When it comes to running a healthcare treatment facility, it can be important to understand the many differences between all the various software tools available to help provide comprehensive care to patients, assist your staff, and communicate with key stakeholders in the recovery journey. For example, do you know everything about practice management software vs electronic medical records management, and which system might serve your organization the best? Contact Sunwave Health today online or by calling us at 561.576.6037 to learn about our electronic medical records management solutions and how our fully integrated software can help you deliver healthy results.
What Is Practice Management Software?
Medical practice management software is how some healthcare providers choose to manage the day-to-day operations within their organization. When looking at practice management vs. electronic medical record (EMR) software, you should know that the former bridges the gap between some types of administrative tasks involved in healthcare, including:
- Diagnosis documentation
- Coding
- Scheduling patient appointments
- Insurance verification
- Verifying patient financial responsibility
- Managing medical billing
- Reporting
Although some practice management software may have features that involving recording and storing patient information, medical practice management is focused more on the day-to-day clerical work within a healthcare facility. This way, practice management software can help in managing documentation for the medical office as a whole. It, therefore, helps your business less with patient documentation and their storing data on their medical histories.
In fact, medical data is one key differentiator when it comes to practice management software vs electronic medical records management. For example, the former can capture patient demographics but generally will not include a patient’s medical history, which is the domain and one of the primary functions of the latter. Administrative processes are key to caring for patients in the best and most thorough manner possible. Scheduling, insurance verification, reception, coding, and billing are necessary for treatment facilities to be successful.
What Is Electronic Medical Records Management?
Electronic medical records management is how many addiction treatment centers document and store their patients’ medical information. But storage is just the beginning. EMR software can share records across departments, health care providers, pharmacies, and other key members of the treatment team. By managing this process electronically rather than on paper, EMR software reduces documentation errors, legibility issues, and delays that can often come with manual data entries. This then enables practitioners and members of staff to be on the same page while caring for patients.
An EMR is a technologically advanced and comprehensive system that often includes elements such as:
- Charting
- Medical histories
- Allergy information
- Test results
- Diagnosis coding
Sunwave Health’s EMR software is an integrated system that aid’s your organization in the complete treatment journey of your patients while remaining useful and expanding throughout the clinical life cycle of the patient’s treatment.
EMR software allows your staff to seamlessly capture, store, and share a wide variety of patient data, including:
Vitals
By being connected and automated, EMRs allow your staff to integrate vital-taking equipment to record the information directly into the patient’s digital chart. This automated process eliminates charting and interpretation errors.
Charting
Physical paper charts take up too much space and rely on handwriting and manual coding to effectively treat patients. EMR software eliminates illegibility issues and documentation errors in charting.
Patient Portal
Electronic medical records management software should include an engaging portal for patients themselves to access their own medical records, histories, notes, and prescriptions and communicate with their care team. When it comes to practice management software vs. EMR, EMR software allows patients to play an active and informed role in their own treatment and recovery.
The Bottom Line About Practice Management Software vs. EMR
A straightforward way to think about practice management software vs. electronic medical records management is to consider that practice management handles your day-to-day operations, while EMR is a patient-centric resource. The two may not overlap.
EMR management is ideal if your goal is to provide better treatment and eliminate errors and any potential delays in charting and documenting medical records. Determining your facility’s unique issues and needs will help determine which software solution(s) will work best. Both practice management software and electronic medical record management exist to increase a healthcare provider’s production and efficiency.
Learn More at Sunwave Health
Contact Sunwave Health by calling us 561.576.6037 or reach out online to learn more about how our fully integrated EMR system can help your staff work more efficiently and deliver healthy results for patients.
