Custom EHR System: Improving Patient Care through Digital Innovation

Digital transformation is reshaping healthcare, and electronic health record (EHR) systems are at the forefront of this revolution. The global EHR market size is expected to grow over 48% in the next eight years - from USD 31 billion in 2024 to USD 46 billion by 2032. These powerful electronic tools do much more than simply digitize patient records; they fundamentally change how healthcare is delivered and managed.

Implementing the right custom EHR system meaningfully impacts patient care, operational efficiency, and financial performance for healthcare providers from small clinics to large hospital networks.

However, successful custom EHR implementation is fraught with challenges. Off-the-shelf solutions don't always align with every healthcare organization's unique processes, which can lead to frustration and decreased productivity. Enter custom EHR system, where tailored solutions can be finely tuned to an organization's specific needs and goals.

In this all-inclusive guide, we'll examine EHR implementation, probing into the key features that make EHRs indispensable, comparing ready-made and custom options, and walking you through the custom EHR development process. Whether you're considering your first EHR system or looking to upgrade an existing one, this article will expand your understanding and help you make informed decisions.

Table of Contents

1. Beyond the Basics: Understanding EHR and Distinguishing It from EMR
2. Transforming Healthcare Operations: EHR Benefits across Departments
3. Navigating EHR System: An In-Depth Look at Critical Functions
4. Custom EHR Development Lifecycle
5. Choosing the Right Solution: Off-the-Shelf vs. Custom EHR System
6. Real-World Success: EHR Implementation Case Study
7. Building a Standout Implementation Team: Partnering with iWeb-Soft
8. Frequently Asked Questions about EHR Systems

Beyond the Basics: Understanding EHR and Distinguishing It from EMR

Electronic health records are detailed digital versions of a patient's medical history and are designed to be shared with multiple healthcare providers and organizations. A custom EHR contains a wide range of patient information, including (but not limited to) demographics, medical history, medications, allergies, immunization records, lab results, radiology images, and billing details. These systems are built to facilitate care coordination, improve patient outcomes, and streamline healthcare operations.

The key difference between electronic health records (EHR) and electronic medical records (EMR) lies in their scope and functionality. EHRs give a complete view of a patient's health that can be shared across different providers, while EMRs only cover the medical history within a single practice.

EHRs are designed for connectivity, so various healthcare providers, specialists, and even patients can share and access patient information. They often include advanced features like clinical decision support tools, patient portals, and population health management functions. This all-encompassing approach supports care continuity and gives providers a more complete view of a patient's health history.

In contrast, EMRs are basically digital versions of the paper charts in a clinician's office. They contain patients' medical and treatment histories within one practice, and only those practice providers use them for diagnosis and treatment. Generally, EMRs aren't designed to be easily shared outside the practice that created them, which limits their usefulness when it comes to coordinating care with other providers or healthcare settings.

While both EHRs and EMRs improve on paper records, EHRs are better suited to today's connected healthcare, as they better support patient care coordination and thorough health management.

Transforming Healthcare Operations: EHR Benefits across Departments

Custom EHR development bring major benefits to different healthcare departments, revolutionizing patient care and operational efficiency. In fact, according to recent studies, most healthcare providers report that EHR implementation improves patient care quality and grants faster access to critical information.

Clinical staff benefit from quick access to patient histories, lab results, and medication lists, which helps them make better decisions and create personalized care plans. Secure remote access to patient charts has improved timely consultations and care. Alerts for potential drug interactions, allergies, and dosage errors have drastically cut down on medication-related complications, with some studies reporting nearly a 50% drop in errors.

Administrative teams have seen smoother operations with automated appointment reminders and online scheduling, cutting patient wait times by 30%. Linking clinical documentation with billing has reduced coding errors and sped up payment cycles. Custom EHR designed for compliance have shown high rates of meeting reporting requirements, making it easier to keep up with changing healthcare regulations.

IT departments report better data security with EHRs, with fewer data breaches compared to paper records. Custom EHR development makes it easier to share information and work with other providers and facilities, and most healthcare professionals in developed countries now use connected systems. Reliable EHRs also provide nearly constant uptime, so important patient information is always accessible.

Sales departments have also reaped measurable benefits from custom EHR system. These systems target messaging to specific healthcare providers (HCPs) using real-time, anonymous patient data, leading to better communication and quicker adoption of branded medications. Ads within the EHR workflow reach providers at critical decision-making moments, capitalizing on the average 16 minutes they spend per patient. Using EHRs in multi-channel strategies has strengthened campaign consistency and ROI, while data insights have improved market understanding.

Developers can build a EHR system that will work with CRM and marketing platforms to collect and store patient data like visits, campaign responses, survey results, and preferences. This gives the marketing team a single source for analyzing patient behavior, tracking campaign results, and finding the best ways to reach patients. With this information, the clinic can create campaigns that match patients' needs and interests, leading to a more personal approach and higher patient satisfaction.

Patient care coordination has greatly improved, with EHRs increasing it by 56% among providers. Developers can build a custom EHR system that makes it easier for healthcare providers to communicate and share information, leading to smoother care transitions and fewer errors. Programmed reminders support preventive care, helping doctors proactively manage patient health and reduce the incidence of preventable conditions. Also, they have a user-friendly electronic health records design. For chronic diseases, detailed patient data and evidence-based guidelines have led to more effective care, better outcomes, and fewer hospitalizations.

EHRs have made retrieving and analyzing patient data easier, which accelerates medical discoveries and evidence-based practice improvements. Collecting and analyzing data across patient populations provides valuable insights for targeted health interventions and public health initiatives.

The vast majority of non-federal acute care hospitals and office physicians have adopted custom EHR system, significantly reducing data entry errors, saving on the cost of inefficient programs, and increasing the number of patients each doctor can treat. Treatment accuracy has noticeably improved as well, which increases patient satisfaction rates.

Departments

Clinical staff

Administrative teams

IT departments

Sales departments

Marketing team

Navigating EHR System: A Comprehensive Look at Critical Functions

At the heart of any custom EHR development is a complete patient demographics module, which does so much more than store names and addresses. In fact, it manages everything from contact details to insurance information, creating a 360-degree view of each patient.

The clinical data repository is the EHR's brain - it's where all clinical notes, diagnoses, and treatment plans live. This centralized data hub lets healthcare providers easily create, access, and update clinical documentation, so they can base every decision on the most up-to-date information.

Basic features of custom EHR also include:

Medical History:

A robust medical history feature captures a patient's complete health story, including past illnesses, surgeries, allergies, immunizations, family health history, and current medications. With this full view, healthcare providers can make educated decisions and provide personalized care.

Appointment Scheduling:

Modern EHR scheduling tools include features like automated reminders, waitlist management, and the ability to schedule resources (like exam rooms or equipment) with appointments. These features reduce no-shows and heighten efficiency.

E-Prescribing:

E-prescribing functionality sends prescriptions to pharmacies electronically and double-checks for drug interactions, allergies, and appropriate dosing. It can also handle refills and track whether patients are taking their medication(s).

Lab and Imaging Results:

This feature integrates directly with laboratory and imaging systems, so results are automatically populated in patient records. Many versions can trend results over time and flag abnormal values, helping providers quickly identify changes in patient health.

Billing and Coding:

Advanced billing features include automated coding suggestions, error checks on claims, and connection with practice management systems. These capabilities simplify the billing process and reduce claim denials.

Secure Messaging:

HIPAA-compliant messaging systems facilitate secure communication between providers and patients as well as among care team members. This feature often includes the ability to attach documents, images, and test results to messages.

An upgraded custom EHR development can also include the following advanced features:

Clinical Decision Support:

This AI-powered feature can analyze patient data to suggest treatment plans, identify potential diagnoses, and even predict future health risks. Some systems integrate with medical databases to provide up-to-date, evidence-based recommendations.

Population Health Management:

This tool helps practices analyze health trends across different patient groups. It can identify high-risk patients, track intervention outcomes, and help manage chronic diseases.

Patient Portal:

Modern patient portals are full-featured self-service platforms. Patients can view their records, schedule appointments, request refills, pay bills, and even complete pre-visit questionnaires. Some portals also have educational resources tailored to the patient's condition(s).

Analytics and Reporting:

Sophisticated analytics tools give insights into clinical results, finances, and efficiency. They often feature customizable dashboards, predictive models, and options to compare performance metrics with industry standards.

Mobile Access:

With mobile EHR apps, providers can document encounters, place orders, and access decision support tools from their smartphones or tablets. Some apps even securely capture photos for wound documentation or scan barcodes for medication administration.

When healthcare organizations fully understand these features, they can better decide which functionalities best fit their specific needs and processes to support both their current operations and their future growth.

Custom EHR Development Lifecycle

Implementing custom EHR software requires careful planning and execution. Here's a breakdown of the main steps:

Step 1: Assess Organizational Needs and Select a Custom EHR Development Partner

Begin by thoroughly assessing your organization's requirements. Get input from clinical staff to identify the features most needed to optimize your workflows. Use this information to select a Custom EHR development company that meets your needs and can deliver a tailored solution.

Step 2: Define Fundamental and Additional Features

Based on your evaluation, pinpoint the core abilities your EHR system must have. Then, identify any other features that would further support your operational goals to customize your EHR system to your specific needs.

Step 3: Create an Implementation Timeline

Develop a detailed timeline for each implementation phase. This roadmap should include points for data migration, staff training, testing, and launch. A detailed timeline helps keep the project on track and sets clear expectations.

Step 4: Conduct Staff Training and Change Management

Build a EHR and set up an in-depth training program so all staff feel comfortable with the new system. Start early to build support and positivity toward the change. Good change management is an important part of a smooth transition and effective use of the custom EHR system.

Step 5: Perform Testing and Quality Assurance

Thoroughly test the EHR system to make sure everything operates as intended and check electronic health records design. This phase is a must to maintain data integrity during migration and identify any potential issues prior to launch. EHR developers will employ strict security practices to protect data throughout these processes, including controlling access to personal information and complying with high regulatory standards like HIPAA.

Step 6: Execute Launch Strategy and Provide Post-Implementation Support

Decide whether to launch the EHR system all at once or in phases. Roll out your go-live strategy with a reliable system in place to handle any issues that arise. Set up ongoing support to keep the EHR system running smoothly and improve it over time.

Step-by-Step Guide

1 step

Assess Organizational Needs and Select a Custom EHR Development Partner

2 step

Define Fundamental and Additional Features

3 step

Create an Implementation Timeline

4 step

Conduct Staff Training and Change Management

5 step

Perform Testing and Quality Assurance

6 step

Execute Launch Strategy and Provide Post-Implementation Support

Choosing the Right Solution: Off-the-Shelf vs. Custom EHR System

The choice between off-the-shelf and custom EHR solutions can be daunting for healthcare organizations. Off-the-shelf EHR systems have long been the default choice because of their quick setup, initial cost savings, and proven track record across various settings.

However, healthcare is becoming more complex and specialized, so the limitations of one-size-fits-all systems are becoming more apparent. Many organizations are constrained by rigid solutions that don't fully gel with their processes or aren't agile enough to adapt to their changing needs. This scenario is where custom EHR solutions shine, with their bespoke approach to revolutionizing healthcare practices. Developers build a custom EHR system that is designed to meet an organization's specific operational needs and patient care protocols. They are innately flexible, growing and evolving with the organization to accommodate new requirements, specialties, or regulatory changes.

One of the biggest advantages of custom EHR systems is their ability to work smoothly with existing systems and third-party apps, building a unified tech setup. This compatibility, along with user-friendly designs that fit staff preferences and routines, can greatly increase user adoption and satisfaction.

While the initial investment in a custom EHR solution may be higher, the long-term benefits often outweigh the custom EHR development cost. Organizations that choose this path equip themselves with a powerful tool that meets their current needs and adapts to future challenges.

Real-World Success: EHR Implementation Case Study

Our client, a leading US-based acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine network, faced multiple operational challenges that hindered their growth. As the largest Chinese medicine and herb franchise in the country - with seven clinics across three states and over 100 employees - they needed a far-reaching solution to simplify their processes and improve patient care.

Their existing system had several pain points for key parties. For instance, clients struggled to schedule appointments and access their visit history, medical staff had limited visibility into patient records and treatment plans, and the finance team struggled with time-consuming data collection for insurance documentation. In addition, the administration juggled multiple third-party applications, leading to inefficiencies in data management and reporting.

The head physician described the problems:

"We had three separate systems to manage everything. And none of them communicated with each other. That meant hours of manual data entry. Errors were happening, and it was impossible to keep up with the reports we needed to make informed decisions."

Inspired by his colleagues' similar concerns, the head physician envisioned expanding their system into a solution that could benefit not only their clinics, but other medical institutions as well. His peers' initial skepticism quickly turned to enthusiasm when they learned about the system's potential to integrate services, improve staff-patient interactions, and organize document management.

Recognizing the opportunity, the doctor promptly engaged iWeb-Soft as the development partner, to explore system expansion. He had this to say in his review:

"I was both delighted and relieved to discover that incorporating new functionalities would be feasible without straying from our projected timeline. Our partners at iWeb-Soft proposed an optimal solution that not only retained the core features but also enhanced the system's overall usability."

Our first step was a thorough business analysis that revealed how additional features could be assimilated without compromising the projected timeline. The Custom EHR development team proposed a perfect solution that preserved main features.

By using a flexible development approach, the business quickly adjusted to new demands and made major improvements. The EHR was designed to adapt in the future, with unique features for possible outside development.

The new EHR system delivered impressive results:

Customer service processes were automated, leading to substantial cost savings.

Patient wait times decreased by 30%.

Data entry errors were nearly eliminated.

The clinic saved approximately $20,000 in subscription fees annually by discontinuing inefficient programs.

Billing accuracy improved dramatically, with errors reduced by 80%.

Payment cycles accelerated by 50%.

Clients benefited from a more convenient appointment booking process.

The administration gained access to automated analytics from a centralized CRM system, freeing up 15% of their time.

Doctors experienced increased efficiency, treating 7% more clients and improving treatment accuracy by 25%.

Patient satisfaction rates soared.

Building a Standout Implementation Team: Partnering with iWeb-Soft

If you have any questions or ideas to build a custom EHR system for your company, please feel free to reach out to iWeb-Soft. We're a leading custom EHR development company with over 16 years of experience in custom development services. Our team provides digital solutions across various industries, including healthcare, logistics, retail, and real estate.

iWeb-Soft by the Numbers

16+ years

in software development

150+

completed projects

45+

professional software developers

100+

satisfied clients

As a top custom development company, we leverage cutting-edge technologies to build systems that improve your efficiency and streamline your working processes. By focusing on our client's specific needs, we develop solutions that fit smoothly into your existing workflows. By building the EHR with us, you become the system owner and can sell it as a subscription to other healthcare company.

Here's what sets us apart:

Strong expertise in healthcare
Transparent Custom EHR development process
Fully-engaged communication with clients
A team of skilled professionals with extensive experience
On-time & on-budget delivery

At iWeb-Soft, we offer a custom EHR software solution designed specifically for your business needs, empowering your growth in a fast-paced market where every edge counts. Let's transform your vision into reality and take your business to the next level! Contact us today to find out how we can help you succeed.

Frequently Asked Questions about EHR Systems

1. What is the difference between EMR and EHR Systems?

An electronic medical record (EMR) is a digital version of a patient's chart, maintained by a single healthcare provider. An electronic health record (EHR) is a detailed digital record that includes information from multiple providers and facilities. EMRs are confined to one practice, making it difficult to transfer data when patients switch providers. EHRs enable easy sharing across various healthcare settings for care continuity.

2. How long does the implementation process take?

The implementation process for an electronic health record system typically takes at least 6 months. Depending on various factors (such as the organization's size, the system's complexity, and the electronic health records design) it can take up to a year.

3. How much does custom EHR development cost?

Custom EHR development costs can range from $30,000 to $250,000, depending on the organization's size, the system's complexity, the deployment model (on-premises or cloud-based), and customization requirements. These costs cover the technical work required to connect the custom EHR system with other software and systems.

4.How can I find reliable external EHR developers?

Look for EHR developers who take time to understand your specific business needs. Consider their technical skills and knowledge of relevant programming languages and frameworks. Examine the case studies of the EHR development company they represent.