Choosing chiropractic software that fits your practice is often very overwhelming.
We’ve compiled a list of questions to ask vendors when shopping around for an EHR system or if you are looking to upgrade your current system. Click here to download a PDF version of this checklist.
Functionality and technology
These questions are designed to help you find a vendor offering the software functionality you are looking for.
1. Is this EHR certified by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC)?
Certified EHR meets certain minimum functionality requirements and security standards.¹
2. What technical specifications are required for using this EHR?
Depending on the computers, tablets, smartphones or other devices you plan to use as EHR terminals, you may need to upgrade your technology. Find out what the minimum requirements are for each vendor.
3. Is this software as a service (SaaS) or is this EHR installed on-site?
Software as a Service (SaS) runs on your devices from the cloud and is typically structured as a subscription service. On-site installations may allow you to purchase the software. From there, the vendor may offer IT consulting services.²
Testing and going live
Find out how the vendor plans to support your new system during the adoption phase.
4. Will your team help with pre-launch testing? With launch day?
Your vendor may send a technician for on-site help when you switch to their software. This insures that your launch goes smoothly and does not cause major interruptions to clinical operations.¹
5. Do you provide user training, such as on-site workshops, print guidebooks or courseware?
Look for a vendor offering comprehensive training, whenever possible. Ask about how training materials are offered and how frequently they are updated.¹
6. What support is available for users to ask questions after our installation goes live? Is there a forum for sharing ideas online with other users?
Many vendors provide discussion forums online for users to review features and share information with each other. At the very least, your vendor should have a technical support and customer service team available whenever you have questions or encounter problems. You may also ask if their support center is in-house or outsourced. If a serious software failure happens, you will also want to know how they plan to resolve the problem and how quickly they will do so.¹
Interoperability, compatibility, and data transfer issues
Be sure your EHR can “talk” with other systems and easily and securely transmit data to others.¹
7. Is your EHR able to effectively integrate with our clinical colleagues’ EHR systems? Could you give us a demonstration?
Let your vendor know which systems your EHR will be communicating with on a regular basis and ask the company to show you how well their EHR integrates with different software.¹
8. How will our current patient data be transferred into your system? If we already have EHR, how will existing patient records be moved over? If we are using paper records, what is the process for transferring to your all-digital system?
Transferring patient records to a new EHR can be a complex and trying process, so be sure to compare the details of the process when you are shopping for an EHR vendor. Find out how involved the vendor plans to be in this process, how long it will take and how you or your staff would be involved.¹
9. Who retains ownership of data after it is entered into your system? Do you own this information, or do our patients own it?
Some vendors may claim ownership of data entered into their software, while others provide for patients to legally retain ownership. Find out in advance how your patients’ data will be used and who will retain rights to it.¹
10. How does your software protect our patients’ records? Can you tell us more about your security features?
Vendors, as business associates, are legally required to make reasonable efforts to secure patient records through their software, so be sure to find out how they do so and what security measures may be your own responsibility.³
