Over the past few years many have transitioned into an EHR/EMR from a paper chart.  Many have succeeded and a few others have not. What is the difference? What makes one physician group more successful then another?

Let’s take a look of some of the habits of those that have succeeded.

1. Using a Certified EHR
   The top 10% of successful users did there due diligence in researching and negotiating with EHR vendors and used certified EHR technology, ensure your EHR is certified by an ONC-ATCB.  Many of these groups also utilized more than one EHR and module to meet and report the necessary criteria. Read more about – Top 5 Questions to Ask Before Signing an EHR/EMR Agreement.
2. Knowing when to get help (Hire a Healthcare Consultant)
   This is crucial; you have to know when to get help from the vendor or a Healthcare Consultant.  It’s ok to outsource and hire in experts. Yes it will cost a little more up front however, the short and long term benefits outweigh the risk of not hiring a Healthcare Consultant. Some of those benefits are you have instant knowledge that can be transferred to your own staff.  You are able to implement your product much faster and easier then struggling to learn all the shortcuts and nuances of a new program.
3. Marketing and a Champion
   The success of your EHR comes from the top down.  You need administration to start a three prong marketing campaign that includes the physicians, staff, and patients.  You will also need one or more champions from physicians, staff and patients.
4. Training Program
   A well thought out and successful training program is an essential key to the success or failure of your EHR implementation. To learn more about how and what is required for a training program you can read about it in this blog – 3 Steps to Setting up an Effective EHR Training Program
5. Workflow Analysis/Assessment and change
   Successful implementation happened by the owners and users being willing to analyze the current workflow and make changes accordingly for the better. They did not make a change to make a change, instead they made a change because it was needed and made sense.  This was accomplished by hiring a Healthcare Consultant and them performing an analysis and listing to the recommendation of what has worked and has not worked in the past for other clients.

Here’s the thing about being successful and having great habits. Do you want to succeed and have you shared and motivated that success drive into your team.  Anyone who has played a sport or been in competition for anything, your coach has probably stated in a very clear voice “Do you want this more than the other team or person.”

To quote a famous line from the movie Star Wars and the Master Jedi “Do or Do not, there is no try”

Succees or failure is up to you. Are you willing to take the steps needed and do the right thing to be successful with your EHR implementation?  Is your team willing to be a part of the solution and do whatever it takes to succeed?