Project Management Assistance
To assist with project management during implementation, did you hire someone from the outside or utilize a current staff person?
To assist with project management during implementation, did you hire someone from the outside or utilize a current staff person?
Answers
We also used a combination of external and internal resources. After go-live in 2006, we have transitioned solely to internal resources. As emphasized in other responses, the electronic record is a dynamic entity. Our core group consisting of two physicians, nurse, program analysts, and clinical informatics continues to meet weekly.
Using an EHR? Yes - NetSmart's Avatar
Disclosure: No ownership or financial interest in any related business or association
We used a combined internal and external resource approach. The vendor provided a weekly project manager conference call, assistance with developing timelines, best practices, etc. We then used an internal core group of superusers as trainers and monitors of the project. We continued after go live with weekly core group meetings and phone calls and tapered the schedule as we got further from the go live. The same internal group continue to meet to review change requests and version upgrades.
Using an EHR? Yes - NextGen EHR, EPM and EDR
Disclosure: No ownership or interest in any related business or association
We did it internally. There are many companies that offer guidance on workflow design, staffing issues, implementation, etc. However, we felt more comfortable learning the system ourselves and doing it on our own. Nobody is more interested in your success than you are. It just seemed that having a company come in to help set you up and then leave would result in a less complete learning process. If you break it down and set it up yourself, you are likely going to be more self sufficient post-implementation. That being said, we had a strong IT/admin staff person and a strong physician champion (if I don't say so myself) - two that were dedicated to the project and made sure it succeeded. If you don't have the staffing and/or time to devote to it, you can staff it out, but I would absolutely plan for a retainer for ongoing support, retraining, etc after the implementation period. Implementing an EMR must not be a static event - it is an evolving process with the technology, new features, new initiatives, upgrades, fixes, etc. If you staff it out in the beginning, what is going to be your plan for the future? I'm not saying my way was best - it was in our best interested to do it the way we did. You need to analyze your situation and weigh your options.
Using an EHR? Yes - eClinicalWorks
Disclosure: Owner/practicing partner of Aquidneck Medical Associates, Inc. Contracted as the Case Management Physician Advisor at Newport Hospital (a Lifespan affiliate) and as an advisor for BCBS of RI to help facilitate HIT integration in community practices