eCast EMR Features
		Flexibility
Most EMRs force a physician to choose a method for documentation. Some have templates, some require dictation, others are scanning-intensive.		With eCast, doctors can use templates, dictation, voice recognition, or scanning depending on their preference.
		Accessibility
Most EMRs do not allow a LAN-based installation OR a web-based installation based on the practice's requirements. For LAN-based installations, doctors find it difficult to access patient records from home or the hospital.		The eCast EMR allows LAN-based or web-based installation. Either way, physicians are able to access patient charts from home, hospital, or even PDA, using a secure HIPAA-compliant connection.
		Integration
Most EMRs only integrate with a specific Practice Management System (PMS). Some integrate with a handful of preferred PMSs. Others require the PMS to use the HL7 communication protocol.		eCast integrates with many different PMSs. While the HL7 communication protocol is helpful, it is not necessary.
		Patient Demographics
Most EMRs have a sketchy patient demographics section that doesn't allow customization.		The eCast patient demographic section integrates with your practice's billing software. No double entry. It allows digital photos of the patient, scanned attachments such as school forms, and unique user-defined fields (children's names?)
		Schedule
Most EMRs have a scaled-down patient appointment schedule that is used for viewing only.		eCast's Schedule integrates your practice's scheduling software. No double entry. Easy buttons let you check in a patient, clock the time spent in waiting room or exam room, or pull the chart.
		Inbox / Manage Workflow
Most EMRs have few workflow management features. Some basic EMRs are nothing more than glorified word processing programs. Some have an Inbox for certain types of messages.		With eCast, the physician receives an Inbox message when other staff add information to patient's chart. With two clicks the doctor can view the message, refill, lab result, chart note, or any other item and sign it off. The Inbox makes it easy for doctors to respond to or forward email-type messages to their own staff or to other medical professionals outside the office. All communication is tracked in the patient's chart for auditing purposes.
		Transcription
Most EMRs are template-based. Some allow dictation and transcription.		The eCast EMR has templates as well as dictation/transcription features. Doctors can use both methods of documentation (even in the same note). eCast comes with a "next day" transcription service. Doctors dictate into digital recorder or into their computer. Transcribed documents are automatically filed into patient's chart. You can even listen to the original sound file while reviewing the transcribed text. Practices can also use their own transcriptionist and still achieve integration with EMR.
		Document Management
Most EMRs have no real document management capabilities that would allow a medical practice or hospital to bulk scan all charts and "go paperless".		Using the eCast DocuStor module, you can bulk scan hundreds of paper charts per day. This module indexes documents by keywords, document type or title. Later, when searching for documents, the software searches for all keywords AND all words found on the page (an amazing OCR feature). DocuStor allows you to check out documents, route them, stamp them, or annotate them.
		Wireless
Most EMRs have no wireless capability, meaning that a physician can't use a PDA to access patient charts.		The eCast EMR comes with 2 types of wireless PDA options. Option 1 lets you upload patient charts onto their PDA. Option 2 lets you view charts on your PDA using a real-time, secure internet connection. Both options let you update charts on the PDA.
		Patient Communication
Most EMRs have no patient communication features. Some have minimal email features that allow a practice to send some basic information to a patient.		Using eCast, patients can visit a secure HIPAA-compliant website to view their own lab results, request an appointment, fill out a form, or answer a detailed questionnaire about their illness. Once a patient fills out a questionnaire, it is automatically filed into their chart.
		E&M Coding
Most EMRs have a template-based E&M Code Calculator that allows you to determine a visit code by checking items on a picklist.		The eCast E&M Code Calculator automatically scans the text of the encounter note to determine highest visit code. It suggests ways to code higher with more documentation.
		Templates
Some EMRs come with canned templates. Some allow customization.		eCast comes with templates, but they are completely user-modifiable. You can single click to insert a word, sentence or paragraph. For example, 1 click to enter a "normal ROS". Templates integrate with dictation to allow provider to use methods both during same patient encounter.
		Medications and Rx
Most EMRs allow a doctor to write a prescription and print it. Very few allow a doctor to create a personalized med list with sigs.		With eCast, you can write a prescription and fax it to the patient's pharmacy with 4 clicks. eCast saves pharmacy fax numbers so you don't have to enter them each time. It also saves each doctor's preferred sig for each medication. The prescription writer checks drug-drug and drug-allergy interactions. Refills take 3 clicks.
		Labs
Most EMRs have trouble integrating with outside laboratory information systems.		The eCast EMR integrates with Labcorp, Quest/SKB and several smaller regional labs. Lab results are automatically inserted into the patient's chart, and an alert is sent to the doctor's Inbox. Lab results are plotted in an easy-to-read table. One click lets you graph the results over time.
		Immunizations
Most EMRs have no immunization module.		eCast makes it easy to document immunizations given and to schedule future vaccines. The system tracks lot numbers and manages inventory.
		Referrals / Correspondence
Most EMRs have limited ability to send information to other healthcare providers.		With eCast, you can create a cover letter and attach portions of a patient's chart to fax or email to another medical professional.
		Vitals
Most EMRs don't allow graphing of vital signs.		eCast makes it easy to graph vital signs to quickly see changes in weight, blood pressure, temperature, pulse, or respiration over time.
		Flow Sheets
Most EMRs don't come with customizable flowsheets (blank tables with dates as columns).		eCast's flowsheets allow you to add your own fields to track the patient information you find important.
		Face Sheet
Most EMRs come with a standard face sheet or overview of the patient's chart. Few are customizable. Fewer still are problem-centric.		The eCast Face Sheet is customizable, allowing you to select which sections of a patient's chart should appear, and in what order. The Face Sheet is problem-centric in that it allows you to click on a problem to see encounters, medications, labs, and procedures that relate to that specific problem.
		Reporting
Most EMRs come with some basic canned reports but don't allow you to create your own.		With the eCast reporting feature, you can choose your own criteria, such as patient age, gender, date range, diagnosis, medication, lab test, procedure.
		Patient Education
Most EMRs come with basic canned patient education materials that you can print for your patients, but few allow you to add your own.		The eCast EMR comes with a searchable patient education database. You can add your own patient education materials. The EMR lets you fax or email the documents to your patients.
		Scanning
Most EMRs have added scanning features as an after-thought. While it may be possible to scan a document on the fly and file it into a patient's chart, the process is often awkward and time-consuming.		With eCast you can attach scanned documents to the patients chart. But more importantly, you can scan into the chart "on the fly" with 4 clicks. The eCast EMR lets you attach scanned documents to a specific encounter note. It also lets you zoom in or zoom out, rotate images, stamp them with a date or signature, draw on images, or write your comments on them.
		Demo
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