoperable electronic health-related information sharing conducted in a manner that protects the confidentiality, privacy, and security of the information.

Integrated EHR
This refers to an EHR that is integrated with practice management software. Typical choices include purchasing a fully integrated product which performs all the functions of practice management software, or a stand-alone EHR which is compatible with an existing practice management system.

Disclaimer: The definitions have been used as is from multiple sources.

Read more »

EMR’s for Simplified Patient Record Management

Effective management of patient records and other related documents is a critical factor in many clinical practices. Like the patients themselves, documents can come from a variety of sources. Some are for administrative and financial management, some are patient charts, and some are diagnostic while some are external reports provided by professionals at hospitals and labs. 

Maintaining the Patients Medical records is an area of key concern for any Medical professional and is also one of the reasons for an EMR being deployed. EMR’s have the ability to improve the productivity of a practice simply by effectively automating the practice workflows related to Medical Records.

Using EMR’s will help Practices by providing quick access to the records, easy searching of records, tracking symptoms and responses over time and even simplify the process the delivering the record and associated information to patients and external doctors. 

There are numerous benefits provided by EMR’s purely in terms of patient record management which lead to direct financial savings for the practice. 

• It will cut down the time taken for average patient visit and therefore help to increase the number of patients served daily. The reduction of time is because of ease of locating previous records, setting appointments, auditing the information and co-ordination rather than because of paper entry being replaced by a computer which actually may increase the time marginally.

• Also it may help in cutting the cost associated with photocopy, faxing, courier or any other related work. Integrated EMR’s can avail of secure emails to patients as well as the ability to provide the information to patients on encrypted Flash Drives/Memory Cards

• Reduce Real Estate requirements for a practice due to reduction in physical storage requirements for patient health information.

• Significant decrease in record administration time and expenses.

• Since the digital availability of patient data provides the possibility of tracking symptoms and study responses to treatment over time easily, doctors can carry out more analysis and research than they could otherwise leading to more and better publications.

Read more »

What is Meaningful Use?

The purpose of the Healthcare IT incentive program is not static adoption of EHRs. The program has been devised in a manner that incentivizes only the “meaningful use” of your EHR system. Simply put, your practice will be eligible for the $44,000 incentive payment ONLY if it is able to actively utilize the EHR for improving the quality of care by satisfying certain federally set criteria. These criteria are called “Meaningful Use Objectives”.

Meaningful Use objectives have been defined in order to allow the progress of Healthcare IT and its impact on the National Healthcare System to be measured in terms of quality and quantity. It encourages the active adoption and implementation of health information technology by rewarding practices that are able to successfully incorporate the EMR in their daily workflow, using it to their full potential for delivering higher standards of healthcare.  

Meaningful Use is a phased program. It consists of three stages and the successful implementation of each stage is linked to incentive payments to be received for meeting the requirements of that stage.   

Stage 1: Data Capture (2011-2012)

This stage focuses on electronically capturing patient health information in a structured digital format using your EHR and utilizing this information for clinical purposes as well as communicating it for care coordination to other providers. If your first year of payment is 2011, you must satisfy the requirements of this stage in your first and second years of payment, i.e, 2011 and 2012, to receive the incentive payment.

This stage divides the objectives into two groups:

   1. Core group of 15 mandatory objectives
   2. Menu Set of 10 objectives from which physicians can choose any 5

Stage 2:  Data Aggregation and Exchange (HIE) (2013-2014)

This stage builds on the objectives of Stage 1 to focus on using health information technology to improve the quality of healthcare at the point of care. It also involves electronic and digital exchange of structured medical information among providers. This includes computerized physician order entry or CPOE and electronic transmission of diagnostic test results and other data required for clinical and medical support services.

Stage 3: Data Use to Improve Outcomes (2015)

Stage 3 focuses on utilizing the structured medical data made available in the earlier stages to improve healthcare quality and outcomes. This stage lays emphasis on the macro aspect of the healthcare system by encouraging support for national high priority conditions, emergency medical crises, self management tools for patients, access to patient medical databases and improvement in overall standards of healthcare delivery and population health.

Given below is a list of the Core and Menu Set Criteria required to be satisfied in Stage 1.

15 Core Criteria

[1] Objective: Use CPOE for medication orders directly entered by any licensed healthcare professional who can enter orders into the medical record per state, local and professional guidelines.
Measure: CPOE is used for more than 30% of all unique patients with at least one medication in their medication list seen by the Eligible Professional (EP) have at least one medication order entered using CPOE. (Exclusion: Any EP who writes fewer than 100 prescriptions during the EHR reporting period)

[2] Objective: Implement drug-drug and drug-allergy interaction checks.
Measure: The EP has enabled this functionality for the entire EHR reporting period.

[3] Objective: Maintain an up-to-date problem list of current and active diagnoses.
Measure: More than 80% of all unique patients seen by the EP have at least one entry or an indication that no problems are known for the patient recorded as structured data.

[4] Objective: Generate and transmit permissible prescriptions electronically (eRx).
Measure: More than 40% of all permissible prescriptions written by the EP are transmitted electronically using certified EHR technology.

[5] Objective: Maintain active medication list.
Measure: More than 80% of all unique patients seen by the EP have at least one entry (or an indication that the patient is not currently prescribed any medication) recorded as structured data.

[6] Objective: Maintain active medication allergy list.
Measure: More than 80% of all unique patients seen by the EP have at least one entry (or an indication that the patient has no known medication allergies) recorded as structured data.

[7] Objective:  Record the following demographics: preferred language, gender, race, ethnicity, date of birth. 
Measure: More than 50% of all unique patients seen by the EP have demographics recorded as structured data.

[8] Objective: Record and chart changes in vital signs: height, weight, blood pressure, calculate and display body mass, plot and display growth charts for children 2-20 years, including BMI.
Measure: For more than 50% of all unique patients age 2 and over seen by the EP, height, weight, blood pressure are recorded as structured data. (Exclusion: Any EP who either see no patients 2 years or older, or who believes that all three vital signs of height, weight and blood pressure have not relevance to their scope of practice.)

[9] Objective: Record smoking status for patients 13 years old or older.
Measure: More than 50% all unique patients 13 years old or older seen by the EP have “smoking status” recorded as structured data. (Exclusion: Any EP who sees no patients 13 years or older)

[10] Objective: Report ambulatory quality measures to CMS or the states.
Measure: Successfully report to CMS (or States) ambulatory clinical quality measures selected by CMS in the manner specified by CMS (or States).

[11] Objective: Implement one clinical decision support rule relevant to specialty or high clinical priority along with the ability to track compliance with that rule.
Measure: Implement one clinical decision support rule.

[12] Objective: Provide patients with an electronic copy of their health information (including diagnostic test results, problem list, medication lists, and allergies) upon request.
Measure: More than 50% of all patients who request an electronic copy of their health information are provided it within three business days. (Exclusion: Any EP that has no requests from patients or their agents for an electronic copy of the patient health information during the EHR reporting period.)

[13] Objective: Provide clinical summaries to patients for each office visit.
Measure: Clinical summaries provided to patients for more than 50% of all office visits within three business days. (Exclusion: Any EP who has no office visits during the EHR reporting period)

[14] Objective: Capability to exchange key clinical information (for example, problem list, medication list, allergies and diagnostic test results), among providers of care and patient authorized entities electronically.
Measure: Performed at least one test of certified EHR technology's capacity to electronically exchange key clinical information.

[15] Objective: Protect electronic health information created or maintained by the certified EHR technology through the implementation of appropriate technical capabilities.
Measure: Conduct or review a security risk analysis in accordance with the requirements under 45 CFR 164.308 (a)(1) and implement security updates as necessary and correct identified security deficiencies as part of its risk management process.

Menu Set Criteria
Given below is the Menu Set of 10 objectives from which physicians can choose any 5. One of the 5 must be either Objective 9 or 10.

[1] Objective: Implement drug formulary checks.
 Measure: The EP has enabled this functionality and has access to at least one internal or external formulary for the entire EHR reporting period.

[2] Objective: Incorporate clinical lab-test results into EHR as structured data. Measure:  More than 40 percent of all clinical lab tests results ordered by the EP during the EHR reporting period whose results are either in a positive/negative or numerical format are incorporated in certified E HR technology as structured data. (Exclusion: An EP who orders no lab tests whose results are either in a positive/negative or numeric format during the EHR reporting period.

[3] Objective: Generate lists of patients by specific conditions to use for quality improvement, reduction of disparities, research, or outreach.
Measure: Generate at least one report listing patients of the EP with a specific condition.

[4] Objective: Send reminders to patients per patient preference for preventive/follow-up care.
Measure: More than 20 percent of all patients 65 years or older or 5 years old or younger were sent an appropriate reminder during the EHR reporting period.  (Exclusion: An EP who has no patients 65 years old or older or 5 years old or younger with records maintained using certified EHR technology.

[5] Objective: Provide patients with timely electronic access to their health information (including lab results, problem list, medication lists, and allergies) within 4 business days of the information being available to the EP.
Measure: At least 10 percent of all unique patients seen by the EP are provided timely (available to the patient within four business days of being updated in the certified EHR technology) electronic access to their health information subject to the EP’s discretion to withhold certain information.  (Exclusion: Any EP that neither orders nor creates any of the information listed during the EHR reporting period.)

[6] Objective: Use certified E HR technology to identify patient-specific education resources and provide those resources to the patient if appropriate.
Measure: More than 10 percent of all unique patients seen by the EP are provided patient specific education resources.

[7] Objective: The EP who receives a patient from another setting of care or provider of care or believes an encounter is relevant should perform medication reconciliation.
Measure: The EP performs medication reconciliation for more than 50 percent of transitions of care in which the patient is transitioned into the care of the EP.  (Exclusion: An EP who was not the recipient of any transitions of care during the E HR reporting period.)

[8] Objective: The EP who transitions his/her patient to another setting of care or provider of care or refers his/her patient to another provider of care should provide summary care record for each transition of care or referral.
Measure:  The EP who transitions or refers his/her patient to another setting of care or provider of care provides a summary of care record for more than 50 percent of transitions of care and referrals.  (Exclusion: An EP who neither transfers a patient to another setting nor refers a patient to another provider during the EHR reporting period.)

[9] Objective: Capability to submit electronic data to immunization registries or immunization information systems and actual submission according to applicable law and practice.
Measure: Performed at least one test of certified EHR technology’s capacity to submit electronic data to immunization registries and follow up submission if the test is successful (unless none of the immunization registries to which the EP submits such information has the capacity to receive the information electronically). (Exclusion: An EP who administers no immunizations during the EHR reporting period or where no immunization registry has the capacity to receive the information electronically.)

[10] Objective: Capability to submit electronic syndromic surveillance data to public health agencies and actual submission according to applicable law and practice.
Measure: Performed at least one test of certified EHR technology’s capacity to provide electronic syndromic surveillance data to public health agencies and follow-up submission if the test is successful (unless none of the public health agencies to which an EP submits such information has the capacity to receive the information electronically). (Exclusion: An EP who does not collect any reportable syndromic information on their patients during the EHR reporting period or does not submit such information to any public health agency that has the capacity to receive the information electronically.

(Source: http://www.osteopathic.org/inside-aoa/advocacy/regulatory-issues/Documents/meaningful-use-objectives.pdf)

References:

http://missourihealthconnect.org/FAQRetrieve.aspx?ID=45267

http://www.osteopathic.org/inside-aoa/advocacy/regulatory-issues/Documents/meaningful-use-objectives.pdf

http://www.emrandehr.com/2010/08/30/meaningful-use-resource/

Read more »

Difference Between Medical Billing Software and EMR

Medical billing and EMR software systems are often designed to have overlapping features that improve the functionality and usability of the systems in order to make them a “one-stop-solution” for a practice’s medical IT needs. As a result, medical billing software and EMRs end up being interchangeably used discounting the primary objectives of each of the systems.

Medical Billing Software vs. EMR

Many EMR companies are going the whole way to provide doctors with a single, comprehensive solution that will help them achieve Meaningful Use by incorporating crucial features like clinical notes, patient information and history, medication/prescription/drug allergies, diagnosis/treatments/procedures, patient scheduling, appointment reminders, e-prescribing, electronically available results, scans and reports, patient education resources, clinical decision support as well as full-fledged medical billing programs.

Specialized medical billing software on the other hand, is particularly programmed to maintain and keep detailed records of tests, procedures, examinations, diagnoses and treatments conducted on patients. It combines this medical information with the patient’s policy details to formulate a complete medical record that is used to generate bills. 

The software electronically submits these bills to the patient as well as the health insurance company for payment. Before a bill can be submitted to the policy provider, it has to be coded based on Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) and International Classification of Diseases (ICD-9/ICD-10) protocols. Medical billing software systems are programmed to automatically assign these codes based on the patient’s medical record. After reviewing the bill, the insurance company sends the appropriate payment (or notice of denial) notifying the patient and practitioner via an Explanation of Benefits (EOB) letter which is added to the patient’s medical billing record by the software. In case of a dispute, rectification of bills with errors or missing information and follow up on claims, the software will update the patient’s medical record and billing details with the revised information. 

Medical billing and coding software is thus equipped to seamlessly and accurately handle all complex processes and correspondence involved in medical billing.

A typical base package of medical billing software would contain features that are restricted to medical billing and accounting functions like patient recordkeeping, claims processing, electronic claims submission, receivables management, patient billing and accounting integration. However, many software providers extend their scope to include features like practice management, scheduling and other administrative and clinical functions that are generally a part of EMR software systems.

Therefore, the difference between medical billing software and an EMR is that of core functionality. While medical billing software focuses on a practice’s medical billing procedures and billing-related administrative and financial processes, features of an EMR are primarily concentrated on clinical functions, records and outcomes. 

Medical billing software may serve clinical EMR functions in addition to electronic billing and coding for greater versatility. The same is true for EMR systems that incorporate specialized medical billing and coding program features to supplement their clinical applications.

References:

1. http://www.wisegeek.com/topics/medical-billing-software.htm

2. http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-medical-billing.htm

3. http://www.medical-billing.com/blog/medicalbilling/pid-303/list-of-best-medical-billing-software/

4. http://pn.psychiatryonline.org/content/43/8/6.3.full

5. http://technology4doctors.blogspot.com/2011/02/emrs-providing-indian-doctors-with-edge.html

Read more »

How Technology Can Improve The Work Life Balance For A Physician

Doctors and healthcare professionals are not strangers to poor work life balance. A very strong culture surrounds this industry that perceives a doctor wishing to lead a healthy personal life as a sign of weakness. 

It is not uncommon to see doctors resign to the demands of the job and the medical culture system, leading to unhealthy suppression of their personal goals and requirements. No doubt that for some medical professionals, the passion for work overrides the stress and the burning out, but for others, constantly trying to cope with the unwritten but powerful psychological contract of “if you cannot work 18 hours a day and seven days a week, you don’t belong here” can be very overwhelming.

It’s usually only a matter of time until physicians begin to deal with ill health, depression, reduced efficiency and quality of work, lack of focus, fatigue-related medical errors, struggling personal and professional relationships and severe job dissatisfaction to the extent that many end up reconsidering their decision of being in the medical profession submitting to “maybe I’m not wired for this!”

Yes, there are caps on the number of duty hours for doctors. However, the increasing influence of consumerism on the national healthcare system and the growing demands of federal policies call in for greater accountability, increased bureaucracy and a ton of paperwork and administrative chores left to be performed by physicians themselves. This corporatization of work structure compels them to digress from their primary job of providing healthcare to completing clerical and managerial work that now ends up taking the best of their time and productivity, defeating the very idea of Meaningful Work.

In such a situation and keeping in mind the perfectionists that doctors are, one way for them to strike a healthy work life balance without compromising on their productivity or performance would be to focus the best part of their energy and work day on their actual job – that of being good clinicians and reduce the amount of time, effort and personal attention they put into peripherals like paperwork, clinic management and other administrative functions. 

This article aims to suggest help on how physicians may save time on these subordinate activities by using technological tools that will enable them to complete the same tasks quickly and efficiently, leaving them more personal time and a better organized work day.

7 Must-Use Technological Tools for Physicians

1.) Email

Physicians must leverage the power of this simple tool to reach out and connect to their patients without having to extend their workday. Communicating via email can be less intrusive and time consuming as opposed to personal telephone calls as it allows for multitasking, automation, bulk mailing and standardization of regularly used content.

Appointment reminders, medication alarms, direction maps and instructions can be sent out to patients through an automated, pre-programmed system that monitors all your email communication.

2.) Medical Website

In a world where people turn to the Internet for nearly everything, having a web presence not only helps you reach out to a global audience but is also a time saver for functions like briefing new patients about your practice, answering FAQs, providing critical information, clinic details, directions and patient support. For physicians looking to set up a website, a good place to begin would be http://www.websitesordoctors.in

3.) Spreadsheet programs like Microsoft Excel

If you haven’t already discovered the treasures of Ms Excel and still go the old pen and paper way to record your administrative activities, insurance, tax, bank and financial details, stocks, inventories and everything that makes up your practice, you are missing out on a tool that can transform your work day and save you a ton of time and trouble. Ms Excel is simple to learn, easy to use and will spoil you for convenience once you’re in the habit of using it. For free online training in Ms Excel, visit http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/excel-help/CH010369467.aspx.

4.) PDAs and Smartphones 

A personal digital or data assistant (PDA) can be used to save all your information paperlessly, in one single place. This information is portable and can be made available on your laptop, phone and other devices. PDAs can be used to store patient contacts, records, medical and other information, drug databases, crucial spontaneous notes, treatment information etc. E-books, medical databases, research and information can also be stored and accessed. You can use them to schedule your day, post reminders for important tasks and have all the information you need in the palm of your hand whenever you need it.

5.) Medical Software such as an Electronic Medical Record(EMR)

EMRs collect and consolidate all patient information into a single integrated system that can be accessed at the click of a mouse. Without having to look through heaps of paper files, EMRs allow for quick and convenient access to the patient's medical history, list of medications, drug allergies, test results and information, helping physicians make faster, accurate and more informed medical decisions, diagnoses and treatments. They also enable instant and simultaneous EMR sharing with other care providers, saving on a whole lot of time that would otherwise be spent in viewing, reviewing and communicating results with other practitioners.

6.) Smartphones/Tablet PCs 

Smartphones are poised to be the next big thing in Healthcare IT. The power of portable information and being connected on the go is sure to lend physicians greater autonomy and flexibility of work schedules. Smartphones and tablets can be synchronized with your office and home computers, PDAs etc and can be used to access this and other medical information from any place in the world. You can effectively use them to do your day’s reading or wrap up pending documentation and record work while commuting or even at home. A good article on using smartphones to improve your practice can be read at http://emrmeaningfuluse.blogspot.com/2011/08/how-can-smartphone-help-you-in-your.html

7.) Videoconferencing and Tele-consultations

Physicians can use videoconferencing tools like Skype to provide tele-consultations to patients based in remote locations. They can also carry out pre-appointment screenings, post-appointment follow ups and monitoring from home, saving themselves and their patients commuting time and making for a shorter work day. To learn more about videoconferencing and Skype, visit http://emrmeaningfuluse.blogspot.com/2011/09/using-skype-to-help-your-practice.html

These technological tools can be used to reduce the time and effort spent on administrative functions (and certain clinical functions too!). If a routine break up of your day is say 70% of seeing patients and 30% of filing paperwork and records, you can use these tools to work on bringing down the 30% average or even taking it home (easier for solo practitioners) as all the information is digitally available to you, wherever (and whenever) you choose to use it. 

Yes, taking work home is a debatable idea for many families but for physicians, it is really a case of being home at a good hour at least physically vs not being there at all. The trick here is to not get into a habit of “staying connected” all the time, using technology to only accomplish what is required for the day and switch off once you’re done.

References:

1.) http://www.theglasshammer.com/news/2010/06/11/technology-helps-worklife-balance-it%E2%80%99s-official/

2.) http://ask.officelive.com/smallbusiness/wiki/articles/technology-tips-for-improving-your-work-life-balance.aspx

3.) http://careers.bmj.com/careers/advice/bmj.333.7558.s15.xml

4.) http://www.support4doctors.org/detail.php/58/managing-stress-as-a-doctor?category_id=15

5.) http://www.support4doctors.org/detail.php/46/time-management-the-five-mistakes-doctors-make?category_id=15&subcategory_id=507

6.) http://www.smartmanager.us/eprise/main/web/us/hr_manager/document_center/technology_worklifebalance_june09.pdf

7.) http://dsc.discovery.com/energy/lifestyle/ways-technology-is-making-life-easier-02.html

8.) http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/468131_2

9.) http://careers.bmj.com/careers/advice/view-article.html?id=2576

10.) http://www.webmd.com/balance/guide/5-strategies-for-life-balance?page=%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%202

11.) http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2010/01/04/bisa0104.htm

12.) http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/08/03/prsb0803.htm

13.) http://www.aafp.org/fpm/2000/0200/p60.html

14.) http://sagemb.com/info-resources/doctors-help/creating-worklife-balance

15.) http://ama.com.au/node/2998

16.) http://healthecommunications.wordpress.com/2011/07/19/lack-of-time-and-reimbursement-is-that-why-physicians-dont-do-a-better-job-communicating-with-patients/

17.) http://www.physicianstaffing.com/job_opportunities/improving_your_lifestyle

18.) http://www.cleveland.com/healthfit/index.ssf/2011/08/new_doctors_have_shorter_hours.html

19.) http://technology4doctors.blogspot.com/2011/02/emrs-providing-indian-doctors-with-edge.html

20.) http://www.locumtenens.com/physician-recruitment/supporting-work-life-balance.aspx

21.) http://www.europeanpwn.net/index.php?article_id=120

22.) http://www.worklifebalance.com/assets/pdfs/casestudy.pdf

Read more »

Why IT Companies Are Important For Doctors?

Healthcare Information Technology (HIT) has the potential to transform global healthcare systems ensuring safer and more effective treatments while increasing the productivity, profitability and efficiency of practices. IT companies have integrated path breaking medical research with ingenious information technology, giving us medical tools, data systems, applications and devices that can change the way healthcare is practiced. Not only has it enabled doctors to connect with patients and other doctors in different parts of the world, HIT makes it possible for them to access a global database of precious medical information. 

Healthcare Information Technology promises to help doctors save money, attend to larger number of patients as well as allow them to implement a patient-centric model of care. The biggest breakthrough that Healthcare IT companies have made so far is the centralization and digitization of patient medical records, popularly known as the Electronic Medical Record or EMR, that has already begun to single handedly revolutionize healthcare as we have known it through the ages.

Benefits of Healthcare IT

 
The adoption of EMRs, contrary to what is popularly perceived, is as beneficial to doctors if not more, as it is to their patients. Since EMRs allow for the creation of one, single interaccesible national medical data system, medical records can be transferred anywhere in the country to help doctors provide effective, accurate and rapid treatment wherever required. So far, with paper based record systems, quick digital record transfers have been impossible, resulting in many unfortunate treatment errors and failures. 

However, IT companies have made it possible for doctors to improve the quality and safety of healthcare with the introduction of the EMR and other such revolutionizing healthcare tools. This has also significantly reduced the enormous assemblage of paperwork that has characterized physician offices and clinics all these years and has given doctors easier and faster access to information. Health insurance policy records and information are also easily retrievable from medical databases, saving practitioners hours of cumbersome and time consuming search work. 

Adoption of HIT has enabled doctors to optimize the cost of treatment and pass the same onto patients due to higher productivity and efficiency levels achieved in their practice. Features such as Computerized Physician Order Entry or CPOE, bar-code scanners and digital decision management systems increase the accuracy levels of administrative processes and treatments by introducing seamless, methodical practice management techniques. 

IT companies have empowered doctors to improve their practice on several fronts like,
 - Patient safety
 - Improved quality of care
 - Error free, accurate treatments
 - Higher doctor and staff productivity
 - Greater and faster access to patient information and medical research
 - Enhanced revenue
 - Lowered costs
 - Paperless offices and clutterfree working conditions
 - Efficient practice management systems

Doctors and Medical Networking
 

The Internet and social networking websites have made it possible for doctors to influence a whole medical community and establish themselves as thought leaders in their field. It has also enabled them to interface with a global clientele through video and web consulting tools, online medical diagnosis, web-based symptom analysis, and other mobile platforms that connect them to patients in remote locations. Doctors can join specialized medical social networks where they can exchange and discuss valuable ideas, diagnoses, complex cases and medical information with other dignitaries in their field. Real time industry news is easily available on such sites and is indispensable for keeping physicians updated and abreast with latest information in a field as dynamic as medicine. These forums not only help practitioners gain relevant and required medical information but also get them noticed and respected by peers and patients alike.

Healthcare IT companies are on their way to building a smarter, centralized and digitally managed healthcare system that will link doctors, patients and policy providers through a single, intelligible medical database. This fusion of medical knowledge and information technology driven by IT companies will not only lend patients a more pleasant and personalized healthcare experience, but will enable doctors to work with greater speeds and accuracy. 

However, for real change to come by, doctors must understand the importance of the game changers that healthcare IT companies are, and work in cooperation with them to contribute to a smart, intelligent and seamless global healthcare system.

References:

http://benefitof.net/benefits-of-technology/
http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/Advantages-Of-Doctors-Social-Networking/2803300
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/health-information-technology.html

http://technology4doctors.blogspot.com/2011/03/learnings-from-japan-national-health-it.html
http://www.ahrq.gov/downloads/pub/evidence/pdf/hitsyscosts/hitsys.pdf
http://www.digimedhit.com/benefits.asp

http://technology4doctors.blogspot.com/2010/08/improved-patient-safety-using-software.html
http://www.intel.com/Assets/PDF/whitepaper/health-317997001.pdf
http://www.ibm.com/smarterplanet/us/en/healthcare_solutions/article/smarter_healthcare_system.html
http://www.ibm.com/smarterplanet/global/files/us__en_us__healthcare__smarterplanet_healthcare.pdf

Read more »

How Much Are The Typical IT Expenses In A Medical Office With EMR?

The introduction of EMR and Meaningful Use incentives has made it necessary for practitioners to undertake effective measures for successful EMR adoption and implementation. In order to maximize returns on EMR and resultant IT investments, physicians must perform a cost-benefit analysis and determine ways in which they can lower costs, save on expenses and utilize IT assets as efficiently as possible. This can be done by charting out a ground plan that underlines all projected expenses and revenue based on realistically researched data and information. 

Budgeting for EMR and IT Expenses

A primary requirement for accurate and realistic budgeting is identifying and understanding various elements that are involved in setting up your EMR and medical IT infrastructure. A good way to do so is by recognizing and incorporating factors that have contributed to successful EMR implementations at other physician practices. An effective EMR and medical IT budget will require you to look at a number of cost factors. Typically, these would include,
 - Hardware, software, networks, servers
 - Internet, wireless
 - Implementation, training
 - Maintenance, Upgrades, Updates, Technical Support
 - Anti-virus and other security systems
 - Emergency breakdowns and recovery
 - Data storage and backup systems
 - Digitization of existing paper files

You will also  need to account for year on year (or month on month) recurring costs and other hidden soft costs like time and money spent on staff training, revenue lost during the adoption process due to readjustment of workflow, resources utilized for internal IT management and so on. Many of these costs are not explicitly spelt out by vendors as they only surface after the installation has been completed. However, they markedly affect your overall profitability and must be carefully accounted and budgeted for.

EMR and Medical IT Infrastructure Costs

The costs of setting up the IT infrastructure for EMR implementations vary from practice to practice and installation to installation. However, to gain a rough idea or a general estimate about how much physicians can expect to spend on some primary variables involved in EMRs and medical IT set ups, we give you a few numbers (naturally, these will vary depending on market and situational factors).

EMR License – Between $1000 - $ 25,000 (depending on whether your system is an entry level EMR or a fully loaded one with advanced features and functionalities)

Hardware – Usually, Tablet PCs are recommended for primary providers and thin clients or workstations are suggested for assistant use. All these are centrally networked via a master server. Tablet PCs may be estimated at $2200, workstations at $1000 each and server at $5000-$10000.  

Implementation Costs – These are usually billed within the range of $90 - $150 per hour. Implementation includes setting up the network, customizing the software to the specifics of your practice as well as staff and employee training. 

In addition, you will need to incorporate projections for broadband connections and other soft costs that are specific to the nature and requirements of your practice.

It is also important to account for returns, benefits and added revenue that will accompany a fully implemented and adopted EMR system. Research by The American Journal of Medicine suggests that physicians can expect to save approximately $29,000 per year starting from their second year of EMR implementation, if the EMR system is used to its maximum potential. 

Another study reveals that EMRs worked to full capacity can increase the number of patients seen by as much as 15%, adding that much more to the physician’s annual revenue.

Optimizing Your Return on EMR Investment

Budgeting can help you draw out a roadmap to minimize unpredictable outflows of cash ensuring a secure financial environment for your practice to function. Even though your budget will focus on minimizing adoption costs and maximizing post-adoption value and returns, in the end, a budget is only as good as the efficiency and method with which it is followed. 

Here are certain guidelines that will help you extract maximum value from your EMR and IT investments.

 - Physicians must look at improving the speed at which the EMR systems are adopted and internalized in the daily workflow of the practice. This will save on a good chunk on staff training and downtime costs.
 - Look at upgrading your existing IT systems wherever possible, instead of replacing them altogether.
 - Try to have your EMR vendor include as much training time as possible, as part of the EMR package.
 - Ask vendors about the payment plans they offer (payment in parts or installments as opposed to complete down payments) and chart out an arrangement that best agrees with your financial interests.
 - Use antivirus software, firewalls and other security systems to prevent unprecedented system breakdowns and crashes.
 - Read all offer documents very carefully and get detailed information and clarifications on terms, products and services mentioned in the contract. Make sure that all verbal agreements are put in writing to avoid post-installation conflicts or confusion.

You can calculate your practice’s return on EMR investment using an ROI calculator similar to the one found at http://www.clinkareonline.com/clinkare-roi-calculator. This ROI calculator bases your return estimates on parameters like size of the medical office, number of providers, strength of staff, patient volumes, fees and so on.

References:

1.    http://www.emrexperts.com/emr-roi/index.php
2.    http://newsroom.cdwg.com/features/feature-12-13-10.html
3.    http://www.orthosupersite.com/view.aspx?rid=24613
4.    http://blog.vcpi.com/2010/11/top-must-haves-in-your-emr-budget-and-ways-to-finance-them/

Read more »

The Use Of Tablets In the World of EMRs

With a growing number of physicians adopting tablet PCs for their EMR implementations, EMR vendors and IT manufacturers are looking to build compatible native systems to facilitate user-friendly and efficient EMR execution. From table desktops to thin clients and now the tablet, EMRs have been tried and tested on a variety of hardware, each bringing its own benefits and drawbacks. However, the striking surge in EMR adoption on tablet PCs has made providers sit up and take notice of this remarkably promising technology.
 

Evolution of Tablets in the EMR Space

The tablet technology has found a significant number of users in the healthcare industry. A survey conducted by Manhattan Research reveals that practitioners are leaning largely towards mobile platforms in order to improve the productivity and quality of care, as well as for efficient EMR implementations. According to the research, it is estimated that around 30% of doctors own an iPad, which is the leader in the tablet PC market today. Supported by increased bandwidths and wireless internet speeds, the tablet is expected to become a popular choice among physicians, who are already displaying considerable interest in EMR adoption on tablets. Tracing this dramatic rise in the adoption of tablet PCs in the healthcare industry, IT companies are working on designing specialized platforms that connect smart devices like tablets and smartphones to EMRs. 

Tablets and EMRs  

Even though EMRs on wireless tablets are neatly poised to be the next big thing in the healthcare industry, they do have their detractors. Positively, tablets lend EMRs a host of benefits ranging from portability and enhanced patient communication to increased data accessibility and productivity. Physicians who have worked with EMRs on tablet PCs appreciate their connectivity, usability and design benefits. Tablets are small and light, easy to use and can be conveniently carried for patient visits (as opposed to old-world hospital carts carrying the EMRs on king-sized, unhandy desktops). Physicians can access data from hospital systems and complete their charting in real time while working with patients. Notes can be handwritten using tablets and documents can be wirelessly sent for printing directly from the device. Tablet interface also opens up communication channels between the patients and doctors, contributing to better relationships and improved quality of care. 

While tablet PCs are serving EMR implementations well by helping physicians devise a seamless and efficient flow of healthcare processes, users have nonetheless identified a number of pain points that need to be addressed for the tablet to deliver a dependable and sure-fire system to support EMRs. Firstly, most tablets are not designed specifically for medical use (though this appears to be changing as tablet marketers have identified compelling potential in the healthcare industry). Physicians may not be comfortable using the touchscreen on tablets that do not have a stylus. This makes the data entry process sluggish and eats into the valuable time doctors can spend interacting with patients. Tablets are also tough to clean and sterilize, and touchscreens don’t work with surgical gloves. Since it is a relatively newer technology, hospital IT infrastructure and wireless networking platforms are often not equipped to support and integrate EMR implementations on the tablet. It is easy to lose your wireless signal in old hospital buildings with limited IT support, and a tablet with dropped wireless is as good as of no use considering that most Medical Solutions for the Tablets today are pretty much web based solutions.  

Selecting a Tablet for your EMR

There are a number of factors physicians must consider before investing in a tablet to run their EMR. It is important to ensure that your tablet serves all the primary EMR functions and process requirements. To begin with, your tablet must have a good battery life. It must be easy to operate, user-friendly and durable. Tablets are available in two styles, the slate-style and the convertible-style. The convertible-style has a built-in keyboard and therefore, is heavier as compared to slate-style tablets that do not have a keyboard.  

It is always better to go in for specialized tablets that have been specifically designed for medical and EMR use. iPad and Android are introducing a number of features and apps that support a host of certified EMR systems. Samsung is also making custom Android operating system tablets for EMR and medical use. CNET editors list the highest-rated tablets in the market with Apple iPad 2, Samsung Galaxy Tab , Asus Eee Pad Transformer, BlackBerry PlayBook and T-Mobile G-Slate emerging as top contenders. Other models that have become popular with physicians are Motion LE1600 Tablet PC by Motion Computing and Fujitsu ST5000 Tablet PC by Fujitsu. They are both slate-style tablets and range between $2000-$2500. The Toshiba Portege, Acer C200 and IMB Thinkpad are also good convertible-style options.

References:

1.    http://www.medicaltabletpc.com/
2.    http://www.emrandhipaa.com/administrator/2006/01/21/pros-and-cons-of-using-wireless-vs-wired-for-your-emr/
3.    http://technology4doctors.blogspot.com/2011/06/what-emr-medical-software-options-are.html
4.    http://www.emrandhipaa.com/emr-and-hipaa/2009/06/05/top-5-wireless-challenges-for-healthcare-it/
5.    http://www.emrapproved.com/emr-hardware.php
6.    http://www.imedicalapps.com/2011/02/samsung-android-hospital-medical-use-tablet/
7.    http://www.smartphonehc.com/tag/tablet-emr/
8.    http://healthpopuli.com/2011/06/02/doctors-using-tablet-based-emrs-like-portability-productivity-and-patient-communication/
9.    http://palmdoc.net/index.php/2011/06/06/tablets-and-emrs/
10.    http://sdcms.org/article/tablet-or-not-tablet-right-question
11.    http://www.emrexperts.com/articles/electronic-medical-records-tablet-pc.php
12.    http://www.ophmanagement.com/printarticle.aspx?article=105621
13.    http://www.emrandhipaa.com/administrator/2009/08/03/tablets-vs-convertibles-vs-laptops-and-emr/
14.    http://www.itwriting.com/tablet.php
15.    http://www.hp.com/sbso/solutions/healthcare/drmillersuccess.pdf

Read more »

What Type Of Support Do You Need When You Go On An EMR?

A number of EMRs in the market today are loaded with stunning features equipped to help physicians meet their Meaningful Use objectives. However, it is not possible to utilize these features to their maximum potential without adequate EMR support and training that must be provided by your EMR vendor.

EMR Installation Support

To begin with, your EMR provider must undertake the entire installation of your EMR system. In case of a client-server system, a qualified and trained installation team must be sent onsite to set up the software and assist you in going live. The team must ensure that your system is configured to meet the requirements of your practice. It must seamlessly and diligently integrate the EMR in the existing work system without leaving any loose ends or installation glitches that may later bring the practice to a grinding halt until help arrives.

EMR Training Programs

Making the shift to an EMR based practice will require your EMR provider to walk with you every step of the way until and even after you are thoroughly and completely settled in. A good EMR company will offer training programs for users at all levels of the practice to help you and your team effectively accommodate the new technology in your daily work lives.

Onsite and web-based training is important to equip your staff with the necessary skills required to use the EMR in a way that contributes to the practice’s productivity and Meaningful Use objectives. EMR vendors must offer training programs conducted by certified and trained EMR experts. Learning centres, live online and telephonic EMR guidance, and other platforms for EMR assistance must be provided. 

Local and Onsite Technical Support 

Technical EMR support services must be available locally and onsite. Qualified and trained technicians must be assigned and duly deployed to help you with any situation that may arise pertaining to the working of the software, upgrades, customization or any other assistance required.  A single local point of contact must be provided, ideally free of cost, to help you with the required technical support with minimum response time or disruption of practice schedules.
 

Web-Based Online Support
 

Most web-based EMR systems offer online technical support and assistance. Client-server EMRs also supplement their onsite support services with online support as a faster and more convenient means of problem resolution and assistance. Additionally, web-based EMR systems provide online training, support services, regular and automatic software updates, usually at no extra cost.
 

Hardware Support

Your EMR vendor must provide hardware support and technical infrastructure analysis to help you set up your EMR software on a compatible hardware system. You can seek their assistance on computer specifications, internet or broadband options, devices like signature pads, mobile tablet PCs, printers and scanners that help you maximize the efficiency and productivity of the EMR software.
 

Complaint Management and Grievances
 

You must ensure that your EMR vendor has an efficient and responsive customer support and complaint management platform. Grievances must be addressed in the least possible response time with certified help available locally as well as online. The EMR provider must be expected to fix the problem efficiently, without interrupting the work flow and routine of the practice.

While most EMRs sell on features, they lose out on their customer support. It is easy to give in to the incredibly assuring presentations made by EMR vendors, but to ensure the long-term feasibility of an EMR implementation, you will have to look beyond this marketing veil and probe deeper into the EMR company’s service, support and training standards.

References:

1.    http://www.soneit.com/2010/06/the-importance-of-on-site-in-person-training-and-support-for-emr/
2.    http://jaysimmons.org/2011/04/20/how-to-select-a-reputable-ehr-vender/
3.    http://www.ehrinstitute.org/Articles.lib/items/How-to-Select-an-EHR
4.    http://www.emr-ehrs.com/phone-appointment-reminders.php
5.    http://www.streamlinemd.com/Data/Sites/58/assets/StreamlineMD_WhitePaper_1B.pdf

Read more »

What Is The Average Time Before A Practice Is Comfortable With Their EMR?

Making the shift to an EMR-based practice is sure to impact your work-method in more ways than you can count. This impact recoils with a significant amount of change that practitioners are known to dislike as it brings them to a rather discomforting and unfamiliar territory. In fact, a research by evitontest.info suggests that the biggest obstacles to EMR implementation have been physician resistance and lack of useful information or not knowing where to start.

It does not take much to realize that the manner in which you approach these obstacles will determine the time it will take your practice to get comfortable with the EMR. Therefore, the real challenge resides in adopting realistic measures to help your staff internalize the new technology and utilize it to its maximum potential.


EMR Training and Change Management

As a practitioner, your goal is not just to accommodate the EMR in the daily work life of your practice but to have it used in a way that contributes to your productivity and Meaningful Use objectives. This process can stretch from a few months to even more than a year depending on the quality and effectiveness of EMR and IT training that is imparted to all levels of the practice. To begin with, all EMR users must be equipped with basic IT and computer skills to help them understand and efficiently execute the more advanced EMR processes. Only when they are comfortable with routine activities like using the mouse, printing, scanning, working with files and basic graphical user interface, should they be put onto working with the EMR. Sure, you want to take the system live as soon as possible, but you must allow for a learning curve, not expecting them to construct a whole sentence when they still haven’t been taught the alphabet!


EMR Implementation - One Step at A time

You must keep in mind that your staff is already resistant to this new technology. Overwhelming them with a load of new information to save on training time will only demoralize them and there is a strong possibility that going too fast may have them give up on it altogether. Taking one step at a time is a good idea to help your employees feel comfortable and confident about the software. Opt for a gradual and progressive training module that steadily moves from feature to feature instead of bombarding them with a whole new world of technical jargon and processes they are not likely to befriend.
Also, if an EMR feature is to be used only by a certain set of employees, training the whole staff on that feature will only eat into their grasping ability for the features they truly require. Hence, you must ensure that your training plan takes this redundancy into account and focuses on relevant function-based features.


Motivation Boosters

Without a doubt, for effective and expeditious EMR implementation, the motivation has to come right from the top. Physicians must convey the importance of incorporating the EMR into the practice and leading by example, should display the dedication and commitment they expect from their staff. In order to get employees to accept the new technology without feeling like they’re being punished, physicians must involve them in decision-making processes for training programs, schedules, time lines and so on.

To put a number on how long it takes for a practice to get comfortable with their EMR, one has to take the above factors into consideration. Instead of intimidating your staff by rushing in, focus on building a strong base and steadily look to capitalize on it. This might take you an additional few months to completely ‘go live’ and use it like second nature, but it is an investment that is bound to reap long term benefits of productivity and improved quality of care.


References:

1.    http://evitontest.info/tag/emr-implementation/
2.    http://www.healthcareguy.com/2011/03/12/waiting-until-2012-on-attestation-for-meaningful-use-doesnt-mean-you-shouldnt-buy-an-ehr-in-2011/
3.    http://hubpages.com/hub/Meaningful-Use-Made-Easy-Understanding-Core-Objectives
4.    http://www.revenuexl.com/blog/bid/23066/8-Cardinal-Sins-of-Electronic-Medical-Records-EMR-Training
5.    http://www.ctsguides.com/Training-makes-EMR-Software-Investment-Succeed.asp

Read more »