We recently shared how important it is to engage the right resources for an EHR implementation for a health system or hospital. What precludes this process at times is identifying the “weak links” on the team who are holding up progress. Gross malalignments of talent and tasks are pretty easy to spot, but some of what we’ll share today are the more subtle ways that you can detect where there are barriers to progress on implementing EHR systems, or healthcare technology in general for your organization or clients. Because timelines are real and budgets are locked in, you simply can’t afford to press forward with logjams or, worse, balls dropped by ill-equipped or poorly-motivated resources.

Process optimization can go a long way in executing a large-scale EHR implementation for healthcare organization, but at the end of the day, what we’re really talking about are tools. Wielding the tools? People. You cannot overlook the importance of human resources when it comes to project planning for technical implementations. And while this might seem like Health IT Biz Ops 101, what we often see overlooked is making sure you don’t just have stellar people on deck, but that you have the right people in the right positions.

When a new EHR implementation is imminent for a health system or organization, we often see the proverbial troops preparing for healthcare technology that will basically replace existing tools and replicate current workflows. The C-Suite may have their well-defined list of expected ROI from the endeavor, but unless the same level of rigor is coming from the very staff who will daily use the Electronic Health Record, it’s our experience that many organizations end up swapping one tech vendor for another with little net gain (initially). The collective goal must be embracing change -- on the positive side -- to encourage buzz, buy-in, and better workflows on the other side of the project.

When a health system has made the (wise) decision to opt for an integrated EHR system to maximize efficiency, operational performance, and care capacity, it’s not enough to simply push through efforts with an assumption that the benefits will naturally follow. Rather, we’ve seen that the best laid plans never really come to fruition unless project sponsors account for the whole lifecycle of an EHR implementation. That doesn’t end with Go-Live or sign off, but extends to the months and even years beyond roll-out. Until a new EHR system is humming along and gaining traction with the optimal workflows, the ROI -- financial and otherwise -- will continue to be a mirage. Including a Clinical Service Desk into your health organization’s implementation plan will go a long way in helping you realize those benefits sooner than later.

When health systems take on an EHR implementation project, there are many players and components that have to play nicely to make it over the finish line after Go-Live. There are IT systems/programs, new workflows, on-going training, organizational politics, and budgets to contend with, all of which contribute in large or small ways to the success of the project team. One of the most important elements we’ve seen when it comes to EHR implementation for health systems of any size or complexity is good communication channels.

With 2018 at a close, we compiled our top 10 most popular blog posts of 2018, in one place. We hope that you enjoyed our posts from 2018, and we are looking forward to creating even more helpful content in 2019.

A successful EHR training program accelerates adoption, increases efficiency and improves care.

So common are the traits shared by such programs that you may know many of them already. You have probably even implemented well-known best practices like assessing computer skills, training super-users and managing staffing levels. These will help you maximize your return on your investment in your new EHR by producing benefits like those that we covered at the outset.

EHR training can strain budgets, stress users and squeeze your healthcare organization’s resources. But none of this has to happen.

You don’t have to stretch to hire enough trainers or struggle to schedule enough sessions, nor do you have to scramble to get ample space for all of your training.

Healthcare organizations are turning to virtual EHR training because of the affordability, efficiency and effectiveness that it offers. You can also minimize productivity losses, improve adoption rates and increase the return on your investment in your new EHR system by allowing users to participate in online, instructor-led training.

In this blog post, Rod Gamble, HCI's Senior Vice President - Global Cerner Service Line highlights solutions to common staffing problems for EHR Implementations. 

With the close of 2017, we thought you might enjoy a compilation of the top 10 most popular blog posts of 2017, in one place. We hope you enjoyed the content from 2017, and look forward to even more helpful information in 2018.