The Authority on Software Selection
Talk to a Software Expert: (888) 918-2745
Family Practice EMR Software
Since family practices are considered “general medicine,” many assume that a general one-size-fits-all electronic medical record (EMR) / electronic health record (EHR) systems is perfectly sufficient to suit their needs. Although this may be true, it is also true that general practitioners practice a specialty just like any other, and therefore can benefit from an EMR that’s specifically suited to the high volume, wide variety, and long-term relationships associated with family practice.
A family practice EMR should aid the physician in nurturing long-term patient relationships, provide support in making referrals to specialists, and incorporate the variety of complaints and conditions they see on a regular basis. In addition to core functionality like medical records, billing, inventory management, and scheduling features, consider the following specific criteria when selecting your family practice EMR software:
| Patient history | Family practices maintain relationships that last many years, and possibly even multiple generations. Therefore, it’s important to consider the way patient history is stored and presented in subsequent visits. Does the EMR store family history to alert the physician of genetic predisposition? Does it show the patient’s immunization/vaccination, allergy, or medication history to facilitate accurate and effective treatment? Does it have growth charts for trend monitoring over time? Ensure your EMR solution stores this information and reports it in an easy-to-use way. |
| General practice SOAP notes templates | Family practices deal with a wide variety of conditions, so family practice EMRs can have hundreds of specialized notes templates in order to accommodate them. Examples include: cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal, nervous system, ENT, gynecology, derm, ECG, abdominal/chest pain, physical exam, well/sick baby/child exam, CHDP (California), and more. |
| Multiple complaints | General practitioners’ patients often come in with multiple complaints in a single visit. Therefore, a family practice EMR should have an interface that lets a physician easily chart multiple complaints simultaneously. |
| Laboratory, medical device & pharmacy integration | Because of the variety of complaints, family practices need to be able to integrate with a broad range of medical tests. Many EMRs can automatically import data from lab results or medical devices, preventing the timely and error-prone process of transcribing test results. On the other side is e-prescribing, and the ability to communicate directly with the pharmacies and access the patient record for potential adverse drug interactions. |
| Referral Integration | Referrals to specialists is a major part of family medicine, so EMR software that’s designed for family practices will include technology to make the referral process quick and easy. This might include an online referral network, automated printing of referral letters, and even the ability to send the electronic patient record to the referee. |
| Patient correspondence | As the first line of patient treatment, a family practice needs quick and easy access to common forms of correspondence, including work/school excuse letters and health maintenance/checkup reminders that can be sent automatically based on the patient record. |
| General practice billing & treatment protocols | With such a vast array of potential conditions, family practice-specific EMRs provide more assistance on ICD-9 and CPT coding & billing for common and unusual encounters. Since these systems integrate their administrative and clinical workflows, they know the procedures that have been performed and the treatments prescribed, making the claim process faster and more accurate. |
Have an opinion on this guide? Email the authors. We appreciate the feedback.
Free Download:
Ten Steps Guide to Selecting the Right Medical Software
Must-See Videos
Call us for a free
FastStart Consultation
(888) 918-2745
Save weeks of up-front research and avoid costly mistakes with our free FastStart Consultation.
athenaClinicals
A web-based architecture enables athenaHealth to offer EHR, practice management and revenue cycle management services in one integrated offering. athenaHealth empowers physicians to greatly improve efficiency and revenue.
MediTouch EHR Electronic Health Record Software
MediTouch is a web-based ONC-ATCB certified EMR and practice management system differentiated by its native iPad support and intuitive workflow. It is designed for small practices across most specialties.
NueMD Complete
NueMD offers a straightforward, affordable web-based practice management and EHR system that is able to meet the needs of most primary care providers. Buyers can also opt to purchase a different EHR from one of NueMD's partners.
Allscripts EHR
Allscripts offers three different EHRs, each developed for different sizes of family practices. They also offer several different pricing options - including upfront licensing and financing - to accommodate all sizes of clinics.
eClinicalWorks
Family practices will benefit from the full set of features in eClinicalWorks EMR. The system has ePrescribing, lab integration and coding advice. It has easy SOAP notes, performs a drug/disease check, and sends health alerts.
Save weeks of research & costly mistakes. Our experts will recommend the best software for your needs.
ADP AdvancedMD EHR Software
AdvancedMD's web-based practice management system can be sold with its ONC-ATCB certified EMR, or with an EMR from over 100 integration partners. It is popular among primary care providers due to its flexibility and affordability.
CareCloud Charts EHR
As the name suggests, CareCloud Charts is a cloud-based (i.e. web-based) electronic health record system. It can be used by many specialties and nearly all sizes of practices. Both Mac and PC compatible and ONC-ATCB certified.
Greenway PrimeSUITE 2011
Greenway offers a robust EMR for family medicine physicians, with features for referral letter creation and management, templates for a wide variety of cases, e-prescribing, and lab integration with most national and local labs.
Aprima EHR (formerly iMedica)
Aprima is suitable for all sizes of family medicine, internal medicine, and pediatrics practices due to its scalability and Microsoft .Net-based architecture. It contends with the top EHR vendors and we recommend it often.
AllegianceMD
AllegianceMD's web-based ONC-ATCB Certified EMR and practice management system is popular among primary care providers and specialists. It is differentiated by its modern user interface, low price, and intuitive workflow.
Must-See Videos
Must-See Videos
Call us for a free
FastStart Consultation
(888) 918-2745
Save weeks of up-front research and avoid costly mistakes with our free FastStart Consultation.