A Complete Team = A Complete Build
By Robyn Kessler

Having a clinician on your ambulatory or inpatient team can bring an unparalleled wealth of information to a build. Analysts spend countless hours observing, researching, and questioning; trying to figure out what actually goes on in a clinic, or on a unit. This is followed by many more hours interpreting what the end user wants and needs. Determining the correct build for the system and the best maintenance plan going forward is imperative. This is based on a in depth knowledge about what end users want and need. Knowing the system, understanding the user’s needs, and then communicating to the build team is essential for a solid build foundation and allows for successful future enhancements.

Working through the problem solving process versus jumping to the solution is an important part of the build process. A solution request from the user is a disguised problem statement. Ask yourself, what problem they are trying to solve with the given solution? Understanding what they are trying to accomplish makes the task of delivering that solution much easier and helps ensure a stable and smooth transition to an EMR. Having a clinician on the team can help translate why the end user is requesting their solution. This understanding, combined with an in depth system capability knowledge, allows for a timely and appropriate resolution for users.

Never make the programmer guess. The more detailed the spec, the closer you can deliver what the end user is looking to achieve. Communicating in a manner that the end user can relate creates the confidence that you understand and will be able to meet their needs. Knowing the system and delivering solutions in a timely fashion builds a relationship and lessens frustration for the end user. This relationship is vital for acceptance of a new or enhanced system.

Having a clinician on your team that is involved in the design and build of your system can be a positive resource. Having a physician, PA/NP or a RN is important, but techs can also play an important role for your build. Lab techs, respiratory techs, and nursing assistants from different disciplines are crucial to building out an entire hospital. Someone who understands the day-to-day process and can translate into computer lingo will be a great asset to any team. Helping the user design what they are looking for with the tools available creates a happier user and therefore less changes to your system. Once the build is live, changing the system may have negative repercussions. A well balanced implementation or optimization team can add priceless resources to your team that will pay off, because in the end, it’s all about the patient!

For more tips on building a build team contact us at (610)444.1233 or vcs@getvitalized.com. You can also find more information about VCS’ services and solutions at www.getvitalized.com.