Occupational health specialists should try to select an electronic medical record (EMR) software system that has been designed specifically for an occupational health facility and its patients. In addition, it is imperative locate a reputable vendor who has the experience necessary to help a facility select the proper software for its needs. A skilled vendor can also help to determine the most important requirements of the practice in order to create a high-quality EMR software system that can assist both physicians and other medical staff members with improving current procedures and existing workflows. In turn, this can also help the clinic to save time and money by reducing the chance for error and helping to eliminate unnecessary expenditures.
High quality EMR software systems that have been created specifically for an occupational health facility will most likely come with a number of built-in features that are already used by other occupational health specialists. These can include a lab interface, PDR-based prescription writing, E&M coding assistance for an occupational health facility, decision support and document management, among others. In addition, the new EMR software system should be designed to recognize and utilize the unique terminology and vocabulary that is commonly used in an occupational health specialty facility. For a complete list of available features, and to receive help in deciding which ones are best suited for your practice, talk to your software vendor.
In addition, most reputable vendors have created a wide variety of highly flexible EMR software templates that are available for use in occupational health practices. This helps doctors and all other medical staff members with the critical job of collecting, evaluating and storing important patient medical information, including a current list of all medications, the patient’s complete medical history, and possible treatment options. Common templates for occupational health specialty clinics cover duty status reports, drug testing forms, customized SOAP note templates, physical examinations, physical therapy and reports detailing employee records of lost time, along with a wide variety of others. Also of note, many facilities have found that the adoption of occupational health-specific scheduling and billing templates can often help to improve employee performance, as well as the overall patient experience.
In short, occupational health specialists should take the necessary time to examine a variety of EMR software systems and vendors before making a final selection. This will help to ensure a solid understanding of the entire process, and it can also enhance the occupational health facility’s satisfaction with the implementation process and the final product.