Using Computers Helps Doctor's Efficiency!

EMR 101: Part One

What is an electronic medical record (EMR)?

EMR is software that allows you to create, store, edit and retrieve patient charts on a computer. Electronic medical records software allows a practice to replace its paper charts with electronic charts. This offers tremendous productivity and efficiency benefits to a practice. An EMR replaces the racks of chart folders with a secure and efficient computer.

What benefits come from implementing an EMR?

There are four main benefits to an EMR project.

1. Cost reduction. The productivity and efficiency gains of an EMR translate into lowering the hard dollar cost of running an medical practice.

2. Increased revenue. An EMR can impact the top line of a practice by improving the completeness of documentation and improving the accuracy of coding, increasing the number of services offered, and increasing the number of patient visits per day. For example, Practice Partner from CareTEC and McKesson features built-in age and gender specific reminders for the practice and patients to complete routine procedures, such as mammograms.

3. Improved administrative efficiency. Medical offices with an EMRare dramatically more efficient than traditional paper-based offices. The number of FTEs required to support physicians is 1.5 to 2 FTEs per doctor less than at a practice without an EMR.

4. Improved clinical efficiency, patient care and service. An electronic medical record includes a number of features that allow the clinical side of the practice to operate more efficiently. These improvements include: higher quality documentation (legible, organized, complete), built-in protocols and reminders (including health maintenance), improved medication management (electronic prescribing), and more efficient signing of charts.

Stay tuned for part 2 and more information.