6 Things to Keep in Mind When Choosing an EHR for Your Practice

Choosing an EHR is no simple feat. A recent survey released by Deloite revealed a majority of physicians agree that EHR’s are useful for analytics, reporting capabilities, and improving clinical outcomes, however just as many admit to being dissatisfied with their EHR vendor. With the variety of options out there, it’s crucial that you select an EHR that meets your practices needs.

Here are 6 things to keep in mind when selecting your EHR vendor:

1. Where to Start: EMR & EHR’s

Electronic Medical Records (EMR’s) are electronic paper charts. Electronic Health Records’s (EHR’s) replace paper charts and also offer a variety of productivity tools designed to streamline your practice’s operations. You can start your search here, the Certified HIT Product List (CHPL) facilitated by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC).

2. Key Functionality & Features

Identify your practices highest priority needs, and be sure that the EHR you select not only meets your needs with the right features but that you can easily implement those features to achieve meaningful use and practice goals. Being able to actively manage patient data, track operational indicators, and meet regulatory and accreditation requirements can be key for your business.

3. Agility & Scalability

Your EHR/EMR vendor should be ready and able to adapt to a constantly changing environment. Be sure that your EHR vendor can scale with you and will adapt to meet new government standards.

4. Support Availability

Getting ahold of a sales person is simple, getting ahold of support can sometimes be tricky (unless you’re supported by AlphaRidge!). Evaluate your prospective vendors, vetting for the one that has the best support reputation. Ask questions like “what support will I receive both during and after system implementation?” and “when I call support, will I be able to reach an actual person?”.

5. Ease of Use

You might want to invest in the sleekest and most expensive EHR, but no matter how impressive the EHR, if it isn’t intuitive it can take a critical toll on workplace productivity. Request a free trial or a live demonstration of prospective EHR systems and don’t hesitate to crowdsource and ask colleagues about their EHR experiences.

6. Avoiding Unestablished EHR Vendors

Relying on an EHR designed by a developer working in his mom’s basement can lead to any number of issues. Not only will it expose your practice to vulnerabilities, but chances are high that that software will not meet the rigorous standards of the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology-Authorized Testing and Certification Body (ONC-ATCB) – which is a requirement for practices to qualify for Medicare and Medicaid EHR incentive payments.

Looking for the right EHR vendor? Let our team help! Click here to book a meeting with us today.

AlphaRidge is a leading MSP located in NY.  With over 15 years of managed services experience, AlphaRidge experts have solutions for your specific needs. We place the highest value on the protection and privacy of your data, and we maintain transparency to you with every service we provide. Our white glove on-site and remote service is designed to demystify IT and streamline your concerns into rapid solutions, so that you can focus on what you do best. Consider our team, your team.