Many doctors ask: Why is EMR so expensive? This question as it appears can seem simple in nature. While exploring this topic, you can find so many variations in the EMR products’ features and functions. In most cases, a large or majority of the total cost of an EMR is in the training and implementation services, not in the software.

But in many cases products will include more features than one needs or the manufacturer of the product is generally focused on larger sized groups making it more expensive for smaller ones. Additionally, as a practice, the question of technical proficiencies needs to be addressed. If a product is more technically advanced than the user, the user will not receive the full usage of the application. If the product is not being used to its full functionality, nobody wins. If this happens, the practice is not satisfied, and the vendor now has an unsatisfied end user. This is why matching up the practice with the right EMR is so critical. The opposite effect can be just as frustrating.

Cost is a fact in the investment of an EMR. An entry level EMR can cost as little as $3,000, and advanced level EMRs can cost over $100,000, even for a solo physician practice. The word “expense” should be replaced with the word “investment”. Once a practice has converted to the EMR, they can now look back and understand the difference in those two, very different words. When the EMR is running at full functionality, the practice becomes very efficient. No more hunting for paper charts. A single “click” of the mouse, and the patient’s entire record is in the hands of the appropriate user. Multiple users can access the same record simultaneously as well; allowing for greater productivity. The investment now begins to pay dividends.

Which is better? An integrated EMR system or a modular EMR? Having a portion of the practice automated can be a benefit, just as it can be a challenge to overcome. There are many EMR vendors that have a Practice Management application built into their system. Many of these products can be a total replacement of existing applications, usually a older medical billing software. Be advised that not all EMR vendors have the capability to integrate with an existing software product. This is all very important to identify prior to committing to an EMR vendor. Running separate systems simultaneously can bring much unneeded frustration if not appropriately integrated in the beginning as you will need to deal with two different companies for technical support.

The number of modules that can be integrated can vary significantly from vendor to vendor. Consideration of the charge for an HL7 (as explained earlier in this document) interface should also be taken into account. The interface between your existing system and your new EMR can often cost as much as $5000 making it often more financially viable to purchase an integrated system from the beginning.

They tell me my diagnosis is pretty common, that millions of Americans suffer with low back pain. I’ve also heard that next to the common cold, missing work from low back pain is the biggest reason. With these two major known facts, I then wondered why getting the correct treatment for low back pain is so difficult.

After being diagnosed with a herniated disc and bone disc degenerative disease, I was immediately scheduled to see a surgeon. The surgeon suggested I have back surgery. To make a long story short, after a lot of prayer, a lot of thought, and after talking to many people who already have had surgery with my same diagnosis, I chose against surgery.

After deciding against surgery, I found I was immediately cast in a different light, by my doctor, and the medical community in general. I found my pain was then not taken seriously. I felt disbelieved about how much I hurt. I actually felt like a drug addict when asking for something for the pain. It appeared my physician felt back surgery was the end all cure all to my back & leg pain.

To the contrary studies have shown, back surgery may actually cause more pain, complications, and even damage that requires more follow up surgery. Knowing physicians and surgeons are already aware of this, it really makes you wonder why they would put you at such risk. I wish some of these healthcare professionals would just once switch places with me for one day living with chronic low back pain.

As a chronic pain sufferer, I’m dedicated to helping other chronic pain sufferers who suffer from pain in any manner.

There are no hard and fast figures which represent a normal blood pressure. And very often doctors and other experts cannot even decide between them what an ideal blood pressure range is for an adult.

However it is usually agreed that somewhere between 110/70 and 125/80 is considered to be an average blood pressure for a grown person, though someone with naturally low blood pressure may be closer to a range of 100/60

A blood pressure of 140/90 is considered to be high, though as a person gets older, this falls into the more normal range for people.

Blood doesn’t circulate in an even stream around the body, but travels in a constant series of spurts. Therefore the pressure peaks in the blood vessels just after a heart beat and then ebbs until the next one. This is a continuous process.

The two blood pressure figures represent the pressures when the forces are at their peak and at their lowest ebb. The stronger the arteries are, the more they resist the force of the blood and the lower the blood pressure.

As a person gets older, and the elasticity of their arteries weakens, the figures tend to rise. However the lower figure should still be under 90 until that person at least reaches their sixties.

Many studies looking at blood pressure in both black and white people have found there is a higher prevalence of hypertension (High blood pressure) in black people than there is in white. This has led to further research in determining whether this is racially determined or just based on socioeconomic and dietary factors.

Some people suffering high blood pressure may find they just can’t pinpoint a cause for their problem. They may be fit, have a very healthy lifestyle yet their blood pressure remains consistently high for no apparent reason. This is called Primary or essential high blood pressure. However if the raised blood pressure is due to an underlying medical problem, it is known as Secondary High Blood Pressure.

Nearly one in four people in the Western world have high blood pressure. Many people don’t appreciate it is a dangerous condition that can lead to a heart attack kidney failure or stroke if it is left untreated. Yet there are thousands of people unaware they have high blood pressure who are walking around with a lethal time bomb ticking away inside them.