Best Practices for Updating Electronic Health Record (EHR) Systems

If there’s one thing that’s always changing, it’s healthcare.

In fact, many elements of healthcare continually change. One of these elements is electronic health records, or EHRs.

Using an outdated or inferior EHR system can be a pain and lead to inaccuracy in coding.

Whether you’re an executive, manager or associate medical coder, it’s important to keep these best practices in mind if your company is considering an update to its EHR system.

Don’t Use Older Systems

A good sign that you need a new EHR system is if your old one is outdated. Some ways you can tell if a system is old include a lack of documented goals in the system, interruptions or delays during daily tasks and a lack of adaptations to new treatments or increased number of clients. With a new system, you can increase accuracy in medical coding, which improves patient care and optimizes outcomes while preserving organizational reputation.

Get the Features You Need

The EHR system doesn’t just need to be new, either. It needs to have the features needed to maximize your role. As a medical coder, you want your EHR system to be free from technical issues, preferably cloud-based and updated to current standards for medical coding reporting and audits. You know what features you need more than anyone else, so check the EHR system you’re considering to ensure it has it.

Make Sure It’s Easy To Implement’

Finally, implementation should be feasible. From initial migration and daily adaptability to cost effectiveness and integration difficulty, there are a variety of factors to consider more than just the cost and features. Preferably, the EHR vendor you choose should handle it or provide a third party.

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