Posted by Soraya Hareez on Thu, Jun 03, 2010
The choice between Mac and PC boils down to personal preference, but mental health care providers (and all medical providers) opting to go with Mac will find fewer options for a compatible electronic medical record (EMR, also known as electronic health record or EHR). According to a new Software Advice article, over 95% of EMR/EHR systems on the market will not run natively on a Mac.
Coming to Mac-user rescue, this helpful article details three types of solutions which will enable the "Mac diehard" to be able to run EMR software on a Macintosh computer, including a list of web-based EMRs and other EMRs that are Mac-compatible:
Posted by Soraya Hareez on Mon, Aug 17, 2009
So you have made the decision to join the wonderful world of
electronic medical records (EMRs), also known as
electronic health records (EHRs). Great! Now the question is how to go about choosing the right EMR for your psychiatric practice. To point you in the right direction, we have outlined
five of the most important factors to consider when picking out a
psychiatric EMR.
1) Web-based vs. client server
This decision will have a big impact on where and when you will have access to your EMR. A web-based EMR (web-based software is also known as Application Service Provider [ASP] or ‘hosted' software) is hosted online, so you sign a service agreement to use the software for a certain period of time, and you then log in to a website to access your medical records. A client server-based EMR consists of software that you purchase and install on your computer or your office server. Here is a breakdown of the important factors that differentiate these two options:
Web-based EMR
- Accessibility: Since the EMR is hosted online, it is accessible to you from any web-enabled computer. If you do not have an internet connection, you will not be able to access your EMR. Some web-based EMRs allow for you to work offline and upload documents when you regain internet access.
- Performance: The performance and speed of the EMR will be dependant upon your internet connection. A reliable high-speed internet connection is recommended if you choose to go with a web-based EMR.
- Data Backups: Regular backups are performed by the EMR service provider to eliminate the risk of data loss. While you do not need to back up data locally, a good web-based EMR will still give you the option to do so.
- Updates: Updates and maintenance are also performed by the EMR service provider. You will automatically have access to new functionality when updates are released.
Client server EMR
- Accessibility: Since you will be installing software on your computer or server, the EMR will only be accessible from computers on which the software has been installed (or computers that are connected to the server on which the software is installed).
- Performance: The performance and speed of the EMR will be dependent upon the memory and speed of your computer.
- Data Backups: It is your responsibility to back up the data. If you choose to back up your data in hard copy by printing information out, it is recommended that you store the printed records in an off-site location to preserve them in case of an office disaster. If you choose to back up your data in electronic format, you should copy the information onto a second computer, preferably in a separate location, to preserve data in case of damage to the primary computer.
- Updates: You are responsible for installing software updates, which often need to be purchased from the EMR provider as they are released. If you choose a client-server based EMR, be sure to ask the EMR vendor about the fees associated with their software updates.
2) Ease-of-use vs. power
Think about your main goals for your psychiatric EMR. Are you simply looking to go paperless and organize your clinical documentation electronically (and qualify for Obama's Stimulus Package incentives in the process), or are you looking to customize, arrange, and analyze data in complex ways? The answer to this question will likely depend on your level of computer expertise. For behavioral health care providers with limited computer skills, the primary goal is often to simply get organized. A basic psychiatric EMR should allow you to organize each patient's clinical documentation with a simple interface, provide the ability to sort notes by document type (i.e. intake note, progress note, psychotherapy note), and upload scanned documents to patients' charts. A complex psychiatric EMR will have more options like adjustable document templates and customized reporting functions. Keep in mind that a feature-rich system can only reach its full potential if the user's technical ability allows him/her to use the functionality in a meaningful way.
3) Implementation, training, and technical support
Before you purchase an EMR, you should have an idea of timeframe, cost, and resources necessary to get you up and running with the system after the initial purchase. If you choose an EMR that requires software installation, you may need to enlist the help of a technically-oriented staff member (or friend/family member) to help with the installation. With a web-based EMR, there is little or no setup to be done on your end, as the EMR provider will configure your account and provide you with your login information. You should also find out if training and technical support are included in the base price of the EMR. If not, be sure to get a clear written description of cost structure and timeframe for which technical support is provided. Web-based EMR service agreements tend to have less expensive training and tech support plans, if they charge at all.
4) Basic EMR vs. Practice management system
This decision is linked with the first consideration (ease-of-use vs. power). If you are simply looking for an organized way to do clinical documentation electronically and you are satisfied with your current methods for scheduling, prescription writing, billing, etc., you may want to go with a basic EMR. Psychiatric practice management systems, which are more expensive that basic EMRs, provide integrated features in addition to clinical documentation to help you run your practice with one comprehensive system. Practice management features may include appointment scheduling, billing, medication management (ePrescribing), lab management, and intra-office messaging. Features are integrated to allow information from different areas to flow together, such as medication information automatically appearing within clinical notes and charges from the appointment scheduler transferring directly into the billing area.
5) Workflow functions
While a good EMR can adapt to the user's workflow, many EMRs do not possess such flexibility. Whether the EMR is for yourself or you are looking on behalf of a psychiatrist, be sure that you have taken the end user's workflow preferences into account. If the psychiatrist is not comfortable with typing, search for an EMR that incorporates features such as voice recognition, transcription options, or structured data such as checkboxes and drop-down menus. If the psychiatrist tends to need reminders to do their clinical notes, look for an EMR that has reminder and alert functions. To get an actual feel for how the system would work in everyday practice, it's a good idea to request an interactive demonstration of the psychiatric EMR before making a purchasing decision.
If you have questions during your EMR search, ask away! We're happy to help.