To know about the meaningful use of EHR is difficult when a majority of the workers have switched from a paper based practice to EHR software and using this application first time ever
Electronic Health Record software is challenging the system to implement in your health care solution especially when you are switching your health record system from paper based to the electronic one. Being a user of paper based health record system is not a tough job, while in the long run, converting your pattern into electronic one which is technical and somehow difficult to understand is not an easy task. Although learning of basic patterns and functionalities of EHR solution can be time taken, the complete adaptation and implementation of EHR software in your routine practice of medicine cannot take up to more than few months.
Now here are some of the best practices for hospitals and medical organizations for the implementation of Electronic health record software.
Involve Your Whole Staff
Before the implementation of EHR software, this is necessary for whole staff to know about the meaningful use of electronic health record system. They must know about the proper usage of EHR software and also must be known about the actual meaning of meaningful use of EHR. This is not about to fulfill the 100% needs of everyone, but also it does not mean to work in generic manner and think that everyone would followed and be adjusted. Your staff must know the way they start and do the work with EHR system individually as well as in a group work. This is to make you assure that the EHR software is for everyone.
Usage of Certified EHR System
This is about to make you assure that you are using certified EHR solution, it demands that your EHR Software must be updated every time. Make sure about the complete documentation of Patient’s visit, signing off from the clinical note, not to overriding of medications and allergy alerts, to finish the tasks and not to copy and paste the information of patients.
Make Decisions about your handlings
This is to about make yourself make sure that your practice is going to be paperless completely. There is no need to be in order to demonstrate completely meaningful use of Electronic Health Record system. But this is the “step by step” process for providers who want to try out some of the paper less processes. However, if you are sure that your practice is ready to completely switch from paperless to electronic and also meets with the criteria of the meaningful use of EHR; make sure that you have chosen certified solution.
Give proper time for training
For the correct implementation of EHR software, train your staff in every aspect and try to arrange some short sessions whenever to possible. Beginning might be little bit problematic, but by following the planned out procedure, it will give expecting result with the efficiency and accuracy of implementation of electronic health record software.
Patient’s Education
Electronic health record system is not only for the health care practitioners but also for the patients. It is necessary to let them know if you are using EHR solution and the reason to using it. You are supposed to explain the reason of meaningful usage of EHR software and the better health outcomes by using it. You can also provide them some material to read so that they would be able to learn about their health care solutions.
Make sure about the Security of patient’s health records
Being a provider of EHR software, this is your duty to ensure the security of health records of patients. This is can be done by following some rules like;
- Your EHR solution must be secured with the strong password
- Make sure about the backups of data for emergencies
- Before sharing, encrypt your EHR data
- Do not copy EHR data on flash drivers and portable devices
- Do not allow a remote access to your network
- Give unique user id to every patient; do not share yours one.
- Former employee’s access is strictly forbidden
- You are not supposed to share your patient’s confidential and private data on social networking sites.
Work with Experienced Implementer
Try to get assistance with someone who is experienced of working with the implementing electronic health record system before. Contact with someone who knows about the basic workflows of a practice with hospitals and also who have complete knowledge of the working with EHR solution in detail.
Prevention of Future Problems
Gather the information and input from the stakeholders to know the ways by which EHR system could be fail, and then make sure that you are going to use this knowledge and information in positive manner for the betterment of EHR solution to make it successful. Do not forget that you are working with the huge amount of your patient’s data; this is your duty to allow for enough storage and right to use to proper, updated and fast computers to access the data quickly.
Know about the stage timeline of meaningful use
This is your duty to be updated about the meaningful use of stage timeline, its developments as well as updates. Although it is up to you, make sure you are measuring the progress of your meaningful use of EHR solution on weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, bi-monthly basis.
Remove the duplication of Information
Make sure that the duplicate or copied data of information of any patient must be minimized. If you follow the rules for security of patient’s health system, you would definitely not copy the data and there would not be duplication in your solution for sure.