I predicted this a year ago with CCHIT and MU and PM. There was a time when every provider chose how he or she were going to run their (it should be his or her, but I will substitute the wrong pronoun for sake of time) own practice, whether it meant 10 minute appointments vs 30, doing suturing or not, or using an EMR. Those that wanted to use an EMR wanted to use it to help patients, had some "love" for computers and decided what things they wanted to track with their EMR. Then, as always, the government came along and had to get involved and try to make every physician use an EMR by promising them thousands of dollars. Along with this, though, were certain requirements which, on one hand, may be helpful but on the other hand may not. For me, I have decided not to do the MU. Mainecare pays me $50,000 annually anyway for P4P. But, worse than all this, every EMR company in America had to stop what they were doing to make their EMR compatible with MU. Not only did this mean losing a year and a half of important development and neglecting issues with the software, it only added to them.
When I researched EMRs years ago (and I looked at a lot), I came across AC. The fact that it didn't have a PM didn't stop me. In fact, it was likely much cheaper ($250) because of it. Sure, this means sales of AC were restricted to those who didn't mind using Medisoft, Lytec, Medware or whatever for billing or, more likely, already use it. But, you have to have a niche. A company has to decide are we going to compete with EMRs that have a PM component, or are we going to stay with our niche: the one to five group practice who want an affordable program that can work the way a doctor works and chart fast. In order to keep that niche, a company would have to make sure their product was very good at what it does. It seems to me, given all of the awards and #1 votes AC has garnered, Amazing Charts and Jon have done something right.
In my opinion, what has happened is in the rush to get out MU and the diversion of working on the PM, v6 was possibly put out too early with the script writer and TSP issue overlooked.
I don't know. Maybe I need to delete this message. The big question is how many people would buy the program without MU and how many would have jumped ship if we did not have it. I sort of feel like because of the $44,000 (certainly a tidy sum), we and AC have followed the Pied Pipers in Washington, and we are paying for it now.
Is there anyone on here that can actually say, "Damn, I was practicing really bad medicine before MU came along. Those guys in Washington really got it right. Is there anyone putting up signs in the exam rooms stating your visit will now be meaningful thanks to the government unlike all your meaningless visits in the past?"
** I have no idea if in the future Medicare or the government will require MU for all reimbursement.
** I don't use support much. When I do, they have always been prompt and helpful. Today I needed them, and I couldn't get through. Even my email bounced back.
