Thanks to the HITECH Act of 2009, all of us doctors need to use EHR systems to help catapult small practice administration into the 21st century. As many of us are finding out, it’s not exactly ideal to have to adopt a new EHR system into an already successful doctor’s office, but there really is no alternative to EHR solutions -- they were built specifically for our industry.

If you’re in the market for an EHR system and you’ve had the pleasure of surfing the Internet for EHR solutions, you’ll quickly see that there are lots of options (too many options, maybe!). A simple Google search results in dozens (at least) of EHR systems. All promise the best features and functionality yet price varies drastically. So where do you start?
 

Comparing Features of EHR Systems

So let’s compare features. What do most EHR systems have? What do we as doctors truly need? What are nice-to-haves? And what EHR features are they trying to charge us for that we won’t ever need or use?

First, we need to talk about what features are required of any EHR system worth its weight:

• E-Prescribing
• Meaningful Use Certified
• Patient History Recording
• Document Management
• Patient Portal
• Billing Dashboard

These EHR features will be pretty standard among all EHR platforms. They cover the gamut of the basic EHR features and they help explain why doctors are being required to adopt their use.

Bonus EHR Features

Then there is a list of nice-to-haves: features that not every EHR system contains, but really improves the experience for Doctors. The two big ones we see are:

1. Automatic Claims Management
2. Integrated Clearinghouses

Getting claims reimbursements from insurance carriers shouldn’t be a problem, but sadly, it is. In order to speed up the claims settlement process and to ensure a more smooth return on your services, some of the better EHR systems offer claims management.

By leveraging Revenue Cycle Management to automatically scrub claims clean, there’s less chasing down patient records and insurance policies. Once these claims are scrubbed, 99% of them can be submitted to an EHR integrated clearinghouse, improving the speed of reimbursements and increasing revenue for your practice.

The Most Important EHR Feature No One Is Talking About

Perhaps the most important feature of a good EHR system is an intuitive user experience. Are files easy to find? Does the workflow of the software make logical sense? Is the platform navigable? And does the EHR layout and design truly improve a Doctor’s capabilities and a practice’s efficiency? Unfortunately, this feature doesn’t find its way onto many ‘101 EHR Features’ lists because it’s incredibly difficult to quantify. It comes down to ease-of-use: Does this EHR system enhance my small practice? Is it worth the hassle of implementing?

All of these features come standard with Practice EHR, the EHR solution built specifically for small practices. Why is it perfect for small practices? Because it doesn’t give you features you don’t need and it doesn’t charge you for features you won’t use, while offering a seamless and intuitive user experience.

Practice EHR is affordable for small practices because it’s built for small practices. But why?

• Implementation takes seconds.
• There’s no set-up costs and no start up costs.
• Training is included
• Month-to-month billing feature means no commitment.

For a free demo of Practice EHR in action, request a demo  with one of our EHR experts.