June 8, 2023
Due to government-led incentives for adopting EHR systems and their vast capabilities, EHR solutions have become an integral part of healthcare providers’ digital mix. While some organizations swear by their EHR solution, others report disappointment and burnout. This difference in experiences usually depends on the quality of software implementation.
of European physicians used electronic health records in 2021
Statista
of personnel in physician-owned practices are satisfied with their EHR
JAMA network
CAGR of the global clinical EHR market from from 2022-2027
Mordor Intelligence
Data source: healthit.gov — Adoption of electronic health records by hospital service type 2019–2021
We support healthcare organizations implementing EHR for the first time, or switching from one system to another. Experts of our dedicated Center of Excellence can handle each stage of the EHR system implementation.
We help healthcare organization representatives choose an appropriate EHR system, assess their needs, identify main requirements, and outline priorities. Our experts help define a future EHR solution's functionality, usability, interoperability, and cost. We leverage vast industry expertise to create an EHR system that aligns with the organization's needs and strategic objectives.
We ensure the successful implementation of the selected EHR system and effective clinical staff training. This means creating a detailed project plan outlining tasks, timelines, and responsibilities, followed by hardware and software installation, system configuration and customization, staff training, workflow redesign, and change management.
During this stage, the EHR system is integrated into the organization's IT infrastructure and enhanced with various third-party apps, and all relevant data is migrated from legacy systems to the new one. Our team enables seamless patient information exchange and ensures data accuracy, integrity, security, and quality performance of the EHR solution inside the healthcare organization’s ecosystem.
We offer ongoing monitoring and evaluation of the EHR system's performance, along with continuous adjustments that are necessary to keep the system's security, usability, and interoperability up to the current quality standards and regulations, while remaining aligned with the organization's changing needs and requirements. Our services also include annual staff training and education to ensure that clinical staff uses the system properly and efficiently.
Almost any diagnostic or treatment software must be connected to EHR as the primary patient data source. Over the years, we’ve seen how a properly implemented EHR can boost a company’s productivity.
Together with Triptych Technologies Inc., we worked closely with a team of physicians to implement an innovative EHR solution that would support day-to-day clinical operations and simplify decision-making. Secure integrations with other medical service providers like laboratories and pharmacies enabled physicians to access test results or file prescriptions in one place, focus more on patients, and get the most out of the new EHR system while successfully overcoming major implementation risks.
Our team created an asthma monitoring suite as a part of a bigger medical ecosystem. Though our project was mostly about developing mobile apps and the platform for results analysis, we also integrated it with external services and a data exchange channel linked to EHR. The successful implementation of EHR ensured access to patient data for medical personnel, patients, or even analytical software, elevating patient satisfaction.
Large healthcare organizations can implement electronic health records software in two distinct ways. An immediate implementation approach calls for simultaneous system rollout in all the departments. In contrast, an incremental approach means the new EHR will be implemented module by module, with user training and system tweaks performed along the way. Each method has its pros and cons and is suitable for different situations.
Immediate
Incremental
Quicker healthcare digitization All departments are involved Improvements seen throughout the organization immediately
Easier to locate and fix any issues before they affect the entire organization Less productivity disruption due to a gradual transition
Immediate
Incremental
Requires significant resources from the healthcare organization and time and effort from the medical personnel
Requires close collaboration with the EHR vendors and strict data governance to eliminate the possibility of data loss or contamination during the transition
Based on our experience, regardless of the chosen adoption approach, there are seven key steps providers need to take to overcome common roadblocks and ensure a smooth EHR system implementation.
Pre-implementation
Implementation
Post-implementation
The time and budget needed for a successful EHR implementation depend on many variables: whether it is a proprietary system or an open-source EHR, what feature scope and integrations with EHR it should include, and who the potential users would be. The implementation team usually calculates the approximate EHR costs and implementation timeline for your particular case, but it still can change a bit down the line if unforeseen circumstances arise.
While EHR software offers significant benefits to healthcare providers “as is”, it can simplify even more processes and boost profits if supplemented with integrations relevant to the particular medical practice.
Improve doctor-patient communication and reduce routine tasks for healthcare staff by letting patients view and manage their personal health details and schedule appointments via the patient portal connected to the EHR.
Enable doctors to hold consultations from anywhere and keep the patient documentation synced by letting them upload their examination notes, diagnoses, and treatment prescriptions directly into EHR from the telehealth platform.
Safeguard the financial interactions with patients by allowing only authorized personnel to access their insurance information. Provide patients with flexible payment options that suit their preferences when scheduling appointments.
Reduce lab test waiting time, eliminate errors caused by manual input, and enhance the accuracy of diagnosis and treatment through seamless data flow between a laboratory information system and an EHR.
Distribute tasks and resources among personnel more effectively by uploading appointment scheduling and patient data into the practice management system from the EHR.
Connect your medical CRM with your EHR to improve your sales and marketing efforts and ensure smooth coordination between administrative tasks and clinical examinations, creating a seamless patient care experience.
Many clinicians believe that dealing with EHRs is one of the major contributors to burnout and cognitive overload.
Pay attention to your clinical team’s feedback during the EHR implementation process to ensure maximum usability of the system. Also, invest in sufficient personnel training so that clinicians use the system effectively.
Too much time spent on bureaucratic tasks
EHR or other IT tools hurt my efficiency
EHR or other IT tools inhibit my ability to deliver quality care
Lack of training/proficiency on EHR or other IT tools
Data source: klasresearch.com — Global EHR Satisfaction 2022
Whether a full-scale development or a feature optimization, implementing EHR is vital for a healthcare organization’s proper functioning, as it helps to keep patient data safe, prevent medical staff burnout, and center care around the patients. However, the implementation process is complex and challenging. Luckily, an experienced EHR implementation team can help healthcare providers reduce the number and severity of these challenges, make the adoption quicker and easier for the personnel, and start reaping the benefits faster. The critical success factors include industry experience, thorough preparation, and close collaboration with the clinical team.
