A record number of healthcare organizations are upgrading to new and improved
information technology. As a result, more companies are adding activation
support to their list of services, and consultants with activation expertise are in high demand. Many providers are discovering at go-live, however, that true clinical activation experience is a finite resource – and who you choose can profoundly impact a team’s success transitioning to new technology.
Hands-on experience is important because many organizations that commit to upgrading their technology are making one of the most significant investments they will ever make. The level of expertise behind an implementation will significantly impact
timelines, staff buy-in, ROI and, ultimately, how effective a system is at supporting quality healthcare.
Proven Processes and Experience
Over years of experience, companies that specialize in implementing clinical, financial, and patient management systems develop and refine processes that streamline the
end-to-end activation process and minimize risk. Executed by activation professionals, these processes feature steps key to meeting timelines, minimizing disruption, and quickly realizing the benefits of organizations’ new technology, including:
Pre-activation planning
- Clinical IT experts standing shoulder-to-shoulder with staff on-site during go-live to provide immediate support on the floor, minimizing disruptions to patient care.
- Complete training and knowledge transfer to ensure
staff can fully utilize all of a system’s features. - Post-activation support/optimization with regular consultations and performance audits to make necessary adjustments and maximize effectiveness
Seasoned Support from the Front Lines
It’s also important to remember that no two activations are alike. The activation process is full of software-specific nuances and complexities that require a degree of insight only gained with hands-on experience on the front lines of healthcare. The consultant organizations trust to guide them through this sensitive exercise should have worked specifically on an organization’s chosen software and know the challenges and concerns associated with day-to-day healthcare.
Experts Have Been Around For Years
Many CIOs are discovering that amidst all the new faces, there are companies that have specialized in HIT implementation all along. Among these are companies like ESD
who, over more than two decades, has established network of over 400 seasoned
clinical consultants, each with years of clinical and HIT experience and multiple implementations to their credit.
More than 80 percent of ESD consultants come from clinical backgrounds and the rest have highly specialized software expertise – together representing one of the most
complete activation teams in the industry.