Consumers in the technology age are ingrained with convenience and accessing information within seconds. So it’s only natural that those desires would eventually make its way into healthcare, which is where telemedicine has made its mark.

With each passing day, technology is becoming a more integral part of the way we conduct our lives, and medical practices are no exception to this rule. Whether it's the emergence of more intricate and user-friendly EHR systems, practice management software, data reports from wearable technology or new patient portal solutions, our practices are more technologically involved than they've ever been before. While all of this technology is aimed at simplifying life, it can actually complicate things a great deal if managed improperly. Take a minute and check out these tips for managing technology in your practice to keep things running smoothly, seamlessly and effectively.

Use of electronic medical records (EMRs) continues to spread throughout medical practices in the United States, especially in the field of ophthalmology. According to the American Society of Ophthalmic Administrators (ASOA) 2015 EHR Customer Satisfaction Report, 75 percent of ophthalmologists are currently using an EMR in their practice. EMR’s growth in ophthalmology can largely be attributed to Meaningful Use since the majority of ophthalmology patients are elderly and likely using Medicare. Unfortunately, with the increase in EMR use has come a slight rise in dissatisfaction in EMRs as well. In the last two years, dissatisfaction rose four percent in the survey (18-22 percent).

A Broken Promise? In a recent article published by Medical Economics, they interviewed healthcare providers (from various fields and specialties) about their opinions as to whether EMR/EHR systems have delivered on initial promises such as increased efficiency, better time management, and fast charting. Their responses were, to put it nicely, less than positive. The vast majority of healthcare professionals interviewed in the article expressed feelings of disappointment with the EMR/EHR industry as a whole, as well as what needs to happen in order for the EMR/EHR industry to regain the trust and support of physicians and other users in the medical field.

Electronic medical records (EMRs) have transformed the medical world, impacting patient care and day-to-day operations at medical practices across the country.

Making sure you're using your EHR to increase patient engagement can help you get the most out of your product. While EHRs can help to simplify your practice, you don't want to get to the point where they limit your communication with the patient. According to Physicians Practice, 70 percent of practices have reported a decrease in patient face time after EHR implementation. In order to ensure you're getting the most out of your EHR while maintaining meaningful communication, you may want to try techniques like voice dictation to speed up record creation.

Electronic health records are revolutionizing the healthcare industry with more than 87 percent of physicians either in the process of implementing or already using an EHR throughout their day-to-day routines. More and more, EHRs are the glue that holds medical offices together. Efficient EHRs can significantly impact the quality of patient care, from wait times to quality of doctor consultations. Depending on if the EHR is integrated with a PM, it’s also the foundation for scheduling appointments, billing and other important administrative tasks. Unfortunately, EHRs are not all created equal and healthcare providers are unhappy with their present EHR software.

When you're running any sort of medical practice, regardless of specialty, it's important to focus on the human element of the business. When you spend time thinking about effective patient scheduling techniques, maintaining accurate electronic medical records and optimizing billing processes, it can be far too easy to view your practice as a business first. The truth, though, is that being professionally successful in the medical field is contingent, at least partially, upon maintaining excellent communication in all aspects of your practice. Even if you feel that you've cracked the code, you may want to take a look at these tips for improving communication within your practice: