Article Archive

Electronic Medical Records: Everybody's Doing It

Issue: July 2009

By: Tracy Zweig

Several times in the past few months our office has received calls from physicians who want to leave their current position. This is not an unusual call for us, however the reason that they wanted to leave is unusual. It was due to the task of learning to use the newly implemented electronic medical records software and system at their office. “Impossible,” they said, “too complicated, too difficult to master.”

My suggestion, every time, was this: If learning the EMR system is the only part of your job that you do not like, hang in there. Take full advantage of the training courses that are offered and take them again if necessary. It will also be helpful to practice using EMR in a familiar environment, your current job. Leaving one job for another simply to avoid learning to use a new software program, at this point in time, will be jumping from the frying pan into the fire. Most major medical groups, hospitals, and private practices are converting to EMR, or considering conversion, if they haven’t done so already.

There are several key points to keep in mind and perhaps one of the most important is that learning and mastering just one EMR system will always be a marketable, transferable skill. It is quite true that not all systems are alike, and in fact, most differ in significant ways from other programs. However, learning to navigate just one program will most definitely pave the way for learning other EMR software programs down the road.

If you are an employer, make sure that everyone is aware that they will have time to train, learn, and practice using the new system and that initial frustration is understandable. Make sure that trainers are available to answer questions. Make every attempt to make the transition as smooth and as comfortable as possible.

Challenging, daunting even? Yes. Complex? Yes. Outside of the comfort zone of mastered skills? Yes. Unfamiliar, awkward, time-consuming, expensive? At first, yes. Here to stay? Most probably, yes. An ultimately manageable and useful tool. Yes.

Electronic medical records software is all of the above and more. Multi-specialty groups and hospitals have, for the most part, converted from paper medical records to electronic medical records. Small group and solo private practices are gradually converting as well.

Upside: It is generally accepted that the use of EMR will assist physicians to make more accurate clinical decisions and prevent prescription errors. As well, when the software program is mastered and internalized, record keeping is enhanced in a variety of ways.

Downside: Not all software programs “talk to each other,” and with so many programs to choose from it is not certain that all members of a healthcare team for a seriously or chronically ill patient will be able to share information electronically.

Upside: Reduces use of paper, therefore reducing the need for filing, filing cabinets, and storage of paper charts and patient records.

Downside: Paper records must be converted to the software system. This is a time-consuming and detail-oriented task.

Upside: EMR is thought to be cost effective and a time-saver in the long run.

Downside: The initial cost of the software and implementation is significant. There is a learning curve, steep for some, especially for those without strong typing skills, mild for others. There will be an initial expense investment in trainers or time investment for on-line tutorials. Some software programs are more intuitive than others. Shop, shop, shop for your software and ask colleagues about their experience with their programs.

Upside: Sharing information easily and seamlessly with other healthcare team members.

Downside: Patient privacy. Fear of hackers breaking into medical records programs and taking information from patient records is of concern as it relates to privacy and identity theft.

Physicians who are now using EMR report that, once past the initial start-up cost and training, they find it to be better for record-keeping and accessing patient records, including diagnosis, X-Ray, prescriptions, treatment, and ongoing preventive care.

If you are using EMR, and if I may be so bold as to suggest, consider the possibility of writing an editorial for this publication to share your experiences, positive and negative. It will help those who have not yet taken the leap to make an informed decision when it is time to purchase their system.

Tracy Zweig is President and CEO of Tracy Zweig Associates, Inc. which is located in Ventura, CA. For more information, visit www.tracyzweig.com. You can reach her by telephone at 1-800-919-9141 or 805-641-9141.

Back to Article Archive