Allscripts EMR

nursey04 · May 23, 2013

We use Allscripts in the internal med office I work in. Must be about 6 years now. It has it's good and bad, just like all the systems I think. I just had to work on accepting that you can't argue with the computer system. It is what it is.

Blindsided · May 24, 2013

Thanks for posting. I heard it's one of the cheapest, and the staff is pulling their hair out trying to make the transition.

Cessna172 · May 24, 2013

Perhaps it depends on the way it is set up. We use it at the clinic, and it is easy to use. What problems are you having with it? It's not cheap either.

Blindsided · May 26, 2013

I'm sure it's not actually cheap, but heard it was cheap compared to others, and more difficult to use. I really don't have the specifics since I am not employed at this particular clinic, but was told the switch from paper charts to this EMR was/is nightmarish and setting up the charts for the next day takes forever. They are still pulling the paper charts at this point also. That's about all I know. Point is isn't this push toward all EMRs supposed to improve the work load? Seems all about reimbursement, and to hell with the added stress on the worker bees.

nursey04 · May 26, 2013

I think the switch from paper to electronic is a nightmare no matter what system you use to at least some extent. Maybe more so with Allscripts. Not sure, that's the only one I have experience with. I was there for the transition from paper to electronic and it WAS a nightmare. It takes a lot of time to get the electronic chart populated with patient info. Luckily the old transcription from old office visits carried over, but if it was handwritten the only way to access it was to get the paper chart. Then populating the med lists, problem lists, etc. The only way to populate was manual data entry. It was a lot of work and a lot of late nights at work.

Blindsided · May 26, 2013

Thanks posters. I was present during a hospital's transition from paper to EMR, and I cannot remember the name of that program for the life of me (wish I could), but I do not remember it being too problematic.

BlueLightRN · Jun 1, 2013

The worst part about allscripts is that if you're typing something in one screen, you can't save a draft or minimize, so you try to copy what you wrote so you can go to another screen when you get interrupted (always) and then you try to paste your stuff sometimes and some screens will take it and some won't, so you end up starting all over again. It makes documenting a nightmare.

Blindsided · Jun 2, 2013

I am really sorry for you and them. :sorry: That would be so frustrating! I support the use of EMRs, but they are not all created equal.

Cessna172 · Jun 2, 2013

Bluelight, I would hate Allscripts too if that was how it functioned when I use it. It doesn't do that at the clinic where I use it. Everything automatically saves, and I constantly flip between charting, reviewing labs, HPI, CC, etc. Minimizing doesn't affect it either. Good luck with it.

BlueLightRN · Jun 2, 2013

Maybe there are different versions of allscripts. Ours is always slow/freezing or broken down, and it doesn't save anything you type. It makes you change your passwords constantly too like I don't have enough to remember lol!

Blindsided · Jun 4, 2013

Yeah, it almost sounds like we're talking about two different EMRs. Maybe a Jekyll and Hyde EMR??? :sneaky: