How are your services different from other EHR consulting services?

A: The difference is in our backgrounds.  We at EHRInsider  left the EHR vendor and are now taking our knowledge outside.  Most consultants have never been employed directly with an EHR vendor; they have never sold nor demonstrated the EHRs; they have never installed EHRs; they have never trained and configured EHRs; nor have they ever managed all of the problems that can occur after the “Go Live”.  Our knowledge is based upon years of experience gained by working for the EHR vendor, performing exactly these types of tasks.  We work with you at the product demonstrations and site visits to determine if a design has flaws that you likely would not have discovered yourself.

Our inside knowledge is what allows you to avoid the common surprises that many clinics are going through right now.

Can’t we just look at these systems ourselves and decide which one is best?

A: In most cases, clinics struggle with this for two reasons.  

First, let's look at the sales demonstration.  Frankly, the sales representative is not going to show you anything that isn't well rehearsed, that doesn’t work well and that doesn’t look great.  It's your job to not only note the great features, but to also discover the missing functionality or annoying designs that are in virtually every system out there.  Because of our experience in this field, we easily recognize the good and bad designs or missing functionality in any EHR.  We'll point these out to you so that you may make a better decision on what to install at your clinic.

Second, and most important, you are probably buying your first EHR.  Therefore, how do you really know what to watch out for and what to  purchase?  First-time EHR buyers typically make many assumptions about these systems and that is costing them a great deal once it goes live.

Not everyone will need our help.  There are some people who have spent many years reviewing over a hundred EHRs and are pretty well versed about them.  It's practically their hobby.  However, if you are not one of these people, and are installing your first EHR or if you have had a negative experience with an EHR in the past, it would be very prudent on your part to bring in an expert.  We'll likely save you money overall by getting a higher price discount than you might by yourself.

Where can we read about other clinics' real life experiences with EHRs?

A: There are several web sites that host EHR user forums where clinics post messages and are openly discussing their EHR purchases and their pros and cons. EMRupdate.com is a very popular site and we also review discussions there very often. Many of those clinics went out alone and selected their systems by themselves and thought they knew exactly what to check for.  When we read some of those forum postings we can imagine exactly what the clinic did not ask the vendor or what they did not discuss at the live site visit.  They also seem to be missing some very valuable warranty clauses in their purchase contracts.

Can you also help us select a completely integrated EHR/PM system?

A: Yes.  Our experience is not limited to just EHRs, by any means.  We have also worked with practice management systems for many years.  The only reason we focus on EHRs is because most clinics generally are very experienced with billing and scheduling systems and know quite a bit about how to select one.

However, whether you are experienced in this area or not, there are a number of important questions that you need to ask about integration vs. interfacing. Many vendors will say that they have an integrated EHR/PM system, when in fact they are really just interfaced to their own programs.  You will often see this when one vendor buys out another vendor and tries to marry the two systems.  Frankly, some vendors are actually using two different databases for their EHR and PM systems but touting them as “being fully integrated.”  A truly well-integrated EHR/PM system will usually offer higher functionality than a non-integrated system and you normally do not pay a higher price for this benefit.

Will you provide your services over the web or come to our clinic?

A: Both, and more.  Initially, we will meet on-site at your clinic.  We want to interview your staff and get a good feel for your project and potential  obstacles. There is a very wide spectrum for documentation methods used by providers today.  Depending on how your staff works, and more importantly... how they will not work with an EHR, depends on what type of EHR will best function at your office.  We’ll also provide tips on how to prepare for an EHR implementation.  You can do at least one thing right now that won't cost you a penny and it will pay huge dividends when you go live with a system in the future.  

Of course, we'll be sitting right next to you during the sales demonstrations and we'll also tour the live sites together.  After each demonstration, we will go over our notes and your EHRInsider representative will point out the pros and cons of each system.  This will also be supplied in a written report on each vendor you review.

Contract negotiations are typically done over the phone and the web, involving you, your EHRInsider rep and the preferred vendor.

If you like, we can also accompany you to trade shows where we can preview many vendors in just a few days.

Implementation services involve both on and off-site support and this will be determined by your own needs.

How much will all of this cost?

A: It depends on how much help you may need. You can select from any combination of our services, and add services as we go.  Frankly, you might choose to start with just our initial on-site analysis and preparation meeting and decide what type of services you may need after that.