May be the answer you have been looking for.

A true web interface between a physicians website and their EMR is a necessary first step to any truly paperless environment.  Some offices accomplish the paperless environment by setting up a kiosk in their waiting room where patients enter their information.  This sounds like a great idea but most offices do not have the security, patients, space, or technology to make this a feasible option.

For most doctors out there, the idea of having their patients sit in front of a computer and enter their information, sounds like a great way to bankrupt a practice.  If you are seeing more than 2-3 patients an hour you would need additional computers, space, and network capability to make this an option.  Waiting until the patient arrives at your office to take care of demographics is not truly optimizing you or patient’s time.

An interface with ones website allows patients to input demographics into a secure portal that then transfers the information directly into the pm/emr system.  This allows patients to update their insurance information, change their contact info, address or payment information without ever having to contact the office.

You are probably thinking about the risk in this, and yes, like everything you will always have people abuse systems and change their information to try and avoid paying a bill or something of that nature.  However, one solution that some systems offer is the ability to automatically verify the patients insurance information as soon as they enter it.  You also have the ability with most interfaces to actually lock an account if it is delinquent or has given you a reason to doubt their integrity.

With a website interface, things like online bill pay, prescription refill requests, lab results, appointment request, and more become available to your patients.  The true efficacy of a patient portal depends on the make up of your patient population and their interest in harnessing the power of technology.  One thing worth mentioning from a practice development standpoint, is that a patient portal through your website inherently provides you with an easy way to effectively communicate monthly specials or practice news to your patients.  You can save thousands of dollars in advertising dollars by utilizing your website patient portal as a marketing tool.  Less interaction between your staff and patients will result in a more productive office, happier patients, and more revenue.

Physician websites should provide the following to patients: information about the practice, providers, services, insurances accepted, mission statement, map with directions, all contact information, and of course the patient portal or EMR|PM Interface.  Physician websites should have plenty of photos and information about the specialty and common issues that your patients experience.

There are many great companies out there that offer free physician websites just make sure that their website is nice.  You don’t want a template in a box because it will not accomplish what it is you are after.  You want a customized site that will allow you to edit it at will without having to pay someone for minor changes.  You want to have control over your site so it is important that you consider support and site ease of use when looking at the free physician websites.

We have two companies that we can recommend if you are considering a website that can interface with EMR/PM systems.  For less than 50$-100$ per month, the companies that we have worked with are sure to impress you with their offer.

If interested in learning more about companies that currently offer a patient portal or FREE Physician Websites, please email us at EMR@FreeEMRsolution.com.