Electronic Health Records For Dummies

Checking out vendors and scenarios

After you assess your readiness and determine that you’re ready for EHR, begin researching vendors. Create a game plan and timeline based on your needs and start shopping around for vendors.

There are more than 400 ambulatory electronic health record systems. The good news is that many of these vendor systems will work great for you and your practice, which takes a little pressure off feeling like you have to make the perfect choice. No perfect EHR exists; only the right one for your practice.

Products vary with their different bells and whistles, and many cater to a specific practice size or specialty. Thus, you need to develop your own requirements (see Chapter 6) so you can find an appropriate EHR fit for you and your team. Take time to talk with colleagues, your Regional Extension Center, specialty groups or societies, and hospitals in your area to get a feel for the vendor landscape in your geographical area or area of specialization. These groups have done their own research that you can benefit from and use as a starting point.

Don’t feel pressured to fully explore each vendor. Instead, use your list of criteria to narrow the field and then focus your research efforts on, say, the top five that fit your needs.

One thing to consider comparing in terms of cost is the difference between server models. The first model is quickly becoming the ...