Never before has adopting an EMR system been so cost-effective for the small medical office in the United States. You can thank the Feds for that. Yes...
Never before has adopting an EMR system been so cost-effective for the small medical office in the United States. You can thank the Feds for that. Yes,
the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (otherwise known as "the Stimulus Package"), is the prime suspect here, as it has provided huge benefits to doctors that show meaningful use of an EMR software system. The concept behind the offer is that adoption helps the Healthcare industry, and the government is willing to reimburse you for that help.
The healthcare industry has always needed a standard for electronic medical records overall, never mind a universal adoption in order to create one. The stimulus program tries to address the latter in favor of the former, and should help not only small practices, but the industry itself. An important concept behind EMR software, however, is that it is not a simple plug-and-play solution. Installing and then adopting a well designed EMR system takes some major planning, as it will change workflow markedly.
The typical electronic medical records software installation is far from a "one shot deal". While there are many dubious vendors that try to get away with installing pricey EMR systems and then moving on permanently to the next client, this approach is not shared by quality vendors. Instead, a high quality EMR system vendor will be majorly involved in the planning process, ensuring that your clinic sees the best of what EMR has to offer.
A plan to install an EMR software system to a medical office will frequently include the following:
Transforming The Operation - The first point you should realize about EMR software systems is that in order to efficiently experience all of the efficiencies that the product tends to offer, you have to look at altering the actions of your staff. This is not always as easy as it sounds, but a clear and precise workflow plan will point out these changes, and make it easier for your staff to make the changes. Also of note is that removing paper from the practice can be a shock at first, but an experienced developer will have seen this before, and can recommend solutions to help things go smoothly.
Training Is Everything - When you're taking on a new EMR software system at your clinic, it's key to make sure that training is in place so that you can benefit from the best the program can provide. The more staff members that become "experts" with the system, the more money and time the system will save. Remember also that poor training leads to a group of workers that not only does not know the program, but actually runs from it, certainly a nightmare situation for any physician who makes an investment this large. So ensuring high quality training is critical, but so is the location where the training will be offered. Have a representative provide you with training options, which may be via internet (the cheapest option) or at a remote training area.
Appoint An EMR Software Mentor - The adoption and training process is nowhere near complete without the assistance of a staff "expert" or "mentor". This person should be able to learn new software applications and provide a good set of communication skills, as they will be crucial to educating fellow employees about your new EMR system. This person is not available on every medical office staff, of course, but having a key mentor to those that might face difficulties getting over the learning curve is a bonus - it means serious savings in terms of not only time, but money.
When adding a new EMR system at your medical practice, it is key to note that adoption takes time. But, trusting in your staff will make sure of not only a quick embrace of the software, but a happier practice in general.
