Cost-Effective Custom EHR: Balancing Features with Budget
Take a moment and revisit the very first moment you visited a hospital. Rather than being a healthcare professional, the healthcare landscape seemed completely different back then, right?
Well, except for some hooks and tried and tested practices, the healthcare ecosystem has completely changed. From the way we intake patients to the way we deliver care, everything has evolved to allow us to deliver better care faster.
While healthcare software systems have become the epicenter of many healthcare practices across the globe, a specific trend has been observed in healthcare professionals like you lately.
Rather than choosing readymade off-the-shelf healthcare software solutions, many healthcare providers are opting for custom EHR software development approaches. And for good reasons, custom EHR not only aligns with the practice’s needs and requirements, it also has the potential to maximize EHR ROI.
Having said that, the problem many healthcare professionals face with custom EHR development is its cost. Custom EHR development cost is significantly higher than that of off-the-shelf EHR software solutions.
Though the custom EHR development cost cannot be brought down to that of off-the-shelf software solutions, it can surely be made as an affordable healthcare solution.
In this blog, let’s discuss some of the EHR cost reduction strategies, EHR budget management and cost-effective EHR implementation tactics for maximizing EHR ROI.
Prioritize Essential Features
The border line difference between custom EHR and off-the-shelf EHR is that one comes with pre-defined functionalities and features, the other allows you to choose your own features and functionalities. And this is where the custom EHR development becomes costly. However, one of the best strategies in EHR cost reduction strategies is to prioritize the features necessary for you.
Below are some of the features, based on their functionality, that you can consider for your custom EHR software development. But remember, these features are too generic, and depending on your specialty or practice, they can change. Having said that, let’s get started:
1. Core Functionality
Identify the core functionality of your EHR software, which is to basically manage patient health records and transfer them whenever necessary to deliver care. In this, the core functionalities that you need are patient demographics, patient medical history, and problem lists. While it will give you an idea about the patient’s current health status, you need to go beyond that to make the experience personalized for your patients. Add the appointment scheduling and reminder features, which sets the patient on their care journey. Coupling that with electronic prescribing and medication reconciliation, you can provide a complete virtual care experience to your patients.
2. Scalability
With time your practice is bound to grow, both in terms of patients and also providers. This will most likely put a lot of load on your healthcare software system, that is why for long-term sustainability of your EHR, you need to consider scalability options with future growth and expansion needs. For this you need to design a flexible and scalable architecture plan, which fits in your futuristic growth plan and other workflows.
3. Integration Capabilities
Since the healthcare landscape is highly collaborative, you need your system to have integration capabilities with your existing systems such as laboratories, radiologists, etc. Achieve interoperability for all the third-party applications and you will have an ideal custom EHR software, which will be an affordable healthcare solution.
Phase-Based Development
One of the fun facts about budget-friendly EHR solutions is that they follow a phase-based development approach. This has become a common practice recently as it allowed developers to find a loophole in the EHR cost optimization techniques and build robust yet affordable healthcare solutions. On that note, here are some of the EHR budget management that goes around in phased-based development:
1. Minimum Viable Product (MVP)
Developing a minimum viable product is one of the best ways of EHR cost optimization techniques. In this you basically develop a base level version of your final product with all the core features and functionalities that you need. Once that is done, prioritize features that you need on an immediate basis and continue ahead with its production.
2. Iterative Development
Follow an iterative development process which is continuous and allows you to add features and functionality, during the entire development phase. However, one of the major things that you need to keep in mind when following this approach is to conduct user feedback and prioritize features based on the user’s needs and their evolving needs.
3. Agile Methodology
Your developers will give you an option to choose a development methodology that suits you the best. While waterfall and other methodologies are quite inflexible, an agile methodology provides an EHR budget management approach as the methodology is flexible and highly adaptable as per the changing needs of the development approach.
Leverage Cloud-Based Solutions
Custom EHR pricing models are highly dependable on databases; recognizing the costly nature of databases, many healthcare IT practices are shifting to cloud-based solutions. Here are some of the benefits of leveraging cloud-based solutions for your custom EHR software:
1. Reduced Infrastructure Costs: The major advantage you get when you choose a cloud-based EHR solution is that you don’t have to waste your money on databases and the infrastructure that they require. This reduces your cost for hardware and software and the option of pay-as-you-go pricing, making the EHR software development much more affordable and robust.
2. Scalability and Flexibility: Cloud-based EHR systems are easy to scale as their dependencies on hardware infrastructure are minimal if not none. On top of that, the remote access that it provides with incredible disaster recovery capabilities makes it a flexible option that many healthcare practices have opted for in the last decade, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Open-Source Technologies
One of the cost-effective EHR implementation tactics that you can present on the table is the use of open-source technologies. You see, the internet is a space where something which is available as paid services will most likely have a free alternative. Though identifying them is a tedious task, it is one of the best practices for building a budget-friendly EHR solution.
1. Cost-Effective Solutions: Free and open-source software options are always available in the market. These FOSS options are usually more customizable and extensible, giving you much more flexibility and customization options during custom EHR software development.
2. Community Support: As the internet grows with each passing day, open-source technologies also grow. This has created an active community over the years, and forums have been established to provide support whenever required. Furthermore, the availability of an active community will lead to rapid problem-solving and updates.
3. Potential Licensing and Support Costs: However, the cost factors that come with the FOSS services are licensing fees and support services that they provide. Here you need to carefully evaluate the licensing fees and support services before making a final decision. Maybe there is a better deal waiting for you just around the corner, right?
Partner with a Reliable Development Team
Last but not least, the EHR software development cost depends on the EHR developers that you’re hiring. Every custom EHR software development company or EMR software developers has different plans and pricing models, which vary significantly. Furthermore, not only cost but also the success of your custom EHR software depends highly on the development team. On that note, here are a few things that you need to consider when choosing your custom EHR development team:
1. Experienced Developers: Look for experienced developers as they have hands-on experience in developing software systems. Their efficient development practice not only speeds up the process but also reduces development time, which will play a crucial role in influencing the custom EHR development costs.
2. Transparent Communication: Once you have decided which EHR development company you are going forward with, communicate clearly with them and be clear about project management as well. Furthermore, regular updates and feedback from the team should be taken so that the development plan does not go off-track.
3. Cost-effective Development Practices: Last but not least, adopt the best cost-effective practices for resource allocation and time management as they play a crucial role in custom EHR software development costs.
Conclusion
Cost-effective solutions are always available, especially when it comes to the healthcare IT landscape, which is an ever-evolving field, but what you need is to look in the right direction. On that note, let this blog be your guide to developing cost-effective EHR implementation tactics and maximizing EHR ROI.
Furthermore, if you don’t know where to get started from here, then click here to read our guide on custom EHR software development or book your free consultation here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Custom EHRs offer several advantages over off-the-shelf solutions, including:
- Tailored to specific workflows and needs: Custom EHRs can be designed to perfectly match the unique processes and requirements of a healthcare organization, leading to increased efficiency and productivity.
- Improved data integration and interoperability: Custom EHRs can be seamlessly integrated with other systems and devices, ensuring a smooth flow of data and reducing the risk of errors.
- Enhanced data security and privacy: Custom EHRs can be designed with robust security measures in place, protecting sensitive patient data from unauthorized access and cyber threats.
- Greater control over system updates and maintenance: Organizations with custom EHRs have more control over the system’s development and maintenance, allowing them to adapt to changing needs and regulatory requirements more easily.
- Potential for lower long-term costs: While the initial investment in a custom EHR may be higher, it can lead to significant cost savings in the long run due to increased efficiency, reduced errors, and improved data management.
Prioritize core clinical features (demographics, medical history, medications, etc.), followed by those improving workflow efficiency (e-prescribing, order entry). Then, focus on patient engagement features (patient portal, telehealth) and data security. Finally, prioritize remaining features based on a cost-benefit analysis.
Here are some cost-saving strategies for custom EHR development:
- Modular design for scalability and future updates
- Open-source components to reduce licensing costs
- Cloud-based infrastructure for pay-as-you-go scalability
- Agile development for iterative improvements and cost control
- Prioritizing core features to avoid scope creep
Here are some ways a custom EHR can help you maximize your long-term ROI:
- Increased Efficiency: Automates tasks, streamlines workflows, and reduces administrative burden.
- Improved Patient Care: Better data management, reduced errors, and enhanced communication lead to improved outcomes.
- Revenue Cycle Optimization: Enhances coding accuracy, minimizes claim denials, and speeds up reimbursement.
- Data-Driven Decision Making: Provides insights into performance, identifies areas for improvement, and supports strategic planning.
- Future-Proof Investment: Adapts to evolving needs and integrates with new technologies, ensuring long-term value.
By addressing these key areas, a custom EHR can significantly enhance your practice’s financial performance and overall success.
When implementing a custom EHR, it’s important to consider factors beyond cost, such as:
- Interoperability: Ensuring seamless data exchange with other healthcare systems.
- Usability: Designing an intuitive and user-friendly interface for clinicians and patients.
- Data Security: Implementing robust measures to protect sensitive patient information.
- Scalability: Building a system that can accommodate growth in patient volume and data.
- Maintenance: Planning for ongoing updates, upgrades, and technical support.
