Evaluating Electronic Health Records Software Dealers

The electronic health records software you choose will be part of your operations for years to come, so it’s important to choose a vendor who will be around to support it.

Choosing a product with a large installed base will help ensure that the vendor will continue to upgrade and improve the product, but that’s only one part of choosing the best electronic health records software supplier.

Electronic health records software training and support
Training and installation is critical when converting to electronic health records. Getting started with a new electronic health records software system is an inconvenience even in the best case, so ask how the vendor plans to minimize disruption during installation.

The vendor should also provide training for everyone who will be using the software. Ask if the vendor provides different types of training for doctors and support staff – and find out how long it takes to get training set up once you sign a contract.

Many practices prefer having a trainer come to their office, but that is not always possible: web-based training can also be effective, if done properly. For this type of purchase which can be vital to your operations, you want to avoid “canned demos” in favor of personal or interactive help. Regardless of the type of training, proper training should take users through the basics of setting up, operating, and troubleshooting the system.

As with any software, you should expect occasional problems or outages with electronic health records software. While “guaranteed 99.5% uptime” and other vendor assurances are fine, more important is how they react when something does go wrong.

Inquire about their support policies: do they have live support staff on the phone during business hours only or? Do they guarantee a specific response time? Depending on the specific needs of your practice, the answers to these questions can make or break your decision to eliminate paper documents by converting to electronic health records.

Finding electronic health records software vendors
If you’ve never purchased health care software before like medical practice management or electronic medical records, the process could seem intimidating. But it doesn’t have to be. BuyerZone provides a request for electronic health records software service quotes– for free. Answer a few simple questions, and your data gets matched to qualified dealers in your area who will learn about your software needs and offer the best solutions.