What Are the Components of the Ehr Project Plan?

The successful implementation of an electronic health records (EHR) system requires effective project planning and management. Often, the broader view of how the technology will impact the medical practice overall will have to be taken into account before details can be broken down and analyzed.

Establish a Team

• The first step in developing an EHR project plan is to assemble an effective implementation team. You will need a project leader to coordinate and organize the overall plan. Also, you need representatives from the various areas that will implement the EHR and use the system. This includes IT support staff, office management and the physicians themselves. The team will determine the goals of EHR implementation for the practice and align them with the functionality of the system. Office administration, access to patient records, and clinical work-flow will need to be evaluated.

Technology and Vendor Review

• Electronic heath records are software solutions that are technology dependent. The practice needs to review the functionality and delivery of the software as well as evaluate the compatibility of their technology infrastructure. Different EHR vendors offer solutions that are a better fit for certain practices and procedures. Also, IT support and security procedures need to be in place so the system is accessible and reliable. If an EHR solution that is delivered via the Internet is being considered, then an assessment of Internet bandwidth and conductivity will be required.

Practice Impact Assessement

• An EHR implementation will affect the clinical work-flow and administration of the medical practice. Access to patient records, medical transcription, and office administration will be altered by an EHR system. A major component of an EHR project plan is to account for these changes and create a transition strategy, including how to transfer paper records into the electronic system. When the components of the plan are understood before they are implemented, the transition to the actual use of the system will be smoother.