The 12 Moving Parts to a Successful EHR System

December 13th, 2011

1. Electronic Medical Record system/Electronic Health Record system (EMR & EHR)

2. Scan/convert existing paper charts to electronic format

3. Computer hardware/PC, laptops/tablets

4. Highspeed/Broadband carrier

5. Access to Personal Health Records (PHR)

6. Patient Portal (scheduling, access, PHR)

7. Practice website

8. EMR/EHR system integration, install training and maintenance

9. Wireless/mHealth apps

10. EPrescribing (eRx)

11. Financing options

12. Connection abilities with Regional Extension Centers, Health Information Exchanges

EHR Companies, Product Names

December 12th, 2011

Abraxas Abraxas EMR
Acrendo A.I.med EMR
ADS MedicsDocAssistant EMR
AdvancedMD AdvancedEMR
AdvantaChart AdvantaChart EMR
AllMeds, Inc AllMeds
Allscripts Amicore
Alpha-It Universal e-Health MD (UeHMD)
AltaPoint AltaPoint EMR
AZZLY AZZLY EMR
Bizmatics PrognoCIS EMR
Catalis Catalis Accelerator EMR
CattailsMD CattailsMD EHR
Cedaron APTA Connect
Cerner Millennium PowerChart (Ambulatory)
Cerner PowerWorks EMR
ChartLogic ChartLogic
ChartWare ChartWare
ClearPractice ClearPractice EHR
ClinixMIS ClinixMD
CompuGroup Medical Alteer EMR (Alteer)
CompuGroup Medical Visionary DREAM EHR (Visionary)
CompuGroup Medical NetPracticeEHR
CompuGroup Medical NetPracticeEHRweb
Comtron Medgen EMR
Connect(x) HealthWare Chart(x) EHR
Connexin Office Practicum EMR
CPSI Medical Practice EMR
CureMD CureMD EMR
Cyber Records MediChart Express
digiChart Inc. digiChart OB-GYN
DoctorsPartner DoctorsPartner EMR
DocuMed Electronic Clinical Office (ECO)
eCast eCast EMR
EHI MDnet-EHR
Encite Encite EHR
Experior Experior Medical Record
Exscribe E-Record EMR
Falcon Falcon EHR
First Medical Solutions FirstEMR
FreeMED FreeMED
GE Healthcare Centricity EMR
GE Healthcare Centricity Practice Solutions EMR
HCD Health Probe Professional
HCIT Ophthalmic EMR
Healthland Physician Practice Documentation
HMS HMS Ambulatory EHR
HST HSTpathways
iMed iMed EMR
Integritas STIX
Integritas Agility EHR
iPatientCare iPatientCare EHR
Iris Clinic Charts EMR
iSalus OfficeEMR
Jonoke JonokeMed EMR
KeyMedical KeyChart
ManagementPlus ManagementPlus EMR
MDoffice MDoffice EMR
Medamation Medamation MD
MedcomSoft MedcomSoft Record
MEDENT MEDENT EMR
MedInformatix MedInformatix EMR
Meditab IMS Visit Note EMR
MedSym T.I.M.E. EMR (Electronic Medical Record)
MEDTRON MEDTRON EMR
meridianEMR meridianEMR
MicroFour PracticeStudio EMR
Modernizing Medicine EMA
MTBC MTBC EMR
Nightingale Physician’s Work Station (Integrated Healthware)
Nightingale Nightingale PWS
Oceris FlexMedical
OmniMD OmniMD EMR
OpenEMR OpenEMR
Optimed CHARTCARE EMR (CLINICARE)
Optimed Accuro
Optimus EMR Optimus EMR
PatientNOW PatientNOW EMR
PhEMR PhEMR EMR
Point and Click Solutions OpenChart
Practice Velocity VelociDoc Tablet EMR
PracticeHwy.com Clinical Master
PRAGMEDIC PragRecord
Prime Clinical Systems Patient Chart Manager
QHR Technologies Accuro EMR
Sajix iHelix MD
Scriptnetics Medscribbler Community EMR Open Source
ScriptRx ScriptRx EMR
Sequel Systems SequelMed EMR
Software Performance Specialists EasyChart
SSIMED SSIMED EMRge
STI ChartMaker Clinical
StreamlineMD Streamline EHR
Stryker Imaging OrthoPad (Stryker)
SuccessEHS SuccessEHS EHR
SuiteMed SuiteMed IMS EMR
SynaMed SynaMed EMR
TeleResults Corp TeleResults Clinic Automation System
TetriDyn Solutions AeroMD EMR
TriMed e-Medsys EMR
Ulrich Medical Concepts Team Chart Concept
UrgentCare Works UrgentCare Works EMR
Valant Valant EMR
VersaSuite VersaSuite EHR
VipaHealth SmartEMR
Workflow WorkflowEHR

List of EHR companies with complete or module ONC Certified EHR/EMR solutions

December 8th, 2011

Doctor Office Management, Inc.
Pulse Systems
Systemedx Inc.
Waiting Room Solutions
Health Communication Systems, LLC
UnisonCare Corporation
VipaHealth Solutions, LLC
Medaxis Corporation
4Medica
Acrendo Software, Inc.
ABEL Medical Software Inc.
Abraxas Medical Solutions, Inc
Accelecare Wound Centers, Inc.
Accumedic Computer Systems, Inc.
EMRlogic Systems
Health IT Services Group
San Diego Hospitalist Physician Corp
EHR Solutions Group, LLC
ADP AdvancedMD
AdvantaChart Inc.
Compulink
Agastha, Inc.
Integritas, Inc.
AllMeds, Inc.
Iris Medical Services LLC
Allscripts
AlphaCM, Inc.
Altapoint Data Systems, LLC
Visionary HealthWare, LLC
AmazingCharts.com, Inc.
MD Web Solutions
American Medical Software
Anasazi Software, Inc.
Plexus Information Systems, Inc.
All About Medical Billing Inc.
AppMed, Inc.
Aprima Medical Software, Inc
Varian Medical Systems
ASP.MD Inc.
AssistMed, Inc.
Medical Messenger
athenahealth, Inc
Netsmart Technologies, Inc.
Avazen Health
Angel Systems, Inc.
Axolotl Corporation
Azalea Health Innovations, Inc.
AZZLY®
BackChart
Benchmark Systems
BIO EMR Technology
Soren Technology
BlueFire Medical Software
Clinic Service Corporation
CaduRx
Acurus Solutions Inc.
MedPlus, A Quest Diagnostics Company
Binary Spectrum Pvt. Ltd.
Qualifacts Systems, Inc.
ProComp Software Consultants
Marshfield Clinic
Clinic Doctor LLC
PracticeMax, Inc.
GE Healthcare
CentriHealth, Inc.
Mighty Oak Technology, Inc.
Connect(x) HealthWare LLC
ChartLogic, Inc.
STI Computer Services, Inc.
BIT Healthcare, Inc.
Midwest Software, LLC
Forte Holdings
Integrated Practice Solutions, Inc.
Softworx Solutions
ClaimTrak Systems, Inc.
ClearHealth Inc.
ClearPractice
CLIN1
SMARTMD™ Corporation
The Echo Group
DigiDMS, Inc.
UT MD Anderson Cancer Center
Clinix MIS LLC
Savvient Inc.
Netsmart Technologies, Inc.
CodoniX
ComChart Medical Software, LLC
Medrium Inc.
CPSI (Computer Programs and Systems), Inc.
Credible Wireless, Inc.
Criterions LLC
Crystal Practice Management
CureMD Corporation
Cyclops Vision Corporation
Cyfluent, Inc.
Mountain Medical Technologies Inc
digiChart, Inc.
DigiDMS
DNA Data Systems
Alton Healthcare, LLC
LIN Software, LLC
DocPatientNetwork
DoctorsPartner, LLC.
DocuTAP
Interactive Practice Management Systems dba DocWorks
Dox-Starwriter
DrChrono.com Inc.
EnSoftek, Inc
Keiser Computers, Inc.
Joseph P. Addabbo Family Health Center, Inc.
e-MDs
TriMed Technologies Corp
Exscribe, Inc.
E-Z BIS, Inc.
Advanced Medical Information Solutions
EBIO-METRONICS
eCast Corporation
MD On-Line
eClinicalWorks
MPN Software Systems, Inc.
Future Health
eCareSoft, Inc.
eDerm Systems LLC
DocComply
eHana
eHealth Made EASY, LLC
eHealthCare Systems, Inc.
eHealthFiles, Inc.
Office Ally
E-Health Partners, Inc.
Hi-Tech MD
Genius Solutions Inc
ElationEMR
Chesapeake Potomac Cancer Center
Axolotl Corp.
Exemplo Medical LLC
Emdeon Inc.
EmedPractice LLC
EMedicalNotes, LLC
Holt Systems, Inc.
CMPMR LLC
empowersystems
MedNet System
Max Systems Inc.
Origin Healthcare Solutions
American Business Systems, LLC
EnableDoc LLC
Encite, Inc.
M3 Healthcare Solutions
Tools4Medicine, Inc.
Datagroup Technologies Inc.
EndoSoft, LLC
eMed Solutions LLC
Epic Systems Corporation
PsyTech Solutions, Inc.
Eprosystem Inc.
eScribe EMR Solutions
Yak Digital Corp.
Lavender & Wyatt Systems, Inc.
Estuary Electronic Health Records
MedWorxs LLC
Infomedika, Inc.
Defran Systems, Inc.
AxSys Technology
Mountain Computer Systems
Eyecom3 / HealthLine Systems, Inc.
Penn Medical Informatics Systems, Inc.
EyeMD EMR Healthcare Systems, Inc.
EZ Healthcare Inc.
Dexter Solutions Inc.
Total Outsource, Inc.
EZnotes, Inc.
Falcon, LLC.
Son Information Systems, Inc.
First Medical Solutions
OCERIS, Inc.
gMed
Geriatric Practice Management
GEMMS, Inc.
Genesis Primary Care EMR
GeniusDoc, Inc.
gMed, Inc.
Gulfstream Healthcare Technology, LLC
Glenwood Systems LLC
gloStream, Inc.
Green Clinical Systems Inc.
Clarkson Eyecare
gMed
H-DOX
Offsite Care Resources, Inc.
Health Information Management Systems, LLC
HEALTHeSTATE, LLC
HealthTec Software Inc
HealthTrio, LLC
HealthPort
CompuGroup Medical
Healthcare Management Systems, Inc.
McKesson Provider Technologies
Zenith Technology Solutions, LLC
ICANotes, LLC
iChartsMD
MDLAND
iMedicWare, Inc
ifa united i-tech Inc.
US Oncology
iMed Software Corporation
Meditab Software, Inc.
Health One Alliance
InfoQuest Systems, Inc.
Ingenix
OMS Technologies, LLC
InPracSys™
Netsmart Technologies, Inc.
Instakare Accentia Healthcare Solutions Corporation
Intivia, Inc.
MED3000, Inc
Integrity Digital Solutions
Businet, LLC
Intellicure, Inc.
SuiteMed
InTUUN Systems
IO Practiceware, Inc.
MCS – Medical Communication Systems, Inc.
IRCS, Inc.
MedLink International, Inc
KeyMedical Software, Inc.
KPMD INC.
LeonardoMD, Inc.
Levin Software Technologies, Inc.
PrimeSource Healthcare Systems, Inc.
Liquid Medical Office, Inc.
MedXLnce, Inc.
MacPractice, Inc.
TheraManager LLC
MagView
MagView
ManagementPlus
First Insight Corp
First Insight Corporation
MD Logic EMR
TECNEX Systems, LLC
Infinite Software Solutions Inc. [D/B/A MD-Reports]
MyOnlineDr
Vision Infonet Inc
Easy Billing Systems
HHT International, Inc.
Enable Healthcare, Inc. (EHI)
MDoffice, Inc.
MediRec, LLC
TechSoft, Inc.
Data Strategies, Inc.
Nexsyis, Inc.
MedAZ.Net, LLC
TransMedic
MedcomSoft
MedConnect, Inc.
MedConnex
MEDTRON Software Intelligence Corporation
Community Computer Service, Inc.
MedEvolve LLC
Medflow
Crowell Systems
Comtron Inc.
LSS Data Systems
Open Software Solutions, LLC
Medstreaming
Medical Office Online, Inc.
Medical Voice Products, Inc.
Innovative Medical Practice Solutions, LLC
PatientNOW
Medicat, LLC
Advanced Data Systems Corporation
Health Administration Systems, Inc.
MedInformatix, Inc
IOS Health Systems
TracikaMed Inc
MediSYS
HealthFusion
Health Data Services, Inc.
MedMagic LLC
Health Systems Technology, Inc.
Advanced Medical Software Systems LLC
DataNet Solutions, Inc.
Vinformatix, LLC
MedSym, Inc.
Trellix Engineering Corp.
Medtech, Inc.
Mitochon Systems, Inc.
Merge Healthcare
meridianEMR, Inc.
Henry Schein Medical Systems
Cerner Corporation
MindLinc-Duke
ModuleMD
Elekta – IMPAC Medical Systems, Inc.
MTBC (Medical Transcription Billing Corporation)
MxSecure, Inc.
Insight Software, LLC
Mychartsonline.com
Horizon Medical World LLC
Secure Infosys LLC
Complete Medical Solutions, LLC
Nth Technologies, Inc.
NaviNet
NeoDeck Software
Nesticon, LLC.
Noteworthy Medical Systems, Inc.
NexTech Systems Inc.
nextEMR, LLC
NextGen Healthcare
Nexus Clinical LLC
Nightingale Informatix Corporation
Nortec Software Inc
Nuesoft Technologies, Inc.
ODOS Industries, Inc.
Digital Medical Solutions Inc.
Connexin Software, Inc.
iSALUS Healthcare
Eyefinity/OfficeMate
OIS
Integrated Systems Management, Inc.
Bogardus Medical Systems, Inc.
Altos Solutions, Inc.
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Open Dental Software
Point and Click Solutions, Inc.
OEMR
Oxbow Intellectual Property, LLC
PAL/MED Development, LLC
QRS Inc.
QRS, Inc.
Partners Healthcare System
Patagonia Health
Prime Clinical Systems, Inc.
PatientClick
PBO
PBSI – Positive Business Solutions, Inc.
PCC Physician’s Computer Company – Pediatric Software
PCE Systems
PCIS GOLD
Software Solutions Group, Inc
NCG Medical Systems, Inc.
Phoenix Ortho, LLC
E*HealthLine.com, Inc.
Phyaura, LLC
Universal EMR Solutions
Electronic Services Technologies
Doc-tor.com, LLC
Smoky Mountain Information Systems, Inc.
Jefferson Technical Services, LLC
PlatinumMD
Cerner Corporation
Williams Group
California Medical Systems
Practice Fusion, Inc.
Diversified Ophthalmics, Inc.
Practice Today
MicroFour, Inc.
PracticeSuite, Inc.
Mercury Solutions, LLC
Tranquilmoney Inc.
Infor-Med Corporation
TeleResults
PriMedx Solutions, LLC
Greenway Medical Technologies, Inc.
MD Synergy Solutions, LLC
UNI/CARE Systems, Inc
Procentive
Argyle Medical Software
BizMatics Inc
Askesis Development Group
DocuTrac, Inc.
QuikEyes, Inc.
Rabbit Healthcare Systems
Radysans, Inc.
Raintree Systems, Inc
RamSoft Inc.
ACOM Health
ACOM Health
RelayHealth, a division of McKesson Corporation
FEi Systems
Indian Health Service
Health Innovation Technologies, Inc.
RT-MediBus Technologies Private Limited
RTZ Associates, Inc.
Networking Technology dba RxNT
Vitera (Sage)
Sammy Systems
Cat Trang Solutions LLC
Inmediata Corporation
Sequel Systems, Inc.
Sevocity a division of Conceptual MindWorks, Inc
Silk Information Systems, Inc.
SilkOne Inc.
IQ-EQ Systems, LLC
Genensys LLC
simplifyMD, LLC
Smart ID Works
VIP Medicine, LLC
SOAPware, Inc.
Paramount Health Solutions LLC
Spring Medical Systems, Inc.
SRSsoft
Tech-Time, Inc.
StreamlineMD, LLC
SuccessEHS
Pacific Medical Communications, Inc.
ADS Technologies, Inc.
SynaMed, LLC
Sindhu Synergy, LTD
M2comsys INC dba MSQUARED
TactusMD™
Ulrich Medical Concepts
Alma Information Systems, Inc.
EON Systems, Inc.
Sequest Technologies, Inc.
BioMedix Vascular Solutions
TRANSMED NETWORK INC.
DataLink Software Development Inc.
Mediture
Tu Record Corp
CCIE Services LLC
UltraMed Software
UrgentCare Works
Intuitive Medical Software
Valant Medical Solutions™, Inc.
Integrated Health Care Solutions
VeinDraw
Practice Velocity, LLC.
Mobiusoft LLC
AllegianceMD Software, Inc.
VersaForm Systems Corp.
VersaSuite
Medical Systems, Inc.
Kabot Systems
Mitchell & McCormick, Inc.
VitalHealth Software
Medical Informatics Engineering
WEBeDoctor, Inc.
Medcom Information Systems, Inc.
WellCentive
Welligent, Inc.
Wellogic
Workflow.com, LLC
WorldVistA
Net Health Systems, Inc.
National Healing Corporation
Addison Health Systems, Inc.
Xcite Health Corp. and Encounterpro Healthcare Resources Inc.
XLEMR
Socrates Healthcare Informatics
Z&H Healthcare Solutions, LLC
Metasolutions Inc

Listing of Regional Extension Centers, HITECH and EHR/EMR

December 7th, 2011

Alaska eHealth Network, Anchorage, Alaska AK

Alabama Regional Extension Center – The University of South Alabama AL

Arkansas – HITArkansas AR

Arizona Health-e Connection, Phoenix, Ariz. AZ

CalHIPSO (North) CA

CalHIPSO (South) CA

California – HITEC-LA – Local Initiative Health Authority for Los Angeles County CA

CalOptima (COREC) CA

Colorado Regional Extension Center (CORHIO) CO

Connecticut- eHealth Connecticut, Inc., Rocky Hill, Connecticut CT

EHealth DC Washington DC DC

National Indian Health Board (NIHB) DC

Delaware – Quality Insights of Delaware, Inc., Wilmington, Delaware DE

Florida – Rural and North Florida Regional Extension Center
Community Health Centers Alliance, Inc. FL

Florida – South Florida Regional Extension Center Collaborative FL

Florida – University of Central Florida, Orlando FL

Florida – University of South Florida, Tampa FL

Georgia GA-HITREC Morehouse School of Medicine GA

Hawaii Pacific Regional Extension Center HI

Iowa (Telligen) Health Information Technology Regional Extension Center IA

Idaho -WIREC (Washington & Idaho Regional Extension Center) ID

Illinois – Chicago Health Information Technology Regional Extension Center (CHITREC) IL

Illinois Health Information Technology Regional Extension Center (IL-HITREC) IL

Indiana Health Information Technology Extension Center IN

Kansas Foundation for Medical Care, Inc. (KFMC) KS

The Kentucky Regional Extension Center (Kentucky REC) KY

Louisiana Health Care Quality Forum LA

Massachusetts e-Health Institute (MeHI) MA

Maryland – Chesapeake Regional Information System for our Patients,Baltimore MD

Maine – HealthInfoNet ME

Michigan Center for Effective IT Adoption (M-CEITA) MI

Minnesota – Regional Extension Assistance Center for Health Information Technology (REACH) MN, ND

Missouri HIT Assistance Center MO

Mississippi- Regional Extension Center for Health Information Technology in Mississippi MS

Montana – Health Technology Services (HTS) Mountain-Pacific Quality Health Foundation MT, WY

North Carolina AHEHC (University of North Carolina) NC

North Dakota – REACH (Key Health Alliance – Stratis Health), Minnesota – North Dakota ND, MN

Nebraska – Wide River Technology Extension Center NE

New Hampshire – Massachusetts eHealth Collaborative, Inc. NH

New Jersey’s Regional Extension Center NJ

New Mexico Health Information Technology Regional Extension Center (NM HITREC) NM

Nevada – Health Insight NV

New York eHealth Collaborative (NYeC) NY
NYC REACH NY

Ohio – HealthBridge Inc. OH

Ohio Health Information Partnership (OHIP) OH

Tri-State Regional Extension Center – Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana OH, KY, IN

Oklahoma Foundation for Medical Quality (OFMQ) OK
O-HITEC OR

Oregon O-Health Information Technology Extension Center OR

PA REACH East – Quality Insights of Pennsylvania, Inc. (Eastern) PA

PA REACH West – Quality Insights of Pennsylvania, Inc. (Western) PA

Ponce School of Medicine, Puerto Rico PR

RI Regional Extension Center (REC) RI

South Carolina Research Foundation, Columbia SC

South Dakota Regional Extension Center (SD-REC) SD

Tennessee REC – Qsource TN

Texas – CentrEast Regional Extension Center – Texas A&M System Health Science Center – Rural and Community
Health Institute TX

Texas – The North Texas Regional Extension Center (NTREC) TX

Texas – University of Texas Health Science Center at
Houston – Gulf Coast Regional Extension Center (GCREC). TX

Texas – West Texas (WT-HITREC) – Texas Tech University Health Science Center TX

Utah – HealthInsight UT

VHQC (Virginia Health Quality Center) VA

Vermont Information Technology Leaders VT

WIREC (Washington & Idaho Regional Extension Center) WA, ID

Wisconsin Health Information Technology Extension Center WI

West Virginia Regional Health Information Technology Extension Center WV

Wyoming – Health Technology Services (HTS) WY

Electronic Medical Records by Dr. Brian McDonough (CBS)

November 10th, 2011

As Reported by Dr. Brian McDonough, PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – The use of electronic medical records is gaining momentum in health care. There are many reasons for this. Perhaps the biggest is the fact that the government is behind it and initially helping to fund the effort.

In a few years there will be financial penalties. But as far as patients are concerned electronic records help your doctor to follow up on lab tests, office visits and even hospitalizations. The down side is instead of everyone using one system there are multiple ones out there. In many cases the computers can’t talk to each other which makes a barrier.

Remember it is early. Electronic medical records in hospitals and doctors’ offices are like driving a model T.

There is a long way to go.

Listing of EHR Systems for 2011-2012

November 4th, 2011

AdvancedMD/ADP
Allscripts
Abel
Athenahealth
e-MDs
GE Healthcare
Greenway
Ingenix
LSS
Indigo
McKesson
Med3000
Medicity
Nextgen
Noteworthy
Pulse Systems
Sage
Sequel Systems
SRSsoft
Workflow
Abraxas
Aprima
Acrendo
Azzly
Advanced Data Systems
Medent
Visionary
XLEMR
nextEMR
SuiteMed
Medios IOS
MedLink
Healthland
HealthPort
Practice Fusion
Glowstream
CCR
Bradford Scott
CGM
Vital Health
Microsoft
gMed
NoMoreClipboard
Spring Charts
Praxis
Allmeds
First EMR
CureMD
DOC-TOR
eClinicalWorks
SuccessEHS
Henry Schein/MicroMD
OPENEMR Support
simplifyMD
Mdcare
Soapware
MXSecure
GMA
RxNT
omniMD
MTBC
Prime Clinical Systems
revenueXL
Dell
Amazing Charts
Waiting Room Solutions
MDS Medical
PowerMed
Clinic Tools
FreeDOM
MedPlus
MedComSoft
STI PerfectCare
Intivia
Itelagen
AXEO
Doctors Partner
Nightingale
BlueHeron
Cattails
MDLand
DigiChart
Praxis
Encite
United Healthcare
Purkinje
3+EMR
Medstrat
Medworks Management
AVS Medical
CareVoyant
MIMA Technology
MDLogic
Genius Solutions
MD Software
ChartLogic
Healthland
Sevocity
Benchmark
EMR4 Doctors
AdvantaChart
iMedX
eCast
DELL
MedAZ
Care Cloud
drchrono

25 Questions to ask before buying Electronic Health Records!

October 14th, 2011

1. Do you work with my local Regional Extension Center (REC) or have an implementation team that will make an assessment of the readiness of my practice for EMR adoption?

2. Do you hold user group meetings? How often? Can users share information online?

3. Do you have an office workflow report to track stuff like phone message turnaround time by nurses and providers?

4. How often should we expect software updates? Will you be on top of MU Stage 2-3 requirements?

5. Have your clients been more successful with an “all at once” implementation approach or a phase-in approach?

6. What happens when my office is hit by a disaster-are the records safe?

7. How many providers, in our specialty, use this system? (Talk to the references, and make sure that the users are not investors in the company!)

8. What is the “signature advantage” of your system over others?

9. How many clients can demonstrate they have achieved their ROI or shown attestation?

10. Can we load our fee schedule and insurance contracts and see performance comparisons?

11. Security: Do you carry cyber and privacy liability insurance coverage?

12. Will an EHR migration absorb all of the patient demographics through a reverse migration from the billing data?

13. How often are coding updates incorporated?

14. Does the vendor have a complete inventory of drug, allergy, food interactions and their respective alerts incorporated into the system and again, how often is the database updated?

15. What is the pricing structure, by practitioner? By location? Are there different prices for varying types of practitioners? Do you recommend a ASP/SaaS model or client-server? Why?

16. Does my local Regional Extension Center (REC) have experience with your company or product? Do they recommend or endorse use of your solutions?

17. Is your system template driven? Customizable?. For my specific specialty, how much time do I need to devote to populate and customize the templates to become functional in my practice? How much time is needed from me to tailor to my needs and style?

18. What reporting capabilities are natively embedded in your system? Is it a separate module? How easy is it to generate my own custom reports (ad hoc)?

19. To achieve meaningful use qualification, do you have dashboards and other tools to allow me to evaluate how our providers are doing in the specific areas needed to qualify for ARRA/HITECH funds?

20. Do you have a money-back guarantee for Stage 2 and Stage 3 of Meaningful Use qualification?

21. Why is your company different from more than 200 other EMR vendors?

22. Are you a reseller or vendor direct? Can some other company sell me the same EMR system you are proposing?

22. Who is going to scan and digitize all of my existing paper charts?

23. How am I going to finance this EMR purchase?

24. How do I get my $44,000 in incentive funding to start using this new EMR system?

25. Vendor stability: Do you anticipate your company being bought out by another EMR vendor?

Predicting a Surge in Sales of Electronic Medical Records Systems

July 27th, 2011

A recent study suggests more than half of the physicians polled expect to buy a EMR/EHR system in 2011 and 2012. This indicates a doubling of EMR purchases from 2010. The study also indicates that most existing practice management systems will be replaced using the PM imbedded functionality of a new EMR system.

The HITECH Act (Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health) calls for most US physicians to move from paper based to Electronic Medical Records by 2014. Qualifying physicians that purchase a EMR EHR system that demonstrates “meaningful use” (MU) will qualify for upto $44,000 in incentive payments. The sooner a physician adopts a MU EMR systems, the more that physician will receive from HITECH EMR adoption incentive funding.

Electronic Medical Record software vendors brace for “Peak EMR”

April 26th, 2011

With hundreds of EMR vendors, will there be enough physicians to satisfy supply?

Within the next two or three years, the EMR marketplace may reach “PeakEMR”, the point at which physicians purchasing of Electronic Medical Record systems reaches its highest level and begins to slow.

This concept of “Peak EMR” is based on the bell curve theory first introduced in 1956 by M. King Hubbert as related to worldwide oil reserves, called “Peak Oil”. Similarly, the EMR adoption curve will peak when half of the Eligible Provider (EP) physicians have begun using electronic medical and records in a “meaningful” way.

Consider these generally accepted statistics EMR /EHR statistics:

The US has 640,000 physicians. Not all of them are required to adopt EMR systems as required by the HITECH Act, so the number of potential sales is far from the seemingly large pool of 640,000 EMR purchasing prospects. Then, consider that there is more than one physician in a practice, all using the same system. That’s a one unit sale, not one for each provider.

On top of that are estimates that cite approximately 25% of physicians are already are using a EMR system. Estimates for adoption, mind you, range anywhere from 5% to more than 50%. Now, consider claims of many EMR vendors all claiming to have thousands and thousands of users already. If so, this further diminishes EMR sales forecasts.

So are there enough Eligible Providers to go around? Sales of electronic medical records is competitive. Physicians are confused and overwhelmed. EMR vendors are consolidating. Even with claims of a recent report stating that 35% of physicians currently using an EMR system will be replacing that current system, the efforts of EMR vendors is understandably in high gear to gain a piece of the EMR market before the window of opportunity closes.

What is ONC-ATCB 2011/2012 “Meaningful Use” Certification for Electronic Medical Records?

March 16th, 2011

This certification qualifies EMRs/EHRs as capable of supporting eligible providers of EMR systems in the achievement of Meaningful Use for Stage 1 of the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs authorized by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

(CCHIT 2011/2012 certification does not represent an endorsement of the certified EHR technology by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services nor does it guarantee the receipt of incentive payments)

So what kind of test or inspection did the EMR system pass?

Certified EMR systems have demonstrated ability to deliver data such as:
Drug-Drug/Drug-Allergy Checks
Drug-Formulary Checks
Problem List
Medication List
Allergy List
Vital Signs
Body Mass Index
Growth Charts
Smoking Status
Incorporate Lab Results
Patient Lists
Medication Reconciliation
Immunization Registries
Public Health Surveillance
Education Resources
Automate Measure Calculation
Access Control
Emergency Access
Automatic Log-Off
Audit Log
Integrity
Authentication
General Encryption
Encryption when Exchanging Electronic Health Information
CPOE
ePrescribing
Record Demographics
Patient Reminders
Clinical Decision Support
Electronic Copy of Health Information
Timely Access
Clinical Summaries
Exchange Clinical Information and Patient Summary Record
Calculate and Submit Clinical Quality Measures
Adult Weight Screening & Follow-Up
Hypertension: Blood Pressure Measurement
Tobacco Use Assessment and Cessation
Influenza Immunization
Weight Assessment and Counseling
Childhood Immunization Status
Diabetes: LDL Management and Control
Breast Cancer Screening
Colorectal Cancer Screening