Part of the process of selecting an EMR is evaluating how the system performs in a clinical setting. Despite the similarities between EMR systems, they function very differently in a patient care setting. When a vendor demonstrates their product, they will promote the strengths and downplay the weaknesses. That is the job of the salesman. Obviously it is important to do site visits and get a solid idea how each system functions in a medical practice. But, what can you do when you evaluate an EMR one-on-one with a product vendor?
One of the ways to level the playing field is to prepare a standard script that you can present to the vendor and have them run through a clinical encounter. This will give you a much better idea of the functionality and workflow.
Earlier this year I helped put together an EMR education and vendor session in my community. The 4 vendors who were in attendance were asked to run through a pre-prepared clinical scenario over 20 minutes. The scenario included booking a patient appointment, checking the patient in on arrival and then running through a history and physical exam for 50 year old female patient with right renal angle pain and fever. Once a diagnosis of pyelonephritis is made, blood work is ordered and a renal ultrasound is requested. In the interim an antibiotic is prescribed and the patient is booked in for a follow up visit.
The value of this exercise is the ability to standardize the evaluation in a way the makes sense to you as a physician. You will quickly be able to detect functional differences between different systems that you evaluate.
In my opinion, this is a valuable exercise and 20 minutes well spent.
If you have had similar experiences or disagree with this approach, please click on the 'Comments' link below to share your thoughts.
Part of the process of selecting an EMR is evaluating how the system performs in a clinical setting. Despite the similarities between EMR systems, they function very differently in a patient care setting. When a vendor demonstrates their product, they will promote the strengths and downplay the weaknesses. That is the job of the salesman. Obviously it is important to do site visits and get a solid idea how each system functions in a medical practice. But, what can you do when you evaluate an EMR one-on-one with a product vendor?
One of the ways to level the playing field is to prepare a standard script that you can present to the vendor and have them run through a clinical encounter. This will give you a much better idea of the functionality and workflow.
Earlier this year I helped put together an EMR education and vendor session in my community. The 4 vendors who were in attendance were asked to run through a pre-prepared clinical scenario over 20 minutes. The scenario included booking a patient appointment, checking the patient in on arrival and then running through a history and physical exam for 50 year old female patient with right renal angle pain and fever. Once a diagnosis of pyelonephritis is made, blood work is ordered and a renal ultrasound is requested. In the interim an antibiotic is prescribed and the patient is booked in for a follow up visit.
The value of this exercise is the ability to standardize the evaluation in a way the makes sense to you as a physician. You will quickly be able to detect functional differences between different systems that you evaluate.
In my opinion, this is a valuable exercise and 20 minutes well spent.
If you have had similar experiences or disagree with this approach, please click on the 'Comments' link below to share your thoughts.