EMR Clinical Optimization CIO Perspectives – EMR Clinical Optimization Series

The following is a guest blog post by Julie Champagne, Strategist at Galen Healthcare Solutions.

Most HDOs today face a decision: start over with a new EMR or optimize what you have. A poorly executed implementation, coupled with substandard vendor support, makes EMR replacement an attractive and necessary measure. Further, the increase in mergers and acquisitions is driving system consolidation and consequently increasing the number of HDOs seeking EMR replacement to address usability and productivity concerns.

Galen Healthcare Solutions spoke with two prominent health information technology leaders, who have quite a bit of experience in the optimization field to hear their views on the topic. Sue Schade, MBA, LCHIME, FCHIME, FHIMSS, is a nationally recognized health IT leader and Principal at StarBridge Advisors, providing consulting, coaching and interim management services. Jim Boyle, MPH, CGEIT is Vice President of Information Services of St. Joseph Heritage Healthcare (Anaheim, Calif.). In his current role, Jim oversees the delivery of applications and technology and is a member of the executive leadership team. Below are their perspectives

Opportunities for EMR optimization generally fall into three categories:

  • Usability & efficiency: Improve end-user satisfaction and make providers more efficient and productive
  • Cost Avoidance: Improve workflows to increase utilization and decrease variability
  • Increase Revenue: Implement analytics to transition from volume to value


Recently, three prominent Boston-area physicians contributed an opinion piece to WBUR, “Death By A Thousand Clicks”. They postured that when doctors and nurses turn their backs on patients in order to pay attention to a computer screen, it pulls their focus from the “time and undivided attention” required to provide the right care. Multiple prompts and clicks in an EMR system impact patients and contribute to physician burnout.

HDOs should then limit their intake to what can be accomplished within one quarter, referred to as a sprint. Accountability should be assigned, and visual controls or Kanban should be leveraged.


 
For HDOs that experienced failed EMR implementations, making corrections and reengineering is a necessary first measure. Typically, a deficiency in the additional support for the system implementation is to blame, and employing qualified application support staff will help to address and resolve end user dissatisfaction.
 
 
 
To realize lasting impact from the EMR, extensive post go-live enhancement and optimization is needed. Leveraging the operational data in the EMR system can support many initiatives to improve workflows, as well as clinical and financial performance. Prioritization of the levers that can be adjusted depends on the HDO’s implementation baseline and strategic goals.

 
The most important deciding success factor for an optimization project is focusing effort and ensuring the scope is not too large. Further, it is of critical importance to set measurable and attainable metrics and KPIs to gauge the success and ROI of the initiative. Quantification of staff effort and IT investment is also important.

Gain perspectives from HDO leaders who have successfully navigated EMR clinical optimization and refine your EMR strategy to transform it from a short-term clinical documentation data repository to a long-term asset by downloading our EMR Optimization Whitepaper.

About Sue Schade
Sue Schade, MBA, LCHIME, FCHIME, FHIMSS, is a nationally recognized health IT leader and Principal at StarBridge Advisors providing consulting, coaching and interim management services. Sue is currently serving as the interim Chief Information Offi cer (CIO) at Stony Brook Medicine in New York. She was a founding advisor at Next Wave Health Advisors and in 2016 served as the interim CIO at University Hospitals in Cleveland, Ohio. Sue previously served as the CIO for the University of Michigan Hospitals and Health Centers and prior to that as CIO for Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. Previous experience includes leadership roles at Advocate Health Care in Chicago, Ernst and Young, and a software/outsourcing vendor. Sue can be found on Twitter at @sgschade and writes a weekly blog called “Health IT Connect” – http://sueschade.com/

About Jim Boyle
Jim Boyle, MPH, CGEIT is a Vice President of Information Services of St. Joseph Heritage Healthcare (Anaheim, Calif.). Jim Boyle is nationally recognized as part of a new generation of health care informatics professionals who understand IT’s full potential to greatly improve peoples’ lives. In his current role Jim oversees the delivery of applications and technology and is a member of the executive leadership team for St. Joseph Heritage Healthcare, which comprises over 860 medical group providers and 1300 affiliated physicians across California. Since joining St. Joseph Health 12 years ago, he has held eight different positions, including project manager, application analyst and IT director at Fullerton, Calif.-based St. Jude Medical Center. Jim can be found on Twitter at @JBHealthIT 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 EMR Clinical Optimization 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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