HIMSS wrapped up today and as a recap I thought I’d post some interesting conversation topics. First up is a conversation with some good folks at Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital (HMNMH).

How important is it to have a Physician Champion for your EMR projects? According to the two doctors and the Physician Project Manager from HMNMH, there was no doubt that it’s essential. I gleaned from that conversation that one of the overriding concerns of doctors, who have yet to adopt a certified EMR, is that many don’t want to change a system they are already comfortable with. Those doctors need a colleague who have seen the benefits of an EMR; an expert who can optimize the project, provide education, champion the project, mentor staff, and generally be a guide who garners support.  A role that was once defined simply as a “subject matter expert” has evolved into a position of critical importance integral to the success of ERM adoption.

This is no longer a one-way street with the IT department handing down process changes and the Champion promoting them, a good Physician Champion is involved in the entire redesign of processes and workflows, ensuring that changes align with how a clinician thinks and works. (Digitized Medicine).  The goal is to use the Physician Champion’s expertise to structure the project and optimize the way the EMR is used. From structured document templates to order sets and support tools, the Champion is a key player in strategic decision making. Selecting and installing an EMR is just one half of the battle. Participating doctors need to be on board and ready to use their newly adopted systems. A Physician Champion can rally the support needed to bring the whole thing full circle on the Information Superhighway (you know that speedway we were warned about?).

Projects that do not commence with a Physician Champion can experience problems on a variety of levels resulting from a lack of insight and general usage. A Champion is the person who can make a new EMR implementation a win-win for doctors, patients, and IT administrators (maybe a win-win-win?).

Stay tuned for more conversations from HIMSS.

More Reading:

The Healthcare Blog

EMR Selection: The Physician Champion

Are Physician IT Champions Necessary?