Electronic health record (EHR) software is a digital way to keep track of your patient records and health information. The right EHR software can speed up your workflows, improve communication and help you maintain a high quality of care for your patients. Unfortunately, not all EHR software is created equally and the wrong software can slow you down and cause frustration among your staff.
So how do you tell the difference between the great electronic health record software and the not so fantastic? Here are five things to look for.
- Secure
When you’re dealing with sensitive patient information it’s important to take security seriously. It is crucial to choose an electronic health record software that’s safe and secure. The number of cyberattacks in Australia is increasing and healthcare organisations are often a target. When looking for EHR software, make sure you choose a platform that uses state of the art security to protect your patients and your practice from unauthorised access.
- Easy to use
EHR software that’s too complicated can be time consuming and frustrating. It’s important that your software helps you work faster and more efficiently rather than slowing you down. When looking at your options, make sure the software you choose is easy to use and actually improves productivity rather than reducing it. Things to look out for include whether the load times are fast, and how many clicks you need to access the information you need. Everything should be laid out intuitively so you can navigate without having to think about it too much.
- Integrated within your systems
Your EHR software doesn’t work in isolation, just like your practice. To work as efficiently as possible, your software should integrate with other applications you’re using such as your billing system and medicines information database. This will save time on manual data entry and lookup while allowing you to automate some of the routine tasks.
- Gives you a complete picture of your patients
Make sure your EHR software gives you a complete picture of your patients in one single place. If you have to access multiple windows and applications to see the most up to date health information, your practitioners are likely to get frustrated and your efficiency will be affected. With the full story in front of them, your practitioners can provide better care to their patients and do their job more effectively.
- Easily accessible
With developments in cloud technology, you can now get EHR software that’s accessible from any device at any time. If your practitioners work remotely or from home, or you want the flexibility to be able to look up your patient data from your phone or tablet, a cloud-based EHR system might be your best option.
The best electronic health record software can help you save time, improve efficiency and ensure the highest quality of patient care. There are a lot of different solutions out there so make sure you take your time and find quality EHR software that will help your practice grow and remain productive into the future.
