Despite the myriad of obstacles thought to impede healthcare technology adoption, it appears that the federal government’s incentive program (or at least its penalties), has done a decent job of moving providers away from paper-based systems. Approximately 70% of primary care physicians nationwide have now adopted some type of electronic health record (EHR) system.
However, primary care physicians are only part of the healthcare community. Because PCP’s often function as the center of a medical team, it makes sense that most first generation EHRs were designed to meet their workflows. This wouldn’t be a problem if it weren’t for the comparative scarcity of EHRs designed for specialty practices.
According to a 2012 census by the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, over 60% of orthopedic surgeons practice in either multi-doctor specialty groups or solo practices. Such a high percentage means orthopedists maintain a greater degree of freedom than specialists employed in hospital settings.
Maintaining previous workflow levels is one of the most difficult undertakings of implementing an EHR, so if specialists have to implement a system designed for a different area of medicine altogether, the results will be less than optimal. A 2012 KlAS study asked physicians from across specialties to rate popular EHR system. Specialty physicians generally gave lower scores than primary care physicians, with orthopedists rating systems at an average of 65% out of 100.
Let’s consider what orthopedists should be looking for in an EHR system:
1. Customizable Templates
Many specialists dislike the complexity of EHR software, which often includes features designed for PCPs who treat a wider range of conditions. Specialists don’t need the same amount of functionality that PCPs do because they don’t deal with the same variety of patients.
The simplest solution lies in customizable templates. By choosing easily customizable software, orthopedists can quickly adapt or develop modules that fit their workflow and treatment patterns.
2. ICD-10
The huge transition isn’t far away , 7 months and counting to be precise. While ICD-10 is relevant to every physician, orthopedics will receive a greater number of new codes than any other specialty. To prepare, it would be wise to vet any potential EHR partner based on their ICD-10 policies , whether that’s training or the software’s current code system. No one wants to be scrambling to switch their system at the beginning of September.