EHR/EMR Software Development: What It Takes To Build One?

It’s no secret that the healthcare sector is not immune to the digital revolution. New technological applications allow the healthcare sector to streamline processes, leading to greater productivity. One of the most critical and time-consuming duties in the healthcare sector is keeping track of patient records and other documentation, and EHR can use up to 49.2% of a doctor’s time in the office. Electronic health records (EHRs) are one technological advancement that has greatly aided the healthcare industry. The use of telehealth services has become commonplace. The future of electronic health records (EHR) and electronic medical records (EMR) is bright because it will allow doctors and hospitals to provide better care for patients with less effort.

Learn how the EHR/EMR software development process works with the help of this article.

What Is EHR/EMR Software? 

The Electronic Health Record (EHR) or Electronic Medical Record (EMR) software is a computer system that assists medical professionals in managing patient medical records and automating clinical workflows. Providers have the ability, thanks to EHR systems, to: 

• Make patient encounter notetaking easier by developing fully configurable templates.
• Produce reports on the approach’s effectiveness and conformity with relevant government programs.
• Communicate with both the staff and the patients.
• Patients can be seen remotely through telemedicine sessions, and electronic prescriptions can be written for drugs.
• Synchronize the data with the clinical management and patient billing systems. 

The phrases “electronic health records” (EHR) and “electronic medical records” (EMR) are sometimes used interchangeably; however, EHR and EMR do mean significantly different things. The fundamental distinction lies in the fact that electronic health records promote the concept of interoperability, which refers to interfacing with other medical systems to produce an all-encompassing view of a patient’s clinical information.

What Is the Difference Between Electronic Health Records (EHRs) and Electronic Medical Records (EMRs)?

Electronic Medical Records (EMRs) are the digital version of a patient’s records that are held and managed by a single healthcare provider. It contains all the patient’s information and details from a single clinic, which are not typically shared with other practices. Therefore, if a patient moves to physicians, the EMR is unlikely to be shared.

Electronic Health Records (EHRs) comprise numerous sources of patient information. It provides a more comprehensive and long-term assessment of the patient’s health since it incorporates more data from more sources. As a result of the abundance of available information, specialists can deliver better and more attentive care to patients. EHRs can also be securely shared with other physicians.

Now that you understand the distinction between electronic health records and electronic medical records let’s examine the many types of electronic health records.

A patient’s electronic health record may contain all pertinent clinical information pertinent to their care, such as:

• Demographics
• Treatment Progress Notes
• Problems
• Medications
• Vital Signs
• Past Medical History
• Immunizations
• Laboratory Data
• Radiology Reports, Etc.

What Are the Types of Electronic Health Records (EHRs)?

The main difference between electronic health records is where they are kept:

a. Locally-Hosted Electronic Health Records 

Electronic health records stored locally are kept on the provider’s servers. The service provider is in charge of implementation, regular updates, regular back-ups, maintenance, and security that meets HIPAA standards and other legal requirements at all costs. Most of the time, EHRs that are hosted locally are less desirable because they come with many more responsibilities. Also, it is more likely to be hacked and have data lost.

b. Cloud-Hosted Electronic Health Records 

Electronic health records stored in the cloud are kept in a cloud database, which is scalable, flexible, and cheap. Cloud-hosted electronic health records are the best way to store patients’ records because they are simple to use, easy to access, and safe. The provider doesn’t have to worry about maintenance, costs, or upgrades. If you want to put in place an EHR system at your hospital, cloud-hosted EHRs are the best choice. They are helpful in many ways and make the system easier to use.

Properties of an EHR System 

An EHR system includes: 

(1) Longitudinal collection of electronic health information for and about people, where “health information” means information about a person’s health or the health care that person gets.

(2) Immediate electronic access to information about a person or a group of people by authorized users only.

(3) Giving people the information and help they need to make decisions that improve patient care quality, safety, and efficiency.

(4) Support for health care processes that work well. Electronic health records (EHR) kept by providers (like hospitals, nursing homes, and ambulatory settings) and by people are essential parts of an EHR system (also called personal health records).

What Market Stats Say About EMR/EHR Software ?

In 2020, the global EHR market was worth almost $30 billion; by 2026, it is expected to be worth $40 billion. This considerable growth shows that EHR/EMR systems are becoming more popular in the U.S. and around the world because of several good things:

• The rapid development of remote patient monitoring applications allows clinicians to monitor patient vitals remotely easily.
• Greater integration with AI, voice recognition, Big Data analytics, blockchain, and other technology ensures that scientists and researchers make the most of existing data.
• A greater emphasis on data standardization, as many countries, update their healthcare regulations to reflect the pandemic’s reality better.
• Expanded use of the Internet of Medical Things in the form of smart sensors and wearables Devices to improve patient care. Wearable heartbeat rate sensors, for example, can detect irregular heartbeats and alert hospital staff long before a patient feels worse, allowing treatment to begin sooner.
• Preparedness for 5G coverage, so patients and doctors can communicate wherever and whenever needed.
• Self-evaluation and telemedicine solutions that encourage self-care and early intervention. 

EHR/EMR Software Features & Capabilities

1. Patient Portal

A patient portal is an individual page for each patient that contains all of their information, such as: in the current development stage of the project; however, charts are everything in the medical world. 

• Medical Records
• Immunization Records
• Information on Allergies
• Medication Requirements
• Lab Results
• Appointments
• Demographics 

2. Integration with The Labs

A lab information system may be designed as an EHR system component or a standalone application. In one way or another, lab integration in an electronic health records system enables almost seamless tracking and receipt of test results. It is intended to assist medical laboratories in addressing the most prevalent problems, such as human error, sluggish response times for lab tests, and inventory availability. Patients will be better informed about their health concerns, and laboratories will be empowered to improve their internal process management. 

3. Access Control 

Health-related information is deemed confidential and must be guarded against disclosure to unauthorized parties. Role-based access control enables the appropriate management of the scenario.

4. ePrescribing

Users can request prescription refills more quickly, and an authorized person can also see what other medications a patient is taking to avoid potentially dangerous drug interactions. Furthermore, because all information is readily available in electronic health records, incorrect dosage amounts are no longer an issue, and a patient can clarify prescribing instructions or report side effects as they occur.

5. Cloud Hosted E

Cloud software is easier to set up, maintain, and update and costs less. It also makes it easier to get information from anywhere. Cloud hosting is possible because of improvements in computing power, virtualization, and high-speed connections. It is safe because it is encrypted.

6. Invoicing

A medical billing dashboard is essential to any comprehensive EHR system, as it streamlines and simplifies the billing process. It is recommended that a billing management module be connected with medical scheduling and practice management modules to improve the efficiency of EHR systems. After that, users will be able to do the following:

Include different ways of payment and save your banking details for use in subsequent payments.

• Check on and make any necessary changes to the patient’s insurance details.
• Send in billing queries, and be sure to react to them.
• Move the information from the charts to the bills.
• Examine the medical payment records’ billing and payment history.

7. Interfaces and Systems Integration (including Billing & Hospital Information Systems)

Integration is one of the essential parts of any electronic medical record system. Interfaces push or pull data between EHR systems in real-time or when needed. 

8. Scanning of Documents

Document scanning is a vital part of specialized EMR solutions, and it lets you create custom workflows that fit your clinic’s needs.

9. Task Management

To oversee daily tasks involved in providing necessary Healthcare delivery. Reminders to sign notes, analyze test results, approve medication, respond to patient comments, and other tasks should be included in EHR Software.

10. 24/7 Access to Constant Help

So that users are happy with the services they receive, the EHR system should always be able to get help. It is one of the essential features that make the software easy to use and makes it easier to provide healthcare services.

11. Computerized Charting 

EHR systems need to make automation and clinical management more accessible by using chart templates to fit your clinical practice’s needs. One way to do this is to use machine learning and other advanced features like artificial intelligence in your EHR software.

12. Appointment Reminders

With an appointment reminder feature, you can use this level of connectivity to send automated reminders to patients.

13. Customizable Reporting

Reports to the patient’s insurance company accountable for the regulator and information for internal management staff. Your EHR platform should have a library of pre-configured report templates and let you quickly make custom reports when needed.

EHR Software Development Tech Stack

The selected technology must serve the only objective of developing an accessible, dependable, and service-oriented architecture. In turn, this architecture must ensure health information technology interoperability that enables the coherent interchange, interpretation, and utilization of data amongst various systems. To construct a modern service-oriented architecture, the application must be divided into modules that communicate with one another via REST API. These modules can also be services (billing, charting, etc.). This design form allows for enhanced application scalability, simplified system maintenance, and more precise fault detection, isolation, and recovery. In addition, a development team may assure compliance with existing healthcare laws such as HIPAA and HITECH, GDPR, PIPEDA, and PCI-DSS.

Benefits of EHR/EMR

Optimization of Business Processes with EMR Software

1. Propelled Toward Digitalization

Despite the rise in technological usage, millions of healthcare practitioners worldwide have yet to fully digitalize their businesses, creating limitless opportunities for custom EHR creation.

2. Market Capitalisation

Developing custom EHR software that can have additional integrations based on user needs and offers unique features based on the region and market. Target audience serviced will always provide a competitive advantage.

3. Software Profitability

EHR software comes with many monetization opportunities, like advertising, paid add-on functionality (freemium model), etc., making it a lucrative alternative for entrepreneurs seeking to develop custom EHR software.

4. Reduction of Expenses

As a result of reduced overall resource consumption, EHR software development can help clinics save money on transcription costs, physical chart storage, more straightforward coding, and claims management.  

Pros for EHR Software for Medical Professionals 

1. Reliability

Access to electronic health records (EHRs) is simple worldwide. More importantly, they have backups in case of system breakdowns.

2. Continual Streamlining and Enhancement

As a result of increased efficiency and the automation of mundane operations, the staff’s workload is reduced thanks to the development of custom EHR software. Medical professionals no longer have to dig through enormous data files to find the information they need because it is all at their fingertips. To get the most out of your EHR system, have it tailored to your specific practice’s workflow.

3. Improved compatibility

Interoperability is fostered by the rapid and easy communication between the many hospital departments made possible by custom-built EHR software.

• Errors in healthcare are less likely to occur.

The improvement of EHR software enables the early discovery of errors, reducing the possibility of malpractice. There may be warning signs that the software can identify.

4. Compliance with Regulations and Increased Safety

Encryption, digital signatures, access control, data backups and recovery, automated session termination, multi-tiered access, etc., are all standard security features that can be built into your EHR software during its custom creation. Compliance with safety and government regulations is much more likely as a result.

5. Efficiency gains in doctor-patient communication

Improving provider-patient communication is perhaps the greatest value added by developing bespoke EHR software. The evolution of electronic health records is a tool that gives patients more agency, transforming them from passive observers to engaged participants in their healthcare. Patients with access to their medical records and health education resources are more likely to be actively involved in their care. They have positive outcomes due to their interactions with their providers. 

EHR’s Benefits for Patients 

1. Appointment Management

Improve appointments’ accuracy, making diagnosing and submitting claims more effortless and faster.

2. Medical Data Tracking

Track and manage all of your medications in one place, and get alerts if any of them interact with each other.

3. Communicated together

Start treatments immediately with clear communication channels and automated alerts pointing out possible risks. It also makes it easier to track and use preventive care.

4. Get Rid of Paperwork that Isn’t Needed.

With an EHR system in place at your organization, your patients and staff will only have to give the same information once instead of typing or writing it repeatedly.

5. Easy Access 

The patient doesn’t have to make extra phone calls or appointments to get information that they can quickly get online on their own.

6. Reminders

When reminders are built into EHRs, they also make patients happier.

EHR System Architecture 

An EHR System Component

• User Interface: A fundamental component of almost any clinical application, the user interface (U.I.) is used within an EHR to enter and display patient health records.
• Record Services: Record services perform tasks such as entering medical records, searching for and retrieving medical records, querying or extracting data from medical records, and communicating or exchanging medical records with other systems or applications.
• Terminology services: Terminology services are those that manage terminology resources directly.
• Clinical Decision Support System (CDSS): The CDSS’s primary function is to carry out the decision support logic. 

What Are the Most Important Stages in EHR Development?

The EHR software development process can be divided into the following stages: 

• Discovery stage 
• Development stage 
• Testing and compliance stage 
• Implementation stage 
• Evaluation Stage 

• The goal-setting step for the EHR system is included in the discovery stage of EHR development. It offers a brief list of the EHR software features and add-ons you will utilize during the initial implementation.
• The next phase of EHR development comprises a user interface, design experience, and the codification of concepts.
• The third phase of EHR software development focuses on the privacy and security of patients’ medical records through assessment and compliance. In addition, it assures data compliance and adherence to regulatory standards.
• The fourth phase involves implementing and utilizing EHR software in clinical settings. Typically tied to the last phase, the fifth stage assesses the EHR’s functionality and streamlines the procedure.
• Electronic health record software can only attain clinical efficiency if it is meticulously planned, flawlessly executed, and thoroughly evaluated throughout its various phases. During the development stages, it is essential to follow a strategy for EHR implementation to bring value to the current workflow. 

Modern EHR Examples

Health I.T. has global brands like any other industry niche. Here are 2021’s top EHR vendors.

a. Epic

Epic has 34.1% of the US EHR market. It offers essential automation tools like scheduling, filtering, finance module, predictive analysis, telemedicine, and speech recognition.

b. Cerner

Epic’s opponent is Cerner. These EHR vendors provide similar functionalities, and Cerner is popular among ambulatory care and smaller offices, while large organizations prefer Epic. AI-enabled workflows and 24/7 live assistance are also available.

c. Meditech

Meditech won “bronze in the EHR Olympics” with 14.7% of the U.S. market. Meditech’s cheaper cost compared to popular vendors is a strength, and Meditech targets smaller hospitals like Cerner. User-friendliness and customizing choices boost the system’s efficiency.

How Much It Cost to Develop an EHR Software?

Most electronic health record systems include variable pricing based on monthly patient volume or the total number of physicians using the system. Other features like lab integrations and electronic prescribing for prohibited medications may also affect the cost. Our prices are adjustable to meet your specific requirements at the lowest possible cost, and plan options are available on a per-provider and per-encounter basis. For further information about our prices, please feel free to contact us.

How Can We Help You with EHR/EMR Application Development?

Policymakers and experts agree that once EHRS are embraced and usefully used on a wider scale, they can benefit patients, providers, and society at large. Use the information below to get in touch with us if you’d like to talk about how we might be able to collaborate on your project. 

1. Research 

Research-based UX and U.I. design that prioritizes user comfort.

2. Ease of Use

When building EHR or EMR software, we prioritize human-centered design, medical staff convenience, and software performance. The software may also be mobile device compatible.

3. Superior Technologies

We construct effective EHRs by applying technologies such as data analytics (e.g., for diagnostic help), blockchain development (for safe medical data transmission), and artificial intelligence (e.g., for medicine prescription, etc.). 

Wrapping Up

In today’s healthcare system, EHRs are becoming prevalent. We must ensure you’re on the right track if you or your company consider building your custom EHR system. To the extent that a commercially available EHR system cannot satisfy your specific requirements, custom software development may be the best option. With its user-friendly interface and adaptable features, your EHR system will win over critics. Still, you can’t get there without a reputable software development company. Over many years, Emizentech has honed its skills in the healthcare industry, namely in software application development.