Oncology EMR Software

Oncology is a complex specialty with unique terminology and protocols, especially when it comes to ordering and administering chemotherapy. One of the biggest challenges oncology clinics face is ensuring orders are documented properly and regimens are followed accurately, since there are significant consequences if the wrong drug or dosage is administered. Therefore, many oncologists are adopting electronic medical records (EMR) / electronic health records (EHR) to help reduce these risks, limit liability, and increase quality of care.

Oncology EMRs, also referred to as electronic health records (EHRs), are designed to meet the unique requirements of oncologists. First and foremost, this means managing the ordering and administration of chemotherapy drugs. These EMRs also have unique cancer and hematology work flows and templates, and may have applications for reporting, cancer registry, and clinical trials.

Specific features include:

Mapping & staging classification	Based on the information provided, decision-support engines can map the cancer, identify the stage, and recommend appropriate treatment options.
Chemotherapy automation	Automated dosing, ordering, and scheduling prevents errors by making orders easier to read, manage, and administer. Oncology EMRs should also incorporate the documentation for drug admixture and administration, including inventory management for accounting for any billable waste.
Oncology SOAP notes templates	Because every form of cancer is different, oncology EMRs include specialized templates for different kinds of cancer (melanoma, sarcoma, neoplasm, leukemia, etc.), different types of treatment (chemotherapy, radiation therapy, surgery, etc.), and other unique situations. When selecting your EMR, make sure the templates are most effective for the type of oncology you practice and for your individual workflow.
Digital imaging & lab test integration	Mammograms, ultrasounds, CTs, MRIs, and PET scans are just a few of the digital tests oncologists perform in assessing patients during diagnosis and treatment. Ensure that the tests you perform—and the specific tools you use—integrate into your EMR, allowing to store data and track progress over time.
Clinical trial support	If your practice is involved in—or considering being involved in—clinical trials, it’s important to select an EMR that supports this aspect of your practice. Features might include a database of current research and ongoing trials and automated patient-trial eligibility matching, both to find existing trials for new patients and to bring existing patients into newly-approved trials.
Patient education	Oncologists have the noble but unenviable charge of helping their patients through one of the most difficult times of life. Education is invaluable in leaving patients with the experience of compassion and support as they navigate this challenge. A high quality oncology EMR will allow the physician to document the information given to the patient, so you can be sure they are left fully supported.

Make sure the software you purchase meets the needs of your specialty or subspecialty (e.g. radiation oncology, surgical oncology, ocular oncology, gynecologic oncology and others). Recent legislation supports oncologists in particular in the adoption of EMRs, offering full or partial grants for purchasing or upgrading software, so take this into account.

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