What to Consider Before Switching EHR Vendors

If there is one word that can accurately describe health care in recent years, it’s “change.” The entire health care landscape, from the way that health care is delivered to the way it’s billed and paid for, is in a state of flux. As a result, many providers are looking for ways meet the new standards imposed by the government and regulatory agencies, while still providing quality care and maintaining a healthy bottom line. One of the biggest changes to the health care industry in recent years has been the adoption of electronic health records, or EHRs. Now that everyone is “online,” CMS is looking for evidence of meaningful use of the technology. It’s this second phase of EHR adoption that has many providers re-evaluating their EHR programs, and considering switching vendors. Issues with usability, functionality, security, among other issues, are leading providers to explore their options. However, moving to a new EHR vendor isn’t as simple as installing some new software and migrating records. It’s a complex, lengthy, and in some cases, expensive, process that requires extensive research and consideration. Costr Cost is undoubtedly a conce for any agency or provider. However, just because the initial cost of a vendor solution is lower than your current expenditure doesn’t mean that you need to make a switch. You need to consider not only the cost of the solution, but the costs inherent in the migration of data, training of staff, and the ongoing maintenance of the program. Conduct a cost-benefit analysis of the new solution to determine if you will see a significant return on investment. Are the additional functions and features of a newer program worth the increased cost? Would a new program be more reliable? Be sure to consider all of the factors that play into a vendor’s fees. You need to also consider the costs of not switching vendors. If your current vendor cannot keep up with the changes in the industry, or slows down your workflow, you could miss out on incentive payments that are vital to your company’s bottom line. While switching incurs costs, not switching could prove costlier in the end. Data Compatibilityr There are literally hundreds of health IT vendors and EHR products in the marketplace, each with its own methodology for capturing and storing data. Switching to a new vendor, then, can create discrepancies in the historical data. Something as simple as recording data in different fields can cause significant issues, so consider data conversion and migration methodologies and strategy when choosing a solution. You must have access historical data, and be able to integrate it with new data to preserve both the continuity of care and employee productivity. Choose a vendor that will partner with you to develop a migration strategy that preserves your existing data to save time, money, and other issues. Cloud Solutionsr Cloud-based solutions are gaining traction in the health IT field, and for good reason. Cloud solutions are often nimbler than traditional software, and therefore better able to adjust to industry changes. In addition, cloud-based software allows for better, more streamlined patient care in fields like home health care. A cloud-based home care software , for example, allows practitioners to provide better care in the field by giving them access to more patient data while streamlining their documentation. In fact, experts predict significant growth in the home health IT sector in particular due to new and changing standards in the quality of care that can be more effectively addressed with cloud-based solutions. Therefore, when considering a vendor switch, cloud options should be a key consideration. Interoperability and Integrationr When choosing a solution, it’s vital to select one that has a high degree of interoperability with other components. You need to be able to share information and communicate with other systems accurately and securely, and unfortunately, not all solutions offer the degree of compatibility required in health care. If you cannot achieve 100 percent interoperability with a particular solution, there are other option to allow for the exchange of data, but ideally your selection should be as cross-functional as possible. It’s also important to consider a proposed solution in terms of clinical functionality. Many older solutions were developed with an eye toward financial and administrative functions, with less focus on clinical operations. More recent products have better integration of administrative and clinical functions, and represent a better choice for many providers. Be sure to assess the integration and choose a solution that is robust on all fronts. Making a shift to a new EHR vendor is a major decision, one that can take months to implement. However, by addressing all of the important considerations, you can make an investment that will improve your organization’s productivity and performance on key measures.