4 Signs Your Chiropractic EHR Isn’t Actually Multi-location

Electronic health record (EHR) systems became a focus of policymakers and industry leaders on the promise that they would streamline the practice of healthcare and deliver significant savings to practitioners and better patient care.

That remains a work in progress. The earliest generations of EHR systems have helped address issues for individual offices or small networks but have shown limitations at scale. However, the evolution of technology is enabling the promise of EHRs to take the next big step.

The advent of cloud-based, multi-location EHRs is enabling practices to grow bigger while providing for cost-saving efficiencies and standardized processes to support excellent patient care and service.

Some EHRs, however, offer the promise but not the reality of multi-location support. Here are signs that your EHR isn’t actually multi-location.

1. Patients Must Schedule Appointments the Old-Fashioned Way

One of the major benefits of a large multi-site practice is the ability to provide patients with the flexibility to choose where and when they want to receive care. Having locations near where patients live and work provides greater convenience and encourages greater interaction. It also enables practice owners to grow their base of patients, hopefully translating into more revenue and increased patient satisfaction.

But more locations won’t necessarily deliver those benefits if you are offering a legacy model in areas such as appointment scheduling. An obvious sign that an EHR isn’t multi-location is when patients have to contact each office individually, by phone, to schedule their appointments.

True multi-location EHRs have scheduling modules that enable patients to make their own appointments online. Individual doctors can keep their schedules up to date so patients can keep track of who has appointments open and when.

Scheduling flexibility and putting the patient in charge for maximum convenience are key benefits of a true multi-location EHR.

2. Each Location Requires a Separate IT Installation

Increasing redundant costs for information technology (IT) is another sign that your EHR isn’t multi-location.

True multi-location EHRs are cloud based. Individual offices connect to the application via the internet, not by tapping into an on-site database in the local office.

Data and information get uploaded to the cloud system, where they are backed up by your EHR provider. The provider carries the burden and expense of computer servers, software upgrades, and information security.

Cloud-based systems are also ideal for expanding your practice in a cost-effective way. As you bring more locations online, you can easily connect them to your cloud-based EHR system.

Your system isn’t multi-location if you must install and update computer equipment—the same computer equipment—at every location. This drives up costs and enables inefficiencies to creep into the system.

3. There’s a Limited Ability to Share Data with Other Providers

Patients often come to chiropractors for follow-up care after major surgeries. This commonly happens with injuries suffered in car accidents.

A chiropractic visit may be only one part of the patient’s follow-up care post-surgery. They likely have a large team of providers, who should share information with each other. The more information that you can exchange, the better care you can provide to the patient.

If you often find yourself spending time on the phone updating other providers on a patient’s status, that could be a sign that your system isn’t actually multi-location. A true multi-location EHR will provide capabilities for that data sharing to take place no matter where the patient is treated.

The database contains a single patient record and offers common frameworks for electronic data interchange to facilitate the exchange of information with other members of a patient’s care team.

4. Each Location Issues Its Own Bills

The sharing of resources through a multi-location chiropractic EHR enables the centralization of billing processes so bills can be issued in a common format and on a timely and accurate basis.

With a single patient record for the entire practice, you only need to issue one bill, regardless of where the patient was treated. Patient records are updated in real time, so you never have to worry that you have missed the need to bill a patient for a “hidden” visit. Records are kept up to date to show how much patients owe and for which visits.

A true multi-location EHR enables you to handle billing from a central point. If you are trying to juggle billing resources across various locations, chances are that your EHR system isn’t actually multi-location.

Trust ChiroSpring for Multi-location Support

ChiroSpring is an all-in-one practice management and EHR tool for chiropractors that offers true multi-location capabilities in billing, scheduling, and other vital areas of your practice.

The application unifies your various locations so you can implement consistent standards that lead to maximum patient satisfaction.

The multi-location functionality helps chiropractors regain face-time with patients, spend less time on back-office tasks, maintain a limited staff, and save on operational costs.

ChiroSpring is an all-in-one practice management and EHR system built specifically for chiropractors to help them regain face-time with patients, spend less time on back-office tasks, maintain a limited staff, and save operational costs.

To see how ChiroSpring can help you simplify how you manage your practice, reach out to one of our specialists today!