REDESIGN TIME...???!!!
By Julie D. Luengas, RN, BSN, MBA
Many organizations are busily moving from one phase to the next, implementing new solution after new solution
to meet the goal of having an Electronic Medical Record. Meanwhile, the clinicians are stating that their current
system doesn’t meet their needs. It creates inefficiencies in their workflow, and/or prevents them from providing
the safest patient care. What is an organization to do? Redesign!
Organizations need to go back and ensure that the solutions implemented early in their Electronic Medical
Record implementation are meeting the clinicians’ needs. The team have learned more about the systems they have
implemented and the technology has improved since the initial implementation. Review and update the requirements.
It is time to meet with the sponsor and key stakeholders from Information Services and the Clinical Departments
to find out what the biggest concerns, challenges, and goals are with the Electronic Medical Record. Collaboration
between Information Services and Clinical Departments is critical to successful implementation of any solution. It
is important for all departments to provide their definition of “success” regarding the project. The evaluator
will need to find out the stakeholders communication preferences and their desired involvement with the project.
Workflow observations should be performed on all shifts open for the department. Everyone should utilize active
inquiry skills while observing and interviewing to prevent conclusions that are not data driven. The clinical
department may realize that there are important questions that they need to answer about their processes. During
gap analysis categorize the proposed changes by the following categories: End User Satisfaction, Regulatory
Requirement, Patient Safety, Technical and or Process Change. Share the initial findings with the key
stakeholders. Additional observations or interviews may be needed.
Develop a list of the recommendations and several project timelines. The clinical department should be given
the opportunity to review the list of recommendations and prioritize the list to meet their specific departmental
and user needs. Post implementation of each recommended change, follow up with the clinical department to
determine if the service provided and or changes made met their expectations and needs.
If you have any questions please email jluengas@getvitalized.com
or contact Kim Tombragel at (610) 444.1233.