ONC Outlines Five Steps for EHR Implementation

Tags: EHR | EHR implementation | electronic health record | meaningful use | ONC

With 2012 around the corner, the Office of the National Coordinator of Health Information Technology has outlined five steps for hospitals, physicians and other providers to start the transition to an electronic health record platform if they have not started already.

1. Assess your readiness. Assessing the goals, needs and financial and technical readiness is the starting point of any implementation program.

2. Plan your approach. Planning draws on the information from the assessment phase, which outlines the actual steps that need to be taken.

3. Select or upgrade to a certified EHR. Eligible hospitals and eligible healthcare professionals must use a certified EHR in order to meet meaningful use and quality standards — and the incentive payments associated with them.

4. Conduct training, and implement an EHR system. Training, a mock "go-live" and pilot testing should also be a part of this step.

5. Achieve meaningful use and quality improvement. The end goal of any EHR project should be the successful attestation of meaningful use of one's EHR system.

Related Articles on EHR Implementation:

Ahead of the Meaningful Use Curve: Q&A With CEO Chuck Sted and CIO Steve Robertson of Hawaii Pacific Health

JAMIA: ED Throughput Can Be Slowed by EHR Implementation

Is Your EHR Implementation in Trouble? 10 Things to Check

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