Navigating Healthcare Solutions: Is athenahealth EMR Your Best Bet?
Finding the right EMR (Electronic Medical Record) system is crucial for any healthcare organization aiming to streamline operations and improve patient care. As you navigate this pivotal decision, having a trusted advisor can significantly impact your success. Ignite Healthcare Solutions specializes in guiding healthcare organizations through the complexities of technology implementations and optimizations.
Exploring athenahealth
In this exploration, we delve into athenahealth, a leading player in the EMR field renowned for its cloud-based solutions designed to enhance operational efficiency and patient outcomes. Is athenahealth the ideal choice for your healthcare organization's EMR needs? Let's examine the intricacies to help you make a well-informed decision.
Understanding athenahealth
athenahealth is a leading healthcare technology company offering a range of solutions aimed at improving operational efficiency and patient outcomes. Their fully integrated suite of cloud-based services, athenaOne, combines practice management, EMR systems, and care coordination into one comprehensive product. With a strong emphasis on intuitive interfaces and cloud-based solutions, athenahealth has established a reputation for innovation and reliability in the healthcare IT sector.
Is athenahealth Right for You?
The decision of whether athenahealth's EMR system is your best bet depends on your specific needs and priorities. Athenahealth is widely used and known for its cloud-based platform and integrated practice management features. Here are some factors to consider when evaluating if athenahealth is the right choice for you:
Practice Size and Specialty
Athenahealth is often favored by smaller to medium-sized practices and outpatient facilities across various specialties, including primary care, cardiology, pediatrics, orthopedics, and OBGYN. However, it may not be suitable for infusion clinics due to specific workflow and clinical content limitations.
Ease of Use and Implementation
One of athenahealth's strengths is its user-friendly interface and relatively smooth implementation process compared to other EMR systems. Depending on your organization's specifics, implementation can be as quick as 11 weeks. However, there are several reasons why an implementation might take longer:
Tax ID Complications: During your implementation, your organization will be required to obtain a US Bank account. If your organization is still obtaining or identifying correct Tax Identification Number (TIN) information, this application can take weeks or months to complete. We recommend prioritizing obtaining a US Bank account early to meet implementation timelines.
Tablespace Architecture: Depending on your financial constraints, patient access requirements, branding needs, and TIN structure, athenahealth will configure your tablespace to meet these specific requirements. For start-ups or emerging organizations, decisions around this architecture can significantly influence your future on athenahealth. Please reach out to our team if you need assistance with tablespace architecture to ensure alignment with your long-term goals and operational needs.
Payer Contracts: Managing payer contracts involves intricate negotiations and ensuring that athenahealth's systems align with the specific requirements of each contract.
Unique Claims Formatting and Submission Requirements: Each healthcare organization may have unique requirements for claims formatting and submission, which can require customization and testing before going live.
Go-Live Support Resourcing: athenahealth provides virtual and onsite go-live support tailored to your organization's size and needs. The scheduling of the go-live date depends on athenahealth's availability. Organizations needing extensive support or with specific requirements should plan for a longer implementation period to ensure adequate resource availability from athenahealth.
Cash Pay: athenahealth's percentage-of-collections model is beneficial for many organizations but may not be advantageous for those with a high volume of cash pay services due to the fee structure. Our team can evaluate if this model fits your financial goals and explore alternatives if needed.
Telehealth: For organizations where providers operate within a single state, athenahealth offers a robust platform with integrated telehealth capabilities. However, there are limitations with scheduling and e-prescribing across state lines. We can assist in determining the best setup for your multi-state telehealth providers, ensuring seamless operations and compliance with state regulations.
Integrations and Unique Workflows: athenahealth supports integration with third-party vendors and offers customization through its developer portal and APIs, making it adaptable to various operational needs and enhancing interoperability.
If your organization relies on third-party vendors or proprietary software critical for go-live, the completion of their integration will impact the go-live schedule. We strongly recommend conducting a patient experience and vendor mapping exercise early in the implementation process. This ensures a clear understanding of the ideal experience and identifies critical workflows outside of athenahealth that are essential for go-live.
Cost and ROI
Evaluate the cost-effectiveness of athenahealth's solutions against your budget and expected returns. Their bundled services may offer significant savings depending on your practice's financial goals.
Data Security and Compliance
With HITRUST certification and SOC 2 compliance, athenahealth ensures robust safeguards for sensitive healthcare data, meeting industry standards for security and compliance.
At Ignite Healthcare Solutions, we appreciate athenahealth's commitment to security and compliance, reflecting our own dedication to ensuring our clients' data integrity and protection. Our experience with athenahealth has consistently reinforced their reputation as a reliable partner in meeting healthcare sector demands.
User Feedback and Reviews
For more insights into athenahealth's performance and user perspectives, consider resources like these reviews from Forbes and Business.com:
Ultimately, selecting an EMR system involves assessing your practice's unique needs and preferences. Whether athenahealth or another solution aligns best with your goals, Ignite Healthcare Solutions stands ready to assist in your decision-making process and implementation.
If you are considering athenahealth for your EMR needs or require assistance with implementation, please contact our team at info@ignitehs.com. We specialize in optimizing healthcare technology to ensure the most satisfactory outcomes for your organization.
