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10 Steps to Select the Right EHR from Right Vendor
February 03, 2010
By:
Kevin Miller
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In order to select the right EHR for your practice, you should be ready with a thorough plan. It is important that to choose the right EHR software for your practice so you should follow a logical and systematic selection process. Following the steps given below could help you in choosing the right EHR software solution for your practice:
Identification of Decision Makers
It is important to have a selected committee in place that will be responsible to take decisions with respect to selection of EHR. A senior physician should lead this committee. This is important because a physician will have appropriate knowledge and understanding hence will be able to explain and propagate things to his colleagues easily.
Establishing the Goals
You and your team should have a complete clarity on the objectives for EHR implementation. You should carefully prioritize your needs and set realistic expectations with your team before selecting EHR.
Preparing a Request for Proposal (RFP)
RFP will tell your vendor about the resources and priorities in terms of EHR functionality. It will allow EHR vendors to know your requirements and submit their proposals accordingly; you will then be able to choose the right software from a vendor that promises best solutions matching your needs.
Selection of the RFP Participants
Three different criteria should be used in order to select the RFP participants. These are: the software should have a history of interfacing with your Practice Management System, the EHR being selected is being marketed for practices of your size and the selected EHR should also have a favorable published rating.
Reviewing the Responses to RFPs
Once you receive the responses to your RFP, you should now review them carefully. You should focus on picking the top contenders who should visit you and demonstrate their systems respectively.
Attending Vendor Demonstrations
Vendors should arrive for the planned demonstrations along with two to four people and a skilled software presenter. During the demonstrations, it is important to understand the working of EHR system with respect to one or two patient scenarios. You should also focus on the working of EHR with respect to finding information, viewing labs, managing health maintenance reminders, writing prescriptions, etc.
Do a Reference Check
You should always do a reference check for all the vendors that are being considered by you. The references should include a senior physician, IT person and a top management person.
Ranking the Vendors and Conducting Site Visits
After reference check, now rank the vendors and finally narrow down your choices to 2-3 vendors. The vendors should be ranked by considering the different aspects such as functionality, total cost and vendor characteristics. Plan site visits to see how their systems perform.
Selecting the Final Vendor and Negotiating Contract
Select the final vendor after evaluating the different vendors when you have visited them on their sites. You should always have a back up choice so as to gain leverage during the negotiation process.
After Sales Service and Support Agreement
You should be very clear on issues like EMR support, training and troubleshooting as EHR vendors tend to get away once the software has been sold. So, you should make it part of the contract and should negotiate a bundled deal inclusive of all support and training services.
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EMR Vendor
Electronic Health Records
EHR Selection
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