Why Choose A Specialty-Specific EMR?

Healthcare professionals often hear that no two patients are alike, and the same could be said about physicians. However, while it is true that many doctors work and chart differently, those practicing medicine within the same field are bound to have many things in common. As a result, the specialty-specific EMR you choose for your practice should allow you to customize different aspects to meet your specific charting needs.

Cut down on training time and reduce the learning curve.

Instead of having to go through a cumbersome training process to customize the EMR software to your field, specialty-specific EMR software is set up for doctors to jump in and drive. “A lot of doctors purchase EMR software and still don’t know how to use it months down the road,” says Jason Keele, CEO of 1st Providers Choice. By simplifying the process, however, doctors are less hesitant to implement the system and use it with live patients. Since doctors are already familiar with the content and don’t have to build templates from scratch, the training process focuses primarily on getting providers and staff comfortable with the software.

Increase efficiency.

One of the main benefits of specialty-specific EMRs is that providers are able to chart in real time while they are in the room with the patient. “Doctors are seeing patients and need to be able to chart quickly and effectively,” says Keele. “If you have to start entering a whole bunch of new data, and you have Mr. Jones waiting in one room and Mrs. Smith getting impatient in the waiting room, as a doctor you’re going to have to leave some charting for later.” For most healthcare professionals, this means having to finish up visit notes long after patients are gone for the day.

Specialty-specific EMRs, however, include all the information doctors use most. Additionally, you have the option of using global templates which automatically bring in several variables once a diagnosis is selected. This includes medications, immunizations, labs, forms and other documents. Being able to get all this information with one click can save a tremendous amount of time and effort otherwise spent entering data separately.

Training and continuing education.

Vendors offering server or web-based EMR software often have associations with organizations related to their particular specialty. “It’s important to maintain an open line of communication with organizations that doctors are part of,” informs Keele. This allows vendors to take part in conferences and events and to offer continuing education and training opportunities for doctors and staff.

Many vendors offer complete data conversion from other EMR programs, making it easy to get up and going. For information about converting to 1st Providers Choice, click here.