The American Academy of Family Practice (AAFP) has a site focused on the benefits of information technology in health care. The Center for Health Information Technology (CHIT) also has a similar website. Both have criteria for software and systems that can be utilized in electronic medical records (EMR).

These websites emphasize the advantages of technology in health care. There are plenty of EMR software in the market now. Apart from cost, the EMR system's performance and features are most essential.

Good EMR systems follow the following standards given by the AAFP:

- What data details are included, such as lab data, medication and allergy lists, immunization and hospital records, medical histories, etc.?
- Is the structure problem or family-oriented? Does the organization have data dictionaries?
- How simple is it to use the user interface?
- Can the EMR be accessed by multiple users remotely through the Internet or is it locally installed?
- Does it have management and administrative functions, like scheduling and finances?
- Does it do email, either external or internal?
- Is the EMR system compliant with confidentiality and privacy standards? Is it HIPPA compliant?
- Is there technical support and training? Are there help functions?
- Is it secured?

The design attributes encompass the EMR software's usability factors. For those looking for a medical EMR answer, there are a lot of factors that ought to be examined:

- Management of records.
- Management of cases.
- Management functions, including reports and community primary care.
- Scheduling and appointment features, like reminders.
- Educational resources.
- Any size of practice needs to be supported.
- Overall cost, factoring in hardware and software, support, installation, and user licenses.
- Other criteria required by the practice.

If all of these criteria overwhelm you, just find out your practice's requirements and find the EMR software that can support those needs. Sample the various EMR software to find out which EMR system is right for you.