Healthcare institutions use management software and electronic media records (EMR) to store medical records, as well as, digitize all facets of their systems. Scheduling, patient records management, accounting, and treatment planning are all operations that highly depend on medical management software.
EMR platforms help healthcare providers manage the patient influx, patients’ health insurance information and tend to the needs of both small, private, and independent practices. Some of these tools have been incorporated into the day-to-day operations of healthcare systems globally.
EMR systems are digitized versions of conventional medical records that produce a superior recording system in that data and information are made to be easily accessible, enabling healthcare workers to provide better care to their patients.
What are the Most Important Features of EMR Systems?
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EMR systems work in conjunction with medical practice management software to share information with healthcare administrations while streamlining patient data entry. Below are some of the main features and functions of an EMR system:
Schedules
Scheduling is a key component for any medical practice management software. EMR provides this feature which helps healthcare facilities organize their daily operations as they can determine which patients to be expected and what kind of services are required for those appointments.
Templates
These are notes that have been customized for various types of appointments. Templates allow health administrators to view information about specific patient appointments, which allows them to quickly fill in the required schedule information. Most EMR systems let providers view templates on the fly, letting them remove and add relevant and irrelevant information on the note.
E-prescribing
Another one of the most significant features of an EMR system is the electronic medication prescription feature. The system is able to issue warnings about potentially harmful drug interactions and any patient drug allergies, as well as review the patients’ medical history.
Labs
An EMR system allows providers to receive ordered lab results or tests electronically. Patients are also able to message providers to discuss their lab results or test progress.
Telemedicine
This is a recent component of the EMR system that has been of significant help since the CoronaVirus. The system allows providers to interact with patients via video conference and schedule appointments remotely.
What Are the Best EMR Software Solution for Small, Private, and Independent Practices?
1. AdvancedMD |
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| AdvancedMD’s software features a complete practice management medium and is the best EMR system; it features most of the key EMR system components, including telemedicine, lab interactions, and payment procedures. It has a suitable base package for hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies nationwide. | |
| “Having integrated practice management and EHR is absolutely wonderful, you don’t have to flip back and forth between systems—all of your information is at hand when needed.” Raju Raval, MD | |
2. Greenway Health |
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| Greenway Health provides healthcare administrations with a flexible, efficient, and powerful EMR system and practice management software, with easily usable system features and without any additional costs on both training or implementation. | |
| “If Greenway Revenue Services had not come into my life, I don’t think I’d be in private practice today.” -Dr. Ernesto Gomez, Mesa OB-GYN | |
3. Athenahealth |
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| Athenahealth is a cloud-based EMR software and practice management system. The key feature of Athenahealth is its engine module which flags any potential billing errors in the provider’s system, allowing the organization to avoid losses. | |
| “When you have a partner such as Athena, that’s vested in whether or not I do well, it’s a totally different financial model.” –Dr. Nora Garza, Garza Medical Group | |
4. Kareo |
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| Kareo is a powerful, highly performing EMR/PM software that is user-friendly and scalable enough to develop through expanding practices into numerous locations. Its features align in perfect symmetry with daily medical operations for both small, private, and independent practices. | |
| “I’ve used several systems in my 16+ years of billing and Kareo is, by far, the most user-friendly software. I love that it’s cloud-based, so in case I have to work from home, I can still work! Support is second-to-none – whether it be by phone or chat, or just submitting a support ticket.” -Sandra Durant, Office Manager, All Seasons Billing LLC | |
Choosing the Best Software Systems When It Comes to Digitizing Medical Practice and Operations
The best EMR software features almost all the recommended key components of a practice management system. These features assist providers in selecting patients’ prescriptions, making diagnoses, monitoring compliance, among other medical tasks.
Incorporating this software into the daily operations of healthcare practices is beneficial to all aspects of medical organizations as they help in the fastest management of clinical tasks.
Guest Author: Wendy Dessler. The views expressed in this article are the views of the author and not those of NurseRegistry nor NurseRegistry team members.
