Health IT

Ever thought about starting your own online journal, or “blog”? It may be good for business, and it’s easier than you think.

You may be excited about your new EMR, but for some of your patients, a new gizmo in the exam room will take a little getting used to. Some people get nervous about new technology, so you’d better introduce it carefully.

New research is raising uncomfortable questions about the connection between EMRs and improved patient outcomes. Can information technology really make you a better physician?

Tired of having your claims rejected by payers who seem to be looking for any reason under the sun not to pay you? Try these “claims scrubbing” tools to reduce, and appeal, those denials.

Steve Ryan, MD, rebuts the most common “reasons” many physicians give for sticking with paper.

Instant messaging and other ubiquitous consumer technologies can be useful in your practice. But they also pose security threats you may never have thought of.

EMRs may hold the key to helping you gain from pay-for-performance programs.

You put a lot of cash into purchasing and implementing your EMR. Are you taking advantage of everything you paid for?

Ever feel like you could use an assistant when navigating the complex process of shopping for pricey IT tools? We can help.

If your billing software is a dinosaur, it’s likely costing you big. Switching to a current model takes time and effort, but can you afford not to?

Think podcasting is some teenage phase? Think again. It may be the key to differentiating your practice and attracting new patients.

Examining your practice’s processes is the first step toward solving office inefficiencies. You may discover that low-cost, low-tech tools can help you more than a pricey EMR.

The tech you want may not be the tech you need

Evaluate your peripheral options carefully when purchasing an EMR. If your physicians are uncomfortable with the PDA or tablet PC you choose, they’ll go back to paper.

Not all high-tech tools come with futuristic price tags. These solutions can streamline your processes, boost your bottom line, and make doing your job a whole lot easier.

Learn how to avoid others’ EMR mistakes.

Sure, the big IT tools help. But teaching your staff keyboarding, PC shortcuts, and how to use scanners and PDAs can go a long way toward boosting your operational efficiency.

You don’t have to be a computer scientist to keep your patient data away from prying eyes. Here are some simple, non-nerd-friendly ways to keep your information secure.

Price may be the biggest stumbling block to EMR adoption: The darn things just cost too much. Or do they? Expert Rosemarie Nelson looks at some less expensive options.

How technology can help keep your waiting room full.

When it comes to technology adoption, is your office leading the way - or standing on the sidelines? Here’s the scoop on what’s really happening out there.

You know what you want. Now you have to pay for it. But should you purchase that gizmo outright, or should you rent it?

Has voice recognition technology finally advanced enough to be reliable?

If you feel lost in the tall grass of EMR-shopping, it may be tempting to restrict your search to the new batch of “certified” systems. Is that wise? One year after an independent group began issuing endorsements, we ask: How much should you care?

How electronic prescribing will make your life easier and your patients healthier.

Congratulations, you’ve finally moved into the 21st century by purchasing that EMR. Now don’t let yourself get blown into the Stone Age by failing to properly back up your new electronic files.

If you’re looking for an EMR, you’ll have to decide between scrapping your current practice management system and starting fresh, or combining your existing system with your new EMR.

It’s not as hard as you think to “wow” patients with a sophisticated Web site. And doing so can make life easier on you, too.

You may think that getting an EMR means your practice will finally be “paperless.” But even with an EMR, you will still be killing plenty of trees with faxes, snail mail, lab reports, etc. Still, that may not be so bad.

In the market for an EMR? Here’s a crucial question: Client-server or ASP? Relax. We’ll explain what it means. And help you decide.