Give two physicians the same EHR system and they’re likely to experience different levels of satisfaction. One may notice increased productivity and profitability, while the other thinks the system is a waste of hard-earned money.
If your EHR is equipped with all the telltale features and functionality of a quality solution and you’re still disappointed, it’s probably not the EHR’s fault. Maybe you just haven’t taken full advantage of your system’s potential yet.
The following advice will reveal four overlooked ways to squeeze the most juice of your EHR solution.
Get Away from Hybrid Workflows
Some practices never get away from using paper processes, even after they have fully implemented an EHR. These hybrid EHR-paper workflows hurt practices in various ways.
The most damaging is the potential compromise of patient safety. Research published by the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority revealed that out of the more than 3,000 EHR-related incidents, hybrid digital-paper workflows accounted for the 6th highest amount of errors.
Hybrid EHR-paper workflows also hurt productivity because staff often has to perform the same tasks two different times: once on paper and again in the EHR. This costs practices both in terms of paper expenditures and time efficiency.
Use Vendor Resources
Although some are better at this than others, many EHR vendors usually offer some type of assistance to help clients successfully implement their EHR. The key is an attentive vendor implementations team. The good ones create timelines that define expectations and guide physicians along the process.
Some vendors also connect with clients so they can discuss issues and best practices. Hearing advice from peer physicians in the same situation can prove immensely beneficial.
Attest to Meaningful Use Stage 2
It may seem like a stretch to call anything Meaningful Use related overlooked, but data released by the American Academy of Physicians revealed that 20% of 2011 attesters failed to participate in 2012. This has raised concerns about dropout rates increasing even more when Stage 2 and its more stringent requirements kick in.
Make Stage 2 easier by running monthly reports using your EHR’s reporting capability. Now that quality EHRs generate reports automatically tracking is easier than ever before. Receiving a few thousand dollars for successful attestation will better your practice in the long run and is a surefire way to increase EHR satisfaction.
Take Advantage of Your EHRs Patient Portal
Physicians are now moving toward EHRs with integrated portal solutions. Health IT vendors are following suit by offering portal services at no extra costs. Although it may seem like an add-on, an integrated portal can prove extremely valuable.
Portals typically offer features like appointment scheduling and lab results, which saves patients from having to call the office to request these things. They also offer a secure, HIPAA-compliant means of communication between doctor and patient.
Sometimes how you use an EHR is just as important as the features it’s equipped with. By following the above four methods, you should be able to extract maximum capability from your EHR.
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