Speech Therapy EHR Software Buyers Guide
Last updated: June 01, 2023
Speech Therapy EHR Programs—Pick Yours Carefully
In an overpopulated world and medical centers that experience increased foot traffic, it’s no wonder the medical world has set the goal of becoming paperless.
There’s a multitude of benefits as to why a medical practice should go completely paperless. Digital document formats are an efficient and simplified way of recording patient medical history & finding those documents rapidly by a click of a button.
But to optimize this you must pick the right type of EHR for your niche.
EHR gives speech therapists the ability to view charts and the progress of their patients. It allows practitioners to write medical notes and create exercises & programs for speech impediment patients to practice every day.
Not sure if it’s worth investing in a niche-specific program yet? Here we will give you a few reasons why.
Why Practitioners Need a Specific EHR for Speech Therapy
Having an incredibly busy practice requires extensive document management programs. A dedicated Speech Therapy EHR assists with a multitude of aspects that can improve each speech therapy session.
High Volumes of Document Storage
Having a digital document storage program saves on office space as well as the time spent looking for patient files. You can choose a program that has an integrated file search system, to assist you with finding documents rapidly.
With the increased flow of patients, regular and new, saving time on filling out redundant forms is crucial for maximum workflow.
As not all EHR products support the feature of patients filling out their forms digitally (even at home), it’s vital to ask your vendor about this. It allows more time with your patients if they can already fill in details at home instead of during a consultation.
You’re also working with people who may find it embarrassing to speak in your reception area to answer questions about personal details. The more you can help them handle administration online, the better.
Increased Work Flow
Speech therapy requires focusing on the patient in front of you. Any software that limits the chaos common to any medical practice will be beneficial. You want your patients to feel calm in order to obtain better results during a session. While the right speech therapy ehr software will improve your general workflow, it also affects the outcome of consultations.
Specific Speech Therapy Inventory
Many EHR software programs have incorporated templates that are specifically for speech therapy. Practitioners can use these templates to record evaluations and assign speech therapy examinations to their patients.
CPT for Speech Therapy
Software that incorporates Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) assists practitioners with the current CPT coding system. These codes should immediately appear upon the first search allowing doctors to pull files rapidly based on patient examinations and results.
Invest in Features
Here is a list of additional features of EHR that are worth spending a little money on—these aren’t all standard:
- Medical therapy history
- What medical requirements a patient needs
- Digital prescriptions
- History of operations
- History of medical ailments
- Payments and medical aid history
- Personal information and beneficiaries
- Emergency contact numbers
- Test results
- Drug history tests
- Making appointments
ChartLogic
Speech Therapy EHR Requirements
When searching for the correct program there are some aspects that need to be considered. Any EHR program can come with the basics but there are some technical features that need to be included in your software.
Online Security
As a program that includes a massive amount of personal information such as patient home addresses and account details, your software needs to have a secure database. This may require IT expertise to prevent malware attacks and additional spyware software can help too. Ask your vendor to ensure you’re covered.
Cloudware or Online Servers
For speech therapy, there is a lot of information that needs to be stored and backed up not only for the practitioner to access but authorized patient personnel as well. Having an online backup service is imperative for the life span of your documentation.
There is a risk of documents being deleted, either by accident or by malware attacks. Having online server support keeps digital copies of emergency health records.
Your EHR and Mobile Support
Many patients don’t know how to use a computer and in such cases, a mobile phone is like a small computer in your pocket. Your EHR software will need to have mobile support so that your patients can access files and information from their phones no matter where they are.
Video Calling Feature
For speech therapists, your EHR could also support video calling, as this is a brilliant element if your patients aren’t able to make their appointments at the office. Because you don’t always need to examine them physically to be of help, it’s sufficient to have your therapy session online.
What are the Benefits of the Right EHR for Your Practice?
The benefits of using electronic health records are exponential and becoming a global phenomenon. Let’s take a look at some of the benefits of incorporating an EHR program for your speech therapy practice.
- Patients will have the ability to receive automatic reminders for their next visit
- Rapid sharing on test results
- Specified examinations for speech therapy can be supported by EHR
- There are fewer mistakes in prescription dosages
- More accurate clinical decisions can be made based on the data input
Any sophisticated piece of software doesn’t come without some problems. There are some costs involved when transitioning from physical files to digital records. Capturing this information can also be time-consuming, but it’s worth the effort in the long run.
Conclusion
There are so many programs that can be used by any practitioner and with upgraded software developments the future looks promising. Soon practitioners will be able to track down past family records to pinpoint causes for ailments. Recorded electronic history is essential for the future of speech therapists, as autism and speech impediments are ever-increasing in the modern world. Will this tech help us solve the problem? It can only be done if everyone starts using EHR optimally for their specific niches.
