1. Introduction
  • What is EMR
  • Electronic Medical Record, its functions and roles in clinics and the hospital
  • EMR versus EHR explained
2. EHR Myths and realities
3. Is an EHR right for me?
  • Physicians must “sold” on going to EMR
  • Pros and Cons
4. How to evaluate EHR software
  • Templates
  • How to change templates
  • E-prescribing
  • Lab interface
  • GUI/usability
  • Going “in and out” of a patient note
  • Specialty specific versus general
  • Choosing between ASP and C/S
  • Patient Portal
5. Other considerations in choosing an HER
  • Independent versus integrated practice management
  • Data conversion (if necessary)
  • Data format (will you get database structures)
  • Vendor stability/age
  • How long has theE HR been offered?
  • Flexibility on installation timing?
  • What code is the EHR written in (.net, etc)
  • Who owns the data?
  • ICD-10 upgrade costs
  • CCHIT Certified?
  • Outstanding lawsuits?
  • Reference sites
  • Vendor support
  • HITECH warranties
  • Price of system (including ALL SW, HW, installation & training)
  • Outyear licensing fees
  • Financing
  • Negotiating the contract
6. Other Items
  • Tablets, laptops or PCs
  • Choosing an IT company
  • Internal versus external IT
  • ASP or C/S y
  • Speech recognition
  • Peripherals – Fax servers, scanners, cameras, printers
  • Networking
  • Other software – email, MS Office
7. EHRs and HIPAA
8. The selection process
  • Physician champion
  • Selection committee
  • Vendor shootout
  • Time necessary to select
  • Final negotiations
9. Installing and implementing
  • Planning & project management
  • Expert users
  • Training
    • o onsite versus remote o “Big bang” versus gradual o Interfaces (Labs, PACS, Devices
  • Backup and Disaster Recovery
10. HITECH Act explained
  • Medicare vs Medicaid
  • Stimulus Bill/Timeframe benefits are paid
  • Who is eligible
  • What is CCHIT?
  • What is a certified EHR?
  • What is meaningful use?
  • Important dates in the future
11. Useful References
12. Walk through of a Certified EMR