Boca Raton Orthopaedic Group Touts Benefits From Switching to EMA®, the All-In-One Podiatry EHR Software

Meet Dr. Martha Holzworth, DPM, Modernizing Medicine® On-Staff Physician &
Practitioner at Boca Raton Orthopaedic Group, Boca Raton, Florida.

Modernizing Medicine:
Please tell us what impacted your decision to want to practice medicine, specifically podiatry.

Dr. Holzworth:
I knew that I wanted to be a doctor since I was in my early 20s. I started shadowing foot and ankle specialists, and as I continued to work with them I fell in love with the profession. I enjoyed the range of patients and conditions treated, from saving limbs when a patient was in trouble with their diabetic foot ulcers, to trauma patients and young pediatric cases. I also enjoyed the fact that I could practice a little bit of internal medicine as well as surgery.

Modernizing Medicine:
As a practicing podiatrist who helped build Modernizing Medicine’s new podiatry-specific, all-in-one suite of solutions, what were your goals?

Dr. Holzworth:
The main goal was to make the most efficient and personable EHR system in the podiatry market. We have a very important initiative to create an efficient way to document our visits without losing that patient-doctor connection.

One of the biggest challenges for podiatrists these days is to keep up with the demands of documentation and paperwork. So we wanted to build an EHR system to take a load off their shoulders and that would also help them grow and evolve with their practices.

Modernizing Medicine:
You’ve been using EMA^Ⓡ, our podiatry-specific EHR, for several years. What do you think are some of the strongest benefits?

Dr. Holzworth:
One of the strongest benefits EMA offers specifically for podiatry practices is the fact that this system was based on an orthopedic system and we were able to develop our medical content from that.

A lot of the complex trauma cases from the orthopedic EHR created a great fundamental baseline for us. So once that was established, we were able to add the podiatric content that was related to wound care, routine foot care and dermatological conditions. It was extremely important to make the EHR specific to podiatrists so it would be efficient and comprehensive for foot and ankle specialists.

Modernizing Medicine:
What type of podiatry practice most benefits from EMA?

Dr. Holzworth:
EMA is a solution for podiatrists who are really struggling to find a way to keep up with the demands of documentation.

It was built for all types of practices from enterprise practices to solo practitioners. We created the tools that they need to document their visits quickly and effectively, allowing podiatrists to spend more time practicing medicine and doing the things they love.

Modernizing Medicine:
What is your favorite feature of EMA?

Dr. Holzworth:
I absolutely love the camera feature and I use it for almost every patient that comes into my office. Pictures speak louder than words and it’s much quicker to document with pictures rather than text.

I also love the drawing features, particularly for my surgical cases. When I have to indicate the location of an incision, or I’m doing a bone resection or a skin graft, it’s really nice to be able to draw it, especially when I’m educating a patient. It’s nice to be able to draw something and show it to them rather than just giving them a form to read and sign.

Modernizing Medicine:
What are the biggest differentiators between EMA and other EHR solutions available to podiatrists?

Dr. Holzworth:
The biggest differentiator between EMA and the other systems is the fact that not only is it customizable, but it also evolves and allows you to document in multiple different ways. The system learns what you do. For example, if you see multiple patients with the same diagnoses, the system remembers your preferences in treating that diagnosis. So you don’t have to start from scratch every time that you generate a visit and can customize from your baseline preferences for each patient’s specific case. Having that adapting learning is a fantastic feature.

Also, the portability of the iPad is also a very versatile and convenient feature because you can take it from room to room, bring it from your office to a skilled nursing facility, or to a home visit.

Modernizing Medicine:
Describe the implementation process.

Dr. Holzworth:
The implementation process was surprisingly simple. A lot of the automation that already exists in EMA saves an incredible amount of time. The system worked with me, so I was able to continue treating patients using the iPad without having to spend countless hours outside of clinic transitioning to the new system.

Modernizing Medicine:
What advice would you give podiatrists who are considering making a switch to a new EHR?

Dr. Holzworth:
Making a change to a new EHR is one that you want to do once, and you want to do it right. Modernizing Medicine truly cares about their users and cares about their experience, and this podiatry-specific software has enhanced my practice tremendously. After using EMA for nearly six years, I couldn’t live without these features. It’s hard for me to think of practicing any other way.