subject: Why Electronic Medical Record System Adoption Is So Much More Than Plug And Play [print this page] The Federal Stimulus Program, or American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, has made it extremely easy and cost effective to get started with an electronic medical record system. Put simply, the stimulus package adds an incentive plan for doctors to adopt EMR software which would pay them anywhere from $44,000-64,000 provided they demonstrate "meaningful use" of the application. The effort is aimed at adding efficiency to the overall Healthcare system, and effectively funds your EMR system over a period of a few years.
The aim of the stimulus plan's focus on EMR software systems is to develop standards and save money. This goal is shared by doctors, of course, but what many doctors do not realize is that EMR is very much not the same as installing a new word processing program, as an example. Instead, it is an operation changer. And this game can't change without planning if installation is to be of the best quality. A plan must be carefully designed.
What many EMR software companies will not inform you of is that the key to any well done electronic medical records system is a good plan. Many vendors look to "run and gun" when it comes to new clients, selling them a system right off the hop, installing and then making an escape. A knowledgeable developer, however, is one that plans the initial adoption, training and later support to ensure that the application provides the best possible results.
An EMR software adoption plan should include these points:
Reengaging Workflow - EMR systems are so much more than small-time software programs - they are, in effect, a different way of doing business. The way staff checks in, arranges and works with patients and their patient records will change markedly. Paper is no longer a problem for the paperless clinic, and getting used to this is not a easy concept for many doctors. Developing a efficient workflow process that works for all staff is a keystone of any high quality vendor.
Complete Training - You could have the best quality electronic medical record system available, with the easiest interface ever - and without training, it would be a bust. Training ensures the entire staff, including and especially the doctors, have the best level of knowledge and experience with the system before it is fully adopted at the practice. Good training means that the system will get used more effectively and faster, with the best possible feelings toward the system. Low quality training means high-stress, learn-as-you-go development that typically leads to difficulties and problems. Aside from quality, there is training location to think about. Will it be remote, or in the practice? There are different costs and advantages to both.
Develop Your Own Expert - Ensuring that you have a "product expert" on staff during the initial installation and training process is a key to fast, successful adoption. This expert should be a member of your staff that will be assigned the task of knowing the most about the EMR system, and then using this knowledge to aid other staff who may either have difficulties with computers generally, or specifically with the application. Choosing the right "expert" from your current staff may not be a possibility, but if it is, this "expert" can return thousands of dollars in saved support expenses in the future.
Accepting that EMR software is a comprehensive product with many advantages is important for any practice looking to adopt a new system. Forethought is key, and with it, your electronic medical record system is more than just an application - it is an efficiency-generating machine.
