The thrill of opening your first medical school acceptance letter was probably indescribable.
Applying to medical schools can be a trying ordeal. Not only do you have to graduate from college with high marks just to have a shot at being accepted anywhere, but then you have to spend countless hours studying for the dreaded MCAT and complete an absurd number of tedious grad school applications.
Now, years later, you may be facing another stressful situation: swapping out your old EHR for a newer, more-versatile system.
The question is why are so many EHR buyers on the market again? A California HealthCare Foundation study found that many providers aren’t even on Meaningful Use compliant systems.
Furthermore, the electronic health record has become such a media darling since the announcement of the HITECH Act that uncontrollable innovation has led to a shortened sales cycle for providers.
So, if you’re looking into replacing your system, this article may hold the answer.
Practice Goals
Akin to figuring out which medical school will set you up ideally for the future, the first issue to consider before replacing your EHR is how it’s affecting your organizational goals.
If your current software is preventing you from earning Meaningful Use incentives, providing optimal patient treatment or achieving maximum profitability, it may be time to contact different vendors.
Technical Issues
The wait for your MCAT results can be excruciating, just like waiting for tech support when your EHR system goes awry and patients are at the office expecting treatment.
If your vendor doesn’t commit to fixing software mishaps within a reasonable time frame, consider evaluating other EHR systems to find a solution with the technical capabilities that fulfill the needs of your practice.
Long-Term Stability
When considering different medical schools, chances are you looked for a program with well-established, recognizable merit. The same holds true for your EHR vendor.
Do you think your EHR is likely to be bought out within the next five years? Try to forecast your vendor’s sustainability by signing up for health IT newsletters from sources like Fierce Health IT, The Health Care Blog or HISTalk. They provide weekly updates on vendor dealings and mergers.
If your vendor isn’t financially stable, consider switching to a partner who will be around for the long haul.
Productivity
Remember the countless hours of studying you did for the MCAT? We bet you discovered techniques that helped you cover more chapters in less time.
Similarly, take some time to evaluate whether your system is making your staff more efficient.
EHRs should make your practice more productive, and wasting time isn’t the way to do so. If your EHR hampers your practice’s ability to treat patients, just wait until regulations like ICD-10 and the Affordable Care Act come into full effect.
Each of the reasons above justifies an EHR upgrade, but keep in mind, like applying to medical school, it’s not an easy process. Be diligent in your search so you can make the right decision for the future.
Do you know what you need when setting up a new medical practice?
