So You’re Moving to New EMR Software?
So You’re Moving to New EMR Software?
Making the switch to new EMR software can present challenges but there are steps you can take to make it seamless. Whether this is the first for your practice, or you are transferring from one vendor to another, there are a lot of considerations one must make when going through this process. At the end of the day, you have to look at the needs and concerns of your practice alone, and make a decision with those considerations in mind.
Connecting your practice with an EMR software system that does the least to disrupt workflow and operations is of the most importance. If you’re going from paper charts to an EMR system, some form of disruption may be inevitable. But in this case, short-term disruption can lend itself to long-term financial and internal efficiency benefits.
A proper EMR software will aim to provide as few hurdles as possible throughout the implementation process. Confer with past testimonials and users of a software system or vendor to see details about the ease in this process.
So how do you know whether you should be looking to switch EMR vendors? Well, common trigger points have to do with lack of training and support. When you have problems with your software, do you know you can have them adequately solved? Maybe your staff has acquired some new members and you need them trained. If you find that your current vendor doesn’t have operations in place to assist with these matters, that can be a sign to switch.
Going beyond training and support, you might also find problems within the system itself. That is of course a lot easier to identify and a lot harder to fix. If you find that your EMR software system doesn’t function to fit all the needs of your practice, a change should be inevitable.
If you have decided to make the change, make sure to designate staff members as the head of the search committee. Obviously it would be best to identify someone with prior knowledge of EMR software solutions, but if that is not an option, you will want to choose someone that is eager to gain this knowledge.
You will also want to gather a team to serve key roles throughout the implementation phase. This should be a group of dedicated staff that are willing to learn about the ins-and-outs of the new EMR software. That will require connecting with training and support staff that should be offered by your new vendor and much more. This will benefit the overall efficiency of your practice tremendously down the road.
Remember, the selection process is step one. First you have to select the EMR software system best for your practice. But what is lost on most practices is the implementation step. That is, having the proper resources in place to make the implementation process easier and more efficient for the viability of your practice. If you provide proper attention to the implementation step, the road to long-term profitability will be a smooth one.
Contact American Medical Software to learn more about how our EMR software can help your practice succeed and grow.
Leave a Reply
Want to join the discussion?Feel free to contribute!