The Electronic Medical Record (EMR) - is the essential underpinning of any significant healthcare reform and is the more comprehensive record than the Electronic Health Record (EHR). This book clarifies the Crucial Decisions that result in successful EMR adoption and avoidance of expensive EMR mistakes. It provides timely insight in leveraging ARRA/HiTech, Meaningful Use, Stark Safe Harbor, CPOE and PQRI incentives and understanding current HITSP, HL7, ASTM, ELINCS and other interoperability standards. This book provides practical guidance on: Evaluating EMR ease-of-use Determining In-office vs. Web-based vs. Blended EMR deployment Deciding which user-interface approach to adopt Understanding structured vs. unstructured charting approaches Assessing EMR developer stability Obtaining legal advice about RFIs, RFPs and contract negotiations "The federal government has set aside significant incentives for physicians to adopt and implement electronic medical record systems. As providers across the country seek out various health IT tools and capabilities, this book serves as a remarkably useful, step-by-step guide for successfully deploying an EMR system. This kind of information will be imperative as we bring our health system into the 21st century." —Newt Gingrich, Founder of The Center for Health Transformation, Former Speaker of the House, USA Also endorsed by: Rep. Rush Holt (D NJ), Richard Dick, Ph.D. & Radu Kramer, M.D.