EMR Success Depends On Process Optimization

[Linda Stotsky]

EMR Success Depends On Process Optimization
A large percentage of practices (more than 90%) who adopt process optimization techniques when implementing EMR, will find adoption to be successful and return on investment to be substantial. This is factor can limit the practice exposure to risk.

AARA will give Medicare incentive payments for up to five years to physicians who are “meaningful users” of certified EMR technology. According to the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS), to be eligible for the payments, “physicians must use the technology in a meaningful manner, which includes e-prescribing; exchanging electronic health information to improve the quality of care; having the capacity to provide clinical decision support (CDS), to support “CPOE", and submit clinical quality measures, as selected by the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS).

To protect Physician practices from increased risk of implementation “Failure”, many are hiring “EMR Specialists” to oversee the implementation and subsequent use of this technology, so they might obtain an impressive 90% success rate implementing EMR, versus the much lower 27% industry average.

Several key success factors include:

Incremental implementation. Do not buy into the “Big Bang” theory. Take your time. Let the vendor know that your plan is to roll out the EMR incrementally

Customize templates. Many hospital systems are driving EMR adoption. These systems are being customized according to specific work flows, and process within the hospital organization. Take the time to align practice needs to templates, tasks, and flow, before “Go Live”.

Training, Training, and more Training. In order to have a successful implementation, you must engage key clinical leadership. Without sufficient “Buy in”, your EMR is doomed for failure. Ensure that key leaders and staff understand the importance of EMR technology, how it affects practice flow and reimbursements

Business Process Optimization. Look at key processes within each office and align EMR to these processes for a “Seamless flow”. Increased value comes from tight alignment of work flow to processes within the EMR.

Hospitals are driving EMR implementation, by choosing vendors for community based doc shops. Optimization on the front end ensures success long term. Through improved efficiencies, organizations WILL see a valuable return on investment, and secure longevity.