As multitudes of practices rushed to attest for MU, it was not as simple as originally thought it would be. There was push back from several users on the workflow changes that had to happen to implement capturing the required data to be submitted.

This frustration stemmed from the thought that MU was not use that was meaningful to their workflow or practice.    There are many ways to avoid those frustrations in the very near future and make MU requirements meet the needs of the practice and make it use that is meaningful.

1. Training, training, training- EHR’s have not always been the most user friendly. To avoid your physicians and staff from reaching levels of frustration that turn them away from productive use.  Give them the tools to prepare for working with the EHR to meet the criteria that have been set.  Those tools are education, more education and proper support.  Most users will need more than one training session to become proficient enough to avoid frustration.   Another way to alleviate the frustrations that arise from adding an EHR or a new modular addition to the EHR, after a training class, insure you have a Super User or two for each department.  Insure your Super User is well trained in the EHR and the modules and can answer most of the questions that will arise from daily use.

Once you train your users how to get the maximum amount of return from the EHR and they see that it is actually going to help achieve the criteria set.  They will also see the benefits an EHR can provide in helping to make seeing their patients easier.  Once that goal is accomplished many users will begin to look for ways to utilize the EHR to its full capacity.

2. Another tip is to insure your vendor will be responsive to your needs.  Find out what support policies they have.  Do they have a training program?  How inclusive is that training program? Are they responsive to your needs and issues?  Do not expect too much from your EHR vendor. Realize that they are selling a product to mass customers so individualization can only go so far with a program. Also remember EHR implementation is a continuing process towards an ever-developing goal.

3. Workflow – This is one of the biggest concerns that staff and physicians have.  Rightly so they should be concerned, you’re asking many of your physicians to make a change in the process that has been developed over many years.  With an improper plan for implementation, it can destroy several appointments and create a backlog of patients to be seen, as well as it increases the amount of time to see a patient.  With a proper plan and minor adjustments to the workflow you can help your practice get back up to full caseload and be as productive or more efficient.

It’s possible to avoid many frustrations by simply following the 3 steps we have out lined here in the blog.