If you’re new to the world of EMR’s and want to convert your medical practice into a digital one, this page is for you! It contains the information you need to get up to speed and get started quickly.
EMR AKA Electronic Medical Records: The EMR Guy Definition
I know it might sound weird, but I still meet new doctors daily that don’t know what an EMR is. So before I go on, I’ll have to explain what it is.
Electronic medical records are your patient records and notes in electronic format.
Often in the Philippines though, mentioning EMR refers to a software or a system. That’s why you’ll always hear “The hospital’s EMR” or “My friend has an EMR” because it’s often associated to software. It’s also often associated with being “slow” and “inefficient” because, well, that’s what has been out there for a long time. I have to admit, I’ve seen a bunch of systems and a majority of them sucks.
What we do and focus on at SeriousMD is to help you be more efficient with your patients’ medical records. Though SeriousMD is a complete practice management software, at it’s core, SeriousMD puts a LOT of focus on notes and your speed to get things done. In my experience, that’s really just what most doctors want.
Free vs Paid Software
I get asked a lot by doctors as to why they shouldn’t go for free apps and instead, go with a paid app like SeriousMD. My answer is always very simple.
1. When you use a free EMR app, you are at the mercy of the software creator. Most of the time, the software is really useless and if it is somehow useful, you shouldn’t expect more than that. Chances are, it’s just a pet project and it’ll be dropped soon enough. It’s why you always hear about doctors complaining that this software company shut down and that he lost all his data.
2. When you use a free EMR app, you have little to no customizations, no backups and often, it’s ugly as hell to look at. Look at it from the developer’s perspective. Why would he/she build features for you to customize the app? Why would he/she invest in servers (that cost money each month) to let you do backups? Why would he/she invest on designers that know how to design for “User Experience”?
These two points alone are exactly why I recommend going with paid software. Look at it as a business investment, not a cost. It’ll help you do your job better, it’ll be able to bill more and you’ll have more time in your hands. Even with paid software, there are red flags you need to spot so go read my blog post about Free vs Paid EMR’s here.
Other Related Content:
- Why I Will Never Recommend That You Use a Free EMR In The Philippines
- Why SeriousMD is Worth Way More Than It’s “Cost” For Doctors
Step 1 – Decide That You Really Want To Use an EMR
I’m old enough to realize (and admit) that everything new is hard, but the real issue usually boils down to 2 things.
- How committed are you?
- How high (or low) is the learning curve?
Stop waiting and making excuses as to when you will get started with an EMR. The right time is always “now” so just do it. Commit to it nothing will motivate you better than seeing progress.
Step 2 – Sign Up for a Free SeriousMD Account
Well, I have to pitch something right? Just sign up for a free account. No strings attached.
Sign up for a SeriousMD account – We verify all users because we only let real doctors use the platform.
Step 3 – Test It
Now that you have an “EMR” – it’s time to test it. Just login, play with it. Dedicate 30 minutes a day or play with it during down time, like having a meal or at home. Cut off 1 episode from your Netflix binge watching session.
Understand the workflow, try taking notes and imagine how you can use it with your staff.
Support is here for you – Hit a wall? Search for answers on your own or ask the team via chat.
Step 4 – Workflow
So, you’re now aware of the app and how it works, what next?
We recommend the following steps:
- Involve your staff
- Staff will start to input old data
- Customize to fit your practice
- Test the notes further (you’ll start to notice a lot of ways to simplify and cut down note taking time)
Check the Guide: Begin Using SeriousMD in 1 Day or Less
Step 5 – Implement
It’s time to start using it in your clinics.
- Don’t overthink it.
- Do a trial run with your staff.
- Set a schedule as to when you will get started.
- Continue using.
As you use the EMR more and more, it will start to become second nature and you will start to see it’s advantages.
What about Hardware and Connectivity Requirements?
SeriousMD was created to work with most existing hardware in mind. You can use your existing laptop, tablets etc.
SeriousMD also has a companion iOS app that can work offline and online. This works on iPads, iPod Touch and iPhones.
What about the Data Privacy Act of the Philippines?
SeriousMD is DPA compliant. We also have guides on how to get started with it.
You can find our security page here.
What Do Other Doctors Say?
A lot. Just go to Google, type in “SeriousMD” and look at our reviews.
Other Questions?
- Check this FAQ out for commonly asked questions
- Here’s our Help Center
- Ask us inside the app, just tap on the Support button
- Schedule a call here if you prefer that way of communication
One Last Thing
I’d like to invite you to join the community on Facebook. Yes, there are other doctors using EMR’s so come and join us!