The Number One Reason to Hate EMR is…

The Number One reason to hate EMR is that it slows down doctors.

The ‘it’ that is being referred to is what happens in the exam room with a patient; the clinical encounter. Doctors are no longer scribbling on paper, they are using computers, and they have to collect data, and click on templates. Worse, they have to type or somehow enter their findings, assessments and plans into the computer.

For some doctors, it is a piece of cake, others hate it with a passion.

EMR has gotten a bad name because of this – SMD (Slow Me Down) Factor I had written earlier about.

Even if all other elements of the Practice Software help improve the office productivity significantly – front-office to back-office workflow, productivity, better collections, efficiency, etc. it doesn’t matter if the doctor is afflicted with SMD Factor.

Do Not Despair – there are choices and options.

There are 6 choices. You will pick the most appropriate choice for you depending on the following factors:

• Technology comfort, savviness, and ability to use computers.
• Number of Patients seen (or you would like to see) per day.
• Relative importance and value of time vs. money.

1. Templates and Keyboard. Standard, out of the box, nothing to add. No additional cost if the system has the templates you need.

• Assumption: You can type reasonably well, you can manipulate templates, and click fast enough to keep pace with your patient volume.
• Cost: No additional cost.

2. Templates and Dictation software like Nuance Dragon. The difference compared to the first option is that you can use the templates reasonably well, but you are not a good typist and you need to enter your findings, plan, and HPI in detail. The use of Dictation software allows you to ‘cut the keyboard’. I recommend this option if you are not a good typist.

• Assumption: You are willing to work with Dragon software for voice recognition. This technology has come a long way. If you tried it a few years ago and found that it did not work well with your accent, try again. A lot has changed, you may be surprised.
• Cost: One-time charge that is approximately $2000 for Dragon Dictation software.

3. Digital Pen and Dictation software. Option 2 was good if you were good with computers and templates in general but not a good typist. If you are generally computer-averse and don’t even like clicking on templates, this is a good option for you.

Digital Pen is a wonderful advanced piece of technology that allows you to use normal paper. When printed with custom paper templates, it takes your markings on paper and maps them to your computer templates as if you are clicking on-screen. The best part is, if well designed they can convert paper to discrete data.

• Assumption: As with the earlier option, you must be willing to use Dragon software for dictation.
• Cost: The cost of preparing custom forms for Digital Pen can vary from $1000 – $2000 per form depending on the complexity of the form. So, if you need 5 custom templates, it can cost up to $10,000. This is generally a one-time fee. The cost of the pen can be up to $500 and perhaps a $60-$70 monthly fee.

If you add total upfront costs when amortized over 3 years, it will be less than $350 per month, but it gives you tremendous peace of mind and productivity gain for yourself.

4. Transcription. Most Doctors are aware of this option and have probably considered this at one time or the other. This option is perhaps the simplest one, but there is now a new twist. The transcriptionist needs to listen to the dictation and not only type a narrative but also work the EMR to select options in the templates for discrete data – physical exam, assessment, etc. In addition, when the provider uses a paper superbill that must be sent to the transcriber to enter in EMR – this expands the role of the traditional transcriptionist.

• Assumption: Expansion of transcriptionist responsibility to be able to work and use EMR.
• Cost: Can vary, but consider $10-$15 per hour.

5. Scribe: The concept of having a scribe do all the work on EMR has been in the news quite a bit and is being widely discussed. There is no doubt that it can completely eliminate the SMD Factor. You must be comfortable with a scribe being present during the encounter with a patient. This is generally not a good practice for certain specialties like Psychiatry, but for others like Pediatrics, Family Practice, or Internal Medicine it may be generally acceptable.

Scribe as an option has two variations: A Remote scribe that can be out of the clinic somewhere else or an in-clinic scribe.

• Assumptions: Willingness on the part of the provider and patient to accept the presence of a scribe during the encounter.
• Cost: Remote scribes can cost an average of $15-$18 per hour, whereas in-clinic Scribes (Medical assistants) can cost anywhere from $25-$30 per hour.

6. Combination: Sometimes a Combination of various options mentioned here can also work.

Conclusion

You need to analyze each option’s Return on Investment, your desired goals, and comfort levels and pick the one that makes the most sense. You should seek an expert’s help to help you analyze your objectives and choose what works for you. There is no single best method when it comes to how you interact with EMR.