Consequences of Switching EHR Systems
Is your EHR no longer satisfying your workplace requirements? Either your practice has grown, or your current EHR has not evolved, but in either case, you recognize that your current EHR system is not keeping up with your practice’s needs.
The EHR field has grown over the past number of years to reflect a growing importance on user-friendliness and workflow efficiency. It is no longer enough for an EHR to work – it must be agile and robust enough to suit your needs while still maintaining accessibility and staff user-friendliness.
Are you currently looking at other options for an EHR but aren’t sure what the process of switching from your current provider to a new system would entail? We’ve compiled some of the most common considerations below, written by the GeeseMed team, a new EHR from specialists with years of experience in the medical software field. Our other products include MDofficeManager, a solution for Practice Management for our clients.
We are intimately experienced with the EHR transition process and the various ways it may impact your other practice software.
Data Migration
One of the most critical considerations you may encounter during your exploratory search is the safety and storage of your existing data. EHRs store data differently, and it is important to select a new EHR provider that is experienced in managing other software systems in order to mitigate or eliminate any potential loss of data.
Your old EHR may not have kept up with other systems, which can create problems when mapping old data. This is why it is crucial that your new EHR provider does not simply “migrate” the data, but first develops a holistic plan that takes into consideration the limitations of the old system and the data to be transported.
Proper preparation can ensure that no data is lost, and any relevant data is mapped in a way that makes it easily recognizable and accessible to staff.
Data Storage
EHR systems that are hosted in the “cloud” or remotely, are becoming more common. This reduces the reliance on in-house infrastructure and allows more flexibility in terms of scaling your storage requirements. There are often also financial benefits to outsourcing patient data, according to EHR Intelligence, but care must be taken during this transition process.
If it is a cloud-based storage solution, it is of paramount importance that the solution you ultimately select have a high priority on data security. Since you have less physical control of the data, it is crucial to select a provider that will maintain HIPAA compliance.
If your current EHR data-storage is in-house, how experienced and robust your IT team will dictate how much you may need to rely on your new partner for guidance during this process.
Making the Change
Keeping your patient and other healthcare data secure is a vital part of being in compliance with HIPAA and general healthcare privacy regulations. A cloud storage solution can help provide improvements to how your patient data is managed, as they deliver highly secure, remote data centers that are well-protected from theft, attack, and other issues.
Changing EHR solutions is a serious decision and will require preparation and cooperation with your new EHR partner to map out a plan to ensure minimal impact on your data and practice.
To learn more about the process of switching EHRs from your current system to a new more modern and adaptable solution like GeeseMed, please reach out to our staff.