university of michigan medical center

university of michigan medical center
The adoption of Electronic Medical Record (EMR) or electronic health record (EHR) in the ambulatory care medical clinic is a re-engineering of clinical processes to achieve (through digital information technology), improved quality and efficiency in the provision of medical services.

In order to return the adoption of such a major organizational change has a positive effect on the organization of the profit and loss account. The organizational leadership of the EMR Adoption must demonstrate that the initial capital outlay (which may be financed over a reasonable period), and ongoing maintenance costs associated with EMR or EHR adoption brings benefits to the "bottom line" ".

Most ambulatory care clinics have a small network of computers in the institution in charge of the practice management software functions. EMR Adoption requires the extension of the network in all the clinical examination room, and all clinical stations. Thus, in addition to the original EMR software and maintenance costs, an analysis of the costs of cost-benefit calculation must be an estimate of the expected training and hardware maintenance costs and an estimate of the initial and maintenance network support ( IT laboratory) costs. The organization can be a fairly accurate estimate of the costs covered by a reputable local network administrator, on a fee for service basis. Of course, Electronic Medical Record Software (initial and maintenance) costs can be controlled directly from the EMR vendor.

While the analysis of the impact on the cost of the profit and loss account is relatively easy to quantify, the analysis of the savings or benefit is rarely "clearly" and speaks to the heart of the issue - the effectiveness of EMR in the provision of clinical services with improved quality and efficiency.

More to the point: medical or ancillary services providers are the largest cost item in the clinic of the profit and loss account. EMR software should not affect the quality and efficiency of the physician's role, the plan is a lost cause. It is for this reason that the successful adoption of EMR's is most usually by a physician "champion". Such a physician "champion" is without a doubt, the EMR, the artificial intelligence to his / her own clinical acumen, while at the same time to the many tedious tasks in connection with the documentation and implementation of health - plan. No man without fault, but the doctor thoughtfully "" Champion ", an EMR, a flexible enough to remind him / her of the changing standards of clinical care while also according to his style of practice.

Efficient EMR May accrue to the practice in the area of savings in transcription costs, personnel and medical record. Nevertheless, such savings may not be at the expense of physician dissatisfaction with the clinical EMR function. In most cases, the replacement of a dissatisfied, but good and productive physician may be more expensive than its initial recruitment, orientation and training.

Moreover, the substitution of an EMR can not be more expensive than the original cost of adoption.

The selection of an EMR or EMR is a monumental financial decision for the average ambulatory care medical clinic. At stake is the long-term integrity of the company. Due diligence is mandatory.

http://themagicofpraxis.com
A graduate of the University of Toronto Medical School and Harvard School of Public Health, Dr. Gold brings to this subject a variety of medical computer science experience from the mid-1980 with 25 years experience in clinical medicine.