Medical technology is growing day by day by providing tech solutions to small, medium and large practices. Software as a service (SaaS) technology has provided complete accessibility to a fully integrated Software solution to even the smallest of all practices.

There are two types of Electronic Medical Records (EMR) Software available namely, Cloud-Based EMR Software and Client-Server Based EMR Software. Here we are looking at the Cloud-Based EMR Software. This type of Software exists on the vendors’ network and through the internet facility is accessible on the clients’ devices. The Cloud-Based EHR Software is also known as the Web-Based or Hosted EMR Software.

The Software market has thousands of vendors which offer Electronic Health Records (EHR) Software to users to streamline administrative, financial and clinical workflows.

It’s a difficult process to select an EMR and also to decide whether to go for a web-based or a server-based EMR Software. The user can make the optimal choice by weighing both the pros and cons of a Cloud-based EMR Software system.

Let’s look at the advantages of a Cloud-Based EMR Software.

  1. Cost-Effective – The Cloud-Based EMR & Practice Management (PM) Software proves to be cost-effective because the upfront costs are low. It is also the vendor’s responsibility to maintain the servers and data centers.
  2. Vendor Duty – It is a vendor’s complete responsibility to look out for upgrades, support and patches. Hence it’s hassle-free for the user.
  3. Interoperability – The Cloud-Based EMR Software system offers streamlined communication procedures and centralization of information and data.
  4. Customer Support – A better customer support is provided to the user which gives peace of mind throughout the workings of the Software.
  5. Data Protection – Usually meets HIPAA Compliance and meaningful use.
  6. Accessibility Round the Clock – Patient records and data is available easily from any place. Mobility proves it especially vital for doctors who are on the go.

Now let’s shed some light on the disadvantages.

  1. Lack of customization – User needs might not be fully customized to needs.
  2. Dependent upon a reliable internet connection – Internet connections can have a lapse and are never always sending signals. Slower internet connections can affect the functionality of the Software.
  3. Data is with the Vendor – The vendor controls and has access to all sensitive patient data and information. This can be problematic if the vendor doesn’t stay in business as you can lose patient data.
  4. Dependency on the Vendor – Security and backups is the responsibility of the vendor. So you’re completely reliant on the vendor.
  5. Higher Costs – A web-based EMR Software may turn out to be expensive in the future.

To make an intelligent decision one needs to select a reliable vendor, proving a cost-effective and feature enrich Cloud-Based EMR Software.