Elevate patient care beyond the visit

Selecting an electronic health record (EHR) system is a complex task requiring sharp instincts, patience and long-term vision.

It’s tempting to be swayed by a list of features or low cost, but these criteria don’t necessarily guarantee performance. Additionally, an EHR product with attractive characteristics may not align with the specific needs of your practice. Some EHRs are too general and lose sight of your clinic’s unique reality, while others, overly focused on the medical aspect, lack the flexibility needed to effectively manage a chiropractic clinic.

How to make an informed choice

It is essential that your EHR system meets the specific needs of your practice, whether it is solo or multidisciplinary, without burdening your workflow. Efficiency and quality of patient care must remain your top priority. You and your staff are human beings caring for other human beings with your hands, your energy and your spirituality. An EHR system should not be a disruptive element that creates a barrier between you and your patients.

Foundation

Your EHR must include the following basics:

• Comprehensive patient record management including tailored treatment plan by phases, flexible financial plans and patient journey with automated management of all applicable process steps
• Scheduling and appointment management with visit-tailored reminders and effective follow-ups
• Customizable and easy-to-create SOAP notes, considering ergonomics to ensure comfort and efficiency in note-writing
• Integrated billing and insurance claim management with the option to entrust a team of experts with the complete management of claim submissions, denials, appeals and postings

Most EHR systems offer tools to meet these basic needs. However, it’s crucial to ensure that this foundation is solid, as cracks can lead to significant consequences, such as lag time, data loss, unbalanced reports or the inability to evolve as your needs change.

Keep in mind that excessive complexity can mask fundamental flaws in your EHR system.

Robustness of the foundation

The robustness of an EHR system is measured by its ability to operate reliably and efficiently while ensuring the security and confidentiality of personal data. Responsive and competent technical support is another good indicator of robustness.

Additionally, it is essential that the EHR system easily integrates with complementary solutions provided by established partners. Does it mesh well with the other software you already use?

Finally, an EHR system’s adaptability and scalability are tangible proof of a solid, stable foundation.

Vision

It’s important to consider the team behind your EHR system. A visionary leader can anticipate and plan for the future with insight and proactivity. They could invest in new technology to evolve your system with innovative strategies while simplifying your work.

This type of leadership is crucial, as the sustainability of chiropractic depends on its ability to adapt to developments in the healthcare field. The emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) and self-diagnostic tools, which often overlook the complexity of human beings, can threaten chiropractic if the profession doesn’t adapt to these rising technologies. By embracing this digital transformation, DCs can play a central role. However, this requires adopting a  holistic approach.

Elevate patient care beyond the visit: A holistic approach

Maintaining efficiency and high-quality patient care should always be your top priority. In the coming years, it will be essential to intensify your efforts to enhance patient retention. As a DC, you must evolve into a catalyst for change, empowering patients to take control of their physical and mental well-being, rather than serve merely as their short-term solution for pain management. This transformation involves adopting the role of a life coach, guiding patients toward holistic health and wellness.

Let’s return to the vision of BJ Palmer,¹ the founder of chiropractic:

• “The power that made the body, heals the body. It happens no other way.”
• “Medicine is the study of disease and what causes man to die. Chiropractic is the study of health and what causes man to live.”
• “The preservation of health is easier than the cure for disease.”

BJ Palmer also introduced the concept of “the big idea,” which emphasizes the central role of the nervous system in maintaining health and how chiropractic adjustments can positively influence overall well-being. In a way, he was a precursor to the holistic approach.

Fortunately, certain EHR systems, developed by visionaries attuned to the needs of DCs, now enable the adoption of a holistic approach to patient care. This comprehensive method goes beyond quick fixes, incorporating elements such as nutrition, exercise, stress management, weight loss and mental health into chiropractic treatment.

You can enhance patient care by integrating proven solutions with your EHR system that utilize real-time data to improve care effectiveness. These integrations facilitate better decision-making, streamline workflows and ultimately lead to improved patient outcomes. The following are some other solutions:

• Remote patient monitoring (RPM)
• Artificial intelligence to develop personalized exercises to improve posture and performance, while providing informed mental health advice
• AI to assess and enhance physical and mental health indicators
• Appropriate customer relationship management (CRM) tools that go beyond appointment reminders and measurement of patient satisfaction

These tools will propel your practice forward by providing health indicators, enabling you to:

• Have a quick overview of your patients at risk and maximize the impact of your chiropractic adjustments on their well-being
• Easily monitor symptoms, physical and mental health conditions
• Tailor your care for patients with chronic diseases and provide education materials
• Collect vital signs and biometric data through connected devices and manual methods
• Engage patients in self-care while providing monitoring oversight, which enhances their involvement in managing their health. This approach empowers patients to actively participate in their healthcare, leading to improved outcomes and satisfaction.²
• Offer efficient weight loss programs
• Monitor pain and sleep disorders, which should show improvement after your chiropractic adjustments
• Send patients standard and tailor-made questionnaires that enable quantitative and qualitative measurements
• Assess your patients’ mood

Final thoughts

Your EHR system must transcend the traditional role of health records, becoming the central hub of a more intricate ecosystem. It should function as the nervous system of your practice, ensuring cohesion of the data you collect to enable you to elevate patient care beyond the visit.

You only have to ask one question to make the right decision on an EHR system: Does your EHR system enable you to be a forward-thinking healthcare leader because you have undertaken the holistic approach BJ Palmer foresaw several decades ago?

If the answer is yes, you have found your EHR system.

NADINE BRUNET, vice president of Platinum System, has been with the company for almost 25 years. She is an economist with a master’s degree in economics and international finance from the University of Montreal, as well as a bachelor’s degree in economics and international business from HEC Montreal. Brunet is the integral leader in the development of the upcoming forward-thinking intricate ecosystem software Platinum 2.0. For more information, contact sales@platinumsystem.com or visit platinumsystem.com.

References

1. BJ Palmer Quotes. A-Z Quotes. Azquotes.com. Accessed December 13, 2024.
2. BMC Health Services Research. https://bmchealthservres.biomedcentral.com/. Accessed December 13, 2024.