When it comes to implementing an electronic health record (EHR) system, the process can be a bit daunting and complex. However, if you know the right approach for EHR implementation, things are not that difficult. To help you out with successful EHR implementation, we bring you this guide in which we will be discussing simple EHR implementation steps with you.
But before we move to the steps, let’s dig a little deeper into what EHR is and how its implementation can benefit your practice. So let’s start:
What is Electronic Health Records (EHR)?
Electronic Health Records, commonly known as EHR is a digital version of a patient’s medical history that is usually stored in a secure online database. EHR generally contains all the details and information related to the health and well-being of an individual. This includes everything from a patient’s medical history and treatments to medications and lab results.
In recent years, EHRs have become increasingly popular as they enable healthcare providers to keep records of their patients accurately and more efficiently compared to traditional paper records. Moreover, they provide the convenience to access medical records from anywhere and at any time.
What Are The Key Benefits of EHR?
EHRs have become increasingly popular among medical professionals, and for all good reasons. EHRs provide a range of benefits that can make your healthcare practice easier and more efficient. Not only do they help in streamlining processes, but they also protect patient data while providing doctors and physicians with improved accessibility options.
Every time a patient visits a healthcare facility, his/her information is stored in an EHR system instead of paper files. This means that all the relevant medical details of a patient are kept in one place, allowing doctors to easily access them whenever needed.
Moreover, data is automatically stored in each patient’s file by the system itself, so there’s no need to manually enter it every time a new visit occurs. With EHR, healthcare practitioners have access to up-to-date information about each of their patients. Eventually, making it easier for them to monitor their patient’s health progress over time and identify any potential health issues sooner rather than later.
4 Successful EHR implementation Checklist
-
Road Mapping
To successfully implement an Electronic Health Records (EHR) system requires a thoughtful, well-planned approach. Creating a roadmap is probably the best way to ensure that all necessary steps are taken in the right order for both a smooth transition and long-term success.
Road mapping should begin with identifying key stakeholders and their roles in the process. This includes everyone from doctors and IT staff to administrators and other healthcare personnel who will be involved in the process. Once you identify these stakeholders, they can work together to create a timeline of activities that need to be completed.
-
Choosing The Right Certified Vendor
When looking to implement an electronic health record (EHR) system, one of the key considerations is to choose the right certified vendor. This can be a tedious task for practices and healthcare organizations. However, it’s important to choose a reliable vendor who is also knowledgeable about federal and state regulations.
It’s also important to choose an EHR vendor who has the technical expertise of running it so that if you need any technical assistance, you can get it from them.
-
Customer Support
Another thing that you definitely need to consider when choosing a vendor for EHR implementation is the level of customer support that it offers. Always go for a vendor that offers quality customer services with various communication channels such as phone, email, and live chat.
This will enable you to get help when needed without being on hold or in queues. In addition, choose a vendor that offers proactive support services such as scheduled training sessions and webinars on new features and updates.
-
Staff Training
Staff training is another essential part of any successful EHR implementation. All healthcare organizations and practices must ensure that their staff members are properly trained so that they can get used to with the EHR system and benefit from it.
It’s important to choose an EHR vendor that offers training programs along with individual training for each team member. Even after the EHR is launched, training may still be needed for certain members who require more guidance on specific features or tasks.
Hope you find our recommendations for EHR implementation helpful. Keep following Medtech Providers for more informational blogs like this.