Table of Contents
Medical practices like yours are increasingly turning to electronic medical record (EMR) software to handle their most important processes and patient data. But how? When a centralized, digital platform handles the admin, your medical staff can put their focus where it belongs — on the patient.
So, how can you find the right EMR software for your dermatology practice? Below, we explore the benefits of EMR software and some of the most important things to look for. By the end, you should know how to choose the right system for your needs.
Understanding Dermatology EMR Software
As a dermatologist, you handle everything from acne and psoriasis to skin infections and cancers. Successfully treating each patient starts with accurate record-keeping, and that’s where EMR software comes in.
In a nutshell, EMR software digitizes and centralizes patient records, making it easier to access test results, treatment plans and past medical history.
Benefits of EMR Software
An EMR system can help you:
- Save time: EMR software streamlines day-to-day tasks so that you and your team can focus on your patients.
- Access patient information easily: Quickly access patient allergies, identify potential drug interactions and provide a personalized treatment plan.
- Improve patient care: You can accurately track patient progress and make more informed treatment decisions to improve the patient experience.
- Be more efficient: Digitizing patient records helps reduce human errors in documentation and allows you to communicate with other healthcare providers to ensure your patients receive quick, convenient care.
6 Key Features to Look for in EMR Software for Dermatologists
Now that you know how valuable EMR software can be for your practice, there’s one important question to consider — what specific features does the software need?
1. HIPAA-Compliant Medical Record Storage
Like any medical practice, your office handles a great deal of sensitive patient information. Your EMR software must meet Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) standards to protect patient privacy and data security.
However, meeting these standards is only one part of a larger management solution. Converting your manual tasks to a digital platform can make it easier for you to gather information about your patients, coordinate care between specialists and provide a customized treatment solution that keeps the patient’s unique needs top of mind.
EMR software also means saying goodbye to that obtrusive filing system that often accompanies paper records. These filing cabinets occupy valuable office space and leave your patient data vulnerable to prying eyes. Digitizing the files adds a layer of protection and ensures patient records are accessible only to authorized users.
At PatientNow, our solutions can help you convert your existing patient records to a digital file on a per-patient basis or with a batch upload. Making this switch can vastly improve the way you manage patient care and data.
2. Automated Scheduling Tools
EMR software helps out your admin staff by providing a centralized system for handling scheduling and other core processes. With the right tool, your office staff can:
- Reserve individual rooms.
- Reserve pieces of equipment.
- View the schedules of individual medical providers.
- Manage the medical center’s waitlist.
Centralizing these scheduling tasks will reduce errors and scheduling conflicts — all while making it easier for your staff to gain a comprehensive snapshot of your dermatology practice’s overall workflow.
Patients can also get scheduling reminders sent to their email inboxes or phones. This means they can confirm their appointments electronically, which can reduce no-shows and prevent revenue loss.
3. Lab and Pharmacy Integrations
The patient experience often depends on data obtained from carefully run tests. The sooner you get the test results, the sooner your patient can begin the next phase of care. EMR software can integrate with the lab to ensure test results are processed and communicated faster than ever before.
Patients will appreciate seeing their test results fast. They can then get a clearer picture of their health and a better understanding of what to expect moving forward.
The best EMR software can also communicate with local pharmacies, which increases the speed at which prescriptions are filled. When we rely on a computerized process over handwritten prescriptions, human error is all but eliminated. Plus, because patient records are part of this overall process, medical providers can check for adverse drug reactions and avoid prescribing drugs to which the patient is allergic.
Companies like PatientNow can also assure providers that their system is 100% compliant with Medicare and Drug Enforcement Administration standards, meaning there is no risk of violating safety or security standards surrounding prescription medications.
4. Marketing Tools
Patient care is your top priority — and rightly so. However, this means you might have limited marketing experience and even less time to learn the best practices. That’s why the best EMR software providers can improve your practice’s web presence. At PatientNow, this means optimizing your website to generate more traffic and managing your social media presence to give your dermatology practice wider exposure. These features can be paired with other marketing tools, including email marketing plans that can target new patients and generate new patient leads.
Even better, EMR software can help you manage patient reviews, giving you a chance to address concerns or complaints promptly. You can even hand-pick your best reviews for publication on your site or social media profiles. It’s an excellent way to create trust with potential new patients.
5. Simple User Interface
Of course, none of these tools are worth much if your staff can’t use them properly. Your EMR software should offer a simple learning curve so that you and your team can easily integrate the system into your workflow.
For example, at PatientNow, our software contains templates that make it easier to take before-and-after photos for use in a dermatology patient file. You can help patients see the dramatic results you produce with the digital storage of these important photos.
6. Reporting and Analytics
Finally, every medical practice can benefit from access to advanced reporting features. This reporting data can alert you to efficiency issues and help you optimize your staffing and equipment needs for the future.
Data can also help you strategize by highlighting patterns and trends. With all this information at the ready, you can create a comprehensive plan for future growth, expansion or remediation.
The data can also help you evaluate the effectiveness of your marketing strategy and see whether your current campaign is generating new leads for your practice.
How to Choose the Right EMR Software for Your Practice
There are many EMR software solutions out there, but they’re not all built equally. To find the right solution, you’ll need to consider:
- Your practice’s size, specialty focus and unique needs: Assess whether the system can scale with your growth and accommodate dermatology-specific niches like cosmetic procedures, Mohs surgery or dermatopathology.
- Compatibility with existing systems: If you already have management software, imaging devices or other third-party applications, finding an EMR that integrates with these systems can help make the transition smoother.
- Regulatory compliance and certification: Your EMR system should comply with industry regulations to help you meet healthcare quality and safety standards.
- Vendor reputation: Research the EMR vendor’s reputation, level of customer service and industry experience to ensure it will be a reliable partner.
PatientNow: Your Reliable Partner in EMR Software
PatientNow’s EMR system simplifies managing patient records so you can focus less on documentation and more on offering personalized care. Our user-friendly platform provides many benefits, including:
- HIPAA compliance for improved patient data security.
- Built-in artificial intelligence tools to save you time and put you one step ahead of the competition.
- Streamlined payments to simplify all your financial transactions.
Our platform is an all-in-one solution to help you achieve ultimate practice efficiency.
Take Your Dermatology Practice to the Next Level
At the end of the day, it’s all about relationships. EMR software can reduce much of your administrative burdens, which helps you better connect with new and existing patients.
If you’re ready to take your practice to the next level of patient care and quality service, PatientNow can help. When you sign up for a free demo, one of our experts will give you a tour of our platform so that you can witness firsthand how it helps dermatology practices like yours thrive and grow.
