10 Reasons for Full EHR Data Migration – Tackling EHR & EMR Transition Series

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(Check Out the Full Top 10 Reasons for EHR Data Migration Infographic)

At Galen Healthcare Solutions we’ve found some important considerations and benefits during EHR data migration, including:

  • Legacy application licensing, and on-going support & maintenance.
  • Avoidance of data redundancy and improvement of data integrity.
  • Productivity and efficiency gains through enhanced clinical decisions support and consolidated clinical data access.
  • Enhanced regulatory reporting with programs including PQRS & PCMH.

When undertaking an EHR replacement project, there is a general misconception that the all of underlying patient clinical data is migrated systematically with ease. However, due to cost and complexity constraints, in most cases only patient demographics and basic clinical data elements are migrated to the new EHR system. In these cases, the legacy system is left operational in a read-only capacity; used as “system of record” for compliance, audits and responses for requests for information. Contrary to popular thought, this approach can actually end up being costlier than pursuing EHR data migration and archival, especially considering clinical efficiencies and patient care benefits associated with each of the latter.
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Understanding available EHR data migration & EHR data archival options and processes are vital to EHR replacement. Not doing so potentially leaves providers and staff inaccurate, unusable or missing data at go-live, compromising patient care. It’s important to evaluate scoping considerations, including options for import of discrete and non-discrete migrated data the new EHR systems provides, expertise of internal or external resources to migrate the data, and data retention requirements. Typically, the data elements & amount/duration of data to be migrated vs. archived is driven by organizational requirements related to continuity of care, patient safety, and population-based reporting requirements. Further, care needs to be taken to ensure data integrity when migrating clinical data – mapping nomenclatures and dictionaries where possible to avoid duplication, and facilitating reconciliation of the data to the existing chart in the target system.

At the heart of the EHR data migration process, it’s important that clinically driven workflows across various user roles are supported, transitioned, and maintained to the greatest extent possible. EHR data migration and archival allows for successful retirement of antiquated legacy applications, and ensures seamless and successful transition to the new EHR system.

Evaluate options, define scope and formulate a strategy for EHR data migration by downloading our EHR Migration Whitepaper.

About Justin Campbell
Justin is Vice President, Strategy, at Galen Healthcare Solutions. He is responsible for market intelligence, segmentation, business and market development and competitive strategy. Justin has been consulting in Health IT for over 10 years, guiding clients in the implementation, integration and optimization of clinical systems. He has been on the front lines of system replacement and data migration and is passionate about advancing interoperability in healthcare and harnessing analytical insights to realize improvements in patient care. Justin can be found on Twitter at @TJustinCampbell and LinkedIn.

About Galen Healthcare Solutions
Galen Healthcare Solutions is an award-winning, #1 in KLAS healthcare IT technical & professional services and solutions company providing high-skilled, cross-platform expertise and proud sponsor of the Tackling EHR & EMR Transition Series. For over a decade, Galen has partnered with more than 300 specialty practices, hospitals, health information exchanges, health systems and integrated delivery networks to provide high-quality, expert level IT consulting services including strategy, optimization, data migration, project management, and interoperability. Galen also delivers a suite of fully integrated products that enhance, automate, and simplify the access and use of clinical patient data within those systems to improve cost-efficiency and quality outcomes. For more information, visit www.galenhealthcare.com. Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

   

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