EHR (electronic health records, otherwise known as electronic medical records) can increase productivity and patient satisfaction if done right. However, EHR systems sometimes need an overhaul. That’s when EHR consultants often hear that health systems feel their EHRs no longer meet their needs.
At Pivot Point Consulting, we hear these statements over and over again from clients, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Health systems may need better telehealth or predictive analytics to align staff with demand, for instance.
If an organization finds that their EHR is no longer meeting their needs, they may benefit from considering an optimization project.
EHR Optimization
Changing your EHR is a big decision that takes time and resources, no matter which path you choose. It can be expensive to maintain multiple systems and interfaces, or to roll out an entirely new EHR. However, it can require a lot of time and resources to roll out an entirely new EHR. Change is hard, especially for an industry that’s seen so much change recently.
EHR optimization is likely one of many health IT investments that today’s healthcare leaders must consider. There is no denying that EHR optimization is a critical investment for healthcare organizations to consider. An optimized EHR has many benefits, including:
- Meeting patient expectations and enhance a healthcare organization’s digital health strategy.
- Improving staff production and satisfaction, leading to greater retention during a time when most organizations face a staffing crisis.
- Improving compliance and even potentially reduce costs.
How an EHR Consultant Can Help with Optimization
Federal and state grants are available to help cover costs related to EHR cybersecurity improvements, networking, and more. An EHR consultant can guide healthcare organizations and set them on the right path. Consultants can help organizations prioritize EHR features for the best ROI. Not sure what to expect when requesting assistance with your optimization efforts?
The following are six questions that an EHR consultant can assist in answering.
Questions an EHR Consultant Can Help You Answer
What are our top 10 pain points?
Using Socratic questioning, a consultant can help healthcare organization identify what they truly need in the short- and long-term. They can help distinguish between necessary and optional features. Through this, organizations can remain focused on selecting the option that yields the biggest return on investment (ROI).
Does it make sense to implement a new system or use what we have and improve it?
This is a highly-complex question with many moving parts. A critical question to ask is whether your current system’s roadmap will serve you in the long run. If the answer is negative, transitioning to a new EHR system could be the optimal solution.. However, there are other reasons to switch as well.
Healthcare organizations may want to adopt the same EHR as their surrounding providers to improve care coordination and reduce costs. It’s also important to consider if you have enough staff to improve your existing system. Or, is it necessary to seek external assistance?
A consultant can help you determine whether an EHR implementation or optimization would be better for your organization.
What time and resources will be required?
Regardless of the specific path an organization takes for EHR optimization, time and resources are required. Not all of the time and resources will be obvious, and a consultant can help uncover potential hidden costs and snags.
How can we obtain provider and staff buy-in?
An EHR consultant can provide change management strategies that ensure everyone is on board with new workflows and processes. This includes ensuring role-based training is not overlooked.
How will we define and measure return on investment (ROI)?
Defining and measuring ROI is an essential step in any EHR optimization project. The ultimate goal of an EHR optimization project is to deliver improved value and outcomes for healthcare organizations. Identifying the right metrics and goals is crucial to achieving this.
An EHR consultant can help healthcare organizations identify the most impactful metrics and goals for their specific needs. Some of the most common metrics include improved staff productivity, enhanced patient care, and increased revenue.
Optimizing your EHR can help doctors and nurses work more efficiently. This means they can spend more time taking care of patients. An EHR consultant can help you do this by making sure your EHR system works better for you. This can lead to better patient outcomes and greater patient satisfaction.
How have other healthcare organizations handled similar challenges and obstacles?
An EHR consultant can provide a big-picture view as well as share best practices and national trends. This helps leaders avoid a myopic view that can compromise success. A consultant can also connect different organizations so they can learn what worked best in certain circumstances and why.
Consultants can also help measure the ROI of your EHR system to identify areas of value and improvement. This can help healthcare organizations get the most out of their investment in EHR technology.
Forming a strategic partnership with an EHR Consultant
EHR optimization is a critical investment for healthcare organizations looking to improve their digital health strategy and meet patient expectations. Working with an experienced EHR consultant can help healthcare organizations overcome EHR optimization challenges and develop a roadmap for success. A strategic approach to EHR optimization can lead to better staff productivity, enhanced patient care, and improved return on investment for healthcare organizations’ EHR software.
Pivot Point Consulting can help healthcare organizations make their EHR software work better by giving them advice and methods for making it easier to use, making sure more people start using it, and making it better for patients and healthcare providers. Learn more about how we can optimize your EHR solutions today.
