Top Five Tips on Finding the Best EMR Suited to Your Physical Therapy Practice

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Electronic Medical Records

The quality and reliability of the vendor is a key factor when selecting an EMR system. Make sure any system provides bug fixes, access to new features as they become available, and 24/7 technical support.

Denville, NJ (PRWEB) July 13, 2012

“There are many occupational therapy software programs available, but many are designed for general use and don’t accurately reflect the needs and specialties of physical therapists,” said Chhoda. “Before deciding on any EMR system, there are five basic criteria that therapists should consider.”

•     Physical therapy EMR – Select an EMR designed and developed for a physical therapy practice. It should integrate with normal office procedures and feature the usual forms and information specific to the profession. A one-size-fits-all approach shouldn’t be adopted for an EMR.
•     Cost – An EMR system represents a significant investment and many require expensive ongoing monthly fees or long contracts. It must be developed by a physical therapist who understands the unique needs of those in the profession.
•     Easy to use – The most sophisticated system available won’t benefit the practice if it’s difficult to understand and doesn’t promote intuitive usage. The human/machine interface is a crucial factor when choosing a physical therapy management system and should be a primary concern.
•     Determine the requirements – Chhoda noted that therapists should first determine what they want the physical therapy software to accomplish. Therapists can choose software that offers basic features, such as better charting, or a complete system to manage all aspects of the practice. “Choose a system that has the features you want and has room for growth,” said Chhoda.
•     Vendors, support and upgrades – The quality and reliability of the vendor is a key factor when selecting an EMR system. Make sure any system provides bug fixes, access to new features as they become available, and 24/7 technical support.

Selecting a physical therapy EMR system can be a daunting prospect, but Chhoda’s new top five tips offers therapists with sound advice garnered through his extensive experience with electronic office systems. Making the transition to electronic medical records opens up enormous possibilities and provides therapists with an array of tools for better patient care, to boost reimbursements and market practices more efficiently.

Chhoda’s office can be reached by phone at 201-535-4475. For more information, visit the website at http://www.emrnews.com.

ABOUT NITIN CHHODA
Nitin Chhoda PT, DPT is a licensed physical therapist, a certified strength and conditioning specialist and an entrepreneur. He is the author of "Physical Therapy Marketing For The New Economy" and “Marketing for Physical Therapy Clinics” and is a prolific speaker, writer and creator of products and systems to streamline medical billing and coding, electronic medical records, health care practice management and marketing to increase referrals. He has been featured in numerous industry magazines, major radio and broadcast media, and is the founder of Referral Ignition training systems and the annual Private Practice Summit. Chhoda speaks extensively throughout the U.S., Canada and Asia. He is also the creator of the Therapy Newsletter and Clinical Contact, both web-based services to help private practices improve communication with patients, delivery better quality of care and boost patient retention.

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