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Most medical practices have switched to electronic recordkeeping but there's still a place for paper.
Most of today’s medical professionals prefer electronic medical records (EMRs) over paper medical records, viewing them as a substantial improvement. However, not all practices will fare better by abandoning their tried-and-true paper methods.
Learn whether your practice is better off switching to electronic records or sticking with paper-based records.
Editor’s note: Looking for the right medical software for your practice? Fill out the below questionnaire to have our vendor partners contact you about your needs.
A paper medical record is any patient information, such as a patient chart, recorded on paper. They were widely used until about 10 or 20 years ago.
However, paper-based records aren’t quite things of the past. Approximately 5 percent of practices still maintain medical records on paper. For some practices, they remain the better option.
Your practice should use paper medical records if the initial cost of implementing EMRs is out of reach. You should also stick to paper if you have decades of experience with paper patient charts under your belt and don’t feel comfortable with digital technology. Still, most modern practice management experts recommend switching to EMRs.
Paper medical records have the following advantages over EMRs:
Meanwhile, paper medical records pose the following challenges for most modern practices:
EMRs are essentially digital equivalents of paper medical records. They help create a paperless office for medical practices by storing and granting authorized personnel and medical staff easy access to all patient charts and medical data.
To fully understand electronic medical records, knowing the difference between EMRs and electronic health record (EHR) systems is essential. EMRs and EHRs aren’t quite the same, even though the two abbreviations are often used interchangeably. An EHR system combines EMRs with tools like telehealth, e-prescribing and interoperability platforms to provide a better patient experience.
Most EHR systems also include practice management system (PMS) tools to create workflow automations that streamline front office tasks like scheduling, intake, registration, billing and patient communication. EHR systems with PMS tools can also typically support remote patient access.
Both EMRs and EHRs allow for the creation, modification, secure storage and quick access of patient charts.
If you want to enhance internal efficiency and improve patient care, consider converting your practice to EMRs.
EMRs are also helpful for growing practices that want to add patients. A central, continually updated database will streamline data entry, retrieval and management and make the medical billing process easier. [Related article: 7 Medical Billing Tips to Help Your Practice]
EMRs provide the following advantages:
EMRs also have some disadvantages:
The best medical software can help your practice easily switch from paper to electronic medical records, improving patient care and efficiency. Consider the following five top options:
CareCloud’s EHR system is comprehensive and includes customizable charting features that help practices streamline patient encounters and involve patients in their care plans.
Each patient record contains a detailed history, including information on immunizations, labs, allergies, medications and more. Our comprehensive CareCloud review highlights this system’s diagnosis and prescription library for medical coding and one-click prescription, lab and pharmacy lookup functions.
DrChrono’s built-in telehealth capabilities are brilliantly executed and fully integrated with the platform’s EMR functionality.
The service also offers an extensive CPT and ICD-10 coding library for medical coding and billing as well as compliance tracking with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ Promoting Interoperability standards and incentive programs. Read our DrChrono review to learn how practitioners can order prescriptions and lab tests on the platform and use its highly customizable, intuitive patient charting features.
AdvancedMD gives you a bird’s-eye view of your practice’s clinical operations. Features like the HealthWatcher, which shows which patients need to see you more frequently, are invaluable.
The appointment scheduler is highly intuitive for checking patients in and out. The clinical notes feature pulls in patients’ medical histories, including information on risk factors, insurance coverage, previous prescriptions and more. The Patient Encounter tab allows the addition of ICD-10 diagnosis codes from a handy picklist. Our AdvancedMD review details this platform’s excellent HIPAA-compliant, two-way video consultation feature.
Tebra’s charting features are incredibly intuitive and easy to use. Everything can be done from a single window, including accessing patients’ clinical notes. Practitioners will also appreciate the platform’s 200 built-in templates that expedite note-taking and its extensive e-prescribing (eRx) capabilities (fully integrated with First Databank). Check out our Tebra review to learn about the platform’s built-in MACRA/MIPS monitoring and excellent marketing suite that helps you connect with your patients better.
athenahealth boasts an impressive feature set that makes the platform highly usable for clinical and front-end staff. For example, the calendar tool is powerful and allows better on-site patient management to create an enhanced end-user experience.
We liked how patients can log into the platform to see their lab results, make or reschedule appointments, make payments and order repeat prescriptions. Our review of athenahealth details the platform’s charting tools, which make it easy for clinicians to access vital patient information immediately.
Mark Fairlie contributed to this article.