Guide to EHR Systems: Features, Benefits, and Pricing

Did you know the global electronic health records market reached USD 28.60 billion in 2024? This number is expected to cross USD 43.66 billion by 2034, expanding at a CAGR of 4.32%. One of the main reasons for the increased usage of EHR systems is the increasing number of hospital patients due to severe acute and chronic disorders.

The growing demand for EHR systems is also driven by the need for better data management in healthcare and the demand for better patient care. With more people visiting hospitals, doctors, and nurses must keep track of things like medical history and medications. EHRs organize all this info in one place, so healthcare providers can quickly find what they need. This saves time and helps make sure patients get the right care when they need it.

Plus, using EHR systems can actually save money for hospitals. By reducing paperwork and mistakes, hospitals can operate more efficiently. Many EHRs also come with features like billing tools that help manage finances better. With these benefits of the EHR system in mind, it’s no wonder that more hospitals are switching to electronic records.

In this article, we will discuss:

Let’s get started!

What is an Electronic Health Records System?

EHR systems (Electronic Health Records) are a digital solution that helps nurses, physicians, and medical staff to store, manage, and transfer patients’ medical data in a structured and secure way. It typically includes:

Healthcare providers can use EHR systems to optimize data sharing among departments. This can also improve patient experience. As of 2021, almost 78% of private practitioners and 96% of hospitals adopted EHR solutions.

When discussing EHR systems, there is another term that you will come across. It’s EMR (Electronic Medical Records). EMRs can be referred to as the digitalized version of the patient data that is stored in a clinic. It contains a patient’s treatment and medical history during one practice.

EMRs cannot be shared outside the clinic, but EHRs can be shared with other health providers and labs.

Types of EHR Systems

When it comes to EHR systems, there are mainly two types: physician-hosted EHR systems and remote-hosted EHR systems. Both have their way of storing and managing patient data, and they come with different advantages and challenges:

Physician-Hosted EHR Systems

In a physician-hosted EHR system, the software and data are stored on the doctor’s own servers. Here, the healthcare provider is responsible for everything, from buying the necessary hardware to maintaining the system and ensuring data security.

Pros:

Cons:

Remote-hosted EHR Systems

Remote-hosted EHR systems store data on servers managed by a third party. This means that the healthcare provider accesses the system via the Internet, and the vendor takes care of maintenance and security.

Pros:

Cons:

Must-Have Features of Electronic Health Records Systems

EHR systems must have the right features to make managing patient information easier and more efficient. Here are some essential features that every EHR system should include:

1. Document Management

This feature allows healthcare providers to store and organize all patient documents in one place. It makes it easy to quickly find important files like medical histories, test results, and consent forms. A good document management system keeps everything neat and accessible.

2. Appointment Scheduling

This feature simplifies booking patient appointments. Healthcare providers can easily schedule, reschedule, or cancel appointments, and patients can receive reminders. This helps reduce no-shows and keeps the clinic running smoothly.

3. Prescription Management

With the e-prescription feature, doctors can write, track, and refill prescriptions electronically. This reduces mistakes and ensures that patients get the right medications on time. It also allows patients to keep track of their medication history.

4. Patient Details

This feature enables healthcare providers to store important patient information, such as demographics, medical history, allergies, and current medications, in one place. Having this information readily available helps doctors make better decisions about patient care.

5. Data Access Control

Keeping patient information secure is crucial. Data access control features ensure that only authorized staff can view or change sensitive information. This includes user authentication measures like passwords or fingerprint scans, helping practices comply with privacy laws like HIPAA.

6. Billing and Financial Dashboard

Your EHR system should include a billing and financial dashboard feature so healthcare practices can track payments, create invoices, and manage insurance claims easily. A financial dashboard also provides insights into revenue cycles, outstanding payments, and overall financial health, helping practices make informed decisions.

7. Clinical Records Section and Reporting

EHR systems should have a clinical records section where healthcare practitioners can view patient data, treatment progress, and success rates. Additionally, EHR systems should include reporting tools that allow providers to generate reports on patient outcomes or financial performance.

8. Voice Assistant

A voice assistant feature can help doctors input data hands-free while they’re with patients. This makes note-taking easier and allows them to focus more on the patient instead of typing on a computer.

Benefits of EHR Systems for Businesses, Hospitals, and Patients

EHR systems provide many advantages that not just help patients but also medical businesses and hospitals. Once you understand these advantages of EHR, you will know how EHR systems improve efficiency, care quality, and patient involvement.

For Medical Businesses

EHR systems provide huge benefits to medical businesses by making operations easier and increasing productivity. Here’s how they do it:

For Hospitals

Hospitals can see great benefits after implementing EHR systems. Here are some advantages:

For Patients

Patients also enjoy many benefits from EHR systems, which improve their experience in the healthcare system. Here’s what they gain:

How Much Does EHR Software Development Cost?

When it comes to developing EHR software, the costs can vary a lot. But as you are planning to invest in an EHR system, you should know how much it costs to build one. Generally, the cost of developing EHR software can range from $15,000 to over $500,000.

Let’s break down these costs and discuss the different factors that influence the price:

1. Basic Development Costs

2. Hourly Rates for Development

The cost of development often depends on how much developers charge per hour. Here are some average rates you might see:

3. Ongoing Costs

After the initial development, maintenance, updates, and support are ongoing costs. These can range from $4,000 to $8,000 per year, depending on whether the system is cloud-based (stored online) or on-premise (stored on local servers).

How to Build an EHR System?

Building an EHR system involves several important steps. Each step ensures that the final product meets the needs of healthcare providers and patients:

1. Product Discovery

The first step is all about understanding what you need. This is where you gather information about your goals and what features your EHR system should have. You’ll want to talk to healthcare providers and staff to learn about their daily tasks and challenges. This helps you figure out what will work best for them.

2. EHR Project Planning

Once you know what you need, it’s time to plan the project. This includes setting a timeline, deciding on a budget, and identifying the resources you’ll need. You’ll also want to outline the main features of your EHR system and how they will fit into the overall workflow of the healthcare facility.

3. UX & UI Design

Next up is designing how the EHR system will look and feel. UX (User Experience) design focuses on making sure that using the system is easy and intuitive for users. UI (User Interface) design deals with how everything looks on the screen, including buttons, menus, and layouts. Good design is important because it helps users navigate the system without confusion.

4. EHR System Development

Now it’s time to actually build the EHR system. During this step, developers write the code needed to create all the features you planned earlier. This includes both the front-end (what users see) and back-end (the behind-the-scenes stuff) of the software. It’s important to ensure that everything works well together.

5. Pre-deployment Assessment

Before launching the EHR system, it’s crucial to test everything thoroughly. This step involves checking for any bugs or issues that need fixing. You’ll want to make sure that all features work as intended and that the system is secure and compliant with healthcare regulations.

6. EHR Launch

After testing and making necessary adjustments, it’s time to launch the EHR system! This means making it available for use in healthcare settings. It’s a good idea to provide training for staff so they know how to use the new system effectively.

7. Maintenance

Even after launching, work isn’t done! Ongoing maintenance is necessary to keep the EHR system running smoothly. This includes fixing any bugs that pop up, updating features based on user feedback, and ensuring that everything remains secure over time.

How Can Protonsub Technologies Help You Develop EHR Systems?

Now that you know the EHR implementation cost breakdown and steps to develop an EHR system, now is the time to hire a reliable company like Protonshub Technologies for development. Our team of professionals has planned and engineered numerous EHR systems for small and large healthcare centers.

Unlike other companies, we go above and beyond to create a future-forward EHR system with the correct tools and technologies. We guarantee to develop robust EHR systems with high scalability, security, and interoperability.

So, don’t wait anymore. Get in touch with our team of experts and start your EHR journey today.

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Ekta Singh

"Senior Content Writer"

Ekta Singh is a rookie food experimentalist and k-drama fan with 4+ years of experience in writing. Bridging gaps between companies and customers through conversion-driven content is her forte. She believes in writing stories for a living and living life for exploring places.