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Shopping for an EMR: Who can I exclude?

So you’ve decided to join the EMR revolution.  Welcome!  But where to begin?  The field is booming- new companies are springing up every day.  With so many to choose from, how do you know who to trust?  What should you be looking for in an EMR solution provider?  Here are a few guidelines:

1.  Make sure they have a good general reputation.  Ask for references and follow up.  Search the internet for feedback from their customers.  Have they delivered on their promises?  Check with watchdog and consumer protection groups.   Have they been accused of unscrupulous practices? 

2.  Read the contract.  Look for hidden fees.  What will they charge for product support?  Do they offer a maintenance plan?  Is there a warranty?

3. Find out how they handle version upgrades.  Are upgrades free?  If not, do they intend to support older versions of their product?  For how long? 

4.  Are they prepared to customize?  Will you have to change your business model to fit the needs of their product?  Do they expect you to pay for features you don’t want?*

*Very few EMR providers offer totally customizable products.  Click <a href=”http://www.xlemr.com/faq.html” target=”_blank”>here</a> to read more about customization.

Most EMR providers are legitimate and reliable, but there are exceptions.  Don’t be afraid to ask questions.  If what you learn makes you feel uneasy, or if the provider won’t give you straight answers, move on and don’t look back.   More on shopping in future articles!

 

Where the Rubber Meets the Road

By Tripp Weeks, President of XLEMR

           Perhaps you have heard some of the nightmare stories about EMR implementations. You have certainly heard about the disasters and train wrecks. It seems the negative gets the most press.

In reality, however, thousands of EMR installations have been successful and are providing increased productivity and revenue to physicians’ practices. So it is of critical importance that we identify the necessary factors for a successful EMR implementation. Read more

Evolve with Clinical Security

Security is an ever growing concern for clinics of all sizes.  Data security used to consist of locking the office doors at night before leaving with a box full of charts that need completing.  With the introduction of wireless notebooks, off-site billing companies, lab companies, and branch offices, clinics are now faced with an ever-changing array of security related responsibilities,  many of which seem unnecessary or overwhelming to a physician who simply wants to concentrate on quality patient care, not technological security needs.  So this begs the question: How important is it to ensure that patient data is secure? Read more