Key Takeaways

• EHR optimization requires collaboration between clinical and IT teams, focusing on workflow redesign.
• Continuous assessment and adaptation of EHR systems are essential, starting from the very beginning of implementation.
• Successful organizations maintain a long-term roadmap for ongoing EHR enhancements and address inefficiencies as they arise.

The Importance of Collaboration in EHR Workflows

As electronic health records (EHR) become more integral to healthcare operations, the collaboration between clinical and IT teams is paramount, especially during mergers and acquisitions. While due diligence is often conducted, it typically doesn’t delve deeply into workflow complexities. This oversight means the incoming organization may unknowingly assume inefficiencies and challenges in the EHR it inherits.

Transitioning to a new EHR system is not an overnight task. The inherited structure influences clinical workflows for years. Effective integration starts with a detailed assessment of the current versus desired state of EHR workflows, which must involve clinical stakeholders. Clinicians need to comprehend both current EHR functionalities and planned changes while highlighting inefficiencies that impede patient care.

Previously viewed predominantly as IT projects, EHR systems now necessitate continuous collaboration between clinical and IT departments. Establishing a structured multidisciplinary steering committee, led by clinicians, is essential. This team should manage intake, prioritize needs, and oversee the enhancement backlog of the EHR system. It’s crucial to consider every component that impacts patient care, including revenue cycle and radiology, to ensure a comprehensive approach that follows the patient journey.

Further bridging the gap between clinical and IT perspectives are collaborations like that of ReMedi and CDW. This partnership enhances clinician adoption by leveraging healthcare expertise from both sides. Clinicians with direct experience using the EHR lead workflow assessments and optimization sessions, ensuring that the redesigned processes accurately reflect real-world care delivery.

Moreover, any redesigned workflow is only effective if supported by the right technology environment. CDW’s healthcare IT teams guarantee that the requisite infrastructure—encompassing devices, network access, and overall system reliability—supports the new workflows.

In terms of timing, EHR optimization should begin at the start of implementation. Organizations excelling in this area maintain a forward-thinking roadmap that distinguishes immediate priorities from long-term goals. They view optimization as an ongoing cycle, rather than a one-off task. Given that EHR vendors continually introduce new modules and enhancements, organizations must remain proactive and responsive to these developments.

Failing to adopt an iterative approach can lead to stagnation. Care teams may find themselves relying on outdated workflows seven or eight years post-launch, even if significant advancements have been made in features and processes. Clinicians often adapt to these inefficiencies, becoming accustomed to lengthy, cumbersome tasks despite new potential solutions. Collaborating with partners possessing clinical insights and EHR user experience proves invaluable in driving necessary changes.

As organizations strive to improve their EHR systems, fostering collaboration between clinical and IT teams will be essential for achieving streamlined workflows and optimized patient care.

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