Will The Upgrades Ever Stop?
Since the inception of Electronic Health Records (EHRs) in healthcare, many institutions have been overwhelmed with upgrades to the next big release while trying to use current versions to their fullest capacity. Anecdotally, new technology will not produce results without process and protocols implemented to provide positive change and lasting value. Formal structure needs to be established to measure strategic outcomes and determine key performance indicators. How do you achieve your goals if you’re not monitoring where improvements are taking place, and where processes are underachieving?
The implementation of new technology needs to be managed continually after go-live. The quality of the system training is imperative, and staff need to question the vendor to produce streamlined results. To fully take advantage of the advancement in automation, teams need to review their processes. This helps establish protocols and implement governance in all areas the technology is being utilized. The definition of insanity is said to be “doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” Change doesn’t happen by chance; results need to be critically reviewed. An organized shared model should be followed to provide ongoing measurable statistics.
The goal of the EMR Adoption Model (EMRAM) is to move closer to becoming paperless through the 8-stage process (0-7) and connect technology for enhancing patient care. Big data needs to be ingested into an organization’s EHR for reporting purposes, with goals established for throughput. Successful organizations will clearly define specific strategic outcomes, governance, and operational measurement. When technology is purchased, the primary purpose needs to be defined for the organization and provide leaders expected outcomes in order to gain initial buy-in for collaboration towards these goals. During the planning stages hands-on employees should offer constructive criticism of the processes to better the overall workflows. Employees working together to minimize silos prove to be more efficient, providing collaborative thought. Fortunately, or unfortunately, we all need to get comfortable with being uncomfortable to change with technology advancements in our workplaces.
Extract would welcome the opportunity to partner in your organization’s innovation goals. Our HealthyData platform provides solutions for automating your incoming document needs from outside sources. Should you be interested in learning more, please contact us today.
