TRANSITION TIPS "Super-users" can train staff on your new EHR system.

Paperless Practice
Make EHR Implementation Day Run Smoothly

When we implemented our EHR system, we took a few key steps to ensure the transition was as smooth as possible.

• Have a run-through. On the Saturday before we went live, we had staff come in and test out the system with mock cases. A group of "super-users" — who had thoroughly learned the system ahead of time — helped the rest of the staff practice. We paid employees overtime, and brought in lunch. It was great for staff to work with the system without the added pressure of actual patients.
• Ask patients for patience. On the day we went live, we placed cards in our waiting room asking patients for a little patience, as we were implementing a new EHR system. We also scheduled more time per case to account for any delays because of the EHR system (though we didn't adjust the number of patients scheduled per day).
• Consider a backup. To make staff feel more comfortable, and to lessen the effect of any technical malfunctions, we made sure we had packs of our paper charts ready for any downtime that might have occurred.

Jane Zimmerer, RN
The Surgery Center of Central PA
Allenwood, Pa.
[email protected]