Why are so many physicians stuck in the EHR starting gate? Perhaps because there are so many products to choose from.
When FP Susan Andrews, M.D., and her colleagues decided to go paperless in June 2000, she became the EHR point person. She forged ahead and had the system up and running by October.
 This 80-year-old cottage houses the high-tech family medicine practice of Susan Andrews, M.D. |
Her advice to family physicians: Pinpoint your needs. Look for an EHR system that offers what your practice can't live without. "I only looked at systems that included billing, scheduling and records," she said.
While some folks don't mind testing out the new kid on the block, Andrews wanted a stable, profitable company with dedicated support staff. She talked to colleagues around the country about their experiences with various companies and finally requested a long-distance online demonstration with Physician Micro Systems Inc.'s Practice Partner software.
"For three hours, I watched everything the technician did (on the screen)," said Andrews. The demo won her over.
What about her practice's bottom line? "Profits have increased since 2000; all four physicians are making more money," said Andrews. The total initial investment was $100,000, and the system paid for itself in a year, she added.
It took about six months to get old information into the EHR system. "Add five minutes a day per patient," said Andrews. "Then it starts paying off."
Part of the savings came in reducing staff. "We used to have six people; now we have 4.5, even though we brought billing back in-house," said Andrews. The physicians also stopped using transcription services, which saved a chunk of money.
"We've added software programs and purchased some new equipment," said Andrews, but there's no additional charge for software upgrades. Andrews and her colleagues continually tweak templates.
Andrews said she's always looking for ways for the EHR system to help her do a better job. She added, "It's an evolution."
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Copyright © 2004 by
American Academy of Family Physicians.