Should You Choose Local or Hosted EMR Reporting?

There are several important factors to consider when choosing the right EMR reporting solution for your healthcare organization or medical practice. One of the most important is where your data will be housed -- is a local or a hosted storage plan your best choice?

In this blog post, we provide a brief overview and some practical guidance to help you make an informed decision.

Local / On-Premise EMR Reporting

Local or on-premise EMR reporting is typically installed locally on your healthcare facility’s servers and computers.  

Key advantages of this architecture include:

• You own the equipment and licensing.

• Your servers and computers can be utilized to support additional information technology needs. You do not necessarily have to limit the use of the hardware exclusively for EMR reporting.

• Your team may experience faster response times, compared to a cloud-based setup.

• You will have greater control over system security, customization and the frequency of updates.

Hosted / Cloud-Based EMR Reporting

Hosted or cloud-based EMR reporting is accessed via the Internet, and hosted by the vendor. The servers will likely be located in a secure data facility.

Key advantages of this architecture include:

• A lower upfront cost -- there is usually no hardware or software to purchase and install.

• Subscription based pricing - depending on the services purchased, it can be more economical over the long-run.

• Increased accessibility-- generally, your team can more easily access the system remotely from more locations, versus a local set-up.

• Compared to local EMR reporting, you will generally pay less for support costs and maintenance.

Our View on the Local Versus Hosted Debate

At Syntrix Consulting Group, we are asked which one we recommend. Our  answer depends on specific variables, unique to each of our clients. But generally speaking:

1. Some healthcare organizations – particularly smaller ones – will find it much more cost-effective to choose a hosted or cloud-based EMR reporting setup. They will find it cost prohibitive to implement the hardware and software, and hire the necessary staff, to support a local EMR reporting solution.

2. For organizations that have already deployed a modern technology infrastructure, they may find it beneficial to leverage this investment through local or on-premise EMR reporting.

3. It is prudent to investigate whether there are organizational security regulations or policies in place that mandate the use of on-premise hardware.

4. The choice between local or hosted options cannot be made based solely on current requirements. It is a decision with impact and implications on future operations with respect to scalability, maintenance, accessibility, training, and cost. All of these factors must be taken into consideration to make the best choice.

Learn More

If your healthcare organization or medical practice is evaluating different EMR reporting options -- we invite you to contact us today. We have extensive experience and knowledge in this area and can assist in your decision-making process.

Whether you choose a local or hosted solution, Syntrix Consulting Group can work with your team to optimize your EMR reporting system to achieve or exceed your expectations.