Keys to EMR Success: Selecting and Implementing an Electronic Medical Record [Paperback]

Ronald B. Sterling (Author), CPA (Author), MBA (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0981473814 | ISBN-13: 978-0981473819 | Publication Date: June 30, 2008 | Edition: 1

This outstanding book was chosen Book of the Year Award Winner for HIMSS (Healthcare Information Management and Systems Society) because it comprehensively covers the selection and implementation of electronic medical records for the physician practice. The book contains solid advice, worklists, and other tools to help physicians and office administrators succeed in leveraging EMRs to improve patient services and practice performance. The book is a guide to sorting out myriad options for the practice, including vendor choice, contacting, and establishing a framework in the practice to ensure successful implementation. Topics include defining requirements, product selection, negotiating contracts to avoid tricky situations with warranties and termination clauses, upfront fees and staff training and motivation. Publisher has sold 1300 copies of this book in the first 6 months of publication! As a nationally recognized expert on practice-based computer systems, Ron Sterling has helped many medical practices evaluate whether an EMR investment makes sense (and for some practices, it doesn t!). From there, he helps them define requirements, choose the right system, get physician and staff buy-in, and take the system live as smoothly as possible. There is no question that the selection and implementation of an EMR is a bet-the-practice proposition. If you fail, you end up with more costs and greater frustration. On the other hand, few practices will be able to avoid implementing EMRs as these tools become necessary to meet patient expectations, payer quality requirements and pay-for-performance demands. Keys to EMR Success is particularly valuable because it explores more than just the technology considerations. From common care standards and disease management initiatives, to the HIPAA Transaction Set and Continuity of Care Record, Sterling offers bottom-line perspective on how current industry issues affect EMR decisions. For example, in looking at Pay for Performance, he points out how an EMR can help practices answer Medicare/Medicaid pay-for-performance initiatives. Another thing that s unique about this book is that medical practices aren t squeezed into a one size fits all approach.

Selected Table of Contents:

Chapter 1: Should I Invest in an EMR? Who should and shouldn t make the leap. Chapter 2: Evaluating an EMR Investment How to compare the system s cost to potential ROI in patient care, document management, compliance, and other key practice areas. Chapter 3: Your Practice Management System and an EMR Best practices for getting these systems to work together and with your practice management team. Chapter 4: Compiling a Practice-Focused Evaluation List How to define requirements and anticipate features you ll need in the future. Chapter 5: Selecting Products to Review Narrowing the field of 400 EMR products to find the best candidates for your practice. Chapter 6: Reviewing Products for Your Practice How to complete due diligence in two months, including what to look in demos. Chapter 7: Making a Final Decision Using a weighted score system ... and asking the right questions about server support, hardware specs, and other potential hidden costs. Chapter 8: Negotiating a Contract How to avoid tricky situations with warranties, termination clauses, upfront fees, and more. Chapter 9: Implementing an EMR. From clinical standards and policies, to data conversion and training: who does what, when. Chapter 10: Activating an EMR How to keep personnel and logistics issues from sabotaging your success with the EMR system. Chapter 11: Supporting an EMR Maintaining standards (e.g., clinical charting), motivating proficiency, training new employees, and regularly refreshing staff EMR skills. BONUS!...an EMR glossary and a list of vendors with company names, contact, certification status, and specialty

Editorial Reviews

Review

As a healthcare consultant, I have worked with Ron Sterling for over 20 years. He has always been my "go to" person for advanced technology issues facing my clients. He has an amazing ability to comprehend complex IT and healthcare business issues, and then to communicate them to lay persons in a simple -- and often humorous -- manner." Barbara J. Grant, CPA, MST Principal Gates, Moore & Company Atlanta, Georgia --Manuscript Review

National initiatives to accelerate the adoption of health IT is directly linked to successful implementation of EHR-EMR systems. This book will guide you to a successful implementation. Vinson J.Hudson President/POMIS Industry Analyst, Austin, Texas --Manuscript Review

This book is an invaluable resource for practices facing the arduous task of choosing and implementing an EMR system. By following Sterling's methodical and detailed approach, the reader is transformed into a more intelligent buyer. The checklists are terrific! Karen Zupko President, Karen Zupko & Associates, Chicago, Illinois --Manuscript Review

National initiatives to accelerate the adoption of health IT is directly linked to successful implementation of EHR-EMR systems. This book will guide you to a successful implementation. Vinson J.Hudson President/POMIS Industry Analyst, Austin, Texas --Manuscript Review

This book is an invaluable resource for practices facing the arduous task of choosing and implementing an EMR system. By following Sterling's methodical and detailed approach, the reader is transformed into a more intelligent buyer. The checklists are terrific! Karen Zupko President, Karen Zupko & Associates, Chicago, Illinois --Manuscript Review

National initiatives to accelerate the adoption of health IT is directly linked to successful implementation of EHR-EMR systems. This book will guide you to a successful implementation. Vinson J.Hudson President/POMIS Industry Analyst, Austin, Texas --Manuscript Review

This book is an invaluable resource for practices facing the arduous task of choosing and implementing an EMR system. By following Sterling's methodical and detailed approach, the reader is transformed into a more intelligent buyer. The checklists are terrific! Karen Zupko President, Karen Zupko & Associates, Chicago, Illinois --Manuscript Review

National initiatives to accelerate the adoption of health IT is directly linked to successful implementation of EHR-EMR systems. This book will guide you to a successful implementation. Vinson J.Hudson President/POMIS Industry Analyst, Austin, Texas --Manuscript Review

This book is an invaluable resource for practices facing the arduous task of choosing and implementing an EMR system. By following Sterling's methodical and detailed approach, the reader is transformed into a more intelligent buyer. The checklists are terrific! Karen Zupko President, Karen Zupko & Associates, Chicago, Illinois --Manuscript Review

National initiatives to accelerate the adoption of health IT is directly linked to successful implementation of EHR-EMR systems. This book will guide you to a successful implementation. Vinson J.Hudson President/POMIS Industry Analyst, Austin, Texas --Manuscript Review

This book is an invaluable resource for practices facing the arduous task of choosing and implementing an EMR system. By following Sterling's methodical and detailed approach, the reader is transformed into a more intelligent buyer. The checklists are terrific! Karen Zupko President, Karen Zupko & Associates, Chicago, Illinois --Manuscript Review

About the Author

Ronald B. Sterling, CPA, MBA, President of Sterling Solutions, Ltd. helps physician practices and other healthcare organizations capitalize on technology to improve patient service, clinical operations and financial results. Sterling Solutions provides project leadership and guidance to achieve tangible results and benefits from an EMR investment. Ron is a nationally recognized expert on the selection and implementation of electronic medical record and practice management systems. He offers a full range of services to achieve success backed up by an extensive background in technology, physician practices and project management. He has reviewed software products from over 150 vendors. With more than 30 years experience using technology and information as a competitive weapon, he has managed transitions to new computer tools for health care organizations in 30 states. He has served a wide range of primary care and specialty groups including some of the premier ambulatory organizations in the country. Ron manages the transition to EMRs from conception to selection to implementation and deployment. He is vendor neutral, and focuses on the interests of the medical practice. He continually monitors product and vendor developments in this rapidly evolving and diverse software market. He is a frequent speaker on EMRs to a variety of provider and industry groups including MGMA, TEPR, physician executive programs and Hospitals. He has contributed articles to a wide range of publications including Medical Economics, and Ophthalmology Management. He has also written How to Select and Install Medical Practice Software and the Guide to Medical Practice Software.

Product Details

• Paperback: 253 pages
• Publisher: Greenbranch Publishing; 1 edition (June 30, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0981473814
• ISBN-13: 978-0981473819
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 7.9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #266,193 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb GPS for navigating EMR roads, August 10, 2008

By 

Dr. Yuval Lirov "Medical Billing Networks and... (New Jersey, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Keys to EMR Success: Selecting and Implementing an Electronic Medical Record (Paperback)

A recent report, published online in the New England Journal of Medicine, found that doctors who use electronic medical or health records (EMR or EHR) say overwhelmingly that such records have helped improve the quality and timeliness of care. Yet fewer than one in five of the nation's doctors has started using such records. Most doctors in private practice, especially those in small practices, lack the financial incentive to invest in computerized records. In fact, only 8.6 percent of small practices (1-3 doctors) have started using EHR, as compared to 50 percent of large practices (more than 50 doctors).

The key reason for slow EHR adoption rates seem to be economic: providers, already squeezed for reimbursement by the payers, lack the financial incentive to make a significant - often as high as $20,000 per doctor - investment in EHR, and undergo the painful and costly conversion process from paper. Experts agree that EHR would be adopted faster in a consumer-driven health care system, where innovation benefits the entrepreneurial provider. In the absence of a consumer-driven health care market, the government, i.e., the taxpayers, subsidize technological progress, shifting the system selection and pricing decision-making from health care providers to bureaucrats.

That decision-making today is not easy: 54 percent of doctors without EHR said that not finding an electronic health record that met their needs was a "major barrier" to adoption. Why doctors cannot find products that meet their needs in a market saturated with 400 EMR vendors? Is it because these products tend to be designed for hospitals -- big customers -- instead of small practices?

A recent article in New York Times ("Most Doctors Aren't Using Electronic Health Records") concludes with this citation: "Do I see more patients because of this technology? Probably no," Dr. Masucci said. "But I am doing a better job with the patients I am seeing. It almost forces you to be a better doctor." In a consumer-driven market, fewer patients would visit a practice that could not find an EMR that met its needs in terms of functionality, conversion process, and pricing. The market would guide the EMR vendors and the process of EMR adoption would be easier.

Hence the importance and timeliness of this outstanding guide to navigate the complex and expensive EMR markets. This book is a superb GPS for selecting the right product and integrating it in your practice from your front desk, all the way to billing and revenue cycle management. Read it and refer to it often for reference.

Yuval Lirov, Medical Billing Networks and Processes - Profitable and Compliant Revenue Cycle Management in the Internet Age