Practice Management Systems - EJ

Practice Management Systems

Which System is Right for Your Practice?

EHR, practice management and POS systems. What's the difference and which is best for your practice? Let's take a look.

A Quick Glance

Practice Management Systems

Practice management systems have been around a long time. They help with the day-to-day administrative side of a practice, such as billing, scheduling, reports and more.

Electronic Health Record (EHR) Systems

EHR systems came about when electronic patient records replaced paper ones. Many practice management systems include EHR functionality; others do not. EHR systems were built to be HIPAA compliant from the start, due to the confidentiality of patient data.

Point of Sale (POS) Systems

POS systems are designed for retail management. They allow merchants to accept payment. Depending on the system, other features can include inventory management, customer databases, various reporting and much more.

Where Things Get Confusing

It gets a little tricky when DCs see all the bells and whistles some POS systems offer, and, understandably, want those capabilities for their practice. But remember, POS systems are mainly geared to retail businesses and restaurants. HIPAA is not the first priority with POS systems, as it needs to be for healthcare providers.

Some POS systems can be modified to allow for HIPAA compliance. But, because it’s not intrinsic to POS system design, you have to be very careful about maintaining compliance. It’s your responsibility as the healthcare provider. To avoid potential mishaps, you may be better off going with a system that was created with HIPAA compliance as the top priority.

The Good News

Don’t worry! EHR/practice management systems are always evolving, and many now include a full range of capabilities and features in addition to HIPAA compliance. If you have an older EHR system, it’s time to check out the improved versions. Or, if you’ve looked at POS systems and like what they offer, those same features are likely available in an EHR/practice management system to help with the following:

  • Scheduling
  • Recurring billing
  • Customized reports
  • Invoicing
  • Inventory
  • Claim submission
  • Receipts
  • Patient portal

Integration with Credit Card Processing

It gets even better. Your NCMIC credit card processing program can integrate with most EHR software programs. It’s easy to manage payments online, and you can take advantage of:

  • Streamlined workflow
  • Time savings
  • Fewer errors
  • Increased data security

Worth Checking Out

Your goal is to provide the best care possible for your patients – and that includes protecting their health information. You can easily do that and still take advantage of the latest EHR/practice management tools that will save you and your staff time and hassle.

Want to learn more about EHR systems? Check out our "13 Reasons EHR Benefits You and Your Patients" article to learn how they benefit you and your patients. If you have questions about your NCMIC credit card processing program, we’re always here to help. Call us at 1-800-232-2791.


Credit card processing is offered by NCMIC Finance Corporation.

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