Granular data has the potential of being helpful. Often though, the granular data can be in the form of the ICD and CPT codes. I have looked at eCW and eMDs and thought they were OK programs but took too long to chart and harder to make out what was going on from the note they provided.
The cost of maintance for a year for AC is what they charge for a month.
I prefer to have an onsite database.
I think all will ultimately be eligible for goverment reimbursement, but will it actually happen. Look at what is happening with medicare reimbursement and tell me the government is going to drop 44K in your pocket for EMRs. Are you prepared for the hit if it doesn't happen? Probably can if you are using AC.
Functionally, all of them are tools for describing wht happened in the visit. AC is the fastest and most user friendly.
AC is capable of doing billing but needs help in that area. Hopefully this will be corrected soon, but there are workarounds now that work and are affordable.
Is your IPA getting a kickback? It seems that eCW will adjust the price based on what it takes for to get the contract (can't comment on eMDs.) So what is the true value. While it may be nice to be on the same system, this is truly of value only if you are practicing as a group without walls. Are you prepared to share your database with other providers?
While I am neither a neurologist nor directly answering your questions, these are points that I think are salient in the discussion.
