| Until this point we've been discussing the different | | | | how they will be tested). |
| elements of the electronic medical records (EMR) | | | | In our own example of electronic medical records |
| system: from choosing hardware, to software, to | | | | configuration, the IT and physicians work group |
| infrastructure. Now it's time to integrate these | | | | analyzed the existing clinical templates within the |
| parts in order to make our paperless office into a | | | | EMR application. The workgroup then only makes |
| reality. | | | | modifications as necessary, as determined by the |
| Our Internet technology team did a great job at | | | | current workflow in use at the practice. In this |
| the beginning, planning important tasks such as | | | | way, change has the most visible effect on |
| satellite office wiring; we required a fully integrated | | | | patient examinations. This is particularly true for |
| plan that ties in to the technical aspects of the | | | | tech-savvy physicians, who will of course expect |
| project, with training aspects to maximize | | | | the new system to be more efficient than the |
| efficiency to make the best use of staff time. | | | | one currently in use. |
| Important personnel from a variety of | | | | Some changes in the work flow will be required, |
| departments (including clinical, IT, admin, and | | | | considering the hierarchy-based design of the EMR |
| clerical) met with Frank Polack of Evitor | | | | system. As an example, if we currently make a |
| Consulting, a project management facilitator, to | | | | dictation to a scribe that looks like, "2+ NS |
| create a work breakdown structure (WBS) for | | | | (nuclear sclerosis) and PSC," we may need to say, |
| the project implementation. The major processes | | | | "lens, NS 2+ PSC 2+." This may at first seem a |
| which needed address included Hardware | | | | minor difference, but it can surely have an overall |
| acquisition and set-up, Software set-up, EMR | | | | work flow efficiency when compounded by |
| configuration, Infrastructure, Training Plan, Testing, | | | | hundreds of patient examinations daily. |
| Process Review, and Roll-out Phasing. | | | | The onus is placed upon the configuration, who |
| These processes can be broken down further | | | | must come up with another method to sync the |
| into smaller steps. These steps can then be | | | | way staff and physicians find comfort working |
| delegated to someone who then 'owns' that | | | | with the EMR system effectively. A separate |
| sub-process. In these cases, the main process of | | | | database test of the EMR system is accessible |
| EMR program configuration is divided into particular | | | | from home, via remote desktop services by any |
| issues (templates or configuration, for example), | | | | particular member of the work group. The work |
| then sub-divided down to specific tasks (which | | | | group can then do a final review before making |
| templates to create, which standard templates to | | | | changes to the working database. |
| use, who creates each, who will review them, and | | | | |