In order to make the best decision regarding electronic medical record (EMR) software for a general surgery practice, start by locating a reputable, experienced software vendor who can design a system that will work to meet the unique needs of a specialty medical practice and its patients. By choosing to utilize specialty – specific EMR software, surgeons can enhance the existing systems within a practice and can generally improve the overall workflow for all employees, which can also help to reduce instances of error and eliminate frivolous expenses.

A specialty-specific EMR software system that has been designed specifically for a general surgery practice will typically come with a variety of flexible, specialty-specific features and options that are also currently being used by other general surgery offices. These often include e-prescribing, electronic lab results/requests, tablet PC capability, decision support, E&M coding assistance for general surgery, PDR-based prescription writing, and bubble sheet intake forms, but many others are also available, so be sure to talk to your vendor. In addition, make sure that your new EMR software system has been set up to recognize and implement all of the unique terminology and specific language that is regularly used in a general surgery specialty practice.

Also of note, a variety of highly customizable EMR software templates are available for use by general surgery facilities. These templates have been created by vendors in order to help surgeons and other staff members with the important job of accumulating, evaluating and storing patient medical information, including all current medications, complete medical history and viable treatment options. Popular template options include custom general surgery SOAP Note templates, procedure templates, referral letter templates and patient education templates, among many more. Interestingly, templates even exist that were created specifically to assist employees in a general surgery specialty practice with billing and scheduling appointments, which can also help to improve the level of customer service all patients receive.

Surgeons who thoroughly research what is available from EMR software systems and vendors will not only better understand what options exist, but they will also most likely experience greater satisfaction with the final product. In addition, a high-quality specialty-specific EMR software system can help to improve the level of care that patients receive, which is a good thing for any medical practice.

Like any specialty doctor, podiatrists have a unique set of recordkeeping and data gathering needs that must be fulfilled in order to keep the practice running smoothly. When it comes to choosing an electronic health record (EHR) system for a podiatry office, it is essential to go with a software system that can easily be tailored to the unique needs of the practice and its patients. Not only will this help to ensure a smooth transition, but it can also reduce costs while increasing efficiency and enhancing all aspects of the patient experience.

Before meeting with a software vendor about a new EHR system, take the time to develop a list of the forms and templates that your practice will definitely need, in order to provide a solid starting point. Keep in mind that there will most likely be additional ideas put forth by the vendor, including systems developed to streamline the way a podiatry practice collects and stores patient medical information. Available features often include specialty-specific podiatry procedural templates, E&M coding assistance, and decision support designed specifically for a podiatry practice. The templates are typically highly customizable and can include the ability to measure functional levels, access prior medical records for patients and easily evaluate the cost and quality of care they receive. In addition, the EHR software system should be designed to automatically utilize podiatry-specific words and terminology, as this will help to ensure a smooth transition through the implementation process and beyond.

Other commonly used specialty-specific EHR templates for a podiatry practice often involve referral letters, orthotics, achilles tendonitis, ingrown nails, foot fractures and ankle sprains, but the possibilities are virtually endless and can be altered to suit the needs of any practice. From the billing and scheduling systems to the custom podiatry SOAP note templates, EHR software systems can improve every aspect of the patient experience while also elevating the level of care they can receive.

By empowering doctors and patients, specialty-specific EHR software can revolutionize the way healthcare systems function, while also working to help cut expenses and improve existing data collection procedures.