People rely on the internet for almost everything and interacting with their doctor is no exception. Patients expect their physician to have an online presence -- one with a patient portal that makes it possible for them make an appointment at midnight or use their iPhone to request a prescription drug refill while at their child’s soccer game.

With the increased emphasis on connecting with patients outside of the exam room, physicians are looking for a software solution that not only manages their patient records, but lets them connect with their patients as well.

When doctors have questions about patient care, they know that the best source of information is other doctors. However, sometimes it is not possible to consult with a colleague.

The Certification Commission for Health Information Technology (CCHIT), a nonprofit organization, has developed a specific criterion for evaluating electronic health records. It’s a way to know if an electronic health record (EHR) system would actually perform as good as, if not better than, the vendor promised. Call it a sort of Good Housekeeping seal of approval.  

Software as a service (SaaS) offers an affordable alternative to installing an electronic medical record system and is perfect for doctors who have put off switching to an electronic medical record system.