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10 tips on what is the right EHR for your Optometry office?

Introduction: You know you need an EMR. The days of paper charts and billing are long gone, and if you want to stay afloat in todayโ€™s competitive healthcare landscape, you need to join the 21st century. But with so many options on the market, how do you choose the right one for your practice? Read on to find out.

  1. Decide what features you need

The first step in choosing an EMR is understanding what features you need. Do you need an EMR thatโ€™s integrated with your practice management software? Do you need e-prescribing? Do you need patient portals? Make a list of the features that are important to you and use it as a starting point for your search.

  1. Consider ease of use

Some EMRs are notoriously difficult to use, which can lead to frustrated clinicians and staff members who arenโ€™t using the system to its full potential. When youโ€™re considering different EMRs, pay attention to user reviews and take advantage of free demos or trials so you can get a feel for how easy (or difficult) the system is to use.

  1. Consider cost

Of course, cost is always a consideration when making a major purchase for your practice. But beware of low-cost EMRs โ€“ in many cases, you get what you pay for. When evaluating cost, be sure to consider not just the initial purchase price but also ongoing costs like maintenance, support, and upgrades.

4.Think about interoperability

Interoperability is the ability of different systems and devices to work together. Itโ€™s important to consider interoperability when choosing an EMR because if your EMR isnโ€™t compatible with other systems in your office (like your scheduling software), it can cause major headaches down the road.

  1. Make sure it meets meaningful use requirements

In order for your EHR system to qualify for federal incentive programs like Meaningful Use, it must meet certain criteria set forth by CMS. Before making a purchase, be sure that the system youโ€™re considering meets all of the necessary requirements.

6 Get input from your team

Your team will be using this system every day, so itโ€™s important to get their input before making a final decision. Ask them what features are most important to them and what they would like to see in an EHR system.

7 Compare apples to apples

You might be tempted to choose the first EHR system you come across because it seems like a good deal. But resist the temptation! Be sure to shop around and compare different options side-by-side before making a final decision.

8 Educate yourself on upcoming changes

Healthcare is constantly changing, and those changes can have a big impact on your EHR system. For example, ICD-10 was scheduled to go into effect in October 2014 , but that date was pushed back until October 2015 . If your EHR system wasnโ€™t prepared for ICD-10 , that could have caused big problems for your practice . So before making a purchase, educate yourself on any upcoming changes in healthcare so you can be sure your chosen system will be able to meet those changes.

9 Understand what youโ€™re signing up for

When you sign a contract for an EHR system, youโ€™re typically signing up for a long-term commitment. In some cases, you might even be signing up for a lease instead of an outright purchase, which means you could be stuck with that system even if itโ€™s not working well for your practice. Before signing any contract, be sure you understand all the terms and conditions so there are no surprises down the road.

10 Donโ€™t forget about training

Training is essential when implementing any new technology in your office, but itโ€™s especially important with something as complex as an EHR system. Be sure to factor training into both the cost and timeline of your project so there are no delays or setbacks once go-live day arrives.

Conclusion: The bottom line is this: there is no โ€œone size fits allโ€ solution when it comes to choosing an electronic medical record (EMR) system. The best way to ensure that youโ€™re choosing the right EMR for your practice is by taking the time to do your research upfront and involving key stakeholders in the decision-making process.

When evaluating different options, keep these 10 tips in mind so you can choose an EMR that will meet the specific needs of your practice now โ€“ and well into the future.

If you’re looking for the best optometry EHR solution, you can’t go wrong with iTRUST Cloud EHR. Our platform is designed to make optometry practices more efficient and productive, while also providing unparalleled security and compliance. With iTRUST Cloud EHR, you’ll be able to streamline patient records, manage scheduling and billing, and much more. Plus, our team is always here to help you get the most out of our platform. Start a free trial now!

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