Roadmap For Implementation Of An EHR System At A Practice

From an Information Technology point of view, there are six stages in the implementation road map.

Stage 1:Assessment
Stage 2:Planning
Stage 3:Selection
Stage 4:Implementation
Stage 5:Evaluation
Stage 6:Improvement

Lets examine each stage and develop the frame work of a road map.

Stage 1:Assessment

A Project team represented by staff with the appropriate skills is formed and regular team meetings are conducted. These team meetings continue through out the the six stages.

The first stage Assessment helps prepare the practice for the implementation by completing a Practice Readiness Assessment, This includes The profile of the Practice in terms of IT, assessment of Office staff usually conducted as an assessment Survey. A Hardware requirement analysis is also carried out at this stage."

Stage 2:Planning

The practice data collected in the previous stage (Practice Readiness Assessment, Practice profile (IT)& Office staff skills survey)is carefully reviewed and based on this, the electronic health records implementation goals are defined and improvement opportunities are identified and targeted.

Stage 3:Selection

Based on the above defined Implementation plan, the EHR system's requirements is defined. This will cover the EHR system configuration and a selection process and details of the goals that are archived based on the selection. The EHR system is selected in this stage.

Stage 4:Implementation

An EHR system implementation plan is created and the time lines for the implentation is agreed upon with the vendor. The implementation plan includes details on Intallation and configuration of Hardware and EHR system software. Staff training program is initiated and System testing follows.The staff begin to use the EHR system. A journal of experience and processes is maintained.

Stage 5:Evaluation

A post implementation review is condcuted and the Journal of experience/ processes is updated. The perfomance measures created during the planning phase are validated and a improvement plan is prepared.

Stage 6:Improvement

During this phase the EHR is modified to resolve issues encountered during the evaluation phase. Improvements as defined in the improvement plan are carried out.

The Author Prakash T.C.is a Support Manager at http://www.BinarySpectrum.com