The health industry remains the most viable and data-driven industry that has found it so difficult to transition into a proper electronic record system. The complexity of daily medical processes and routine health care has proven that this sector needs proper transitioning.
Besides, there are several factors that contributed to the complexity of the health care process, such as the technical, financial, and legal aspects. Most of these factors have posed a barrier to the implementation of electronic methods in several fields of medicine. More so, the process involved in the healthcare system can be so cumbersome, which makes any implementation of technology so hard. Recently, there are several initiatives, government programs that have been developed to help the health industry advance its healthcare systems, and also make meaningful use of an EHR system.
As of 2015, there are policies implemented to drive the use of EHR in medical sectors, thereby forcing several fields of medicine to opt for the use of the EHR system. Although few medical practitioners and hospitals have resulted in the use of the EHR system, a larger percentage of them are still finding it difficult to transition into the new way of recording patient’s data. EHR is considered one of the most significant and functional investments a medical practice can make, and the choice has a long term benefit on the performance and quality of service offered by the health institution. Certainly, before any purchase and implementation of the EHR are carried out, there should be a proper vetting process that is championed by multiples of professionals and stakeholders who have successfully implemented it in the past. This would ensure an efficient and successful deployment of the service by the healthcare sector that has chosen to go this route.
Certainly, there would be increased efficiency, return on investment, financial gains, and increased quality of service by the hospital or field of medicine that successfully implement and adopt the use of EHR. If the right channel and implementation process are not duly followed, there would be the opposite of the advantages and a high price to pay. There is a need for proper guidance towards effective implementation and deployment of EHR that is well suited for the practice of any field of medicine.
How To Select An EHR
Choosing the right EHR could be somewhat daunting and tasking most, especially if there are multiple processes to be followed. Besides, in a healthcare system where multiple processes are catered for, there is the need to carry out several assessments before implementation. The first step that should be taken is carrying out a readiness assessment of Health Information Technology. This step would help the organization figure out several processes and assess its financial, operational, readiness to implement the EHR. Also, in a way, the staff are quizzed and prepared for what is coming soon and how they can adjust to the new system. The process would fail and hit a dead-end if both the clinical and administrative staff are not ready to welcome the new development that is about to be implemented. Although, the two categories of staff can be somewhat resistant to the implementation based on their personal grounds or due to collective reasons. Whichever the case is, there should be a common ground for the implementing team and the existing staff.
The staff fears might include the impact the system might have over the physician-patient relationship and the great task they are presented with on how to master the new technology while transitioning away from their old methods. The resistance formed by the staff could cause a great impediment to the successful implementation and deployment of the EHR system in any medical setting. However, to be successful and achieve a smooth implementation process willingness of the staff, adequate training, and thorough validation of the system is necessary to be able to overcome any barrier that could be encountered. Although selecting the best electronic health record software is key to the successful implementation of this efficient system, however, there should be proper consideration of the cost of implementation.
Financial Consideration When Choosing EHR
No organization embarks on any project without considering the financial cost of the new system and how buoyant the organization is to shoulder the cost. More so, there is always a need to carry out financial modeling towards such implementation and how cost-effective the system would be. First and foremost, the entire cost of ownership must be considered, while the initial cost of adopting the technology of EHR must also be considered. This is to be able to prepare for what is needed by the healthcare sector and how the resources would be made available. Following through the implementation of EHR, it could cost a fortune that it must be adequately prepared for.
Besides the preparation for implementation cost, there is also a need to prepare for the maintenance cost, as no effective system would be ok without proper regular maintenance while it is being used. More so, there is a great dependence on the hardware and the software solutions that are made available, because it is the integral key to the successful usage of the system, and the planned implementation model and service purposes. Also, the cost of training should be factored into the implementation process, which might vary from one vendor to another.
Implementation Planning Of EHR
The physician champion role is significant to the successful implementation of the EHR system in any medical setting. The champion provides other staff with detailed information such as the benefit of the system and how they would get to be much more efficient in their work while increasing output and throughput. It is also key that the champion ensures that the ultimate goal of the project is fulfilled at the stipulated time while it stays in course at all times. The implementation team is also expected to learn the priorities of the medical field from the person in charge to be able to facilitate a successful EHR system.
