EMR Software – EMR Features and Functionalities that Make a Difference

By: Russell Elakman, MedStar Systems

If you’ve been considering an Electronic Medical Record (EMR) software system for your practice, be particularly focused on the features and functionalities they offer. EMR software allows physicians to manage their schedules, access pertinent patient historical and diagnosis data, write a medical note, prepare treatment plans, prescribe medications and provide special instructions to the patient. EMRs offer a broad range of capabilities and functionalities, and each system on the market has specialized features that are meant to address specific needs. But, a good dose of care is required when selecting a system. It’s only recently that governmental policy groups and professional agencies have begun to address standards for these systems – so be sure to be an educated consumer when shopping for an EMR!

When choosing an EMR, the first step is to identify your needs and wants. Draw out a list of your requirements and questions for EMR developers, and ask the same questions of each system provider. An important distinction of a true EMR from related documentation technologies is that it has programming logic intergraded into the system to prepare custom diagnostic, treatment and coding recommendations.

MedStar Systems provides EMR solutions to meet your needs and your pocketbook. Look for the following elements when making your decision:

• Is the resulting medical note CMS compliant?
• Is the system’s workflow compatible with your personal and your clinic’s documentation and treatment style?
• Does the system provide documentation by exception? That is, does it look at the abnormalities in the exam and provide positive documentation for the rest?
• Are the screens easy to navigate and are there documentation shortcuts?
• What about reminders and pop-ups to assure comprehensive documentation?
• Does it interface with a practice management system and prepare coding recommendations?
• Does it provide lab interfaces to the major labs?

These are just some of the basic items that should guide your EMR purchase decision. Remember that the objective of using an EMR is to save time while maintaining or improving the quality of your medical care.

Russell Elakman is a system consultant for MedStar Systems www.medstarsystems.com, a premier EMR and Practice Management sofware vendor. He can be reached by email at relakman@medstarsystems.com, or by telephone at 866-775-7779.