athenahealth Electronic Health Records (EHR) Software, was named 2022 Best in KLAS for both Small Practice Ambulatory EMR and Practice Management (PM), athenaClinicals, for 10 or fewer physicians, and Ambulatory RCM Services... read more
AdvancedMD EMR system is a Cloud-based solution offering EHR (Electronic Health Records) software, Practice Management (PM) software, and Medical Billing Services. AdvancedMD EMR software provides support for multiple specia... read more
drChrono EHR (Electronic Health Records) software, a reliable medical platform for practices around the world, offers contemporary technological solutions related to EMR systems, Practice Management (PM) software and Revenu... read more
eClinicalWorks EHR Software is a cloud-based health IT company that provides Electronic Health Records (EHR) software solutions to practices and hospitals. Its products include Electronic Medical Records (EMR) software, Prac... read more
ChartLogic EMR Software is an ambulatory EMR suite offering Electronic Medical Records (EMR), Practice Management (PM) and Revenue Cycle Management (RCM) solutions along with quality features such as e-prescribing (e-Rx) ... read more
Developed by Epic Systems Corp, Epic is an Electronic Medical Records (EMR) software with an integrated Practice Management (PM) and Patient Portal solution (MyChart). Epic EMR software offers extensive clinical content and... read more
Compulink Healthcare electronic health records (EHR) software by Compulink Business Systems, Inc. (previously known as Compulink Advantage) is a Cloud-based Electronic Medical Records software, Practice Management (PM) ... read more
WRS Health Electronic Medical Records (EMR) Software, is a Cloud-based integrated Practice Management (PM) software solution designed by practicing physicians to manage their entire practice. WRS EHR combines features like... read more
NextGen EHR Software is a high quality Health IT solution designed for medical practices looking for an integrated medical software suite featuring electronic health records (EHR), practice management, and revenue cycle mana... read more
The Optometry EMR Software is used by optometrists to do their work more efficiently by diagnosing and treating vision conditions ranging from glaucoma and astigmatism. This software provides many templates and easy-to-access and uses insurance codes. The Electronic Medical Records software (EMR software) designed for Optometry can help physicians make better decisions by providing a better graphical representation of a patient’s medical history—providing the right information at the right time.
The Optometry EMR software also integrates with e-prescriptions to display accurate medication of the patient. This shows the patient why compliance is important in maintaining their health.
To have a good understanding of how the software works, it is advisable to learn about the different features and functionalities of the software. Before choosing an Optometry EMR Software, we should check if the software has the following key features:
The workflow management feature can help the physician and the patient with booking appointments and with visual exams or eye exams. It also helps you manage the diagnosis and recommendations for different treatments. Scheduling follow-up visits and managing reminders are also features of workflow management.
Optometry EMR software must have a screen that shows the patient’s Intraocular Pressure (IOP). This helps the physicians in evaluating the glaucoma risks of the patients, and can also be used to visually demonstrate information about compliance to the patient.
The software should have SOAP notes and templates specially designed for the practices. These templates are for eye exams, blurred vision, lost vision, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, conjunctivitis, etc.
The Optometry Software must allow you to use ICD-10/CPT codes. The software should also feature the e-prescribing of the medications. This helps in saving a lot of time and increases work efficiency.
There are many things that separate optometrists from other specialties. One of these things is the associated retail sales. The software must offer point-of-sale capabilities which helps in making the selling and managing inventory of the glasses and contact lenses much faster and easier.
Electronic medical records | Electronic health records software (EHR) is software that assists in developing and storing patient medical records digitally. This unique system assists physicians in tracking patient histories, notes, medications, and demographics. The most popular features of EHR software include e-prescribing, E&M coding advice, and SOAP notes. Quality Electronic Health Records Software (EHR) also offers lab integration, voice recognition, tablet support, and device integration. |
Medical billing | Medical billing modules or Medical Billing software manage the development of patient statements and submission of insurance claims. Key functions of such systems include claim scrubbing, e-claim submission, coding, payment posting, eligibility inquiry, and reporting. |
Patient scheduling | This module is designed to automate the entire process of scheduling patient appointments. Core features of a good patient scheduling module may include sending reminders through phone, text message, and email, automated follow–ups, and multi–location support. Such modules are usually offered along with a billing module in a practice management software suite. |
Radiology information systems | A radio information system (RIS) is one that manages the workflow and operations of radiology imaging centers or large medical practices having radiology imaging departments. Such EHR Software or modules automate the entire process of storing, operating, and distributing patient medical images and related data. |
Picture archiving and communications systems | PACS is designed to manage, store and retrieve DICOM images. Such systems are often used in combination with a RIS (Radio Information System) to perform the radiology workflow proficiently. |
Medical accounting | The term Medical accounting refers to a system designed to automate accounting processes for medical practices. Major functions of such systems include general ledger, A/P, A/R, and financial reporting. |
Today over 600 companies provide EHR/EMR and Practice Management Software and with this growing competition selecting the right electronic medical records software or practice management software is always a very difficult choice. EMRFinder understands your problem and provides a complete and comprehensive catalog of specialty-specific potential EMR Software, perfect for your practice needs. There are many things to be considered when thinking to start using or switch your current Electronic Health Records Software (EHR Software). This buyer’s guide covers every necessary aspect to consider before making a final decision.
The term EMR Software or EHR Software (Electronic Health Records) is basically used for the electronic documentation and maintenance of medical records for patients via computer or a mobile device. EHR Software essentially improves the efficiency of practice by helping in making more accurate documentation of the encounters resulting in improved profitability. Its usability has been recognized and it became a part of the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH) in 2004.
Besides financial profitability, practices have seen the following benefits of using EHR/EMR Software:
Specialty-specific software enables physicians and other medical professionals to store detailed clinical information, such as demographics, medical history, social history, lab reports, etc.
Specialty-specific EMR Software or EHR Software must be fairly customizable to the unique style and documentation requirements since all medical practices have a specific need based on the background and medical specialty. For example, Pain Management or Dermatology specific EMR software should include the ability to store before/after photos and annotate images. Similarly, specialties like Pediatrics, Oncology, Podiatry, Ophthalmology, Neurology, Nephrology, Dialysis Centers, Rheumatology, and Chiropractic Care require their unique set of features to simplify adoption.
Because of the massive adaptability requirement, every EMR Software is not suitable for any practice. EMR Software designed for hospitals or multi-provider clinics does not necessarily support a solo or a small practice. So what are the factors that will make an EHR Software vendor viable for your medical practice?
From solo to large providers and multi-specialty clinics, every practice has its unique set of challenges that must be addressed by the Electronic Medical Records (EMR) software vendor some of which are listed below.
Small or solo practices with small office space and a limited number of staff members are generally short on the budget compared to larger practices. Due to these constraints, many providers simply prefer cloud-based EMR software and employ Free EMR Software or choose an affordable EHR Software vendor with a low fixed monthly fee.
Often belonging to the same medical specialty, the medium-sized practices require unique features such as interoperability, dedicated customer support, multi-device support as well as extensive reporting functionality to keep an eye on the overall performance of the practice, as their budget is also comparatively larger.
Larger medical practices usually offer medical services that fall under various medical specialties (e.g. Orthopedics, Pain Management, Surgery, Chiropractic Medicine, Family Medicine, etc.). Comprising fifteen to twenty medical providers, these practices often require support for multiple users to access the systems simultaneously. Scheduling software and a scalable solution to accommodate multiple locations, providers, and resources such as Dialysis Chairs, procedure room allocation, etc. are also the requirements of larger practices.
Hospitals or enterprise organizations have the most elaborate list of requirements, which are usually documented in the form of an RFI or RFP to assess and shortlist vendors that can meet them.
Hospitals or enterprises are often the target market of EMR software companies such as Athenahealth, McKesson, Epic, Cerner, eClinicalWorks, Allscripts, NextGen, drChrono, and Meditech, etc. and they usually provide ideal EHR software solutions for larger corporations such as ACOs, PCMH, IPAs, CINs (Clinically Integrated Networks), and Public Health Departments, etc. These EMR software companies usually offer features like integration with multiple other software and medical devices, inventory management modules, interface with local labs (LIS), machines, and diagnostic equipment along with drug dispensing (pharmacy management software) and electronic medication administration record (EMAR), etc.
Electronic Medical Records (EMR) consist of various software, all with different functionalities and applications. Here are a few tips one should consider before selecting EMR Software:
Safety and security of patient data and medical records is a principal concern for not only clinicians and medical providers but their patients as well. A strong EMR Software ensures the safety and security of medical records and all the related patient information and guarantees HIPAA Compliance providing them privacy (especially during the patient’s communication with their doctor via Patient Portal). Top EMR Software Vendors from today (AdvancedMD, PrognoCIS, Modernizing Medicine, Chirotouch, Kareo, etc.) use data encryption technologies and other advanced tools in every section of the EMR Software to make sure that they safeguard patient records.
Due to its various advantages, Cloud-based EMR has grown more popular among physicians lately. Cloud-based EHR software is mostly device independent and supports multiple devices such as Smartphones (iPhones and Android phones) iPhones, iPads, desktop computers, and laptops. The EMR software can be accessed from any location at any time provided that internet access is available. The Cloud-based EHR Software technology usually requires minimum or no maintenance or upfront cost making it ideal for doctors running small clinics and private practices. Some of the Cloud-based EMR Software vendors include ChartPerfect, Care Cloud, AllegienceMD, CureMD, ChartLogic, etc.
One of the characteristics of strong EMR software is that it is ONC-ATCB certified and complies with the guidelines and protocols defined by the Office of the National Coordinator (ONC). The software vendors who comply with these measures go through severe testing and conform at a benchmark level set by the federal body. This testing ensures that all areas of the software are checked for example Patient Portal, the way the software communicates with Pharmacies via E-prescription (e-Rx), HIEs, labs, hospitals, etc. Most of the EHR vendors nowadays have all the details related to their compliance with the standards established by the ONC (Click here) present online.
Today when it comes to the world of computers and digital devices, Apple is the undisputed leader in the US. Therefore, it won’t be odd if healthcare providers today specifically look for EMR Software that works on Mac systems (Mac EMR Software). However, unfortunately, not all EMR software vendors support Mac devices, therefore when looking for an EMR system it is essential that the EHR Software has built-in support for Mac so that the software can be used with existing systems and any further investment in new computers can be avoided.
Certain specialty-specific Electronic health records (EHR) systems must offer unique tools for that specialty for clinical documentation. For example for gastroenterology, the EMR system should include specific tools that should be able to document clinical workflow and specify the area of concern (e.g. issues concerning the GI tract) and must offer much more than capturing raw data or text. (Gastroenterology EMR Software).
When selecting an EMR System, one of the basic and most important decisions that you need to make is if you want the EMR Software solution by itself or integrated with a Practice Management System for scheduling and billing. Having an integrated EHR and PM solution has its pros, yet there have been instances where practices chose an EHR by itself, as they had some unique needs that EMR Software vendors could not be met or they had already made large payments for separate Practice Management solutions and could not replace it, in fact, were bound to use it.
With competition rising every day in the field of healthcare IT, many EHR Vendors who provide integrated Practice Management solutions included in the software bundle easily outclass competitors with standalone EMR Software including the ones that offer a specialty-specific EMR Solution. EHR software providers with integrated Practice Management systems often tend to offer widespread reporting competencies to monitor how the practice performs and manages administrative tasks better.
Like all other software solutions needed by a medical practice, it is very important for a healthcare organization to have a strong billing system to be able to communicate with insurance companies and charge for all the services rendered. Medical Billing Software works best when integrated with EMR software. The clinical documentation complies with all the mandatory standards and forms a financial document that is sent electronically to insurance carriers or financiers so that they can validate and process it at their end. This helps streamline operations and various administrative tasks and makes sure everyone is on the same page where financial matters are concerned. By using the Medical billing Software system, practices are able to produce patient statements, confirm patient eligibility, generate claims, and much more. Medical billing solutions integrated with EMRs prove to be ideal for healthcare organizations that wish to manage to bill in-house.
Different EMR Vendors offer varying prices. Some EMR Software sellers offer their services for free, while others provide specialty services for extremely high costs. In both cases, there always might be chances of several hidden costs that might be revealed later. When selecting an EHR Software, make sure you finalize your budget and discuss all the hidden costs included in the contract with your potential vendors. Also, make sure you ask them about the charges for services such as support and training.
With technological advancements happening every second, life has become faster than ever. To keep up with this fast pace, people from all walks of life like to rely more on handheld devices especially because of their handiness, mobility, and a number of other uses. Like all other professions, the field of medicine also relies heavily on the use of technology more and more. Doctors nowadays need an EMR system with which they can use Tablets or iPads to take down notes about symptoms, and patient history, and electronically prescribe medication to the patients and a mobile application synced with all the mobile devices being used in the practice.
Though some doctors and physicians might be very proficient with technology, at the end of the day, they are not IT professionals. They always prefer software that is easy to use, so that not only their transition process from their existing systems (paper or existing EHR) is smooth, but also their everyday experience with their Electronic Health Records software goes without any hindrances. An EMR System that is too complicated to understand can waste a lot of time resulting in users being aggravated. Also, there are some EMR companies that provide users with training free of cost, so at the time of selecting an EMR software, make sure that you ask the vendor to train you and other staff members of the practice to have a better grasp of the software and if there will be any additional costs involved for training.
All medical providers work in their distinctive manner and have unique needs according to their specialties. Therefore, most of the EMR Software Vendors today ensure that their EHR Software is specially tailored for a specific specialty or a number of specialties. This was a predictable conclusion of the EMR Software journey, as more and more healthcare providers were required to switch to Electronic Medical Records (EMR) systems. Most of the EHR software companies at that point in time were essentially focused on selling their software to all healthcare providers regardless of their specialties. But the specialty-based medical providers soon realized that the software did not meet the requirements of their practices. Therefore, the demand for specialty-specific EMR systems increased. To meet that demand, EMR software vendors started producing specialty-specific EHR software and as a result of that, today there are several unique EMR systems available for almost all the specialties like Cardiology, Anesthesiology, Family Medicine, Orthopedics, Urology, Optometry, Pulmonology, General Surgery, Alternative & Holistic Medicine, etc.
When you adopt EHR software for your practice, it eases your routine tasks and helps your practice in so many different ways. But what will you do when your software faces a technical issue? It is normal for any software application to malfunction from time to time. This is when you should pick up your phone and contact the customer service representative of your EMR software service provider. An efficient customer support service addresses all of your concerns and issues and tries to resolve them in a knowledgeable and skilled way. Only a customer service rep can understand the issues or changes in the behavior of your Electronic Health Records software application and then the rep can pass on your concerns to the appropriate department to get your issue fixed. A good customer service representative always ensures customer satisfaction. On the other hand, a bad and rude customer rep will only make things worse. Most of the EMR software vendors provide customer support as a part of the plan that you are paying for, while some of them charge extra for this service. Before implementing an EHR software you should make that clear with the vendor if there will be a special support team assigned to the practitioner within the package or not.
The EHR industry, like everything else, goes through constant changes all the time. Whether it’s new innovations or updates in technology or changes in legalities, the EMR industry is always changing. Following is a list of such changes that you should keep track of.
Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) of 2015 (previously known as Meaningful Use) created the Quality Payment Program that:
As the CMS has officially renamed Meaningful Use to “Promoting Interoperability” as of 2018, it’s important to understand its updated principles. Effective interoperability of healthcare data will ensure that electronic health information is shared properly between healthcare and public health partners in the right format and at the right time. Starting in 2022, the CMS requires all eligible healthcare services to implement upgraded versions of EHR software that utilize this updated definition.
A recent study shows that only 25% of physicians have shown interest in web-based EHR software systems and only 50% have adopted it as an initial model that will ultimately transition to cloud-based software. The cloud-based EMR software cuts down the costs of having and maintaining all the hardware and client servers. It can be hosted on any device which has a web browser. That is why healthcare software vendors are switching to cloud-based EHR software.
Between 2023 and 2030 we can expect the industry to undergo great growth and changes. It’s estimated that the EMR Market size will grow from $31.22B (in 2023) to $40.05B (in 2028). Due to the low installation cost, easy maintenance, and ease of use for Cloud-Based EHR software, this market segment can also be expected to grow significantly. Additionally, the North American EMR Market is expected to grow greatly as well as in emerging economies in the Asia-Pacific, with the Asia-Pacific market being recorded as the fastest-growing EMR market, due to an increase in industrialization and urbanization.
More EMR software vendors are widening their type of practices, to become accessible to more healthcare practices. However, optimizing these EHR software solutions for these different needs is only becoming more difficult since the number of people with expertise, time, and knowledge in health IT is only decreasing. As predicted by Douglas W. Bowerman, MD, we should see a continuous trend of accessibility in Electronic Medical Records software in terms of how it can be accessed and who it is accessed by.
Healthcare facilities accumulate massive amounts of patient data. Patient health and financial data let EMR software vendors help physicians with Clinical Decision Support (CDS). Leveraging analytics algorithm predictions can solve interoperability-related accessibility issues. Data warehouse development is also an option to ensure more accurate patient data thanks to automation.
Boosting patient engagement through the scheduling and treatment process is imperative to the growth of your business. One method is to make content easily available through patient communities or just increase patient outreach. Regular appointment reminders for upcoming appointments (see Appointment Reminder EMR Software) can reduce cancellations while further increasing patient engagement.
Technology is innovating daily, and this constantly influences the development of electronic health records software. One example is the recent implementations of AI virtual assistants in health IT solutions, speeding up the diagnostic process and increasing practice efficiency. Other tech giants are also entering the healthcare field, such as Apple and Google. With their massive budgets, they can invest heavily in R&D without taking many risks. They have also already witnessed the issues that arise from the lack of interoperability in current iterations of Electronic Medical Records (EMR) solutions and are very unlikely to make the same mistakes. This competition is great for consumers and clinicians as it will force EHR software vendors to rapidly modernize their systems with far more regular updates, meaning large-scale changes are on the horizon.
The current standards that regulate EMR software systems are very lax. Vendors end up having to pay millions in settlement fees due to false claims about meaningful use certifications. However, EMR software regulations are becoming far stricter and more transparent to prevent incidents like this from happening again. The interface between physicians and medical billing coders will likely become more separate. This is because they both need access to completely unrelated pieces of information, so sharing the same regulations often leads to life-threatening miscommunication.
5G networks are poised to become the forefront of data communication methods in only a few years. They offer up to 100 times the speed of contemporary 4G networks yet may still not integrate properly with the current state of healthcare IT systems. As it stands, there are many different formats available that are all competing to become the dominant method for communication in Electronic Health Records software systems. As such, EMRs are currently spread across these different formats. This makes them incompatible, so the different EMR systems can’t communicate at all. Until a standard is agreed on, 5G networks won’t be able to bypass the bottleneck created by two opposing systems.
Despite promising patients access to medical records, this feature has not yet fully materialized in Electronic Medical Records systems. A study in 2019 found that only 10% of patients who had access to their records online actually accessed them; of them, 63% were encouraged to do so by their healthcare providers. In order to prepare for potential regulatory changes in the future, software developers are updating EHR systems to be easier to navigate and better fit the patients’ needs. Practices themselves are also now providing proper guidance and awareness about the importance of regularly checking one’s own records to familiarize themselves before appointments.
Electronic Health Records (EHR) systems are the forefront supplier of paper-to-screen technology, so it is imperative for the EHR software to be inclusive of a wide range of digital capabilities. Implementing better use of data liquidity will allow data to be more accessible, increasing the EHR footprint. This can be done without sacrificing the security of the data. Implementing better interoperable health IT solutions will also expand the footprint, allowing healthcare organizations to better access and exchange patient data.
In recent years, advancements in AI and machine learning have dramatically changed the health IT industry. As these technologies continue to evolve, they are likely to have a significant impact on the future of Electronic Health Records software systems. By leveraging AI and machine learning algorithms, EMR software solutions can become more intuitive and efficient, can better streamline clinical workflows, and improve patient outcomes. The application of AI and machine learning will also enable Health IT systems to provide more personalized and proactive care, by analyzing patient data and identifying potential health issues early on. Additionally, these technologies have the potential to revolutionize clinical research and drug development by providing access to vast amounts of patient data and insights.
Digital therapeutics involves software that can behaviorally alter patients and help treat mental conditions using different interventions. Usually, digital therapeutics are used through smartphones and tablets. The software is quickly being integrated into EHR software systems and they aim to be more patient-centric. As they begin to meet industry requirements their popularity will continue to rise, and clinical trial results will continue to be published in peer-reviews journals.
In their current state, EHR and EMR software do not address medical error prevention properly. Previously, illegible handwriting on paper prescriptions was blamed, but over-reliance on health IT systems to supply the correct doses for medication can prove to be equally as dangerous. For example, a 16-year-old patient in 2013 was prescribed 38 tablets of medication, which turned out to be an overdose for someone of that age. These sorts of errors are far more common than we would like to believe. Currently, details such as patient implants may not be added to the system before radiological imaging since EHRs don’t have a standard place to store notes. In the future, electronic medical records (EMR) software developers are striving to dramatically reduce these errors by decluttering the physician notification center which could cause less time spent attending to patients.
Although more commonly used for cryptocurrency and NFTs, blockchain technology is being increasingly used in Electronic Health Records software as well. The blockchain allows EMR data to be secured through cryptography, making it available only to those who have access to it in the first place. As an example, the blockchain can validate clinical trial and claims results, track medicine distribution and prevent insurance fraud. The usage of blockchain in Electronic Medical Records (EMR) systems started around the beginning of 2022, and it is already being used to secure data and ensure confidentiality.
One of the biggest hassles in dealing with current EMR software (and EHR software) is being able to easily navigate through mountains of data. Despite large leaps in health IT technology in recent years, EHR software systems are clearly behind in terms of their ease of use and user interfaces. Electronic Medical Records systems should ideally facilitate easier data access than paper files, and EMR vendors are starting to implement updated iterations of user interfaces in their EMR software solutions to better achieve this goal.
Largely spearheaded by big tech companies such as Apple, wearable devices are surging in popularity in medical fields – the market is expected to grow 26.8% from 2022 to 2028. The devices have improved the accessibility of health metrics and have made medical diagnosis simpler. Integrating the data from wearable devices into EHR systems has the potential to massively improve patient healthcare and Electronic Health Records software. The devices include various sensors that can track body activity and monitor environmental factors. Currently, they come in many different forms, such as smartwatches, fitness trackers, and specialized apps on mobile phones.
Electronic Medical Records (EMR) systems don’t offer patients the ability to access their own records across multiple healthcare organizations due to the lack of data-sharing standards set between different practices. This causes significant problems for interoperability and patients who receive care from multiple different centers. This also makes the diagnosis of patients harder for physicians and healthcare providers. Due to this, EHR software vendors are updating their software to include interoperability and integration features to allow data to be shared between these different organizations.
Patient portal EMR software eliminates the need for paperwork and the manual retrieval of data. On top of this, patient medical records can be available on demand by offering a portal that patients themselves can access directly. Having easy access to their data encourages patients to be more engaged in their health journey, which eases the medical diagnosis process from healthcare specialists.
As health IT technology develops, cybersecurity in Electronic Medical Records (EMR) systems is set to become increasingly sophisticated in response to rising cyber threats. Key developments will include advanced encryption and the use of blockchain for enhanced data integrity. Artificial Intelligence (AI) will be crucial for real-time threat detection and predictive analytics, and compliance with global data protection regulations will become more critical, necessitating adaptive strategies from EHR providers. Additionally, user training will gain prominence to mitigate risks associated with human error. Overall, the focus will shift towards building a proactive, resilient digital healthcare environment, fortified against emerging cyber challenges.
Launched by athenahealth EHR Software, athenaOne was recently crowned as the top-ranked US medical app for Apple users. The award and acclamation is due to the many benefits and convenience athenaOne provides to its users through its robust set of tools and features. Not only this, but the app is also favored by healthcare providers all around the US because it has an easy to use and intuitive interface helping practices beat industry benchmarks.
Doctors have noticed quicker workflows and have enabled them to place orders and finish notes quickly. athenaOne has got a 5-star rating and has witnessed an increase in download by the users which reflects that the app is powerful enough to support healthcare providers through their stressful day!