EMR / EHR Implementation

 

The difference between the success and failure of your EMR is going to come down to the implementation. Proper planning, coordinating, and responsibility delegation are all essential to a smooth and productive transition into a paperless system.

The most important step is to identify who is going to serve as your EMR implementation specialist. It is crucial that this organization have experience implementing a variety of different EMRs for a variety of different practices. Their experience, knowledge, and guidance are going to make this process significantly smoother and less painful. The process is so stressful and intense already, that finding the right partner to guide you through it is what is going to make it all possible.

For recommended EMR Implementation Specialists in your area, click here.

We do not recommend going at this alone!

Here are some really basic tips to get started:

• Establish a project team
• Select an outside integration partner to guide you through the remaining steps
• Set expectations of implementation
• Create a realistic time line
• Establish work flow and criteria for selection
• Meet with possible EMR vendors
• Select an EMR vendor
• Create a plan for all parties involved
• Identify hardware requirements with EMR vendor
• Purchase and install needed equipment at least 6 weeks before Go-Live
• Indentify potential pitfalls and address as needed
• Allocate sufficient time for training after hours or when practice is closed
• Reduce patient load for initial 3 months after go live
• Create a disaster recovery plan
• Test your backup system to ensure full functionality before go live
• Bring food, patience and sense of humor to your go live date