How to identify EHR needs by specialty

When you think of the perfect EHR software, you want it to work for your team, workflow, and patients. You want it to be flexible and scalable enough to accommodate the specific needs of your practice. 

Yet, nearly 7 of 10 independent practice providers report a desire to switch due to dissatisfaction with their current EHR, according to Tebra’s survey of 183 independent providers. 

The missing link? EHRs that mirror the granular level of specificity in a particular specialty.

By researching, knowing what to look for, and asking the right questions, you can get the right EHR for your practice or specialty.

In this post, learn the key factors to consider when choosing an EHR, the steps for selecting the right one for your practice, and specialty-specific EHR requirements for success.

There’s no doubt that EHRs are the lifeblood of any practice. 96% of United States physicians are already using EHRs, according to Medscape’s Physicians and Electronic Health Records Report 2023. That’s because EHR technology has developed to include an array of essential and specialty-specific functions that improve efficiency and quality of care. 

To illustrate the improvements in EHR functionality, let’s review the key differences between the main types of EHRs.

A general EHR contains core features that can be used in any practice and supports the needs presented by patients in this setting. There are also generic EHRs that can be modified to work in specialty practices. But they don’t offer the specific modules a specialty-specific EHR provides, and they may be limited in their effectiveness. 

Specialty-specific EHRs are designed specifically for specialty practices and don’t require any type of customization. 

Some specialty-specific EHRs might offer granular-level specificity in their systems with data entry fields designed to accommodate the type of data they collect. For example, within cardiology, you might find a congenital heart defects specialist and a coronary artery disease specialist. The EHR system in such a practice may provide specific templates and workflows that fully adapt to the needs of different cardiologists and patients and accommodate every aspect of a cardiology practice. 

Different types of physicians may use specialty-specific EHRs in the scope of their practices with unique requirements. Let’s look at a few examples.

Once you have an idea of the EHR you want, refine your choices based on the following factors:

Independent practice providers in Tebra’s survey ranked usability and customization as the number one essential feature of an EHR. While 45% would like improved or additional usability features, 23% still encounter significant customization, navigation, interface design, performance, and data entry limitations with their current EHR.

Multiple EHR usability issues are often linked to errors that could compromise patient safety, provider workflow disruptions, increased cognitive burden, and clinician burnout.

Consider an EHR solution with a simple, intuitive interface that’s easy to use, accurate, and secure. Evaluate usability characteristics and functions to determine if the system offers robust features that streamline operations and enhance patient care.

Tebra’s EHR+ is everything you need for individualized care plus online scheduling, reputation management, patient feedback, and much more in one platform. Request a free demo today.

Integration with existing workflows is a major pain point for 32% of independent practice providers, while 34% cite inadequate integration capabilities, which drive the desire to replace their current system. 

Consider EHRs with seamless integration capabilities that adapt to your practice’s needs for seamless data exchange and interoperability, smooth transition, and better productivity.

The right EHR should offer a high degree of customization that lets you define and refine how you capture, access, and use information to support the care you provide. 

For example, a psychiatry and psychology practice EHR might come with a high level of confidentiality and security of clinical charts that only select providers can access or detailed note-taking and customized treatment plans to track patients’ progress over time.

An EHR should also include customization features that minimize disruption and make the workflow more efficient. These include alert settings, which are specific to the roles in your practice. For example, physicians would get urgent lab results, overdue tasks, and patient status notifications, while front desk staff would see administrative and billing task alerts. 

Take these steps to ensure you choose the best EHR for your needs:

Once you’ve secured staff buy-in and openness towards new technology, take stock of the health IT tools already in use at your practice to get specific about your current and future needs. Then, perform a needs assessment to identify inefficiencies and operational gaps in your workflows to understand how a new EHR might help address them.

Download the needs assessment template below to assist you.

Meet with EHR vendors and evaluate each based on usability characteristics and functions to determine if the system offers robust features that enhance patient care and streamline operations. 

Review each system’s ability to deliver in key areas, including charting, privacy and security compliant with HIPAA and HITECH, prescriptions, lab and results management, clinical decision support, and quality improvement. 

Schedule and run demos with 5-10 potential EHR vendors that meet your practice’s specific operational and growth needs. Ensure your key staff are present for the demos so they can weigh in with observations and questions.

Here are some tips to help you get the most out of the process:

Below is a list of questions you can ask EHR vendors during the ehr evaluation process.

To get the most out of your specialty-specific EHR, follow these best practices:

Involve key stakeholders in your practice, such as lead physicians, clinicians, front office staff, billing team, administration, and board members, to develop a clear strategy for how the EHR will add value to your healthcare mission. 

Create an EHR implementation and training plan that details how you’ll integrate the EHR system into your workflow. This process generally involves the following steps:

After implementing your EHR, evaluate patient and clinician feedback, training programs, key performance indicators (KPIs), and relevant growth. This ensures the EHR meets specific performance objectives and helps you identify areas where the performance can and should improve. If you notice any areas with issues, you and your vendor can plan corrective action that will improve levels of care and increase efficiency.