8 6 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E • A U G U S T 2 0 1 8
Preparing to go live with
an EMR is a daunting and
stressful process, but
there are ways to make
the transition as smooth
and as seamless as possi-
ble.
1. Practice on paper.
Print screen shots of the
electronic record and distribute them to your staff so they can
practice charting by hand and get acclimated to the electronic for-
mat, says Susan Alexander, MSN, RN, CPAN, CSSM, director of
nursing at Reading (Pa.) Hospital SurgiCenter at Spring Ridge.
Store the printouts in binders throughout the facility for staff to
use should the EMR temporarily go down.
2. Learn online. Staff at Reading Hospital SurgiCenter also
received new laptops 6 months before the transition to complete
online modules that let them familiarize themselves with how the
EMR would operate. "When we got rid of paper and went elec-
tronic, it was fairly seamless because the staff was already famil-
iar with the layout of the pages," says Ms. Alexander.
3. Conduct classes. When the Lehigh Valley Health Network
(LVHN) implemented EMRs across its expansive network near
Allentown, Pa., more than 18,000 employees had to be trained.
Your facility won't need to conduct that level of education, but
there are lessons to be learned from how larger facilities prepare
their teams for the go-live date.
4 Keys to a Successful EMR Launch
GOING PAPERLESS
• SCREEN TEST Expert users on staff can help staff and surgeons
get up to speed.
Pamela
Bevelhymer,
RN,
BSN,
CNOR
