Conclusion

The health care industry is currently saddled with much inefficiency and is primed for change. Many believe that EMR is the solution to provide the answer to this problem. At the heart of the EMR revolution is the elimination of antiquated paper based and manual processes and the transition to electronic solutions.

However, the transition to EMR has been challenging, as the technology continues to mature. When a medical practice is approaching an investment decision like EMR implementation, it is important to carefully weigh the costs and risks verses the potential financial gain and determine whether the investment aligns with the business’ mission and objectives. A detailed understanding of the technology, the organization and its culture are necessary. There is no doubt that EMR will eventually become the standard in the health care field. In the mean time, a practice must carefully weigh its options, look internally to identify its needs, make sure the staff are prepared and committed to the transition and select a solution that is a good fit.