Implementing an electronic health record (EHR) strategy for a medical organization has the potential, and capacity, to transform the enterprise. However, simply purchasing and installing an EHR is not enough to improve quality of care or enhance patient experiences. Leveraging advanced technology to full advantage requires extensive training, and for many providers, the learning curve is steep.
Training physicians how to access, organize and share data is critical for successful implementation. Here are a few tips to ensure teaching programs cover all the basics and empower physicians and their teams to exploit key features of their organizations EHR.
Sharability and Compliance
One of the key benefits of using standard EHR features is the ability to access and share data in real-time with network-connected stakeholders. This feature empowers physicians to review test results and consult specialists throughout the patient encounter. However, information sharing must be tightly controlled within the confines of the Health Information Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) of 1996 to protect patient privacy. …show more content…
A joint study conducted by Weill Cornell Medical College and the Primary Care Information Project (PCIP) of the New York City Health Department revealed technical support is crucial for helping physicians demonstrate significant improvements in key quality measures. In fact, researchers found that without substantial technical support providers showed virtually zero improvement two years after implementing a practice EHR. The same study showed physicians achieved measurable improvement after nine months with high-intensity training. Assigning technology mentors to incoming physicians and giving all staff physicians contact information to access technical support from the facility EHR vendor or an in-house IT training team when a problem arises will reduce frustration and bolster
Training physicians how to access, organize and share data is critical for successful implementation. Here are a few tips to ensure teaching programs cover all the basics and empower physicians and their teams to exploit key features of their organizations EHR.
Sharability and Compliance
One of the key benefits of using standard EHR features is the ability to access and share data in real-time with network-connected stakeholders. This feature empowers physicians to review test results and consult specialists throughout the patient encounter. However, information sharing must be tightly controlled within the confines of the Health Information Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) of 1996 to protect patient privacy. …show more content…
A joint study conducted by Weill Cornell Medical College and the Primary Care Information Project (PCIP) of the New York City Health Department revealed technical support is crucial for helping physicians demonstrate significant improvements in key quality measures. In fact, researchers found that without substantial technical support providers showed virtually zero improvement two years after implementing a practice EHR. The same study showed physicians achieved measurable improvement after nine months with high-intensity training. Assigning technology mentors to incoming physicians and giving all staff physicians contact information to access technical support from the facility EHR vendor or an in-house IT training team when a problem arises will reduce frustration and bolster