When faced with a choice between client-server based EMR and a web-based or hosted EMR system, what would be the better choice for you?
In these tough economic times more and more physicians are finding themselves faced with this critical question that demands a decision.
For starters it is a good idea to make sure that we understand what both terms mean. Client-Server based EMR systems are the most popular and this is where the program is hosted on the provider’s site. On the other hand a ASP or web-based EMR system as the name suggests is hosted by a third party on the web.
Actually both systems have their pros and cons which a physician must examine closely so as to be able to make an informed decision.
There is no doubt that you will always have much more control with a client based EMR system. It is faster and you do not have to rely entirely on the Internet to access your patient data. However there is a price to pay and it starts with the much higher upfront investment you will have to make to purchase a server and the software outright. Moreover remote access to your EMR records when you are away from the clinic is limited and usually much more complex than the case would be with a web based system.
On the other hand, a web based electronic medical records system means that your costs reduce dramatically. Not only for the initial setup but also in terms of maintenance because IT professionals belonging to the hosting vendor will maintain it and you have no costs in that regard. Not to mention the online back-up service that is available for you to enjoy. And then you can always access your data from anywhere in the world as long as you have an Internet connection which has to be one of the greatest pluses a web based system has.
But in this greatest strength also lies its major weakness. And that is the fact that your access is totally dependant on an internet connection meaning that access in certain areas will just not be possible. Then there are the usual risks that go with web based systems. For instance your data could end up being completely inaccessible in the event that the online company hosting it goes belly up.
All these factors have to be weighed and taken into consideration before you make a decision. It will depend a lot on your practice, what you want to do with it and of course the available budget.
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Looking for more expert advice on electronic medical records software?
Related articles;
The Pros and cons of EMR
Does web hosted EMR work?
What your EMR system should not do?
Two useful benefits of the right EMR software
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
EMR And The Pros Of A Paperless Clinic
It is reported that even in this day and age of sophisticated and yet easy to use EMR software systems, the vast majority of medical professionals still use the old fashioned medical practice management systems. These naturally involve piles and piles of paper and are vulnerable to a lot of things going wrong.
Why should people stick to an old archaic system that is inefficient, cumbersome and an obstacle to efficiency and meeting the challenges of today? There are several reasons including the fact that most folks naturally fear change of any kind and would prefer to stick with the old and familiar rather than try anything new. But whatever the reasons for staying away from EMR it is clear that physicians and clinics that ignore EMR it end up losing a lot of money and also lose numerous opportunities to grow their incomes and profitability. Not to mention the countless other benefits of having a paperless clinic.
Admittedly changing from an old trusted system to a new one that you may barely understand at the onset can be quite intimidating. However there are ways of facing some of the challenges that could be obstacles.
For instance instead of going for the more popular server-based EMR system that would usually require a higher upfront cost of ownership, you could opt for a web based EMR system which can be much cheaper to install. The cost of maintenance is also greatly reduced because the system can easily be kept running remotely by IT professionals. Then you can also access your records and data from anywhere in the world where there is an Internet connection.
The down side of it all is that it cannot work without an Internet connection. This means that if your connection is down for any reason, your operations will be crippled although certain precautions can be taken to minimize the impact of this.
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Are your ready for electronic medical records software?
Why should people stick to an old archaic system that is inefficient, cumbersome and an obstacle to efficiency and meeting the challenges of today? There are several reasons including the fact that most folks naturally fear change of any kind and would prefer to stick with the old and familiar rather than try anything new. But whatever the reasons for staying away from EMR it is clear that physicians and clinics that ignore EMR it end up losing a lot of money and also lose numerous opportunities to grow their incomes and profitability. Not to mention the countless other benefits of having a paperless clinic.
Admittedly changing from an old trusted system to a new one that you may barely understand at the onset can be quite intimidating. However there are ways of facing some of the challenges that could be obstacles.
For instance instead of going for the more popular server-based EMR system that would usually require a higher upfront cost of ownership, you could opt for a web based EMR system which can be much cheaper to install. The cost of maintenance is also greatly reduced because the system can easily be kept running remotely by IT professionals. Then you can also access your records and data from anywhere in the world where there is an Internet connection.
The down side of it all is that it cannot work without an Internet connection. This means that if your connection is down for any reason, your operations will be crippled although certain precautions can be taken to minimize the impact of this.
----------------------------
Are your ready for electronic medical records software?
What Your EMR System Should NOT Do
Like any other software out there, Electronic Medical Record systems while being extremely useful also have the potential of being a major obstacle sometimes. There are many ways where the software can be a bottleneck.
One of the most common ways where some EMR systems can become cumbersome is where it is designed in such a way that it boxes the user into rigid templates with no other options in the system. In this case the pre-defined templates can only be changed by your vendor or IT personnel.
Fortunately these days there are a growing number of EMR solutions that are completely free of templates. Instead they are based on a system called CC or “Chief Complaints”. Because the system is driven by “chief complaints” it enables the doctor to enter data at the speed of thought without being hindered by some template they have to go painstakingly through from beginning to end.
Still this does not mean that templates are altogether useless. Nothing can be further from the truth. What physicians should do is look for EMR software that offers both CC-driven applications but also has the option of templates. Templates are indispensable when it comes to certain repetitive procedures in the clinic.
The other thing that your EMR system must NOT do is rigidly stick to only scanning and attaching documents when it comes to document and image management. Instead your system should provide a flexible records management system that allows you to either copy documents into the database or alternatively link files without copying.
Another really important thing your EMR software must NOT do is fall short in meeting all regulatory and compliance requirements. There are really no two ways about this. You will realize that if you do fall short in this area, valuable time and resources will have to be diverted into ensuring that regulations are somehow met outside your system. This is both time consuming and cumbersome.
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More details on what your EMR software should not do.
One of the most common ways where some EMR systems can become cumbersome is where it is designed in such a way that it boxes the user into rigid templates with no other options in the system. In this case the pre-defined templates can only be changed by your vendor or IT personnel.
Fortunately these days there are a growing number of EMR solutions that are completely free of templates. Instead they are based on a system called CC or “Chief Complaints”. Because the system is driven by “chief complaints” it enables the doctor to enter data at the speed of thought without being hindered by some template they have to go painstakingly through from beginning to end.
Still this does not mean that templates are altogether useless. Nothing can be further from the truth. What physicians should do is look for EMR software that offers both CC-driven applications but also has the option of templates. Templates are indispensable when it comes to certain repetitive procedures in the clinic.
The other thing that your EMR system must NOT do is rigidly stick to only scanning and attaching documents when it comes to document and image management. Instead your system should provide a flexible records management system that allows you to either copy documents into the database or alternatively link files without copying.
Another really important thing your EMR software must NOT do is fall short in meeting all regulatory and compliance requirements. There are really no two ways about this. You will realize that if you do fall short in this area, valuable time and resources will have to be diverted into ensuring that regulations are somehow met outside your system. This is both time consuming and cumbersome.
----------------------------------
More details on what your EMR software should not do.
Two Useful Benefits Of The Right Electronic Medical Records Software
Here are two key benefits you will get from the right EMR software installed in your clinic or medical practice.
Ask any physician and they will tell you that they would prefer that they have access to patient data anywhere and at any time. There are many reasons for this but essentially the most predictable thing in the medical profession is unpredictability which means that you would frequently need access to your records at the most unexpected of times. This should be done using the doctor’s own laptop or on an off-site desktop accessing a server over an internet connection that is secure.
However to be realistic the second option is not always practical because there are many times when a doctor is where Internet access is unavailable. Other times your server could be down for some reason.
The solution to all this is to have an EMR software application that is able to save selected data. Ideally the most recent patient records and a handful of common and active data should be saved on the laptop or provider’s tablet PC for easy access anytime and anywhere.
In this way the physician and their staff are able to comfortably continue working even in remote locations and without any Internet connection. The software must then be able to update all records automatically once the medical professional is back to base or the web connection is restored.
An important word of caution here is all efforts must be made to ensure that the right security measures are in place to safeguard any unauthorized access to all portable devices.
Secondly the software should enable medical personnel to interact with patients and allow them some access to some of their health information in your data base. The whole idea would be to help improve loyalty to your practice. In the past patient portals have always been set up to allow access to medical records of patients by other physicians. However all that has changed in recent times and we now have secure messages, patient education, appointment rescheduling and more all being done with the help of EMR software that supports a secure patient portal.
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More benefits of EMR software
Ask any physician and they will tell you that they would prefer that they have access to patient data anywhere and at any time. There are many reasons for this but essentially the most predictable thing in the medical profession is unpredictability which means that you would frequently need access to your records at the most unexpected of times. This should be done using the doctor’s own laptop or on an off-site desktop accessing a server over an internet connection that is secure.
However to be realistic the second option is not always practical because there are many times when a doctor is where Internet access is unavailable. Other times your server could be down for some reason.
The solution to all this is to have an EMR software application that is able to save selected data. Ideally the most recent patient records and a handful of common and active data should be saved on the laptop or provider’s tablet PC for easy access anytime and anywhere.
In this way the physician and their staff are able to comfortably continue working even in remote locations and without any Internet connection. The software must then be able to update all records automatically once the medical professional is back to base or the web connection is restored.
An important word of caution here is all efforts must be made to ensure that the right security measures are in place to safeguard any unauthorized access to all portable devices.
Secondly the software should enable medical personnel to interact with patients and allow them some access to some of their health information in your data base. The whole idea would be to help improve loyalty to your practice. In the past patient portals have always been set up to allow access to medical records of patients by other physicians. However all that has changed in recent times and we now have secure messages, patient education, appointment rescheduling and more all being done with the help of EMR software that supports a secure patient portal.
------------------------------------
More benefits of EMR software
Medical Records Software: What Benefits In Integrated Systems?
There are well over 300 EMR solutions available in the market today all “shouting” about various advantages that they have to offer. Amid this kind of “noise” it is easy to completely miss the basics of the really important and immediate benefits a physician would gain from installing the right EMR system. This is why it is useful to look at some of the most important paybacks that would accrue from EMR and how to make sure that you do not miss them.
Most people would prefer an interface system to a fully integrated EMR software system. This is a mistake. The reason is simple. Although a fully integrated system may be a scary preposition (more so if the doctor has been using an independent medical billing and practice management software application) there is no doubt that it is the way to go and it dramatically reduces on inefficiency. Integration means that you have a single system that does various things but shares the same database. This is in contrast to an interface system where they will tend to be different data bases for different applications.
Of course there is no denying that interfaced applications work but there have been many horror stories when different data bases or systems within the same office go out of sync. Besides why waste resources and time with different databases in the same business? A fully integrated EMR software system will without doubt bring efficiency to any medical practice and the benefits at the end of the day will be huge.
Additionally, providers who use a qualified electronic prescription system in 2009 and 2010 can earn a bonus payment equal to 2 per cent of their total allowed charges through Medicare part B. So by simply using a certified EMR software system with in-built e-prescribing capabilities for instance you will avoid the headaches of a stand alone prescription system which will mean extra unnecessary data entry.
Amazingly research has shown that the average physician can save up to $15,700 or more annually by using their properly integrated ePrescribing feature.
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How do you find ideal electronic medical records software.
Most people would prefer an interface system to a fully integrated EMR software system. This is a mistake. The reason is simple. Although a fully integrated system may be a scary preposition (more so if the doctor has been using an independent medical billing and practice management software application) there is no doubt that it is the way to go and it dramatically reduces on inefficiency. Integration means that you have a single system that does various things but shares the same database. This is in contrast to an interface system where they will tend to be different data bases for different applications.
Of course there is no denying that interfaced applications work but there have been many horror stories when different data bases or systems within the same office go out of sync. Besides why waste resources and time with different databases in the same business? A fully integrated EMR software system will without doubt bring efficiency to any medical practice and the benefits at the end of the day will be huge.
Additionally, providers who use a qualified electronic prescription system in 2009 and 2010 can earn a bonus payment equal to 2 per cent of their total allowed charges through Medicare part B. So by simply using a certified EMR software system with in-built e-prescribing capabilities for instance you will avoid the headaches of a stand alone prescription system which will mean extra unnecessary data entry.
Amazingly research has shown that the average physician can save up to $15,700 or more annually by using their properly integrated ePrescribing feature.
----------------------------------------
How do you find ideal electronic medical records software.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Ghostwriting Services: Two Secrets That Will Make A Huge Traffic Difference
Here are two secrets that many folks offering ghostwriting services are not aware of which can make a huge difference in the kind of traffic that a site attracts as a result of ghostwritten content.
Follow these two huge secrets and watch your hit counter react immediately. And what is more you will be getting targeted traffic based on the relevant keyword phrases you have chosen and used in your article.
a) The Right Keyword Phrases To Target: I constantly get amazed at the huge fortunes people pay to find the most popular keyword phrases. Actually what they should be looking for are keyword phrase opportunities. In other words a keyword should first and foremost have as little competition as possible and yet be as popular as possible under these circumstances. The best way to find these keyword phrases is NOT at the top but at the bottom of the keyword popularity list. I am talking about keyword phrases that get two or three hits a day. The huge advantage here is that you will soon start seeing traffic from a number of other similar keyword phrases. Those few hits per keyword phrase tend to add up very quickly. You may be shaking your head as you read this and vowing never to abandon those high traffic keyword phrases. But what usually happens when you use them? Be honest. The result is zero traffic. So do you want to continue doing the same things you have been doing and yet expecting different results?
b) It is all about links: Your mind must remain focused on generating links pointed at your site all the time. Search engines don't stand still so if you are in the top ten today, you can be sure that it is not permanent. Everything you do as a generator of content should focus on generating valuable links pointed to your site constantly. There are several "legal" ways of doing this. The first is to create valuable content. Good content will always get re-posted complete with your links pointing back to your target site. Then you should also look for opportunities to answer questions on your field of expertise and link back to some of your valuable content that is relevant. One way to do this is to use the Google blog search to regularly search for content in blogs related to the subject you have written about.
If you are offering ghostwriting services just try out these two powerful tips and see the difference it makes as your ghostwriting clients enthusiastically flock back to give you more work all the time.
How much would it cost to hire a ghostwriter who has mastered these secrets?
Follow these two huge secrets and watch your hit counter react immediately. And what is more you will be getting targeted traffic based on the relevant keyword phrases you have chosen and used in your article.
a) The Right Keyword Phrases To Target: I constantly get amazed at the huge fortunes people pay to find the most popular keyword phrases. Actually what they should be looking for are keyword phrase opportunities. In other words a keyword should first and foremost have as little competition as possible and yet be as popular as possible under these circumstances. The best way to find these keyword phrases is NOT at the top but at the bottom of the keyword popularity list. I am talking about keyword phrases that get two or three hits a day. The huge advantage here is that you will soon start seeing traffic from a number of other similar keyword phrases. Those few hits per keyword phrase tend to add up very quickly. You may be shaking your head as you read this and vowing never to abandon those high traffic keyword phrases. But what usually happens when you use them? Be honest. The result is zero traffic. So do you want to continue doing the same things you have been doing and yet expecting different results?
b) It is all about links: Your mind must remain focused on generating links pointed at your site all the time. Search engines don't stand still so if you are in the top ten today, you can be sure that it is not permanent. Everything you do as a generator of content should focus on generating valuable links pointed to your site constantly. There are several "legal" ways of doing this. The first is to create valuable content. Good content will always get re-posted complete with your links pointing back to your target site. Then you should also look for opportunities to answer questions on your field of expertise and link back to some of your valuable content that is relevant. One way to do this is to use the Google blog search to regularly search for content in blogs related to the subject you have written about.
If you are offering ghostwriting services just try out these two powerful tips and see the difference it makes as your ghostwriting clients enthusiastically flock back to give you more work all the time.
How much would it cost to hire a ghostwriter who has mastered these secrets?
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