As a physician in a small healthcare practice, you value your time, your practice’s profitability, and, of course, your patient relationships. Success in these areas ultimately stems back to the efficiency of your processes — and the technology you’re leveraging to enable a simplified workflow.

When determining which type of EHR system would make the most sense for you and your staff, consider an integrated solution that will be easy for your entire practice to quickly adopt. According to a report on doctors and their EHRs recently released by Software Advice, 89 percent of doctors said that integration is an important feature in their decision-making process.

If you’re worried that implementing a new EHR system in your practice will hinder productivity, you’re not alone. An anticipated loss of productivity continues to concern physicians considering a transition to an EHR system. In fact, 59 percent of office-based physicians who haven’t yet adopted an EHR say loss of productivity is one of the biggest barriers, according to a 2014 report published by the Office of the National Coordinator (ONC).

While this fear is understandable, the benefits associated with having connected and interoperable software in your practice outweigh the risks. Here are key reasons why implementing an integrated EHR will allow your practice to run more smoothly and increase efficiency with ease.

Quick and Accurate Data Entry

When doctors have software that combines their EHRs, Practice Management (PM), and billing into one comprehensive process, they can save time on repeatedly inputting the same data. Not only does this increase time savings and boost productivity, but it also minimizes the risk for error when transferring data.

Stronger Practice Management and Visibility

An integrated EHR solution can enable physicians and medical administrators to better oversee their practice. Integrated software provides doctors and office managers visibility into every step of an interaction with a patient. EHR platforms can help patients schedule their appointment, help doctors fill out the patient’s chart, and help accounts receivable track the claim being submitted and paid. Integrated software allows practices to submit cleaner claims and more easily schedule appointments.

Many EHR softwares even have a dashboard function that can report metrics, including revenue and the number of patients seen. This allows doctors to better understand the strengths and weaknesses of their practice and how best to improve and capitalize on these analytics.

Consistency and Accessibility

Integrated EHR solutions allow doctors to be involved in every aspect of a practice without switching between software. When the solution is cloud-based, physicians can help manage their staff and deal with any claim issues, even when working from another clinic or office.

Meaningful Use Time Savings

According to a recent National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, EHR systems that meet Meaningful Use (MU) criteria are more likely to save physicians time on certain tasks. Specifically:

• 82 percent of physicians with an EHR system that meets MU criteria agree that E-prescribing saves them time, compared to 67 percent of physicians whose EHR system does not meet MU criteria.
  
• 75 percent of physicians with an EHR system that meets MU criteria agree that their practice receives lab results faster, compared to 61 percent of physicians whose EHR system does not meet MU criteria.
  

If you are looking for a reliable way to save time and improve your practice simply and efficiently, a Meaningful Use certified, integrated EHR system could be the cure.

Want to see for yourself? Start a free 30-day trial of Practice EHR to better understand whether this integrated EHR is a good fit for your practice!