Comments on: How to choose the right electronic health record (EHR) consultant http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/11/choose-electronic-health-record-ehr-consultant.html Wed, 15 Feb 2012 00:27:00 +0000 hourly 1 By: Jules Enatskyhttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/11/choose-electronic-health-record-ehr-consultant.html#comment-120634 Jules Enatsky Sun, 29 Nov 2009 15:49:15 +0000 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/?p=41237#comment-120634 As a healtcare consultant who specializes in educating providers on E&M documentation and compliance and who is frequently asked about EHR software, I feel the most important factor is software that is physician friendly that one that will not cost the provider an arm and a leg to update or make changes to preferences. Hospital C-level's who never involve the largest user population usually fail and wind up with provider revolt. If you are not comfortable in using a program, don't buy it. Also, look at AAFP website where some excellent tools are available for free to evaluate EHR software firms and a program that allows you to rate vendors, see cost benefit (ROI), expected pitfalls based on staff size, etc. As a healtcare consultant who specializes in educating providers on E&M documentation and compliance and who is frequently asked about EHR software, I feel the most important factor is software that is physician friendly that one that will not cost the provider an arm and a leg to update or make changes to preferences. Hospital C-level’s who never involve the largest user population usually fail and wind up with provider revolt. If you are not comfortable in using a program, don’t buy it. Also, look at AAFP website where some excellent tools are available for free to evaluate EHR software firms and a program that allows you to rate vendors, see cost benefit (ROI), expected pitfalls based on staff size, etc.

]]> By: Tex Bryanthttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/11/choose-electronic-health-record-ehr-consultant.html#comment-119390 Tex Bryant Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:47:56 +0000 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/?p=41237#comment-119390 Besides worrying about hardware and software and the attendant costs, another concern is making best use of the EHR. As I have pointed out in a recent white paper on my website, a serious problem is the frustration that a staff can develop in trying to make the best use of an EHR. From my perspective, the best approach is to implement the most important features as determined by a team at the health care site, so that each of the staff using the EHR is comfortable and open about communicating any problems. In fact, a site may not use all of the features in the EHR they purchase. After all, how many of us use all the features in Microsoft Word or Excel.As I said, I have a guide on what I believe to be the best approach to implementing an EHR. The guide is free pdf file. Besides worrying about hardware and software and the attendant costs, another concern is making best use of the EHR. As I have pointed out in a recent white paper on my website, a serious problem is the frustration that a staff can develop in trying to make the best use of an EHR. From my perspective, the best approach is to implement the most important features as determined by a team at the health care site, so that each of the staff using the EHR is comfortable and open about communicating any problems. In fact, a site may not use all of the features in the EHR they purchase. After all, how many of us use all the features in Microsoft Word or Excel.

As I said, I have a guide on what I believe to be the best approach to implementing an EHR. The guide is free pdf file.

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