So if a lot of EMR software actually does live up to this “myth”, why are we calling it a myth?<\/p>\n
Because it doesn’t extend to all EMR programs.<\/strong> There are a number of apps that can actually help reduce data entry time instead of growing it. It depends on you choosing the right one.<\/p>\n For example, systems that put emphasis on workflow and design make integrating current note-taking processes easy.\u00a0This means you can do it during the actual consultation without taking much of your time and attention away from the patient.<\/p>\n Bottom line? Look for the right software for your practice. It allows you to spend more time with the patient and lets you deal with less paperwork or administrative work.<\/p>\n For the most part,\u00a0software is hard to set up and understand if you’re not too tech-oriented.\u00a0Sadly, a lot of medical software out there requires a lot of setting up out of the box as they have stopped progressing over time.<\/p>\n A lot of them require you to purchase training services as well, which is why they will not change the design. I\u2019ve personally seen & used many of them and I can honestly say that I just gave up.<\/p>\n But again, don’t assume that means all EHRs are like that.\u00a0<\/strong>Nowadays, the emphasis on user experience and interface design is growing. Soon, you’ll be able to find more EMRs that require little effort to set up.<\/p>\n In the case of SeriousMD, we even think sometimes that we took too much time with design and user experience. We wanted the app to adapt to how a doctor would want to use it.<\/p>\n If you want to write on it, then you can do it. If you want staff to handle your billing then they can. If you want to take notes on paper but don\u2019t want it eating up space in the clinic, then you can just take a picture of your note and throw it away after.<\/p>\n You don\u2019t have to do what you don\u2019t want to do. Add your notes and be done with it. We want to help you offer better care so the last thing we want is to take time away from your patient.<\/p>\n Not all doctors want to be contacted outside clinic hours so the need for accessing patient data anytime or anywhere isn\u2019t that important.<\/p>\n Or isn’t it? Few remember\u00a0that they\u2019d need it once they go to their other clinics. Sometimes, patients will visit you in your other clinics, sometimes you just see them and couldn\u2019t say no. Sometimes, your staff are absent and nobody is there to find\u00a0 <\/span>and pull the records. Sometimes, emergencies take place.<\/p>\n These situations can happen. To many doctors, they happen fairly often. Having your records accessible anytime and anywhere helps you face these situations head on, without relying on staff, getting emotionally affected and there\u2019s no need to hire staff members.<\/p>\n True, each doctor has their own unique process to run their daily operations but there\u2019s usually a core process of how a practice is ran in the Philippines.<\/p>\n Over the year that we were developing SeriousMD, we went to different doctors to observe their processes and came up with a core process that\u2019s implemented with the app.<\/p>\n It\u2019s why we launched without timeblocks, made sure it can work offline and if it\u2019s online, we made sure it works in real-time with other devices. That way, it adapts to the needs of the practice, no matter where it\u2019s used. Whether you have a staff of 0 or 20, you can make SeriousMD work for you.<\/p>\n It’s understandable that a lot of people would think this, given the stuff you hear on the news. Hacking stories abound, whether it\u2019s a small Facebook account hack, a larger-scale COMELEC hack or whatever.<\/p>\n First of all, Facebook hacks are usually not hacks at all. It\u2019s usually people neglecting to log out or using other people\u2019s computers with keyloggers. It will always be your responsibility to keep your password safe. As for the COMELEC hack, it was because the site was never secured in the first place. It didn’t take hackers much effort to break into that because it had barely any safeguards in the first place.<\/p>\n A lot of the news you hear about hacking involves cases where the security failure was largely on the part of the user or software itself. Use software with a good array of security measures<\/a> and practice smart account stewardship and you drastically lower your chances of being a hacking victim.<\/strong> That\u2019s the bottom line.<\/p>\n We even mentioned in an earlier article that there’s research showing more data breaches in traditional paper systems than electronic ones (see the infographic here<\/a>). As with paper systems, digital systems’ security depends a lot on what you yourself do with them.<\/p>\n If you really want to be secure with your records, stop using unsecured DOC files\u00a0to keep patient records.<\/p>\n Stop sending out unencrypted text messages regarding patient data.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t use vulnerable devices or ones you share with others.<\/p>\n Don’t use electronic record software that has weak security protocol. You’d be surprised how many companies still use software that doesn’t even encrypt, when that’s about the least you can expect from a secure program.<\/p>\n One other story regarding data security\u00a0goes something like this:<\/b><\/p>\n \u201cI heard a story that my (doctor) friend had their system custom-made then they lost all their data when the HD failed. They couldn\u2019t get hold of their developer.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n We get stories like this almost each day now through email. It\u2019s actually one of the main reasons people are signing up for SeriousMD. With SeriousMD, they have automatic backups to keep their data safe, so that already shows you this sort of data loss isn’t a risk with all EMR systems.<\/p>\n Lastly, SeriousMD Doctors is built and secured with the latest technology. All data is encrypted, accounts have 2-factor authentication and we also have specialized security features based on what device you are using the app on. Again, this disproves the myth that all EHR software is unreliable.<\/p>\n As with any market, there are expensive software (usually enterprise level) and commercial software that\u2019s usually more affordable.<\/p>\n In the local healthcare market, it\u2019s a bit different. Commercial software has been expensive over the years as having one custom-made is a route often taken.<\/p>\n In recent years, there have been changes, from free apps that offer ads and sell your data to cheap apps that are almost impossible to use or that work on just a single device with no ongoing support and updates.<\/p>\n In terms of trying out the software, you practically can\u2019t try it and you are often greeted with a video that\u2019s 5 years old. You have to request a demo or pay upfront to get it implemented.<\/p>\n But yet again, it’s a myth to think this applies to all EHRs.<\/strong><\/p>\n Take our software as an example. Though using the latest devices will always perform better because of the bump in memory, we built SeriousMD to work with almost any device. Our test devices are often the lowest versions to fully test our capabilities.<\/p>\n And as for testing, SeriousMD gives you a free lifetime account<\/a> that you can grow in the early stages of your medical career. The more you use the app and the more you invite, the longer you won\u2019t need to upgrade. We want to be accessible to doctors that will be starting their practice soon and we wanted to help them get started.<\/p>\n This myth came from doctors who have computers that are on their left or right side in the consultation room. They have to turn to the computer to type\u00a0and all the while have to manage some eye contact with the patient.<\/p>\n I totally understand this as I personally saw this issue during my visits to hundreds of clinics. Doctors end up looking at the computer more than the patient.<\/p>\n We released for mobile first because of this issue. Having access to a mobile device with touch capabilities and text shortcuts doesn\u2019t stop you from having a meaningful conversation with your patient. Using portables helps because you can treat it more or less like a regular notepad.<\/p>\n You also have options on how you want to take notes. As mentioned earlier, we have doctors who write on paper and take a picture of the note after their session.<\/p>\n Worth adding here is that with most software out there, doctors end up having to be the ones who input everything. Having the SeriousMD syncing feature that works in real-time helps because you end up just adding notes. Your staff can handle Vitals, scheduling and everything else.<\/p>\n We often talk about our vision. How what we are doing now is something that will help improve healthcare long term and save millions of lives but often, it\u2019s not that easily understood.<\/p>\n \u201cHow can saving notes digitally help improve and save lives? It\u2019s nonsense!\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n Some physicians view themselves as islands and think that whatever they put in a patient\u2019s records isn\u2019t going to help their patient in the long run when they see other doctors. Even dentists find it hard to believe that what they record can eventually help their patient long term.<\/p>\n It\u2019s not that they don\u2019t care. They care a lot for their patients! They just don\u2019t see how it helps or how it could work.<\/p>\n You know what? We totally understand.<\/p>\n It’s hard to appreciate change when it first arrives. Give it a try, though, and you might be surprised.<\/p>\n We\u2019ve already received messages from SeriousMD users who told us that their records helped save lives recently through trend analysis or easily finding notes from their really old records or seeing results from a patient\u2019s lab results from years back BUT we\u2019re looking at the bigger picture to save even more lives.<\/p>\n It\u2019s why we\u2019re building out the SeriousMD platform and we want to show it to everyone soon.<\/p>\n Through an integrated SeriousMD platform, doctors can offer better care to patients and give better diagnosis. This is where medical technology is headed and what we\u2019re aiming for.<\/p>\n Given all that, it\u2019s time to get started with digital records for your patients. Everyone is moving that way already: holding out will just slow your practice’s growth instead of helping you move into a solid position for the future.<\/p>\n I\u2019ve already debunked the most common myths against EMRs out there but I\u2019m sure there are a lot more. You probably have some of them right now. The thing is, most of them can still be answered easily.<\/p>\n So no matter what your reasons are, just talk to us. We\u2019ll help you out.<\/strong><\/p>\n Get started by signing up below or schedule a strategy session<\/a> with us.<\/p>\nMyth #2 – Hard to use, set up, and understand. I am not \u201ctechy\u201d.<\/h3>\n
Myth #3 – I don\u2019t need digital records because I don\u2019t need access to my patient\u2019s data anytime, anywhere!<\/h3>\n
Myth #4 – The way I do things in my clinic is unique. No app can do it like I can.<\/h3>\n
Myth #5 – Electronic Records are not secure.<\/h3>\n
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Myth #6 – Expensive to implement (hardware + software) and I\u2019m not sure if I really can use it after I pay for it.<\/h3>\n
Myth #7 – It will hurt my relationship and session with the patient.<\/h3>\n
Myth #8 – Digital charts will never change anything. Why bother?<\/h3>\n
\nIt\u2019s Time That You Go Digital<\/h2>\n
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![\"Sign](\"https:\/\/seriousmd.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/Sign-up-for-SeriousMD.png\")
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