ISMA e-Reports
May 26, 2009
If you think electronic medical records (EMRs) are for large, profitable practices – not small, rural ones – Southern Indiana Community Health Care may change your mind.
The non-profit family medicine practice has four physicians and four locations in rural English, Marengo, Paoli and French Lick. The staff now enjoys a fully functional EMR and would “put up a fight” if they had to go back to paper.
They have experiences and advice to share; however, Matthew Waldron, M.D., noted that many of the “so-called advantages” of EMRs are not reality. “It won’t make you faster and won’t save you money,” he said. “If you were disorganized and always behind schedule before EMR, you’ll continue to be that way.”
Why make the move? “EMR has portability and accessibility. I can read patients’ charts at any office location and log in anywhere I can get Internet access,” Dr. Waldron explained. “There’s a level of flexibility you just can’t have with paper charts.”
