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O U T P AT I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E O N L I N E | S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 5
I D E A S T H A T W O R K
W
hen we implemented
our EHR system, we
took a few key steps
to ensure the transition was as
smooth as possible.
• Have a run-through. On the
Saturday before we went live, we
had staff come in and test out the
system with mock cases. A group of
"super-users" — who had thorough-
ly learned the system ahead of time
— helped the rest of the staff prac-
tice. We paid employees overtime,
and brought in lunch. It was great for staff to work with the system
without the added pressure of actual patients.
• Ask patients for patience. On the day we went live, we placed cards in
our waiting room asking patients for a little patience, as we were
implementing a new EHR system. We also scheduled more time per
case to account for any delays because of the EHR system (though
we didn't adjust the number of patients scheduled per day).
• Consider a backup. To make staff feel more comfortable, and to
lessen the effect of any technical malfunctions, we made sure we had
packs of our paper charts ready for any downtime that might have
occurred.
Jane Zimmerer, RN
The Surgery Center of Central PA
Allenwood, Pa.
janezimmerer@eyecenterofpa.com
P A P E R L E S S P R A C T I C E
Make EHR Implementation Day Run Smoothly
z TRANSITION TIPS
"Super-users" can
train staff on your
new EHR system.
Pamela
Bevelhymer,
RN,
BSN
