subject: Receive Quality Training For Your Emr System [print this page] Medical practices that successfully adopt electronic medical records systems see more efficient operations, greater profits and better patient care. In some cases, adoption is more difficult than it needs to be, and most often it's because the office doesn't receive the training it needs to use the new system.
Long Amount of Training Time Is Key
A fully-featured EMR system is not a simple system to learn. While the benefits will be well worth it, it does take time to get everyone up to speed on all the attributes of the system. Training should be more than a twenty minute group session the morning the EMR system goes live.
When staff and doctors are properly trained on the system, they use it with more confidence. They make fewer mistakes and get less frustrated. It contributes to a more positive experience and faster adoption. It also minimizes any negative effect the initial learning period will have on patient care.
Offices might consider under scheduling appointments on the first day of use so office personnel have the best chance to get used to the new system. If the practice can manage it, a few days of light appointments is a good way to ease into the software before having to use it on a busy afternoon.
Train The Enthusiastic Initially
Reaction to the new EMR system will range from being excited over the new toy to being convinced the software spells the practice's doom. No matter how much you prepare people, some will be resistant to the change. The intuitive response is to train the naysayers first, figuring if they can be converted the rest of the office will follow.
In reality, these people just see the worst aspects of the change. A hundred things can go right but they will likely focus only on the one thing that goes wrong. No matter what happens, they will see it as proof they were right and may drag everyone else down.
The first training class should be the people who are excited by the EMR system. Training will start off on a positive note and the momentum of their enthusiasm shouldn't be underestimated. In the end, the negative people will probably still be just as negative but everyone else will be happier.
Train The Entire Office
Don't let the resistors refuse to use the system. Everyone should employ the system or the problems that will arise from the disorganization will bring the office to a standstill.
Insist that the entire office be trained on and use the EMR system. With a positive approach to training, office staff is more likely to be eager to learn to use it. You may even want to consider offering prizes or giveaways to those who find creative ways applications for ways to utilize the system for your practice.
Training is a vital part of successful EMR system adoption and should be part of the overall strategy of a practice's conversion to electronic medical records.
