What to focus on in online EHR software reviews?

Software Advice, Business Software and American EHR  are three of the numerous websites that provide Electronic Health Record (EHR) software reviews for hundreds of vendors.

In 2013, healthcare technology company Digital Assent conducted a survey of 341 respondents out of which 72% said that negative reviews would put them off visiting the particular practitioner. Just as provider ratings matter to patients, EHR ratings matter to providers.

There has been a growing trend of physicians visiting EHR Software Reviews and rating websites before purchasing a specific EHR. Many times, negative narrations by current users of the product cause potential clients to cross that product of their “suited-for-my-practice-list”.

The article will help you understand what you need to look at while visiting such sites. The article is relevant for both current EHR users looking to switch to a new system and those looking to purchase an EHR for the first time. 

For most physicians visiting such sites, they know the names of at least a few EHR vendors. I’d recommend you to search for them first and identify if they have the EHR essentials in their system. According to me, the essentials that an EHR vendor must give are:

1. Cloud-based system

2. Integrated solution (EHR and Practice Management)

3. Specialty-based solution

4. ICD-10 Preparedness

5. Meaningful Use Stage 2 Readiness

Look at the vendor’s features and any system which doesn’t offer these three should get a cross straight off.  

Next, look at other features that you want in your software. Examples could be clinical charting, E-prescriptions and anything else you require.  

Once you’ve done this, you’re probably left with a handful of vendors.  Now look at how current customers have rated and reviewed those vendors, particularly with respect to the features you require. The ones that do poorly in most of the features you require, cross them off.

Next, look for other vendors that possess the features you require and the essentials. Use the same selection process again to shortlist the vendors down till three.

Now schedule demos with these shortlisted three; get acquainted with the features and services they offer. Select the best one from them and there is a very small chance that you’ve chosen the wrong EHR for your practice.

Read more about: EHRs and Pay-for-Performance: The way forward for Primary Care?