When an organization is looking for an EMR (electronic medical records) system, it is common to balance cost against features. Medical providers trying to keep a handle on their own expenses may find themselves looking at budget-priced offerings where they come across free EMR systems. A sanity check will tell you that the organizations must be getting revenue from somewhere, so how do they offer a free product?
Advertiser Supported
Many publishers of free EMR turn to the same revenue sources used by providers of other free services: advertising.
The use of advertising in free software often makes people cringe because it has been misused in some products. Advertisements that have inappropriate content or are intrusive distract from a workers activities. In extreme cases, so-called "adware" crosses the line into malware, the same category as computer viruses and spyware.
Advertisements in free medical software are nothing like these examples. There will be no pop-ups about online casinos or leering men promising male enhancement. Included advertisements are discretely placed on the EMR interface, not intruding on the program's function. The ads are targeted and relevant to medical professionals and may introduce users to valuable additional services.
Free EMR in a Package Deal
Often free EMR is added as a bonus for customers who subscribe to other, non-free services. The EMR system itself can be used at no cost as long as the customer uses the company's other electronic services. These services are integrated with the EMR.
An example of these services would be ePrescriptions, the ability for doctors and hospitals to transmit electronic medication orders directly to pharmacies. The use of ePrescriptions improves operational efficiency and patient safety and is one of the fastest growing electronic services in the medical industry.
Another common offering is electronic medical billing services. This includes the printing and mailing of statements directly to patients as well as services to file claims electronically with insurance companies.
Non-Certified EMR
One of the most important limitations of free EMR is that the software will not be CCHIT certified.
CCHIT certification indicates a particular level of functionality, interoperability and security in an EMR product. There is an increased demand for certified EMR for providers trying to benefit from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). CCHIT-certified EMR are the best, fully featured EMR systems around but are also quite expensive.
However, most medical offices don't need the power of a certified EMR system. Free practice management systems may not be as capable, but they are still comprehensive electronic records management systems. They can be used to maintain patient records, document encounters, bill patients and insurance, and provide a layer of security to critical medical and financial data.
Free EMR systems are the electronic medical record solutions chosen by many providers, large and small. They provide the functionality these providers need at a truly bargain price.
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