Overcoming Barriers in EMR Implementation

Abstract: Based on HIMSS reports for the last few years, there has been rapid pace in the adoption of EMR technology. Barriers to adopting EMR have majorly been overcome. However the implementation process does not seem so easy for many practices. What one needs to understand is that such a transition does not need to be painful and can overcome the challenges through precise document capture and transition process.

There has been quick and significant adoption of EMR based on statistics of the last two years presented by HIMSS. Funding opportunities to hospitals and physicians are enormous owing to American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. In addition, results do show positive signs on improvement of workflow management and reduced medical errors. These positives have impacted the healthcare industry towards embracing EMR implementation.

Substantial barriers that hospitals have cited for the implementation of EMR include mainly the technical and logistical ones where they face hurdles in installation, integration, maintenance and updation. Besides, physicians’ usually tend to concern about the security and privacy of electronic health information. Let’s have a look at many more such reasons what can cause a problem during implementation of an EMR, and also how they can be overcome with refinement.

• Overcoming Ownership Issues: A basic attitude that comes across many physicians is the fact that they are implementing EMR for the heck of it. There are no well-defined goals and process set by them in obtaining value out of its implementation. Better relationship and exchange of information across various departments can lead to improved healthcare decisions
• Overcoming Workflow Issues: Developing a plan is the next issue. It is essential to determine the existing workflow process and accordingly the users who would actually use the system. The administration should focus more time in dealing with patient data, admission and records. The nurse or physician should focus more time in accessing the patient records and analyzing them.
• Overcoming Work allocation Issue: There is often confusion especially being a healthcare segment dealing with patients in uncertainties. To streamline and address this ambiguous nature of functioning, it is essential to have a single point of contact who would manage and track tasks completion, develop strategies and increase efficiency within the practice.
• Overcoming Security concerns: Patients as well as physicians are concerned about the PHI made available in the application. There is also concern about employees or insurance companies gaining illegal access to their records. HIPAA compliant providers ensure the security and privacy of records. Practices too should ensure they meet such compliances through help of trainings for their staff.
• Overcoming Transition issues: Changing from manual system to an automated one takes time, effort and trainings. Lack of standards for medical records entry too poses a threat. Staff should prepare themselves to capture forms, reports, scans, etc. in a secured and quick way, transform them into process driven system and ensure accuracy.
• Overcoming Technical issues: Being from a different domain and industry where work is a lot more demanding than any other industry, it is indeed difficult for physicians and staff to familiarize them with the EMR system. Excess trainings are required. To overcome burden of work and recording, the facility can provide patients with online forms to be filled in from home itself. Manage upgrades and plan out portable hardware devices that would be user friendly even at the place of point of care.
• Overcoming Financial issues: Investing in an application that would handle the crux of healthcare patient data daily is one of the crucial issues. Budget for implementation should be well allocated based on work assessment and resources availability. This should ensure resources are capable and well prepared in time for implementation.

Having addressed many of the EMR implementation issues, assessing the progress at every level becomes a key to successful implementation plan. Irrespective of purchasing one of the best EMR’s available in the market for your practice, quality of patient care and ROI can be improved effectively only if the implementation takes place successfully.