To get in the cloud, or not? That’s an important question many chiropractics are asking themselves as they consider implementing a new – or upgrading an existing – electronic health record (EHR) system.
Here we outline the top three benefits of choosing a cloud (or Web)based EHR:
Cost effectiveness: Cloudbased EHRs store all data on the Internet. You only need a computer with a strong Internet connection to access and manage all of your patient information. This is different from a serverbased system, which requires the purchase of an onsite server that can be both expensive and complicated to maintain. Additionally, the cost of experienced IT professionals that comes with a serverbased system is alleviated with a simple Webbased solution.
Get up and running fast: The time needed to implement and start using a cloudbased EHR is considerably shorter than it is for a serverbased system. Consider all of the expensive licensing costs and timeconsuming installations needed for the hardware and software associated with a serverbased system, and a cloudbased system quickly makes more sense in
terms of financial viability and ease of use.
More collaboration, easier expansion: With a Webbased system, your team can access and manage patient data anywhere there is an Internet connection; they’re not tied to one computer in the office. Webbased EHRs are also flexible and easy to expand as your practice expands. Think of how easy it will be to expand your EHR to another location if all of your important data exists in a versatile Web “cloud” – there’s no need for even more expensive servers at the new location, nor is there a need for additional costly licensing and installation fees.
Of course, several possible drawbacks exist with a Webbased system; like any technology solution, Webbased EHRs do have some potential downfalls that you need to consider before implementing one. First, many experts agree that the ability to customize a Webbased EHR is limited compared to the customizability of a serverbased solution. What’s more, your ability to access data is tied to the speed and strength of your Internet connection. Larger files may take more time to download than they would on a serverbased EHR. You also have only the level of security that the Webbased provider offers, so be sure you select a provider that takes privacy and security very seriously.
