CHIME releases EHR implementation guidebook
“More hospitals and integrated delivery systems are relying on CMIOs … in efforts to bridge the gap between clinicians and IT staff,” according to a guidebook published by the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME), intended to support CIOs in the implementation of EHRs to meet the meaningful use requirements issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
“Regardless of whether or not organizations have these dedicated positions in place, the need for hospitals to involve their clinicians is vital to the success of EHR implementations,” the Ann Arbor, Mich.-based CHIME stated.
The guide, titled "The CIO’s Guide to Implementing EHRs in the HITECH Era," is based on research involving nearly 170 CHIME members who provided information on real-world experiences in planning for and implementing EHRs in their organizations. The guide provides direction on the best practices for successful EHR adoption, from initial planning through final documentation of results, according to the organization.
The 80-page, 16-chapter guide states that organizations need to correctly measure the cost of achieving meaningful use of EHRs versus the expected payback in terms of stimulus fund payments. “Senior executives also need to assess intangible benefits and the total cost of ownership for an EHR system,” the guidebook advised.
Because physicians are an integral part of the EHR implementation process, it may be particularly challenging to gain buy-in from community physicians who are struggling with their own efforts to implement an EHR, the guidebook stated. For the “go-live” event, the organization’s executive guidance stated that hospitals should enforce a freeze on the technical environment both before and after go-live.
“Careful planning and attention to detail is important to make the transition successful and ease users through the changes they will encounter in their work as a result of using the new systems,” the guidebook stated.
Organizations should consider implementing a small, flexible committee to address the needs of meaningful use reporting, because of the mix of IT-generated and manual data that will be required to meet meaningful use criteria, the guidebook suggested.
The guidebook is available free to the public and can be downloaded here.
“Regardless of whether or not organizations have these dedicated positions in place, the need for hospitals to involve their clinicians is vital to the success of EHR implementations,” the Ann Arbor, Mich.-based CHIME stated.
The guide, titled "The CIO’s Guide to Implementing EHRs in the HITECH Era," is based on research involving nearly 170 CHIME members who provided information on real-world experiences in planning for and implementing EHRs in their organizations. The guide provides direction on the best practices for successful EHR adoption, from initial planning through final documentation of results, according to the organization.
The 80-page, 16-chapter guide states that organizations need to correctly measure the cost of achieving meaningful use of EHRs versus the expected payback in terms of stimulus fund payments. “Senior executives also need to assess intangible benefits and the total cost of ownership for an EHR system,” the guidebook advised.
Because physicians are an integral part of the EHR implementation process, it may be particularly challenging to gain buy-in from community physicians who are struggling with their own efforts to implement an EHR, the guidebook stated. For the “go-live” event, the organization’s executive guidance stated that hospitals should enforce a freeze on the technical environment both before and after go-live.
“Careful planning and attention to detail is important to make the transition successful and ease users through the changes they will encounter in their work as a result of using the new systems,” the guidebook stated.
Organizations should consider implementing a small, flexible committee to address the needs of meaningful use reporting, because of the mix of IT-generated and manual data that will be required to meet meaningful use criteria, the guidebook suggested.
The guidebook is available free to the public and can be downloaded here.