Physicians have been using Electronic Medical Records (EMR) Software for quite some time but one question most of them can’t get over is, whether a Cloud-based EMR Software is worth the investment or not. Comparatively speaking, cloud-based software are relatively newer to the market, but they are economical and more reliable. Most practices still wonder that performance-wise, are they really better than the costlier non-cloud-based Electronic Health Records (EHR) Software. For the convenience of our readers, we have asked about the advantages and disadvantages of Cloud-based EHR Software from experts and here are some pros and cons they have outlined for us.
Advantages:
- No server software or hardware to purchase and maintain
- Less up-front payment for licensing
- Easier transition to different systems
- A cost-effective option for solo/small practices
- Come with better customer support
- Quite easy to set up
- Comes with more sophisticated security measures for the protection of patient’s medical data
- You don’t have to meet the HIPAA regulations if your vendor meets them
- More responsibility on the vendor to meet Meaningful Use (MU) than the medical practice
- An excellent option for clinicians who travel a lot and are not office-based.
Disadvantages:
- Comes with limited customizability
- May have latency or lag time accessing while information across the web
- Patient data can be compromised if mixed with other clients
- Backups and security are at the mercy of the vendor
- If considered for long time usage, they may prove to be more expensive
- Host controls all your data
- Practice won’t be able to work without the internet
- Not a good option for rural practices with limited internet connectivity or options
- Medical practice may lose data if the vendor closes business operations
- Bandwidth may be limited by practice’s internet connection
The use of Cloud-based EMR Systems in medical practices has been increasing at an exponential rate with physicians getting more and more comfortable with them with each passing day. These were some of the pros and cons of Cloud-based EHR Systems and Practice Management (PM) Solutions. As technology is advancing rapidly, one can say for sure that most of the cons listed above are most likely to disappear over a period of time. Nonetheless, it is always better to get experts’ insights before you finally decide to invest in a new EHR Software.
Top 5 Cloud-based EMR Software by EMRSystems
If you’re considering purchasing one, experts at EMRSystems have sorted out this list of the best Cloud-based EMR Software. This list is developed after considering a number of factors including, rigorous market surveys, customer feedback, and the current market share of the vendors.
