Government officials are determined to see that every healthcare institution has electronic medical record (EMR) systems, but many physicians are still reluctant to implement them. While EMR possess many useful features to help streamline healthcare processes, some people find the whole system overly complex and feel that they could take good care of patients even without it. But when implemented properly, EMR serves as a great tool to preserve critical medical information and increase workflow efficiency. With that said, there are a number of challenges that you need to overcome if you want to reap the full benefits of EMR.
Challenge #1: EMR is breaking your budget
It’s no secret that the cost of purchasing and installing EMR is huge. This includes hardware, software, implementation assistance, training, support, and ongoing network fees. In fact, the cost of EMR is the number one reason why many healthcare institutions haven’t yet made the switch. But the benefits of EMR are numerous, and greatly outweigh the cost of implementation. If you find EMR costs to be beyond your budget, you should make a thorough assessment of your needs, and consult with vendors to develop economical EMR solutions.
Challenge #2: EMR doesn’t fit with workflow
Some medical institutions may find that, even after careful planning and implementation, EMR just doesn’t provide the functionality they need. Imagine a scenario where you have invested a substantial amount of money in the technology, but are unable to use it to its fullest potential. Yet you can avoid this problem by putting more time into the planning process. Instead of making rushed decisions, ask potential vendors to provide an in-depth demonstration of the features and functions of EMR. It’s also wise to have your physicians and staff test-drive it, and provide some feedback, prior to the purchase.
Challenge #3: Training employees is difficult
Scheduling EMR training sessions for your employees can be a challenging feat, given the amount of work they already have to contend with on a day-to-day basis. The whole program might even be overwhelming to them, so much so that they shut their minds to the training completely. The solution is to designate key employees who are prepared to dedicate their time and effort to get to know all about EMR, and who can serve as ambassadors for the technology and as a resource for physicians and other staff members.
Challenge #4: Physicians resist using EMR
Some physicians simply refuse to accept new technology, either because they don’t believe in its capabilities, they’re convinced that their way of doing things can produce better results, or perhaps because they’re intimidated by it. Once again, you need to identify a superuser who can encourage others to adopt EMR and feel more comfortable about it. A peer-to-peer approach will work best in this situation.
Challenge #5: EMR doesn’t meet Meaningful Use requirements
It’s hard to keep up with regulations, and in particular the requirements to comply with Meaningful Use. Sometimes even vendors fall behind, which means you risk facing penalties for not meeting obligations. The best way to address this is to assign someone to communicate with vendors regarding Meaningful Use requirements and deadlines, so you don’t miss a step.
If you’re looking to implement EMR in your healthcare business, get in touch with us today and we can support you from planning right through to implementation.
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