ASPs - How the Internet is changing EMR

Healthcare, along with construction, education and retail are ranked as being the slowest adopters of IT. With more pressure than ever from government, insurers and patients, why is healthcare still so far behind?

As health care becomes more integrated, electronic medical records (EMRs) have become an integral part of any practice.

In its simplest form, the concept of EMR is electronic storage and instant availability of clinical information to authorized users at the point of care. Increased efficiency is one of the foremost benefits. Because of increasing technological advances, we are seeing the delivery and implementation model of EMR changing with the times.

Practitioners today have an option to choose either EMR on "Client-Server" or an ASP platform.

Traditionally, EMRs had been deployed directly in the clinic on a Client-Server platform using a main computer (a "server") located in the clinic. The data is then accessed using a "client" i.e. another computer connected directly to the server through the local area network (LAN).

However, with the increased demand for cost-effective EMR solutions, and advances in Web based technology, many vendors are now offering EMR on ASP platform.

The Application Service Provider ("ASP") model is a way of providing EMR to medical practices that takes advantage of the Internet. An ASP replaces the on-site server at a physician’s office with a server installed and managed at a central data center. Physicians and practice staff can access the software applications remotely via PCs connected through the Internet. It is an effective EMR solution for Solo and Medium Medical Practices.