Ellen McDonald, MD
See how easy it is for a doctor to balance home and work life with the help of a web-based EMR. Pasadena internal medicine doctor, Ellen McDonald, MD, shares her story.
About Dr. McDonald
Even before she finished her residency, Internist Ellen McDonald, MD, knew that she wanted to start her own practice and was determined to use an Electronic Medical Record (EMR). Dr. McDonald researched online and found Practice Fusion as the right match for her busy practice. Today, this free technology is an important tool for Dr. McDonald when working at her thriving practice in the Los Angeles area and also serving patients while at home with her family.
Choosing a Web-based Electronic Medical Record System
“The fact that Practice Fusion is web-based made all the difference in the world because I think the whole point of Electronic Records is to be able to communicate with your patients and your doctors wherever you are. When I need to leave the office to pick-up my kids, I don’t have to think about the labs that didn’t go through because they’re already in the system. I don’t have to think of the return calls I need to make with patients because it’s there. When I get home, I open up my laptop and I take care of all that outside the office. It allows me the freedom of being a mom and being a good doctor that follows up on things and that can respond to patients when they need me.”
Using e-prescribing Anywhere, Anytime
“A huge benefit that Practice Fusion has brought on since I started using it is was electronic prescribing. Just this morning I had a patient call at six in the morning and she was having some blood pressure trouble. Instead of trying to get her to remember what she’s ever taken for blood pressure in the past, I just opened up my laptop, got into the system, opened up her chart, looked through her past medications and asked her if she still had her latest prescription laying around. She said yes and I said take one of those and then I’ll send in a prescription right now for a refill and I sent the prescription in right there at 6 a.m. I didn’t have to write it down to remember it later, it was taken care of.”
Utilizing a Free EMR
“Having started out from scratch with very limited funds I’ve had exactly what I wanted in Electronic Medicals Records and I’ve had the flexibility that I’ve always hoped for in spending time with my patients when I am there with them and being able to come home and be with my family at the same time, it’s been a great balance.”