Adopting and Implementing EMR

Medical record keeping has traditionally been a tedious and inefficient task, difficult to coordinate and prone to errors. As the medical industry continues to expand its horizons through technology, so too does the way in which medical professionals maintain and file vital patient information. One major innovation is the electronic medical record, also known as EMR. An EMR is a patient's medical record in an electronic format. This file can be accessed by networked computers internally or across a wider network or system of medical care providers to ensure better service.

EMR hardware has the capability to not only record and update patients' vital data, but can also order medical tests, display radiological images and lab results. This creates a system that can communicate with external labs, pharmacies, clinics, imaging centers, hospital groups, and even private practices.

The benefits of converting from paper record keeping to EMR are manifold. But the process of that conversion can be a daunting task. A properly administered transition will pay off in a large margin of savings in time and money. An unplanned or poorly executed transition can, however, be devastating to maintaining a standard of quality to patients, as well as internal organizational integrity.

Many attempts at failed EMR conversion can be attributed to a lack of follow-through by the vendor, combined with a lack of understanding the EMR interface and hardware. Choosing the right vendor can be overwhelming without sufficient knowledge of EMR research. Successful implementation necessitates a professional assessment of systems and working knowledge of EMR integration. At this point, it may be wise to consider EMR consulting as an investment in the growth of your organization.

When making the transition to electronic medical records, EMR consulting can provide an invaluable resource. Aside from providing an abundance of EMR research, consultants also help assess your goals and work within your budget to optimize performance, efficiency and overall cost benefit. Ultimately, this will contribute to bringing your organization to the forefront on the stage of medical technology.