Debunking The Myths of EHR Implementation. A Dozen Rejected!

This popped up a day or two ago.

Debunking the 12 Key Myths of EHR Implementation

Written by Cheryl Waltko, Vice President of Equation, Christopher Sprowl, MD, MMM, President of HVA | November 02, 2010

The fervor and buzz around electronic health records is mounting as federal legislation threatens fines for non-compliance by 2016. Ironically, the EHR adoption rate for medical practices remains relatively low, especially among practices with fewer than 50 physician providers.

The barriers in part are due to an abundance of myths and misinformation that lead to errors along the implementation path and drive runaway costs for EHR projects.

With thousands and even millions of dollars at stake for providers, we debunk 12 common myths that may doom your EHR efforts.

Myth #1 – EHR projects are IT projects

Implementing EHR is not a project for the IT department alone. EHRs are an enabling technology that is part of a larger initiative designed to help physicians demonstrate the improved value of the services they deliver by improving clinical quality and economic efficiency. This involves a cross-department effort. Healthcare providers who can successfully and demonstrably supply services of greater value to patients and other consumers of healthcare services will be in a better competitive market position. They can use this improved position to take advantage of government incentives, avoid government penalties, access pay-for-performance programs and gain market share.

Myth #2 – EHR software is useful out of the box

EHRs are usable, but not useful “out of the box.” Like all large scale software products, they require some end-user modification and customization. Providers need to pay particular attention to customizing certain visit templates, building useful patient registries and chronic disease management flow sheets, adding evidence-based decision support features and creating custom reports. Furthermore, in order to meet the challenge of building a health information exchange, the EHR must be customized to interface with other systems.

Myth #3 – EHR vendors will provide all the project management and assistance I need
EHR vendors may claim to provide “end-to-end” solutions. However, EHR vendors will typically use this term in reference to their specific area of expertise. In reality, there are numerous aspects of an EHR project that fall outside the purview of the vendor.

Read the other nine here:

http://www.beckershospitalreview.com/healthcare-information-technology/debunking-the-12-key-myths-of-ehr-implementation.html

The webinars offers with this are also useful:

For more details regarding how to avoid the common pitfalls of EHR implementation, watch the following pre-recorded webinars from Ms. Waltko and Dr. Sprowl:

Part I : https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/805140696

Part II : https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/297403248

The registration only requires an e-mail address and name and the content seems pretty sound to me.

Well worth some of your time.

David.