When making the transition from a paper records-based medical practice to a practice that uses electronic health records, one of the biggest challenges is how to get all that written information into the new digital records. No one wants to take on the task of having to retype all the patient information, and this would be a poor use of human resources, to say the least.

If your organization has been relying on generic or outdated electronic health record software to help keep things running smoothly at your practice, you are probably doing your staff and patients a disservice.

Every time there is an advance in technology or a new development in how to perform a common task, savvy business managers will take notice and try to incorporate the improvements into their workflow.

As the manager of a thriving medical practice, you always need to keep a watchful eye on a multitude of factors, including adhering to the highest standards of healthcare while increasing patient satisfaction and maintaining employee efficiency.

Physicians who practice Internal Medicine are on the forefront of patient care. As primary care physicians, they serve as the gateway to specialists and the care coordinators for their patients. Given the amount of data they generate during patient encounters, they often need to share this information with specialists to whom they refer patients, as well as track their patients’ treatment and progress with other health professionals. The amount of detailed documentation required by third-payers and accreditation organizations makes it nearly impossible to maintain complete paper records in an organized manner. The use of electronic health record (EHR) software streamlines documentation process and facilitates the sharing of healthcare information among physicians.

With potential reductions in Medicare reimbursements for practices not using electronic health records (EHR) by 2015, many solo practitioners and small group practices are revisiting their decision to stay with paper charts and records. Initially, these providers had concerns about cost of entry, return on investment, and disruption in their practice that outweighed the benefits of the incentive payments offered by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Since many of these healthcare professionals have discovered their EHR concerns have been addressed with the latest releases of EHR software, they have decided to join the ranks of healthcare providers who have adopted this healthcare information technology. What do healthcare professionals need to succeed in their transition to EHR software?

While behavioral health providers have been reluctant to adopt behavioral health electronic health records (EHR), the reality they face reductions in Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements if their practice does not adopt EHR by 2015 has motivated behavioral health practitioners to consider their options in behavioral health EHR. With the introduction of cloud-based EHR software with enhanced security features, the entry cost of behavioral health EHR has significantly decreased and the protections for patient records has become more robust. Additionally, the introduction of specialty software designed specifically for behavioral health providers reduces the need for costly and time-consuming customizations. Key Features Needed in Behavioral Health EHR Software The practice of psychiatry and other behavioral health disciplines has always had unique needs in terms of record and documentation, which is the reason one-size fits all EHR software solutions do not meet the needs of most behavioral health providers. Specialty EHR software for behavioral health practitioners offers these key features to meet the needs of psychiatrists and other mental health professionals.

Many physicians that explored implementing electronic health records (EHR) a few years ago when the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced their incentive program for those that adopted healthcare information technology opted not to participate in the program. Some of the reason doctors cited for not adopted EHR included the high cost of entry and ownership, time-consuming user interfaces with required fields not relevant to their practices, and concerns about security. When EHR software developers heard these concerns, they started including physicians in the development process of new EHR software releases. Additionally, the new certification requirements for EHR software that go into effect in 2014 also address security concerns.

The new generation of Radiology Information Systems (RIS) offer radiology an array of features that allows imaging centers the cost saving benefit of going paperless. With customizable software designed to fit the workflow of the practice, the transition to a digital office can be seamless. The intuitive RIS user interface offered by the software means that clinicians and administrative staff require minimally training to take complete advantage of all the benefits provided by the latest generation of RIS software.

Adopting an electronic health record (EHR) system in your practice can be daunting. But with strategic staff training, you can avoid the pitfalls many medical practices encounter. Software Advice provides five training tips to get your practice up to speed on a new EHR effectively.