Slideshow: DMI solutions for a full-fledged EMR

July 15, 2010

02:19 PM

DMI solutions for a full-fledged EMR

Document management and imaging (DMI) solutions can bridge the gap between paper records and a full-fledged EMR. An October 2009 report conducted by independent research firm KLAS titled "Enterprise DMI: Finding the Right Stepping-Stone to Full EMR" compiles the opinions of over 400 providers regarding vendor performance in enterprise DMI. From finding the best DMI vendor to choosing the right solution that will integrate with existing EMR systems, the report sheds light on how to achieve DMI success.

Successful EMR/DMI Vendor Combinations

McKesson's DMI solution is clearly rated above average of the solutions marketed by enterprise EMR vendors. Most McKesson customers choose their Horizon Patient Folder (HPF), naming its functionality as a top feature. The interfaced solution provides full electronic documentation, and is bolstered by McKesson's top-notch service. Siemens' Soarian suite is also a top performer. Again, functionality and workflow are selling points. Cerner, Eclipsys, Epic, QuadraMed, and MEDITECH have less focus on DMI solutions. Whereas Cerner, Eclipsys, and Epic offer very little in the way of DMI solutions, customers have reported some dissatisfaction with solutions offered by QuadraMed and MEDITECH.

DMI/EMR Integration

This graph represents the opinions of participants using DMI in their health information management (HIM) department. Over 80 percent of participants identified improvements to integration between DMI and EMR as an important strategy. Except for QuadraMed, all enterprise vendors integrate well with other solutions within their own portfolios. McKesson stands out once again, as customers noted successful integration with both McKesson and non-McKesson EMRs. Among the best-of-breed vendors, there are sizable differences in DMI/EMR integration. Hyland and MedPlus are able to integrate with many EMR vendors. CGI and Streamline Health have average integration abilities, while 3M and Perceptive are reported to have the weakest.

Multi-Department DMI Use

MedPlus, Hyland, McKesson, Siemens, and CGI are reported to be the most versatile across departments. Strong functionality, flexibility, and support were noted to be important features for multi-departmental use. Cerner and QuadraMed were rated weakest in nearly every hospital department measured. Low functionality, stability issues, and poor ease of use were cited as reasons for the low rating. Perceptive and Streamline Health customers noted difficulties in certain departments. 3M rated well in most departments, but it does not have a large presence outside of the clinical/HIM realm.

Conclusion

DMI is becoming not as crucial in advanced organizations, but the majority of hospitals are using it to make the move from paper records to EMR. A strong DMI solution can ease the implementation of new technology, while unreliable systems can make clinicians skeptical about adopting EMRs and the IT staff's ability to support the transition. A DMI may not be an organization's most important step in adopting a full EMR, but choosing the right one can significantly help the process.