• Magazine
    • Past Issues
    • Subscribe
    • Change Mailing Address
    • Surveys
    • Guidelines for Authors
    • Editorial Calendar
    • Editorial Deadlines
  • Practice
    • Business Tips
    • Chiropractic Schools
    • Clinical & Technique
    • eBooks
    • eCourses
    • Infographics
    • Quizzes
    • Wellness & Nutrition
    • Personal Growth
    • Podcast
  • Resource Centers
  • Products & Services
    • Buyer’s Guide
    • Products Directory
    • Submit a Product
    • Vendor Login
  • Datebook
    • Become an Events Poster
    • Post an Event
    • View Events
  • Jobs
    • Jobs
    • Post a Job
  • Advertise
    • Advertising Information
    • Media Kit
    • Contact Us
    • Upload Advertising

Your Online Chiropractic Community

Chiropractic Economics Your Online Chiropractic Community
Subscribe
  • Home
  • Current Issue
  • News
  • Webinars
  • Chiropractic Research
  • Students
  • Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Making moments count with an EHR system

Dava Stewart June 23, 2015

Your EHR system should be a real timesaver.

When you switch from traditional, paper documentation to an electronic health records (EHR) system in your practice, you aim to improve work flow, minimize required work space, or even take advantage of government incentives. But one often overlooked or unexpected benefit is improved efficiencies, which often equate to cost savings.

Time and space

With a paper-based system, space is required for charts, and your staff must spend time pulling and filing information often kept in multiple places. For example, appointments are likely stored in a scheduling book rather than with a patient’s chart, or insurance information may be filed separately.

With an EHR system, patient charts are digitally stored requiring only virtual space rather than physical real estate in your office. “Pulling” a chart means searching the patients name in the EHR system, not digging through mountains of paper. All information related to an individual patient is linked together for immediate access and available to multiple staff simultaneously.

Handwriting woes

It may be a cliché that doctors have bad handwriting. But these adages often have a grain of truth to them, and there’s a chance your penmanship is sometimes difficult to read. If you take notes on paper, your staff may be spending time deciphering them. If you use a voice recorder, you probably have transcription costs.

With an EHR, you are typing, which renders the problem moot. Some EHR systems even have voice to text options, which means the system handles all your transcriptions.

Money on your mind

When you consider the cost of an EHR system, you might wonder if purchasing one with lots of bells and whistles is worth it. After all, in addition to the upfront costs, you will likely need to pay for staff training, additional hardware, and ongoing operation costs. But savings in labor hours, chart chasing, transcription errors, and paper and toner purchases can outweigh the expenses. Additional timesavers can be implemented if the EHR you choose automates processes such as coding.

The decision to purchase and implement an EHR system will involve many factors. As with any business expense, you’ll need to look at the investment relative to your needs. Patient population, tech savviness, potential gains in efficiency over time, cash flow, and other details will dictate what is best for your practice.

Related Posts

  • How do patients feel about your note-taking method?How do patients feel about your note-taking method?
  • What happens to your EHR when you have a power outage?What happens to your EHR when you have a power outage?
  • EHR system staff training ideasEHR system staff training ideas
  • EHR software requirements and considerationsEHR software requirements and considerations
  • How can an EHR system protect your practice in the case of an audit?How can an EHR system protect your practice in the case of an audit?
  • What the ICD-10 delay means for chiropractic officesWhat the ICD-10 delay means for chiropractic offices

Filed Under: Practice Management Software, Resource Center

Current Issue

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube logoYouTube logoYouTube

820 A1A N Highway W18,

Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082

Phone 904.285.6020

Fax 904.395.9118

CONTACT US »

Privacy Policy & Terms of Service

Copyright © 2021, All Rights Reserved

SUBSCRIBE TO THE MAGAZINE

Get Chiropractic Economics magazine
delivered to your home or office. Just
fill out our form to request your FREE
subscription for 20 issues a year,
including two annual Buyers Guides.

SUBSCRIBE NOW »

Latest Chiropractic News

  • American Chiropractic Association lauds U.S. Congress passing fair competition health legislation
    The American Chiropractic Association (ACA) lauded the U.S. Congress for passing legislation that will promote fair competition in health...
  • Logan University debuts new health center
    Logan University logo
  • Foot Levelers releases spring 2021 seminars schedule