Client/server Or Asp-based Emr?

By Author: Jamie Hanson
Total Articles: 3534
Comment this article

Electronic medical records are gaining in popularity. These legal medical records are digitally stored on an organization's computer system. Examples of medical organizations that use electronic medical records include hospitals, outpatient healthcare facilities, and doctors' offices. Electronic medical records allow records to be stored, manipulated, and retrieved at any time.

Some EMR software is ASP-based, and some is built on a client/server model. Which is right for you?

ASP based EMR Software
ASP is a remotely hosted software system accessed via an internet web browser, similar to the model used in online banking. This remotely hosted system is accessed by paying a rental or service fee. The server is secure and HIPPA compliant and is not located in your office. All technical aspects of the server are managed by a professional IT company, and you pay a monthly access fee (or per occurrence fee) for the services of this IT company. The cost of an ASP-based system is relatively low in the beginning; however, because the fees never stop the cost over the long term adds up and usually ends up being more ...
... expensive than using a Client/Server-based system.

With the application service provider (ASP) model, all data is located on a server at an offsite location selected by the EMR Company. This may seem ideal because it requires you to buy less hardware, there are some problems:
- When you use your EMR, you'll be accessing data over the Internet, and that can make data transfer slow (or even impossible if your connection fails).
- You will likely never meet the team managing your server.
- Patient data will controlled by the EMR company, not you.
- If the EMR Company fails, you risks losing all patient data.

Client/Server based EMR Software
Client/Server models allow for quicker response times in the application as data from the server to the client is transmitted much faster (usually 100 Mbits/second). The newer client/server products developed in Java and Microsoft.Net are capable of offering the "best of both worlds" as they have the speed of a local system plus the accessibility from a remote location.

With the client/server model, a server located at your offices houses all patient data, and distributes it to clients, which are simply desktop or laptop computers in your office. This has a number of advantages over the ASP model.
- Because data transfer doesn't rely on an Internet connection, it's fast and reliable.
- You-not the EMR company-control patient data.
- The EMR integrates better with your other devices, such as printers and scanners.
- The EMR better supports integrated voice recognition technology.

Your choice
If you're trying to decide between an ASP-based EMR and one that is built on a client/server model, be sure to weigh the pros and cons of each option.

EMR Software adoption is expected to increase significantly over the next several years thanks to Federal stimulus money earmarked for the implementation of electronic medical records systems nationwide.