The breakthrough book for medical practices eager to minimize the costs, confusion and outright risks of choosing and implementing an Electronic Medical Record (EMR) system.

In this revised second edition, nationally recognized expert Ron Sterling, president, Sterling Solutions, Ltd., has included up-to-date information on this daily-changing topic of Health IT. A new chapter on EHR and malpractice risk has been added, as well as detailed coverage of conversion issues for practices that have an old EMR. Also, new additions on ARRA and meaningful use will help many medical practices evaluate whether an EHR investment makes sense.

Keys to EMR/EHR Success, Second Edition starts with an overview of preparing the practice for technology. From there, Sterling helps the reader define requirements, choose the right system, get physician and staff buy-in, and take the system "live" as smoothly as possible. Sterling translates his experience into a step-by-step process any medical practice can follow with ease, from first considering an EHR, all the way through post-implementation training and updates.

"There is no question," says Sterling, "that the selection and implementation of an EHR 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 EHRs. These tools become necessary to meet patient expectations, payer quality requirements and pay-for-performance demands."

Keys to EMR/EHR Success, Second Edition, provides a proven path medical practices can follow with ease, and the confidence they're making the right decisions about features, vendors, integration with the practice management system, and other critical factors.

The 1st Edition of Keys to EMR Success, published in 2008, was the HIMSS Book of the Year Award, and was selected because it, "comprehensively covers the selection and implementation of electronic medical records for the physician practice. The book contains solid advice, work lists, and other tools to help physicians and office managers succeed in leveraging EMRs to improve patient services and practice performance."

Selected Table of Contents

• Chapter 1: Should I Invest in an EHR?
  Who should and shouldn't make the leap.
• Chapter 2: Evaluating an EHR Investment
  How to compare the systems' cost to potential ROI in patient care, document management, compliance, and other key practice areas.  
• Chapter 3: Your Practice Management System and an EHR
  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: EHR and Malpractice Risk
  Covering patient service and operation's risk issues faced by medical practices that have an EHR.
• Chapter 6: Selecting Products to Review
  Narrowing the field of 400 EMR products to find the best candidates for your practice.
• Chapter 7: Reviewing Products for Your Practice
  How to complete due diligence in two months, including what to look for in demos.
• Chapter 8: 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 9: Negotiating a Contract
  How to avoid tricky situations with warranties, termination clauses, upfront fees, and more.
• Chapter 10: Implementing an EHR
  From clinical standards and policies, to data conversion and training: who does what, when.
• Chapter 11: Activating an EHR
  How to keep personnel and logistics issues from sabotaging your success with the EMR system.
• Chapter 12: Supporting an EHR
  Maintaining standards (e.g., clinical charting), motivating proficiency, training new employees, and regularly refreshing staff EMR skills.

BONUS!...an EHR glossary and an up-to-date list of CCHIT Certified vendors and products including company names, contact information and dates of certification.

Author:

Ron Sterling, CPA, is President of Sterling Solutions, Ltd., Silver Spring, Md., and a nationally recognized expert on practice-based computer tools. Sterling has authored four books on the topic, has reviewed electronic medical record and practice management systems from over 150 vendors, and has guided a variety of primary care and specialty practices in over 30 states in the selection and implementation of electronic medical record and practice management systems.