Which EMR Company should I select?
There are over 300 EMR vendors offering different flavors of EMR solutions. There is a variety of software implementations - web-based, browser based, ASP, SaS, Client Server, etc. and it is easy for a physician to get overwhelmed by the choices that are available in the market place. It is no surprise that physicians undergo a fairly anxious period before choosing the 'right' EMR Vendor or EMR solution.
To make the EMR vendor process less overwhelming, it is important to break down the EMR vendor selection process into smaller steps that can be tackled easily.
EMR Selection Process
1. List your high-priority EMR Solution needs.
It is imperative that any thing that saves time and improves quality is a good place to start. Users should also be specific about the recurring instances of wasted time (pulling charts or calling pharmacy), lost money (under-coding), diminished quality, and personal frustration that plague their practice most and include those items that will help alleviate these.
2. List the EMR solution features and ancillary requirements most likely to meet those needs.
List down 10-20 functions that you consider important for your selected EMR solution to perform well. Consider feature functionality and cost of the EMR System as well as support provided by the EMR vendor and strategic direction of the vendor vis-à-vis the product. You may also consider the market penetration of the vendor. Ensure that the EMR System is compatible with the Practice Management System that you currently use. Download our free article on Top 10 Electronic Medical Records Software Features for every Physician.
3. Think about future requirements of your EMR Solution
Even though you may not have any significant changes on the horizon, it is important to consider changes most likely to the organization: addition of new or termination of existing providers, adding new specialty, any possibility of sharing records with external parties (hospitals), etc.
4. Create a numerical EMR Vendor Score Card
Assign weightage to each functional requirement that you have defined under items 1, 2 and 3 above depending on how important that requirement is for you specifically. Develop a simple scoring system (1-5) and assign a value to each category based on how well that product performs. Ensure that all vendors are evaluated based on the
same list.
5. Get a buy-in from all providers and staff to ensure successful implementation of your EMR Solution
As they say ‘to change is difficult but not to change is fatal’. EMR solution implementation will hit roadblocks if the providers are not committed to making it successful by entering the required data. As the EMR repository gathers data, it becomes easier to see trends and analyze the efficacy of clinical processes. Another area that needs attention is the workflow through the clinic which is bound to change when EMR is implemented. Identify a champion who will bring along all the providers and the staff and help optimize the workflow in the Clinic.
6. Create a short list of EMR Vendors
After defining your list of functional requirements, you need to create a short list vendors you would like to investigate. Some EMR vendors can be eliminated quickly if they are fairly new in the market or do not deal with a certain size practice or a particular specialty.
Review blogs which openly discuss the experience of professionals with particular vendors and their implementation progress. You may also review the websites of vendors or speak to senior executives of short-listed EMR companies to gain insights into technological maturity of the vendor, investment in product development, number of total clients and installations, physician consultant advisors on staff, etc.
7. Test drive each EMR System using common scenarios
Once you and your EMR consulting company have shortlisted a couple of EMRs, follow through with a demo of each shortlisted EMR. Allow for sufficient time so that you can simulate some real life scenario of documenting a patient visit. All EMR vendors who are selected should be put through similar sequence of steps.
8. Obtain two or three references from each shortlisted EMR vendor.
Ensure that the references are from a Practice of similar size and specialty. It is preferable to have the references in the same geography so that you and your staff can visit the reference facility and see the EMR system being used in day to day operation.
9. Fully develop initial implementation plan and technical support with the selected EMR vendor.
Insist on a completely defined implementation plan including development and testing of all external interfaces including billing software (if applicable), labs and ePrescription. This should include clear definition of roles and responsibilities of all the parties responsible for software and hardware installation, updates, training, etc.
Free EMR Vendor Selection and Free EMR Consulting
The EMR Vendor selection process defined above can be quite overwhelming and time consuming. When you work with an EMR Consulting company like RevenueXL, we can make the EMR Vendor selection and implementation of the EMR System for your Practice a breeze. So why not contact us today, you have nothing to lose, but only to gain, and that’s our promise to you.