Implementing any technology based healthcare solution requires that you identify and quantify measures of success, and determine the methods for maximizing ongoing benefit realization. The most simple of technology today still demands that it INTEGRATE, not just interface, with the other products you currently use and future solutions you will be introducing into your workflow.
Needs assessment is the foundation of a successful implementation. It helps your organization to build consensus on goals for the project. It guides your choice of software vendor. It guides your design-build choices. It makes the project’s successes and remaining opportunities apparent, guiding the evolution of your organization’s product and use of it.
Proper planning will allow for the selection of appropriate products and ease in implementation. It is especially important to conduct workflow assessments of all current practice site processes within your practice setting. Statistically, 50 percent or higher of practices who do not engage in workflow redesign prior to implementation of software solutions have failed.
Clarify Your Requirements -The need to understand the improvements a certain technology product can bring to your practice and what you are looking to gain from all of your IT enhancements is imperative to a successful installation. Analysis of current workflow and gains realized from product installations will aid you in determining the product worth.
Assess Functionality and Features -Do you waste a lot of time looking for charts? Do you play phone tag with patients because you don't have ready access to needed information? Do lab reports take forever to get into the chart? Are provider notes hard to read? Are you interested in electronic prescribing? Do you want to be able to print appropriate patient education materials with the push of a button? Do decision support tools matter to you? Is patient e-mail or Web access to your practice in your plan?
Compare Products -There are a number of ways to complete this task. Discussions with sites similar to yours that are currently using the same solution, on-site demonstrations, 3rd party reports such as ACG, MDBuyline or KLAS., and Site Visits can help you gain a "Real-World" understanding of the benefits and drawbacks to any technology based solution.
Negotiate Contract - Few contracts carry greater risk or have a greater potential for long term positive impact than those for Health IT solutions. The specifics of any contract will be determined by the goals and situation of the physician practice, but the risks inherent in a Health IT product make the vendor relationship and the contract especially important..
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