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Week 5. EHR Implementation Challenges

Implementing an electronic health record (EHR) system presents many challenges for healthcare organizations. Two-thirds of EHR implementation projects fail due to underestimating the human factors involved in transitioning from a paper-based to digital system. Successful implementation requires management to focus on engaging and training staff, as the technology is less challenging than changing behaviors. Leaders must create a supportive environment, provide resources and clear expectations to help employees understand and embrace the changes needed for a smooth transition to the EHR system.

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Julie Kiselev
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86 views

Week 5. EHR Implementation Challenges

Implementing an electronic health record (EHR) system presents many challenges for healthcare organizations. Two-thirds of EHR implementation projects fail due to underestimating the human factors involved in transitioning from a paper-based to digital system. Successful implementation requires management to focus on engaging and training staff, as the technology is less challenging than changing behaviors. Leaders must create a supportive environment, provide resources and clear expectations to help employees understand and embrace the changes needed for a smooth transition to the EHR system.

Uploaded by

Julie Kiselev
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Running header: EHR IMPLEMENTATION CHALLANGES

EHR Implementation Challenges

Julie Khmelchenko

HCIN – 544 Advanced Health Care Information Management

Tenille Grifford, RN MSN


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EHR IMPLEMENTATION CHALLANGES
EHR Implementation Challenges

Most healthcare organizations face inherent challenges related to changing from a paper-

based data management system to electronic health records (EHR). According to McCarthy and

Eastman, (2010), stated, "only one-third of these projects achieve success, which means two-

thirds fail to meet expectations." The greatest challenge for management is to prepare their

employees for the complicated and messy transition. Theoretically, installing an EHR system is

simple for IT professionals, but the human factor creates complications that are deemed as

people's issues to utilize the system. McCarthy and Eastman (2010) presented a few examples of

the social factors that affect the successful transition, "different frames of reference,

backgrounds, experience with technology. Organizational history and experience with other

larger-scale change projects. Level of resistance, fear, ability to deal with ambiguity." Therefore,

management needs to invest time in their employees to find the best approaches to match duties

and tasks based on the strength and skills of the team members. The management needs to find a

balance between EHR deployment and equipping staff to reach critical business objectives by

accommodating employees with technical capabilities that make new processes possible and by

involving them in changing their behavior to effectively use the new skills to generate desired

results (McCarthy and Eastman, 2010). There should be less focus on technology and its

capabilities, and more emphasis on creating value by engaging people in the process to have a

smoother transition.

The steady transition from paper-based to the EHR system is possible if leaders are

capable of creating a supportive environment with synergy, provide needed training, resources,

clear directions and expectations, engage its staff, include them in the process, and reinforce

desired new behaviors (McCarthy and Eastman, 2010). Successful leaders need to be equipped
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EHR IMPLEMENTATION CHALLANGES
with skills like vision, coalition building, communication skills, interpersonal skills, and

motivation. Additionally, they require strategic planning to achieve set results. Moreover, it is

beneficial for leaders to use given resources such as the RAPSIES model to drive change to the

finish line. Barr and Dowding (2019) presented the seven-step RAPSIES model, "1. Recognizing

the need for an improvement in practice. 2. Analyzing options for change-setting, identifying

people involved. 3. Preparing for change - identifying change agent, the intended outcomes and

education required. 4. Strategies for change process. 5. Implementing the change: piloting and

timing. 6. Evaluation against intended outcomes. 7. Sustaining the change." The leaders are

successful in adapting change when they help employees to understand and internalize change

and by preparing them to be successful contributors in the future state. Consequently, effective

management delivers successful migration to EHR, through a process of cultivating employees

who are willing and able to use an EHR in a manner that meets the requirements of the job,

patients, and the organization (McCarthy and Eastman, 2010).


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EHR IMPLEMENTATION CHALLANGES
Reference

Barr, J. & Dowding, L. (2019). Leadership in Health Care (4th Ed). SAGE Publications Ltd

McCarty, C. & Eastman, D. (2010). Change management strategies for an effective EMR

implementation. HIMSS [PDF]. Retrieved from

www.dphu.org/uploads/attachements/books/books_5083_0.pdf

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