In a statement to Orthopedics Today , American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons Internet Communications Chair Herbert Alexander, MD said, “After having a totally electronic office for two years, I would never go back to using paper charts, as EMRs have improved my efficiency and quality of care. Life is better with an EMR.” Indeed, EHRs offer many benefits to 21st century orthopedic practices. However, the degree to which they positively impact workflow, patient care, and ROI varies according to the EHR system. One way to ensure optimal outcomes across all measures? Make the switch to a cloud-based orthopaedic EMR. Read on for seven reasons why cloud-based EHRs are the best choice for today’s orthopedic clinics.

A full 30 percent of “new” EHR purchases are actually replacements, according to a 2013 Black Book Rankings survey.  If your organization has decided to make the switch to another vendor, change management can help you successfully transition while minimizing the risk of another failure.

With a push for electronic healthcare records from many agencies--as well as vendor promises for efficiency and increased cash flow--many providers now find themselves married to EHR systems that aren't doing everything the provider needs or wants. Switching EHRs is always an option, but before you divorce your current system, it is important to ask yourself some questions to avoid common mistakes when replacing an EHR.

Selecting the best EHR system for your medical practice is crucial in order for you to comply with new HIPAA requirements for coding, billing and documentation of services provided. It is also essential for ordering tests and providing prescriptions for medicines and medical devices. Each practice is different and has different needs. There is no one-size-fits-all solution. Health care providers often make mistakes when making their choice and have ended up with an unusable platform after paying hundreds of dollars for it. Here are just a few suggestions of things to avoid during your selection process.

EMR & Medical Billing Best Practices Series: #4

Organization is an essential component of a successful medical office, and we've spent the last two weeks discussing how organization in billing and scheduling processes saves you time, money, and headaches. As the push for electronic health records continues, small medical offices and clinics are beginning to make the shift to EHRs. Organizing your expectations prior to EHR selection ensures you choose a service that meets the current and future needs of your practice.

EHR Training

EHR training is vital to the success of your EHR software. Regardless of your specialty, it is important for every member of your staff to receive adequate training to ensure that your practice continues to run smoothly, as well as to ensure that your patients continue to receive excellent care. Perhaps you are shopping for a new EHR System because you're dissatisfied with your current software. Or, maybe you're working toward implementing EHR for the first time. Either way, here are five training tips to help you guarantee a successful EHR implementation. 

Once you have assessed your readiness for EHR, and you've done significant planning for your EHR approach, you can begin to think about selecting or upgrading to a certified EHR system. It's vital to pick the right EHR because it will be an investment for your practice, and you want to ensure that you've chosen one that will suit your practice and all that it will need for years to come. 

Are you experiencing EMR dissatisfaction with your current system? Perhaps it's not living up to your expectations, or you're having issues with it that make charting more difficult.  Many physicians are finding that their EMR is not as impressive as they thought it would be.  If you're feeling that way, it might be time to take a closer look at your EHR system and try to figure out what you need to do to improve it.