The product features pre-built clinical templates and workflows for more than 26 specialties to help ensure complete, accurate documentation stored in a standard format. Point-and-click technology enables physicians to mimic existing workflows to help eliminate the need for dictation. Disease management templates in NextGen Ambulatory EHR also allow organizations to capture discrete data at the point of care, which is crucial for meeting clinical reporting guidelines for pay-for-performance programs.

"One of the things that made us decide on NextGen was, as I spoke to their experts, I felt they had good, deep product and technical knowledge as well as industry knowledge that gave me the initial feeling that this is a company that is built on a solid technology infrastructure and has an understanding of the healthcare market today," Abate said.

Abate also said he conducted site visits to NextGen customers who told him they felt that they made the right decision. "The technology along with happy customers; that was the magic mix," Abate said.

NextGen Practice Management offers reporting capabilities that can be leveraged to accurately track quality improvement measures -- another key requirement for achieving meaningful use. The solution also enables large multi-specialty practices like MKMG to centralize appointment scheduling, billing, collections, and other business processes, while preference settings allow different locations to operate according to their own workflow.

MKMG will also install NextGen Patient Portal, which promotes an interactive continuum of care between the patient and practice, facilitating electronic communication and clinical data exchange. The portal can be used to respond to patient requests for an electronic copy of health information, including diagnostic test results and medication lists. This level of patient interaction also helps organizations meet the meaningful use criteria for engaging patients and families in their healthcare.