Making the EMR Comfortable for your staff

It’s not uncommon for electronic health record (EHR) software implementation to be met with some resistance.

• After all, transitioning from a paper-based environment to one reliant on an electronic system can be daunting for physicians, nurses and other staff.

• Converting to an EHR doesn’t have to be something a practice dreads, however. With proper training, staff can learn even the most complicated systems.

• Here, we’ve put together five effective EHR training tips to get staff in your practice adequately trained and comfortable on a new system:-

1. Identify Employee Computer Skills and Provide Basic Training:-

• This is important for practices where existing clinical processes are largely paper-based and computer use is minimal.

• It may not be as necessary for those already using practice management software or other health technologies.

• Providing adequate computer training can make the transition process easier for users wary of change and will ensure that your entire team is ready to go when the EHR arrives.

2.Designate One or Two Tech-Savvy Super Users:-

• They’ll be responsible for providing tips and shortcuts to current users, as well as teaching new employees how to navigate the system.

• These users learn the system inside and out and will be the go-to people for any EHR questions other staff in your office may have.

3.Train Employees Only on Areas They’re Going to Use:-

• Many practices make the mistake of thinking that every employee needs to learn every single area and feature of the EHR—but this isn’t practical or realistic.

• In fact, this kind of thinking can considerably slow down implementation and create frustration among staff.

• The only people who should learn the program intensively are the “super users.”

• Training for all other employees should focus only on the features they’ll be required to use on a daily basis.

4.Conduct Post-Implementation Feedback Sessions:-

• In the weeks following your go-live date, schedule weekly or bi-monthly meetings.

• Make sure that different members of your organization are represented—from nurses and physicians to administrative staff, billing and front desk employees.

• Ask different departments how they’re handling the changes and whether anyone has noticed areas that need improvement.

• Once problem areas have been identified, they should be arranged by order of importance so that the most urgent issues can be tackled first.

5.Take Advantage of Online Resources Provided by Your EHR Vendor:-

• Learning and training resources are usually made available online—all you need to access them is a username and password (provided by the EHR vendor).

• The most common resource provided by vendors is a training manual. Manuals include step-by-step instructions, sometimes with pictures, for performing different actions within the EHR.

• Employing a targeted implementation and follow-up approach will ensure you get staff up to speed and using the system efficiently in less time, allowing you to focus on what matters most: providing quality patient care.