{"id":7849,"date":"2013-02-25T18:00:36","date_gmt":"2013-02-25T23:00:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.carecloud.com\/?p=7849"},"modified":"2013-02-25T18:00:36","modified_gmt":"2013-02-25T23:00:36","slug":"how-to-get-the-most-from-your-ehrpm-one-practices-experience","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/carecloud.com\/continuum\/how-to-get-the-most-from-your-ehrpm-one-practices-experience\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Get the Most from Your EHR\/PM: One Practice\u2019s Experience"},"content":{"rendered":"

Tere Salazar-Krauss was facing a big challenge. After 14 years on Allscripts Misys, her 5-surgeon, Miami-based practice needed a new integrated EHR\/PM system. She was given one year to search for the right system.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cThe outside world was pushing us toward an EHR,\u201d Tere said. \u201cWe looked at Misys but found it to be too expensive and too complicated.\u201d<\/p>\n

Over the course of the next 8 months, she reviewed 7 different systems. \u201cAll the major names,\u201d Tere said, including NextGen, Intergy, Sage, and others.<\/p>\n

After receiving sales pitches and presentations from each of these companies, none was a good fit for what the practice needed. Tere found the systems were too cumbersome and required too many screens to get where she and EHR team needed to go in the system.<\/p>\n

Eight months into the process, Tere said, a consultant mentioned the CareCloud EHR.<\/p>\n

When they looked at the system, \u201cthe MDs were wowed,\u201d she said. \u201cIt was very different, user-friendly with an appearance like an iPad or iPhone.<\/strong> All the other systems involved a lot of screens, but CareCloud was much easier to use.<\/a> We loved the look.\u201d<\/p>\n

To make the final decision, Tere conducted a complete analysis of the system, including the financial aspects. \u201cAt that point, a local hospital was offering to subsidize one of the systems for two years,\u201d Tere said. \u201cWe took all the proposals and did a 5-year projection of the costs.”<\/p>\n

\u201cCareCloud was more inexpensive than any of the others, even with the subsidy,\u201d Tere concluded. \u201cPlus, other companies were asking for long-term commitments; one asked for a 10-year commitment!\u201d<\/p>\n

In the end, Tere chose CareCloud for both the financial benefit and the look\/ease of use.<\/p>\n

Next, Tere planned out the integration of the new system. Many in the industry warn of reduced productivity and revenue while implementing a new EHR, but in the end, Tere\u2019s practice didn\u2019t experience any significant decline.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe saw no dip in cash flow,\u201d Tere says. \u201cIn fact, after the first 6 months, we had increases of 11% in billings and 6% in cash flow.\u201d And, the practice has already received its first Meaningful Use incentive payment.<\/strong><\/p>\n

How did Tere and EHR practice accomplish this? She recommends several key steps, including implementing the system in phases.<\/p>\n

You can learn more about how Tere and her team got more from their EHR\/PM by checking out our most recent webinar\u00a0when Tere will discuss her experience in detail and take questions from you. You\u2019ll hear about:<\/p>\n