Healthcare Information Technology (IT) can be a complex and expensive undertaking, but it can also be a valuable tool for improving patient care and outcomes. However, if not implemented correctly, health IT can also lead to frustration, wasted resources, and even patient harm. That’s why it’s so important for healthcare organizations to follow best practices when implementing new health IT systems. Some of the most important best practices include strong leadership, well-thought-out planning, communication, and training.
Healthcare Information Technology (IT) can be a complex and expensive undertaking, but it can also be a valuable tool for improving patient care and outcomes. However, if not implemented correctly, health IT can also lead to frustration, wasted resources, and even patient harm.
That’s why it’s so important for healthcare organizations to follow best practices when implementing new health IT systems. In this HIMSSCast podcast, Ryan Oliver, research director at KLAS Research, shares some of the most important best practices for successful health IT implementations.
KLAS Landmark Insights
KLAS Landmark Insights is a research initiative that aims to identify the factors that contribute to successful health IT implementations. The initiative has found that there is a strong correlation between Best in KLAS status and successful implementations. In fact, for more complex systems, the correlation is 100%.
The Beginning of Health IT Implementations
The Beginning of Health IT Implementations is critical to its success. During this time, it’s important to focus on three key areas:
- Leadership: Healthcare organizations need strong leadership to drive the implementation process. This leadership should come from the CIO, but it should also include other key stakeholders, such as clinicians, nurses, and front-line staff.
- Planning: A well-thought-out plan is essential for any successful implementation. The plan should include a timeline, budget, and resource allocation. It should also identify the risks and challenges that could arise during the implementation process.
- Communication: Communication is key to keeping everyone informed about the implementation process. This includes communicating with staff, patients, and the community.
Implementation best practices
In addition to focusing on the beginning of the implementation process, several other best practices can help ensure success. These include:
- Get buy-in from key stakeholders: It’s important to get buy-in from all stakeholders, including clinicians, nurses, and front-line staff. This will help ensure that everyone is on board with the implementation and that there is support for the changes that will be taking place.
- Use a phased approach: A phased approach can help to minimize disruption and make the implementation process more manageable. This involves rolling out the new system in stages, starting with a small group of users and then expanding to the rest of the organization.
- Provide training: It’s crucial to give everyone who will utilize the new system training. Every facet of the system, including how to use it, how to troubleshoot issues, and how to get assistance, should be covered in this thorough training.
- Monitor the implementation: To spot any issues early on, it’s critical to closely monitor the implementation process. This will make it easier to maintain the implementation’s course and guarantee that any problems are dealt with right away.
Following these best practices can help ensure the success of your health IT implementation. By focusing on leadership, planning, communication, and training, you can increase your chances of a smooth and successful implementation.
Additional implementation best practices
In addition to the best practices mentioned above, there are several other things that healthcare organizations can do to improve their chances of a successful health IT implementation. These include:
- Choose the right system: The first step is to choose the right health IT system for your organization. This means considering your needs, your budget, and your timeline.
- Get involved in the selection process: It’s crucial to participate in the selection process once you’ve discovered a few potential systems. You will have the opportunity to learn more about the systems and to pose questions as a result.
- Make sure the system is compatible with your existing systems: Make sure the new system is compatible with any existing health IT systems if you have them or if you haven’t previously. This will assist in preventing any interruptions to your workflow.
- Get buy-in from your staff: Before you put a new health IT system into place, it’s crucial to acquire your staff’s support. This will make it more likely that they will accept the change and be eager to pick up the new system’s usage.
- Provide training and support: After you’ve put the new system in place, it’s crucial to teach and assist your personnel. They can utilize this to troubleshoot any issues they may run into while learning how to use the new system.
By following these best practices, you can increase your chances of a successful health IT implementation.
