EMR implementation is considered to be a big change for the clinics and so more risk, cost and effort is involved in it. Most of the EMR experts and consultants suggest that at the implementation the few following things must be focused for smooth implementation. These are,
– Planning all the phases and steps.
– Purchasing the most suitable equipment.
– Highly focused staff training.
All of the above mentioned issues are important but most of the things also depend on the nature of the medical practice and the size. We will discuss the above mentioned step in details
First of all, keep in mind that the EMR system is a huge database of patient records including various categories related to the patients’ information. These categories are all interconnected with one another and some of these categories are medications, treatment, allergies, drugs and doses and patient history etc. Let us discuss the EMR planning and step by step implementation with the help of an example. Once the EMR software is installed on the system the data entry or record entry must be done step by step. The most important and necessary information must be entered with priority and then the less important information. Plan at each level and phase and everything will be easy.
Secondly, it is important that you should have adequate equipment before implementing the EMR such as various useful devices such as Scanner which will be used for data recording and building the EMR database. Most of the devices available in the market also are very helpful in transferring the paper based records to the EMR systems.
Thirdly, staff training is a very important issue which must be focused by the EMR implementers such as the doctors and clinic owners. The staff people are the people who will actually operate the EMR system once implemented and they have to handle all the records with having the complete patients’ information in all the categories of the medical records. Having suitable training to use the specific EMR system implemented may increase in the efficiency and productivity with very less chance or errors.
