Selecting the right EHR, which suits budget and practice type is one of the most agendas for a doctor, especially for the one who has just recently started his professional practice. The benefit of opting for an EHR is that it automatically records vital details about the patient, on a digital platform, which reduces the overall burden of work for the provider. That patient record may include information regarding the patient’s medical history, current ailments, diagnoses, lab test results, and prescriptions. Considering that 96% of the US providers use some form of EHR shows the significance of this software to the modern-day practitioners. However, selecting the right type of EHR is very important.
Typically, when we talk about the types of EHR, EHR companies offer their software in two major categories. These are:
- Client-based EHR (also called On-premise EHR)
- Cloud-based EHR
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Deciding on what type of EHR does a practice need, given their pros and cons, can be a cumbersome task to perform. Both these types have been explained below:
- Client-based EHR (also called on-premise EHR):
Client-based EHR, also called on-premise EHR, is that type of EHR that can be installed locally on your computer system. The entire EHR system is locally kept and only accessible from the computer on which the system is installed.
Practitioners least prefer Client-based EHR systems. In fact, according to the Healthcare Innovation Group, hardly 10% of the practices prefer client-based EHR. The problem with this EHR is that it is more susceptible to wear and tear. When you choose to install EHR on your system, the EHR vendor generally does not take responsibility for any data loss or medical errors. There is also no backup of your data, in case of hardware malfunction. Moreover, EHR systems are pretty heavy and may require separate (and expensive) hardware to be locally installed. Healthcare organizations with client-based EHR may also need to hire a professional IT team to regularly monitor the EHR software and the computer equipment which hosts it. The IT team would also be responsible for ensuring counteraction to phishing attacks and malware.
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Despite all of this, some practices tend to prefer on-premise EHRs. These organizations have the budget to afford additional hardware costs and payrolls of an IT team. One of the benefits of having an on-premise EHR is that patient information is accessible without the internet. Also, there is a significant reduction in the risk of data breaching, because there is no cloud involved and no real-time exchange of sensitive data. However, this may not be a viable option for all because upfront costs while setting up an on-premise EHR can turn out to be pretty exorbitant. The ROI for such a hefty amount of spending can take decades to fulfill. Therefore, most larger organizations are interested in innovative cloud-based EHR solutions.
- Cloud-based EHR:
Cloud-based EHR is that form of EHR which does not require local installation. All that a provider need is an internet-enabled PC/Mobile/Tablet to use the EHR. Since this form of EHR is not locally installed and is accessible via internet, therefore such EHR can be accessed on any device, provided that you have the necessary credentials to access the EHR online.
These days, practitioners usually prefer cloud-based EHR systems. According to the Healthcare Innovation Group, around 90% of the practices prefer cloud-based EHR. According to another survey, conducted by the Black Book in 2015, showed that there had been a 22% increase in the adoption of cloud-based EHR systems. For a small practice, cloud-based EHR is the best option because it saves upfront costs incurred on the EHR hardware and the IT team to implement and maintain it. Such EHR is also safe from data losses that might incur due to hardware malfunctioning. They also receive timely updates and bug fixes. Issues regarding a cloud-based EHR are usually easier to resolve for the EHR service provider because the EHR company knows and understands its software better than anyone else.
The most significant disadvantage of cloud-based EHR systems is the threat of data breach. Hackers have been successful in committing cyber-attacks on medical records throughout the world. The problem has been addressed to a certain degree, by honoring the prescribed protocols of data safety, as mentioned by HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996). However, the threat of data breach can never be ruled out, and constant monitoring is always required. However, the likelihood of getting your data hacked is one-in-millions. Therefore, data security shouldn’t be a big reason to miss out on other benefits that a cloud-based EHR provides.
Which one to choose?
Now comes the major question – which one to choose?
The answer to this question solely depends on the needs of the practice. A small-to-medium practice should strongly consider using a cloud-based EHR in order to save hefty upfront costs. As far as a large enterprise is concerned, it needs to understand whether it can handle the upfront and maintenance costs. However, even they are advised to use cloud-based EHR services because it reduces the resources a practice might need to look after its EHR. Instead, the practice can better focus on providing healthcare quality to its esteemed patients.
