The Medical Blog

Ophthalmologists who are evaluating electronic medical records (EMR) systems will want a solution that can display and capture patient data in a way that supports the unique needs of their speciality. But what specific characteristics should an ophthalmologist look for in an EMR?

The iPad and the iPhone are a huge hit thanks to their ease of use, mobility and Internet connectivity. The range of available apps has amazed all of us with the versatility of these devices. In health care, they can be turned into a wide range of medical devices with just a few simple add-ons and plug-ins.

What separates those who realize the benefits of an EMR from those who don’t? What are the critical success factors that can help ensure a practice’s switch to EMRs is truly transformational? To find out, I spoke with representatives of three healthcare organizations where EMRs are in place.

Two-thirds of physicians use social media in their practice of medicine, a September study by QuantiaMD and the Care Continuum Alliance reported. Why? Marketing, brand awareness and business development. Ready to be social? Know your target audience and its habits, and you’ll be in a better position to reach them.

The iPad empowers home caregivers to provide kick-ass, compassionate, logistically efficient and accountable care at a lower cost. Apps built to run on iPads transform what a home care giver can do in her day, how effective she is at providing care, how much it costs her to do so, as well as the overall patient experience.

We talk to many providers who run their medical practices on Macs. Finding a medical billing software solution that’s right for a Mac-based practice can be time consuming. So to start you out, we’ve put together a list of some of the more popular medical billing software solutions for Macs.

Greenway Medical is one of the leading providers of mobile electronic health record (EHR) applications. They have introduced native applications for the iPhone and iPad, and will release an Android app this fall. PrimeMOBILE, their flagship EHR app, allows providers to access patient facesheets, capture charges and more.

According to an August 3 report, 2,246 eligible providers and 100 hospitals have successfully attested to meeting Meaningful Use (MU) criteria. Among these early adopters was Premier Family Physicians. We recently had the opportunity to speak with Dr. Kevin Spencer, a board-certified family physician with Premier Family Physicians.

What impact is technology having on the quality of care? Are physicians benefiting from all the improvements that EMR software promises to deliver? We want to hear from you. We’re hosting a quick, 20-question survey about the advantages of electronic medical records. What kind of impact is EMR technology having on your practice?

Running an EHR system on the cumbersome stationary systems that we are used to makes it difficult for physicians to maintain any level of bedside manner. The iPad can alleviate that problem, but first there needs to be a developmental leap, creating software specifically for the iPad.