Electronic Health Reporter

Guest post by Randy Van Egdom, partner/implementation manager at AdventEMO.

We understand how difficult it is to decide on an electronic health record (EHR) that is customized for your needs and requirements. But, because of the need, you have now finalized on an EHR which has been marketed to you as the perfect match for your practice. Now that the EHR is in place, you have started using it with the help of the vendor training, but hold on, why isn’t it working just as it was promised to you?

It happens more often than ever that the EHR works just right ‘til you have the vendor standing by your side training you on its implementation. Yet, it just fails to work the way it is supposed to when that training period is over. This is because that you face real problems only when you are totally dedicated towards it. During the training tenure you never look at it like an ongoing process.

In all likelihood, this EHR might be the one that will bring a great turnover and growth with your existing and new staff. Not just the efficiency of your staff increases with an EHR in place, even the EHR will update and change with time easing the entire process. The key driving element is to have a strategy that works for your organization and allows time for its development and deployment.

Here are the six EHR training tips you shouldn’t miss. Having this in place will take your practice a long way with the EHR.

1. Have a Team to Take Responsibility

Choose a team that can take over the EHR functioning responsibilities even after the initial vendor training has concluded. Dispense responsibilities to the specific team members so that someone takes responsibility for reviewing and resolving issues regularly. When the entire staff undergoes the training process, most of the minute details are overlooked. Having a dedicated team to take responsibility would be the most effective way of reaping the best results from your EHR.

2. Have a Plan of Action

Now that you have a dedicated team which is taking responsibility over the proper functioning of your EHR, you have to make sure that they have a plan of action in place. This should be able to help you in tracking your return on investments and also measure the efficiency as time passes by. The team should list out the concerned areas which will need periodic updates, regular review, changes to increase the revenue, and more.

3. Create an Environment for Trial

Many complain that the EHR impacts adversely because it ends up adding much more work to the staff than helping them. That’s only because of the lack of exposure towards the right usage of an EHR. Before you go live, ensure that your team takes a trial of the EHR in an environment created by you, so that your production is not affected. To create this test environment make sure that the computer is connected to the EHR system.

4. Make Trainings a Regular Affair

To get the best results, you have to constantly upgrade it. The minute you have finalized on the staff that would be trained, start the training process. A lead team can keep constant touch with the vendors for rectifying the doubts. Simultaneously, make sure that the lead team receives the user experience and the issues faced and rectifies with the help of the vendor. Ensure that as and when the software has a new change introduced, it should be updated to the staff.

5. Review the Process

You can never see your progress unless you take a pause, look back and review. Review your reports and feedback, and measure your progress. Check what has worked for you and what has failed, what has increased the revenue and what hasn’t. This is how you would make the best use of your EHR. You can take charge of the EHR usage through the practice procedures, workflows and policies with certain corrections. Keep a track of all the changes and updates you have made in a document.

6. Ask for Help, When in Need

Make sure that your vendor is there to support you when you are in trouble. Check for the most reliable brand which is recommended by the users. It might not be a big name, but a reliable one. Many have web based and also onsite training, or seek help from a consultant.