Last updated on Tuesday, 27, August, 2024
The digitization of patient records, workflow streamlining, and enhancing quality in patient care have been some of the leading transformations that EMR systems have brought into the healthcare industry. The systems provide a platform where healthcare providers will easily store, retrieve, and manage patient information. More formally, the adoption of EMR systems continues to mushroom with an increase in demand for more effective and efficient health services.
The article highlights the benefits, pricing models, and key software options available for EMR systems, hence providing a comprehensive guide to healthcare professionals who are contemplating availing themselves of these solutions.
Table of Contents
Some of the Benefits of EMR Systems
Better Care of Patients
One of the key benefits identified with the aid of EMR systems is an improved level of patient care. Integrated solutions that provide patients’ complete, clear, and updated data reduce the likelihood of medical error. This makes it possible for the clinician to see an overview of the patient’s history, possible allergies, medication history, and laboratory results with a view of making informed decisions.
Enhanced Coordination and Communication
EMR systems ensure higher levels of coordination and integration among the various professionals involved in health care. Sharing of information on a patient across departments or health institutions, especially under the traditional paper-based record systems, was cumbersome and error prone.
Improved efficiency and productivity
EMR systems make much administrative work automatic, thereby enabling health carers and professionals to avail more time for patients. Scheduling, billing, and documentation feature automation reduces the time and effort demanded for these components. For instance, electronic prescribing is an element of an EMR, to which it is incorporated and on its own, this element is automated and enables the providers to send prescriptions directly to the pharmacy and avoid writing on papers.
Improved Compliance and Security
With strict regulations like HIPAA, healthcare organizations have to protect the patient data. EMR systems have been designed with features to help in protecting the data up to required security levels. Access controls, encryption, and audit trails are some system features required to safeguard the sensitive information of a patient.
Cost Savings
While the initial investment in an EMR system may be large, the cost savings eventually are also great. This is in monetary terms: reduction in operational costs from decreasing paper records, storage space for these records, and the accompanying administrative labor. Cost savings also come from efficiency gains and error reduction because of medical errors, less malpractice claims, and from better revenue cycle management.
Pricing Models for EMR Systems
Prices for implementing an EMR system vary depending on the size of a healthcare organization, needed features, and deployment model used. The common pricing models for EMR are:
Subscription-Based Pricing
One of the most well-known methods of pricing the cloud-based options is known as the subscription model, which is also applicable to the EMR system. In this pricing model, the healthcare organizations will be charged a constant amount as per month or per year and they would get full access to the software.
Perpetual License Pricing
Whenever a healthcare organization has the need for an EMR, the perpetual license model implies that it pays a one-time fee to purchase software with a lifetime license. Such licenses may set one back for spend ensured through regular updates to software that is supported and maintained, primarily provided as optional service offerings.
Pay-Per-User Pricing
Some EMRs have a price per user intended to access their system. This means that a healthcare provider is charged for an EMR per user employed to use the service, whether monthly or yearly. This pricing model is advantageous to smaller practices because it enables them to scale up in terms of the system. However, with an increase in users, this model type becomes dearer.
Tiered Pricing
With tiered pricing models, different price points are attached to different services. A healthcare organization is, therefore, able to choose a better pricing tier out of those that are available. Features in this kind of model usually range from the basic tier that includes features such as patient record management and e-prescription to advanced features in higher tiers like analytics, telemedicine, and even patient portals.
Custom Pricing
Custom pricing is one that will be best for big health care organizations or those that come with unique requirements. In this model, the EMR vendor structures a deal with the organization to come up with a solution that befits the organization’s specific needs. Usually, a full assessment of the organizational needs is taken, followed up by a proposal which has the cost of developing software, implementation, and support moving forward.
Key EMR Software Solutions
There are many EMR systems available in the market. Each one has its benefits, features, and target users. Below are some of the most popular EMR software solutions:
Epic Systems
One of the most widely occurring EMR systems is Epic. It is mainly deployed within larger healthcare organizations and academic medical centers. Being a fully functional system, Epic contains modules for a comprehensive list of specialties, patient engagement tools, and robust reporting capabilities.
Cerner
Cerner is also among the best-rated EMR providers for solutions for every size practice and setting in a healthcare organization. Similarly, Cerner EMR enjoys an intuitive interface and custom workflows. The system also easily integrates with various third-party applications, further boosting its functionalities.
Allscripts
Allscripts, on its part, offers its EMR solutions to small and larger healthcare providers. It has a highly flexible EMR solution that is ridiculously configurable so practices can do modifications within the system to their own workflows. Among the features available in Allscripts are e-prescribing, a patient portal, and telehealth integration.
NextGen Healthcare
The NextGen Healthcare provides an EMR system that is cloud-based and, therefore, befitting to perform well with small to mid-sized practices. The system is appreciated for ease of use and the intuitive interface it comes with. Other features of NextGen’s EMR are e-prescribing, appointment scheduling, as well as patient engagement tools.
Athena health
Athenahealth is a provider of cloud-based EMR giving an all-out facility to regard healthcare solutions. This EMR system is user-friendly and time-efficient for things such as e-prescribing, telehealth integrations, revenue cycle management, and much more. Very strongly, athenahealth is known for being a company that most aligns and gains a strong focus on improving clinical outcomes and reducing administrative burdens.
Conclusion
The EMR system has established itself a great tool among health providers, with benefits such as: improved patient care, better communication, bettered efficiency, compliance, and truly cost saving. In choosing an EMR, what they need to learn is why they need one, what budget they have and what features exist in different choices of software. So whether for a subscription-based model, perpetual license, or custom-listed price, the right kind of an EMR system can really make the difference when it comes to quality care and operational efficiency.
FAQ’s
What is EHR and what is EMR?
While EMR and EHR are used generally in the same context, they are not the same in some aspects. EMR entails the creation of a paperless chart of a particular patient in a certain healthcare facility. It contains all the medical history of the patient, diagnoses, prescribed medications, treatment plans, dates of immunization, allergies to medications, results, and test results, but normally this information is accessed by the provider only.
How secure are EMR systems?
EMR systems have multiple laced security protocols that guard sensitive patient information. Some of them include encryption, access controls, audit trails, and updated security features to reduce potential vulnerabilities. Furthermore, most EMR systems meet the requirements of laws such as HIPAA in the United States, therefore establishing standards by which all patient Electronic Health Record information must be protected.
How Long Does It Take to Get an EMR System in Place?
Almost all EMR implementations differ. It is based on the size of healthcare organizations, the intricacy of the system, and the level of customization required. For small practices, this process may range from a few weeks to a few months. Although a larger organization in the healthcare sector, such as a hospital, may have an implementation time frame ranging from a few months to even up to one year, depending on the size and complexity of an EMR system.