If your company has not been blessed with a waiver to the new rules, you’re probably scrambling to find the money for these systems and are busy analyzing the different solutions available.  As could be expected, there are many new EMR vendors rushing in to the hot market; but, before you let some razzle-dazzle demo or the risk of a long implementation lead time talk you into a big-system purchase, consider your options.  There are serious alternatives being offered.

EMR SaaS

Powerful EMR solutions can cost millions of dollars in hardware, software, implementation, and training.  And those are just up-front costs.  Maintaining those systems and supporting users has a cost as well.  Instead, consider subscribing to a web-based software-as-a-service (SaaS) solution.  A number of vendors, including industry leader NextGen Healthcare Information Systems, have announced SaaS solutions.  NextGen will partner with Dell to deliver a cloud-based solution as a monthly subscription service.  Because SaaS vendors host and maintain their solutions, you have no hardware, software, or implementation costs.  And, because the systems are available online today, you don’t require a long lead time.  Many small and medium-sized organizations can benefit from a SaaS solution.

Open-Source EMR Solutions

There has been a movement to standardize around an EMR solution created at taxpayer expense for the Veteran’s Administration.  The Veteran's Health Information Systems and Technology Architecture, or VistA, is in the public domain and an open-source community has formed around its development and customization.  In 2009, Senator Rockefeller of West Virginia introduced legislation that called for the government to fund development of an open-source EMR solution, and then provide it as a safety-net solution to smaller hospitals and providers.  Open-source does not mean “free.”  Expect to have customization, configuration, and other implementation costs, in addition to the training, maintenance, and support costs of a typical licensed solution.

Whichever solution you choose, EMR is not an inexpensive initiative and does not promise a quick return on investment; however, once all healthcare companies have implemented and communications standards have streamlined data flows – the final deadline is in 2015 – the potential benefits are enormous.  Providers should see lower costs, reduced human errors, instant access to data, and lower risks as the system enforces safe treatment procedures.  Patients will receive better care.  Early adopters of EMR systems have already reported lower infection rates, reduced medication mistakes, and fewer bed sores, among many positive outcomes that were not part of the original cost justification for the systems.  The clock is ticking, so pick a solution strategy that is right for your company, and an implementation partner you can rely on, and get started.  It’s the law.