EMR Implementation

Electronic medical records (EMR) are poised to revolutionize the healthcare industry. As a majority of physicians in the U.S. now report using some form of EMRⁱ, the benefits of a quality EMR implementation in the medical practice are becoming clear. With an effective EMR implementation, the practice can:

• Improve availability and use of patient records, displaying up-to-date patient information in the physician's workflow
• Improve the coordination of care between multiple providers by consolidating patient data for that practice into a single record
• Enhance patient safety by performing drug interaction and allergy checks more accurately and bringing all patient records and medical history into a single place
• Improve efficiency and reduce cost by automating tasks and minimizing the time spent inputting and managing patient records

In addition to the potential for achieving greater profitability through increased efficiencies and reduced costs, the right EMR implementation can also secure financial incentives offered by the federal government. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) offers financial incentives to practices that can demonstrate the meaningful use of an EMR implementation, as specified by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Learn more about EMR implementation and financial incentives.

The benefits of a web based EMR implementation.

As demand for quality EMR implementation has risen in recent years, the number of solutions on the market has risen as well. However, smaller practices seeking implementation of an electronic medical record system still face significant obstacles, as many EMR solutions require an upfront investment and the kind of ongoing IT resources that can be challenging for small practices to manage. Fortunately, a web based implementation offers an affordable and effective alternative. Web based EMR software (also referred to as "cloud EMR") makes EMR software available from any location. Rather than purchasing, installing and maintaining a software/hardware package, the smaller practice can access EMR software online for an affordable subscription fee. Upgrades and maintenance and handled automatically by the software vendor. Since EMR data is kept offsite at a highly secure data center, the security of patient records in a web based implementation is usually greater than in a solution where software and data sits on servers housed within the practice.

Centricity Advance: Innovative EMR, practice management and patient portal implementation.

Centricity Advance from GE Healthcare is a leading web based EMR implementation solution that provides support for electronic medical records as well as medical office management software and a patient portal. With Centricity Advance, practitioners can:

• Achieve EMR implementation quickly. As an easy-to-use online solution, Centricity Advance can be adopted quickly, with practices completing data migration and training in as little as four weeks
• Improve financial management. Centricity Advance includes electronic medical billing software that helps enhance cash flow management and revenue cycle management by allowing practices to improve the accuracy of medical coding and claims submission
• Streamline operations. The Centricity Advance practice management system enables administrators to automate tasks and improve productivity in order to reduce costs and get more work done without adding FTEs
• Help patients fill their own healthcare needs. A patient self-service portal lets patients go online to access their medical records, refill prescriptions, view lab results and schedule appointments

Learn more now about Centricity Advance's EMR implementation.

ⁱU.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): "Electronic Medical Record/Electronic Health Record Use by Office-based Physicians: United States, 2008 and Preliminary 2009" http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hestat/emr_ehr/emr_ehr.htm