Selecting an EMR

Abstract

With over 200 EMR products to choose from, selecting an EMR for a practice can be an overwhelming task. The author, Kenneth Adler, MD, MMM, a widely published EMR expert, makes this complex process clear. This chapter outlines the key questions you should ask yourself regarding your motivations, resources, and expectations and then describes a logical 12-step process you can follow to help you make the best selection possible. The recommended steps are as follows: Identify your decision makers, Clarify your goals, Research your options, Establish your requirements, Narrow your options, Attend demonstrations, Check references, Rank the vendors, Conduct site visits, Select a finalist, Solidify organizational commitment, and Negotiate a contract. Each step is described with plenty of practical detail and helpful suggestions. In addition, Dr. Adler provides useful tips on how practice management systems figure into the selection process, EMR certification, reputable information sources, consultants, EMR usability, and more.

In a time of drastic change it is the learners who inherit the future. The learned usually find themselves equipped to live in a world that no longer exists

– Eric Hoffer, American social writer and philosopher