There's no question that healthcare today is evolving from a paper-driven industry into one that, like many other businesses, is ruled by computers. Ever since the advent of the electronic health record, more and more practitioners have been trading in their ballpoint pens and notepads for monitors and keyboards. And while certain areas within the healthcare industry have been slower to embrace the trend than others, on a whole, the idea of the EHR finally seems to be catching on.
Despite the sluggish yet steady progress of EHR implementation among healthcare professionals over the past few years, a fair amount of resistance to the idea still exists - particularly in the non-hospital setting. On the administrative end, one can't argue the fact that EHR implementation comes with a number of costs. Not only does such software tend to be pricey, but for many, the idea of taking the time out to train employees on how to use such systems is enough to make them reconsider the notion of upgrading to a more efficient business model.
When it comes to EHR implementation, training is perhaps the single most difficult hurdle to overcome. While some members of the healthcare profession are certainly more technologically adept than others, caregivers such as nurses and home health aides are known more so as being compassionate and attentive, and less so as being electronically savvy. This means that when it comes to EHR training, owners of private practices and hospice and happinesslifetime.com home care agency administrators are going to have to cater to the greatest technophobes on their respective teams.
There's also no ignoring the fact that when it comes embracing the technology behind EHRs, age is certainly part of the dynamic. Those in the healthcare industry who grew up using computers are bound to have an easier time growing comfortable with the idea of the electronic health record as compared to providers whose homes today are still stocked with typewriters and cassette players. And from a training perspective, anyone who doesn't already know how to use a computer on a basic level is going to face additional challenges when learning how to use a new electronic health record system.
The important thing to recognize, therefore, is that EHR training is not something that can simply be taken lightly, and there's virtually no getting around the fact that during the average EHR rollout, a degree of productivity is going to suffer. The key, however, is to facilitate training in a manner that allows employees to learn their new systems without compromising patient care in the interim - a task that historically has proven to be easier said than done. Fortunately, there is the option of throwing some extra money at the problem in the form of backup staff members and added administrative support - whatever it takes to make the transition period as smooth as possible on the patients involved while enabling caregivers to learn their EHR systems inside and out.
And speaking of caregivers, there's a good chance that many will resist the notion of going electronic - at least at first. After all, it takes a special breed of person to work as a caregiver, but those characteristics don't always translate into a willingness to embrace technology. On the other hand, for every caregiver who clings tightly to her pad of paper, there's bound to be another who is more than happy to get on board with the notion of learning to use an EHR system - especially since doing so can only make her more marketable down the line. From an administrative standpoint, those in positions of power should be prepared to address employee concerns about moving over to what is essentially a brand new way of life; but more importantly, they should also be prepared to pay employees for the necessary periods of training.
Just when can administrators expect to see a return on such training investments? There's no hard and fast formula, but over time, what is spent on additional training resources will be more than recouped in increased productivity and patient satisfaction. In fact, many practitioners who have been using EHRs for years will agree that while it's hard to put an exact price tag on improved patient care and a more efficient workflow, there's just something about seeing employees use an EHR system with ease that makes the investment extremely worthwhile.
Of course, this does beg the question: If EHRs are really so wonderful, then why aren't more healthcare professionals jumping on board? According to a survey conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics, as of 2008, 41.5 percent of physicians reported using some sort of EHR system in their office environments. While this figure is up from 34.8 as of 2007, interestingly enough, preliminary estimates from the 2009 survey are showing that the number of physicians using EHRs for non-billing purposes has only climbed to 43.9 percent - not a very impressive jump. While confusion over government reimbursement criteria and the ongoing meaningful use debate have no doubt contributed to these more moderate numbers of late, one can't help but wonder if the idea of implementing a successful training program is causing many to cower in the face of software vendors knocking at their doors.
As financially and logistically overwhelming as the notion may seem, the fact of the matter is that there are good EHR training programs and resources out there - the key is knowing where to find them and accepting the necessary costs that come along with them. According to Beth Carpenter of Beth Carpenter and Associates, when it comes to EHR implementation, slow and steady doesn't win the race. To get employees up to speed in a manner that will serve them and their patients well, administrators need to set expectations and stick to them firmly. Whether it takes several weeks or several months, the key is to maintain a solid level of intensity until all members of a given staff are well-versed in how their EHR software operates. Furthermore, it's imperative that staff members be given an opportunity for remediation in the event that they fail to grasp certain key concepts during the initial go round. And if all of this has to come at an additional cost to those in the process of implementing such system, then so be it.
There's no question that orchestrating the right amount of EHR training comes with a number of operational challenges that those in charge will need to address, but those implementing electronic health records might as well go the extra distance by doing things right. For as nifty and progressive as today's EHR software choices might be, there's no way to make them run themselves; and until technology finds a way to take users out of the equation, an EHR system is only going to be as useful as the training that comes along with it.
Roger Shindell,
Founder & CEO,
Carosh Media & Marketing
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