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| Moving from paper records to an electronic medical record (EMR) system can solve a host of problems and allow your medical organization to run faster, more accurately, and more efficiently. Read more about the benefits of switching to EMR. |
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| Start your EMR implementation with an evaluation of existing EMR software packages. This is not the kind of system you want to spend time creating from scratch; many vendors sell excellent off-the-shelf or customizable EMR systems that help you input, manage, and distribute records in standardized templates. |
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| Once you have found a software package that fits your needs, it's time to decide on your hardware configuration. Here your choices will be dictated largely by the sheer volume of records you will be handling, as well as the requirements of the EMR software. |
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| On the hardware side of an EMR implementation, you basically need to look at four major components: |
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Document input devices for inputting existing paper records. You will need a high-end scanner that can handle the large volume of existing records. You may also benefit from an HP All-in-One device, which can help input the many referral and other forms that will be received via fax. See HP Scanners and HP All-in-Ones. |
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Data access devices that staff can use to pull up electronic charts and medical records for viewing. These include desktops, Tablet PCs, notebooks, and handheld computers. Medical office workflow and usability studies show that in deploying an EMR, it is essential to have an access device in every examining room, if not for every staff member. Mobile devices are especially useful for accessing electronic records anywhere. See HP desktops, Tablet PCs, notebooks or handheld PCs. |
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Printing devices to output patient records and other information. Wireless printers can be easily moved to wherever they are needed; an all-in-one machines can provide faxing, scanning and copying as well. See HP Printers. |
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Server and/or storage devices to store the electronic medical records and/or to run specialized EMR software. Depending on the size of your organization, you may need storage dedicated specifically to storing all your electronic records. See HP servers, storage systems or virtual backup service information. |
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| Note: HP offers a discount program for savings up to 10% for health professionals. Learn more before you purchase. |
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Set up your network with devices for scanning, storing, and accessing medical records. |
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Install and configure EMR software. |
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Work with your EMR vendor's protocol for workflow design, training for your people and preparedness of your practice for go-live. |
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Begin using EMR system for all new patient and medical records. |
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Begin scanning/digitizing process for legacy records. |
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Benefits of moving to electronic medical records |
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| Why make the move to electronic medical records? At first, it may be hard to imagine why you would want to move from a system that has worked fine for your office in the past. But electronic medical record (EMR) systems solve a host of problems and allow your medical organization to run more quickly, more accurately, and more efficiently. |
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| Here are just a few benefits you can realize by switching to EMR: |
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Eliminate costs associated with creating and maintaining paper charts |
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Reduce or eliminate chart storage costs |
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Code more accurately |
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Add doctors without adding ancillary staff |
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Increase efficiency through streamlined digital workflow |
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Reduce staff time spent on manual data entry |
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Protect information. You can control access to digital files, and maintain a history of who reads the document. Encryption options for e-mail and stored files provide even more control |
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Improve access to information. Groups of employees can share digital files more easily than they can paper. Multiple copies can be sent to appropriate users via e-mail in seconds, and Web-based information can be viewed by anyone on the Internet (with proper authentication, if necessary) |
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Improve efficiency. When copies of patient records are available to all who need them (as opposed to sharing a single paper copy), efficiency improves |
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Simplify data management. Patient records are easier to manage when they are indexed and organized for faster retrieval |
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Reduce costs. The office saves money when transmitting records to other doctors, hospitals, and insurance companies |
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Centralize information. The system provides a single, easy location to back up all patient and business records |
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| An often cited concern about an EMR system is that of losing digitalized data to a technology failure, a virus, or a deliberate electronic break-in. While this is possible, electronic records are in truth harder to "lose" than paper. For one thing, redundant systems can keep data secure in ways paper files never could. If you are backing up your data regularly, preferably off-site, even a fire or other disaster at your office would not destroy your electronic records. This is a distinct advantage over paper records. |
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