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Tag Archives: records

Do You Think Your Staff Is Ready For Electronic Medical Records?

One thing often forgotten in major projects such as an EMR implementation within a medical practice: the impact the change has on the staff. Do you think they’re prepared for the significant change of moving from paper record-keeping to electronic? How much training will it take to get your employees using the system proficiently, and who needs to know what? The staff’s perceptions and use of the system are key in the measure of overall effectiveness and success. It’s important to put people first.

Most medical practices, and ophthalmologists in particular, have a majority of staff involved in data input using basic writing and typing skills. When converting your EPM to NextGen from Medical Manager, we went from a DOS keyboard-stroke data entry system to a mouse-driven, Windows-based menu. This may at first seem a minor difference, but it proved a somewhat stressful change for office staff who had enjoyed comfort with doing things in a specific way. After transitioning over to the new system files started disappearing mysteriously, and printouts were popping up at remote offices miles and miles away. It certainly took a bit of time to hone in on the system and how to use it properly.  Read more...

How To Prepare Your Staff For A New Electronic Medical Records System

‘Buy-in’ from your employees is a factor in implementing big changes. Managing and having a positive influence on the staff is one of the most important elements in the implementation of an EMR (Electronic Medical Records) system.

Executive search firm Korn/Ferry International states that one of the biggest mistakes when execs join a company or implement changes, is that they fail to recognize the existing culture in the corporation or office. For example, a controlling manager enters a company which utilizes a more collaborative system, which leads to struggles and resistance. It is preferable to find ways to adapt into the pre-existing culture of the office, to assist with the staff’s acceptance of the shift from paper-based record-keeping to EMR.

Planning is Key  Read more...

The Physician’s Guide to Electronic Medical Records Software

A challenge awaits the physician who has had enough of the frustrating inefficiencies, financial penalties, and antiquated practices associated with maintaining a paper-based medical office. So the decision is made to digitize the practice. Any initial enthusiasm quickly wanes once an initial search for medical software uncovers hundreds of products and vendors. It doesn’t take long before the 300 or so electronic medical records system screenshots and feature/benefit grids begin to look remarkably similar. The sheer number of vendors occupying the EMR (electronic medical records) market is unmanageable without a basic product assessment/elimination strategy.

For physician practices with limited time and resources, the selection process can appear overwhelming. Fortunately, physicians can begin to narrow down potential systems by eliminating uncertified products, as well as those built upon dated technology architectures.

Eliminate products not certified by the CCHIT® (Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology).  Read more...

Benefits Of Electronic Medical Records – Emr Software

In recent years, hospitals and health care professionals have started to adopt the use of EMRs (Electronic Medical Records) within their facilities. There is widespread research that links direct correlation between the use of EMRs and increased revenue gains. Even though there are signs of revenue gains, not as many hospitals are implementing the programs as some first imagined. The majority of transations between health care professionals and patients is still done on paper even though this slows down work for many.

An EMR is an electronic version of the folders and files you often see in a doctor’s office or hospital. These versions can hold all the information that the folders due in a unique and secure way. Not only does it take up less space but it also allows for faster and easier access to certain files and patient information. On top of these obvious advantages, there are a few more benefits of EMR software like Spring Charts Medical Software.  Read more...

Records Management and End of Life Electronics, a Happy Ending?

It weighs less than a pound and can fit in the palm of an adult hand. It’s made up of aluminum, stainless steel, plastic, and a host of other things. It can hold many secrets. What is it? A hard drive.

Most records managers know that the control and management of the information contained on a hard drive is one of their primary concerns. In every profession, it’s what you don’t know that can hurt

you. In the case of obsolete computer equipment, which is generally loaded with data, ignorance is not bliss.

Records management responsibilities traverse along many avenues: corporate, moral, historical and of course the practical day to day needs of simply locating proper information for internal clients and others in a secure fashion. But external forces are always hovering over every decision and every action a good Records Manager makes. Those external forces include the dynamic and ever changing trio of compliance, legal and regulatory issues.  Read more...

The Heart and Soul of Moving to an Electronic Medical Records System

The heart and soul of a successful electronic medical records (EMR) implementation absolutely lies with your staff. At Ironwood OB/GYN, Alice M. Halscheid, practice administrator, lead and managed a successful EMR system implementation. So what did it take to get there?

Preparation. Going to an EMR solution should not be a rash decision. After 3 years of research, watching the main stream EMR service providers, closely examining cost and extent of training, as well as making inquiries of other OB/GYN offices nationwide, Ironwood justified an EMR solution investment. Realizing the initial investment should be recovered via reimbursement through a more efficient means of billing, which helped to support the foundation of the investment.

Team Leaders and Communications. The physicians (providers) and practice administrator had many, many conversations about the transition from paper to paperless. The paradigm shift would present a steep learning curve, but the providers knew that in order to improve patient flow, treatment and care, they needed to make the investment. That commitment set the communications tone in the office.  Read more...