There aren't too many people who would say they don't want any more money. In fact, the expense of an electronic medical record system is one of the things that causes physicians and clinics to hesitate when it comes time to adopt a system. Even with the funding available from OntarioMD, the cost of an EMR system can seem overwhelming.
But what if an EMR system can actually save a clinic money? Over time, the system will pay for itself. While the direct cost savings can be substantial, they aren't likely to cover the cost of the system -- right away, that is. But, over time, the direct savings will build up.
How, exactly? You will no longer need as many staff members to perform tasks that can now be completed automatically or more efficiently using the EMR system. And, once implemented and used, the reporting functionalities built into and EMR system can help you properly allocate your resources so that money is being spent as effectively and efficiently as possible.
Of course, these direct cost savings only scratch the surface of the benefits an EMR system can bring to your clinic. Stay tuned over the next couple bog posts as we cover some of the other benefits, noticeable or not.
(Contributed by Ted Barrington)
