EMR Software -- Important Purchasing Factors

The EMR software is a must for healthcare professionals to adapt to the growing need of faster medical services and to improve the efficiency of the health institution.  However, the success to a great extent depends to a large extent on selecting a right EMR for the practice. The question is though -- how can you tell which EMR System is the most ideal for your needs?

To assist in clearing up the confusion, this is a simple list of 5 important aspects to think about when purchasing an EMR Solution:

1 -- Certification Status & Usability

2 - Set Up of the EMR Solution

3 -- Personalization & Integration

4 - Lab Interface

5 - EMR Instruction & Ongoing System Assistance

Having a new answer in the form of EMR for your healthcare information is great -- although not in the event that not one of the personnel understand how to implement it. Does the provider providing the program offer initial training? How do they go about making sure your staff understands the particulars of it; on-site or perhaps by remote training? After the instruction, concerns will likely occur - make sure the EMR seller will be there when you need them later on in the future.

Medical Students' Training in EHRs Inadequate

Medical Students' Training in EHRs Inadequate

 

Medical school students are using electronic health records at a higher rate than practicing physicians, but education is lacking. Without guidelines, physicians face significant roadblocks to adoption, according to two companion studies published in Teaching and Learning in Medicine.

In the first study, researchers from the Alliance for Clinical Education found that 64 percent of the medical school programs allowed students to use their EHRs, but only two thirds of those allowed the students to write notes in them. They were further stymied by the mechanics involved in the use of EHRs. 

"Previously, students were just able to pick up a physical patient chart. Now they need permission to use hospital computers and passwords to access the EHR. There also are concerns surrounding Medicare rules about physicians using trainees' findings in the [EHR],"  lead author Maya Hammoud, Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University Michigan Medical School said in a statement.

In a related study, the Alliance, which works to enhance the education of medical students, expressed concern that limitations on medical student training in EHRs will adversely affect their overall education. The organization proposed that medical schools follow practice guidelines in training students to use EHRs, including required documentation in the systems, review of their notes, the opportunity to practice order entry in an EHR, exposure to clinical decision support tools, and development of competences related to EHR charting.

Inadequate EHR training has long been a barrier to successful EHR adoption, overwhelming and frustrating clinicians. Enhanced training of medical students in EHRs as a part of their medical school education would likely improve their competence and acceptance of EHR use as a tool.

Source: http://www.fierceemr.com/story/medical-students-training-ehrs-inadequate/2012-08-15

Tags: EMR | Claimat EMR | Electronic Medical Records

EMR and Usability

Electronic Medical Record (EMR) companies must pay close attention to the usability of their product. Usability is the idea of making software, in this case, easy for users to learn and operate. Patients and providers alike will get the most out of an EMR if the usability is at a high level. Understanding human behavior and designing software around the user are both key to creating an EMR with optimal usability.

The EMR Usability Group is a great resource that discusses and outlines key criteria of usability for an EMR program. Key components of Electronic Medical Records (EMR) usability is interface design, interface layout, and matching the office workflow.

EMR Usability:

- Simplicity

- Naturalness

- Consistency

- Minimizing Cognitive Load

- Efficient Interactions

- Forgiveness

- Feedback

- Effective Use of Language

- Effective Information Presentation

- Preservation of Context

Electronic Medical Records for Better Health Services

Electronic medical records serve numerous advantages to the healthcare industry including bringing about improvement in health services. The healthcare industry is being revolutionized with the introduction of electronic medical records that modernize and streamline patient record-keeping, with the goal of making care more efficient and reducing medical errors.

With the help of electronic medical records system, detailed patient history can be maintained with greater accuracy. Using an EMR can help doctors to eliminate confusion caused by illegible notes, and some experts feel that the initial cost of implementing the systems would be offset by the decrease in medical errors and unnecessary tests and treatments.

Implementation of an electronic medical records system can deliver numerous benefits including financial gains for the practice as well as hospitals, however its ability to bring about better health services to patients is considered to be a very important factor.