When it comes to EHR software, there is no one-size-fits-all approach. What works for a small clinic with two or three doctors will not be able to handle the requirements of a large hospital with 200 beds. On a similar note, some practices will require extensive customization before being able to use any EHR while others will quite happily implement the default settings because it fits them perfectly.
Surprisingly however, not many doctors are demanding specialized EHRs which cater to their discipline or area of expertise. The vast majority of EHR products are configured to work within the hospital or clinical setting. Though some customizations are possible to suit the needs of end-users, specialists such as radiologists or endocrinologists often have to get by using workflows that are designed for GPs and nurses. Even within the field of dentistry, there are dental professionals who specialize in a specific area such as orthodontists, periodontists, oral surgeons etc. The typical EHR software will not be able to cater to all their needs when compared to an EDR.
Specialized EHRs such as ones that cater to dentists or that serve medical nurses in a hospice environment have numerous benefits over more general purpose products. For instance not every patient record in a GP’s office will need charts and images. On the other hand, every patient who walks into a dental clinic will likely have x-rays, periodontal charts and other images. As such, dental professionals need advanced charting and imaging tools if they have to do their job well. Though it is theoretically possible that a general-purpose EHR will be able to fulfill those needs, it is more probable that an EDR will have better dental focused features and will be easier to use.
Another advantage for discipline specific EHRs is that vendors are able to customize workflows, configurations and templates to focus on those details that are important for their users. It enables them to leave out unnecessary features and streamline updates. As an additional benefit, fewer customizations are required for end-users to take full advantage of the powerful features. This often results in hundreds of man-hours saved which can be redirected to updating the product to maintain compliance with regulation or incorporating the latest medical technologies. Downsizing the code required for the software also makes it easy to find bugs and fix issues.
Dovetail is a cloud-based EDR that was designed in consultation with practicing dentists in order to provide our clients with the best possible experience, out-of-the-box. You will find all the features that you need and none that you don’t.
