Posted: May 21st, 2022

Electronic Health Record

Selecting an Efficient Electronic Health Record System through Effective Project Management
Introduction
The digitization of healthcare has brought electronic health records (EHRs) to the forefront of service delivery. EHRs offer digitized patient files that facilitate timely treatment and evidence-based decision making (Fletcher & Payne, 2017). However, selecting the appropriate EHR system and vendor requires careful planning to maximize benefits. This paper examines the key considerations for an efficient EHR selection process through effective project management.
Planning for Vendor Selection

When choosing an EHR vendor, healthcare organizations must plan between locally hosted or cloud-based application service provider models. Setting goals tailored to organizational needs helps determine the best fit (Mayers, 2018). Vendor products should then be compared based on functionalities prioritized in a requirements matrix. Requesting proposals and negotiating contracts details the terms of implementation (Mayers, 2018).
Mitigating Data Transfer Risks
Given the sensitive nature of health information, maximum data protection is required – especially during system transitions (Saleem & Herout, 2018). Risks like data size, complexity, time constraints and staff training can be reduced through thorough planning, standard tools and adequate change management (Palojoki et al., 2016). Overall, patient safety and privacy must be prioritized above all.
Implementing through Project Management

A standard procedure involving pre-implementation, implementation, post-implementation and monitoring ensures EHR rollout success (Merhi, 2015). Project management aids this through goal-setting, readiness analysis, stakeholder cooperation and benefits evaluation (Sligo et al., 2017). When comprehensively planned and overseen, EHR systems can deliver on their full potential for improved care.
Conclusion
In the evolving healthcare landscape, EHRs are integral to quality and access. However, their selection and implementation requires addressing multiple organizational, technical and human factors. Adopting a structured project management approach tailored to unique needs facilitates an efficient EHR transition process. When done effectively, healthcare organizations can maximize the benefits of digitization.
References
Saleem, J. J., & Herout, J. (2018). Transitioning from one Electronic Health Record (EHR) to another: a narrative literature review. In Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting (Vol. 62, No. 1, pp. 489-493). Sage CA: Los Angeles, CA: SAGE Publications.
Palojoki, S., Pajunen, T., Saranto, K., & Lehtonen, L. (2016). Electronic health record-related safety concerns: a cross-sectional survey of electronic health record users. JMIR medical informatics, 4(2), e13.
Merhi, M. (2015). A process model leading to the successful implementation of electronic health record systems.
Kruse, C. S., Kristof, C., Jones, B., Mitchell, E., & Martinez, A. (2016). Barriers to electronic health record adoption: a systematic literature review. Journal of medical systems, 40(12), 252.
Fletcher, G. S., & Payne, T. H. (2017). Selection and implementation of an electronic health record. PM&R, 9(5), S4-S12.
Mayers, H. L. (2018). Selecting a HIT/EHR Vendor that will Meet the Needs of Your Practice. Retrieved from https://www.msms.org/Portals/0/Documents/MSMS/Resources/For_Practices/HIT/HIT_ Selecting_an_EHR_Vendor.pdf
Sligo, J., Gauld, R., Roberts, V., & Villa, L. (2017). A literature review for large-scale health information system project planning, implementation, and evaluation. International journal of medical informatics, 97, 86-97.
Fletcher, G. S., & Payne, T. H. (2017). Selection and implementation of an electronic health record. PM&R, 9(5), S4-S12.

Order | Check Discount

Tags: Do my assignment, Electronic Health Record, Study, Thesis, write a paper