Providers everywhere are weighing whether or not they want to implement an entirely new Electronic Health Record at their practice.

Integrating any new technology can take a huge amount of time and resources and if you make the wrong choice in vendor or software, it might not be worth the effort. In order to pick the right software partner, experience simple EHR implementation, and have the backup and support you need throughout the process, follow these 5 steps for successful EHR Implementation.

1. Determine What is Important
   Each practice is different and in order to find the software that fits you best, you need to have a clear idea in mind of what is important to your team. This might include details like customizable templates, tailored workflow, visual tools, and more.

   By making a list of the details that are important to your organization, you are able to assess what a vendor is able to offer throughout EHR implementation, and determine if they would be a good fit. This is helpful for weeding out certain vendors and narrowing your list to only the ones that could lead to success.

2. Detail Your Processes
   Each practice and each person on your team works differently. It is vital that you map out how your practice accomplishes important daily tasks, what things you are happy with, and what things you might want to change.

   Detail each process at your practice so you know if the software will complement the unique workflow and identity of your organization or if it won’t. Nothing is more frustrating then and EHR implementation where the technology and vendor try to uproot and completely change how your practice works best.

3.  Determine Your Options
   The next step to a successful EHR implementation is to determine which vendors and technology are possible options for your practice. This might involve asking around to your peers about which software they use, how their EHR implementation went, or who you should avoid.

   This is a great way to find out which software has been successful first hand for those in similar situations as you. A great tip for seeing how successful a vendor has been in the past is to ask them for case studies or reviews. The more success stories a vendor is able to share, the better chances your practice will have at a successful EHR implementation, as well.

4. Get a Demo
   Lastly, before deciding on which vendor you want to work with for your EHR implementation, ask for a demo. This is a great opportunity to see the software up close, understand how it works, and get important feedback from the members of your staff who use it most.
   This can help your team determine which option feels the most comfortable or is the best fit. The better fit a software is, the simpler your EHR implementation will be, and the quicker you can return to business as usual.
5.  Hands-on Training
   Once your practice has decided on which software they are going to implement, what your vendor is willing to do next says a lot about how your EHR implementation will go. Finding a vendor who offers hands-on, on-site training for your team is essential to a successful implementation.

   Having a partner nearby to answer important questions as they come up, address kinks in the process as they appear, and work closely to help your team understand how to use the technology will make for a better experience for everyone involved and reduce frustrations along the way.

   Once the vendor has stepped away, offering quality customer support is vital to the continued success of your EHR implementation
   To learn more about an EHR/practice management solution that can help your practice, click here.