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5 tips for a successful EHR migration

Published Date
Author Leona Rajaee

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5 tips for a successful EHR migration

5 tips for a successful EHR migration November 10, 2017

You’ve determined that an electronic health record (EHR) system is the solution you need to move your independent practice forward. Now what? Of course, it’s time to migrate all of your data to your new system! You may be migrating from another electronic platform or from paper records. Either way, the task seems daunting. It can be done, smoothly and successfully.

There are a few steps to take to ensure that your EHR migration is seamless and results in an efficient new system for your practice.

  1. Define your parameters. Determine how much data you need to migrate to your new EHR. Parameters may include a timeframe of how far back in your practice’s history you want to go. For current, regular patients, you may want to include their entire patient profile, while you may not need to include lengthy historical data for patients that you have not seen for a number of years.
  2. Set a goal for a firm “go live” date. The migration process can become more frustrating if deadlines for implementation are missed because of busy staff schedules or other factors. Work with your vendor to determine a feasible date and then ensure that your staff is onboard with working toward that firm goal.
  3. Develop your workflow process. EHR Intelligence recommends developing a workflow for the input of data in the migration and on a regular basis once the EHR is up and running.
  4. Check for accuracy and test. During the migration process, particularly if you are uploading information from paper files, you’ll want to be sure all of the information is accurate. Otherwise, your staff will be wasting time making corrections and that becomes frustrating for everyone, including patients. Elation Health will work with you to make sure that your information is uploaded correctly and you’re never without your records.
  5. Train your staff as you work through the migration process. Training staff is a vital part of the process. You will need someone designated as a point person who is “technically savvy and trained to a high degree of proficiency with your new software.”