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The concept of 'going green' is spreading across the globe, from residential communities to downtown commercial space. Now, medical facilities are beginning to catch on. If your clinic is behind on the green scene, there is a simple system that will help you be eco-friendly while saving time, money, and creating a safer work environment. An Electronic Medical Record (EMR) management system will allow your facility to make green changes, without straining your staff.

According to the California Integrated Waste Management Board, hospitals throughout the nation generate 5 million tons of solid waste each year, with a large amount of that being paper waste. If facilities reduced their need for paper, they could see a significant reduction in the amount and cost of waste removal. In 2003, The University of Rochester Medical Center reported that it sorted more than one million pounds of paper waste from its disposal alone. How much would it cost your facility to dispose of 1 million pounds of waste?

Imagine if the disposal cost of 1 million pounds of paper went instead to a new hospital wing, new equipment, or a larger staff? How many improvements could your facility make by reducing your paper use? EMRs can help any facility reduce paper use, and exhibit a noticeable decrease in costs, and mistakes caused by paper records. With an EMR system, health-care organizations will also be protecting the environment by reducing the need for hardcopy, paper records. An EMR system alleviates costs while simultaneously decreasing what and how much goes into the waste system.

EMRs are not only providing facilities with a green alternative, but are also revolutionizing the way patients and physicians interact, and improving the overall safety of everyone. EMRs provide instant access to patient records at crucial moments, and could mean the difference between life and death. In these situations, EMRs give physicians complete, accurate, and instant access to all of the patient's medical history. The time saved using an EMR system allows more quality patient-physician interaction. Today's providers are looking for ways to increase their bottom line by cutting operational expenses. Although the initial investment in EMR technologies may seem costly, experts say the long-term savings can be substantial. The investment in an EMR system will result in overall savings for facilities, insurance companies, and patients.

By switching to an EMR system, a medical facility will significantly reduce the amount of paper that must be purchased, stored, and disposed. Lower-paper use savings are seen in lower paper purchase costs for record storage and disposal. Instead of taking up unnecessary space that could be put to better use, facilities can increase useable, non-storage areas by using an EMR system and storing records electronically. This can free-up hundreds or thousands of square-feet of space.

e-MDs sets the market standard for affordable and integrated EMR solutions. The systems at e-MDs are designed by physicians to reduce errors, improve the quality of care and simplify business so more quality time can be spent with patients. e-MDs Solution Series is a EMR and practice management system that will streamline workflow efficiency, improve the adherence to treatment standards, provide detailed financial analysis, and enhance patient education and interaction. Join the green movement and save your facility costly time and money by adopting an EMR system.