Beware anyone who is helping you select your EMR "for free". There has to be something in it for them.. or why would they do it??
(Read Ayn Rand...)
Lets see...
The GOVERNMENT wants an EMR so they can go waltzing through your charts easier, extracting the data that makes them happy.
The HMO's want an EMR so they can go waltzing through your charts easier, extracting the data that makes them happy. (ie, CDPHP will give the doc's a multi-thousand dollar bonus for having an EMR that lets them look at records. Of course, in the few instances where having an EMR lets people up-code, they started "bundling" 99213's and 99214's with a "blended code" to save them money..
The CONSULTANTS want you to have an EMR so that they can make money, either selling you hardware, software, or support services.
The COMPUTER COMPANIES want you to have an EMR - for obvious reasons.
The AAFP wants you to have an EMR - because quite frankly they've been drinking their own Cool-Aid.
Look, I'm probably Amazing Charts biggest fan, except on the days it makes me want to rip my hair out! The truth is that working with an EMR will make some things easier, and make some things harder. It's YOUR practice. It's YOUR and YOUR PATIENTS' data. Do your OWN homework. There is no "free lunch"
That being said...
Don't even bother looking at ANY EMR product where you can't see, touch, taste, and pound on the product before spending a dime. Quite frankly, if Jon didn't have a "try it and see if you like it", we never would have discovered it and eventually bought it. What are they all afraid of? If you can't get your work done without totally revamping how your office works, then MAYBE the EMR is wrong for you.. go look at another one.
All of the EMR companies we've talked to except Jon's seem to think we're all made of money, and too stupid to look out for our own best interests.. time we prove them all wrong.
I'll get off my soap box now.. have to go see a patient.
Regards to you all,
V.
