How to Buy a Cardiology EMR System

Written By: Steve Thompson

Cardiologists work in fast-paced, high-pressure environments, which is why a quality cardiology EMR is essential. This type of program will streamline your cardiology practice while giving you access to your most important records as fast as you need them. A cardiology electronic medical records program also can serve as a handy reference tool for making quick decisions.

Features of a cardiology EMR

Every EMR program will give you features that allow you to input patient records, billing and coding, scheduling and, perhaps, a lab interface. A cardiology EMR should provide you with much more. The top programs in this area will have EKG integration functionality, a drug database for cardiology medications, and E&M coding assistance specifically for cardiologists.

More importantly, this type of program should be fully customizable for your needs. You should be able to make changes in the database according to your practice, from your own shorthand and terminology to document and image management. You also should be able to store test results from EKG, ECG and other important tests.

Templates & categories

A cardiology EMR will also come with templates geared specifically toward cardiology, such as those for hypertension, pacemakers and exams. They should be stored in a separate area from billing and coding for easy access and retrieval, and should be easily customizable.

In addition, your cardiology EMR program should have designated categories for recording various patient data, such as common complaints, symptoms, medications and tests. This will allow you to know, at a glance, what each patient has already been through and will lead you directly to the next logical step. In other words, no searching through dozens of files for the information you need.

Portability

Many cardiologists work in several different offices, such as clinics, private practices and hospitals. The last thing you want is to constantly have to contact your home base for patient records and other important data, so your cardiology records system should be portable. Many of the programs on the market today are Tablet PC-enabled or have some other method of portability such as access through your PDA. This is something you should consider if you work outside the office on a regular basis.

When reviewing and pricing cardiology EMR, ask to see the program in action. Consider how much you might customize it in the future, and find out how much training is needed before you can master the program.

Ready to purchase an EMR for your cardiology practice? Try BuyerZone's free request for EMR price quotes: you'll be matched to software providers who offer the right system for your needs.