| Until now, we've been going over the elements of | | | | workgroup makes changes only as needed, as |
| selecting and implementing electronic medical | | | | determined within the work flow in use at the |
| records, or EMR. This has included the process of | | | | practice. This method lets changes happen in a |
| selecting software, hardware, and infrastructure. | | | | way that is noticeable when producing patient |
| Now it's time to integrate these disparate | | | | exams. This is particularly true for physicians who |
| elements into the reality of a working EMR office. | | | | are technically-minded, who will naturally expect |
| At our practice, the IT team did a great job of | | | | that that new system out-performs the one |
| planning key tasks from the beginning. This | | | | currently in use at the practice. |
| included the wiring of our satellite offices. Our | | | | There will be some required changes to the |
| practice's requirements called for an integrated | | | | workflow, a necessity born from the hierarchy of |
| plan which meshes with the technical aspects of | | | | the EMR design. As an example, if currently we're |
| the project, also incorporating a training element | | | | making dictations which look like '2+ NS and PSC,' |
| to boost the staff to maximum productivity, while | | | | we may have to instead write 'lens, NS 2+ PSC |
| making the best use of everyone's time. | | | | 2+.' This may seem like a small difference at first, |
| Choice personnel from the IT, clerical, and admin | | | | but this could have a real effect on workflow |
| departments met with Frank Polack of Evitor | | | | when multiplied across hundreds of exam records |
| Consulting - our project management facilitator. | | | | daily. |
| Together, they created a WBS, or | | | | Configuration must arrive at a new method which |
| work-breakdown-structure, for project | | | | doctors and staff are comfortable with. Another |
| implementation. The primary processes to | | | | database test of an EMR system is available from |
| address included infrastructure, hardware | | | | home using remote desktop services. This is |
| selection, EMR configuration, setup, training plan, | | | | possible by any specified workgroup member. The |
| process review, rollout, and testing. | | | | group can conduct a final review before new |
| These processes can be divided into smaller jobs | | | | changes are implemented on the working |
| to be delegated. The primary process is divided | | | | database. |
| into specific issues such as, 'configuration' or | | | | Again, the onus is placed upon the configuration, |
| 'templates,' for example. These issues are then | | | | which must come up with another method to |
| sub-divided into particular tasks such as which | | | | sync the way staff and physicians find comfort |
| templates to create, which templates to use, who | | | | working with the EMR system. A separate |
| reviews templates, and how they will be tested. | | | | database test of the EMR system is accessible |
| For our EMR configuration, IT staff and physicians | | | | from home, via remote desktop services, by any |
| created a workgroup which looks at the clinical | | | | particular member of the work group. |
| template set within the EMR application. The | | | | |