By: Angela Mortemore, ESD’s Talent Acquisition Director
One of the many challenges facing healthcare organizations today is how to effectively plan for, manage and execute a successful implementation of a new EHR system. So many moving pieces are involved, that sometimes rather “simple” elements can be overlooked, especially staffing level needs through the most critical times of the
implementation.
Over the years, best practices have been developed and adopted by some of the leading organizations in healthcare, and there seem to be two key elements we hear a lot about when assisting a client through the process.
- Spread your focus evenly.
Oftentimes, there is a heavy focus on the up-front work that needs to take place, such as the configuration of your new system – which is no doubt a critical aspect of a successful transition. One thing we hear most from our clients is that they wish they would have planned better for the training and activation support needs. When planning for your transition, make sure you don’t overlook the need to have additional support for your staff during the first few critical weeks of your go-live. This can often alleviate the scramble to find qualified talent late in the game, which limits your selection and the availability of qualified resources.
- Be clear on what the vendor is providing in regards to support needs.
As a part of all major EHR packages, it is typical to have some support hours included within your contract. It is often found that the hours included are not adequate enough to fully support your team across the board. After all, you hired the vendor to provide you with a great EHR – it is up to you and your team to make sure it is supported.