EHRs can be difficult to use efficiently if you are steering your way between digital and paper based systems. Here are some tips on how to solve these issues regarding the use of EHRs.

Call forwarding
Most of EHRs include call forwarding option that converts your faxes into a digital image that is uploaded onto the EHR Software. Practices need to check with their phone service provider to know if the call forwarding feature is available on their fax line.


 Use fax machine as a scanner
Practices don’t need to buy a new scanner for their office. They can use the fax integration option to convert their documents into black and white digital image of the document that can be accessed through the EHR.

Incorporate patient data into EHR
You can ask your EHR vendor to help you export the patient demographics from the current billing system. Practices can also ask their EHR vendors upload the existing patient contacts into the EHR system.

Write e-script
Instead of faxing the pharmacy you can use e-script option to reply to a refill request. Doing so will update the patient record so the pharmacy will know when the original script for refill was received and then will send an automatic request for an electronic refill.

Check office internet speed
For better experience you should have a minimum target for internet speed. Ask your internet service provider to check your internet speed. Downloading internet speed must be 5 Mb/s as it affects how fast you can open different web pages. The uploading speed should be 2 Mb/s and this will affect how fast you can upload data to your EHR.

Use your phone in case of internet failure
If you are using a cloud based system then in case of the internet failure you must have a backup option of internet. Contact your phone service provider to get internet access on your cell phone so that you can have an uninterrupted access to your EHR software.

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