EHR Consult: Productivity

Steps to Protect Productivity

Practitioners may not be able to see as many patients as they normally do while they are learning how to use an EHR. Here is some advice from three Vermont physicians on how to handle the productivity issue.

• Plan for the impact. Include temporary changes in productivity as part of the EHR budget. However, also factor in that reminders generated by the EHR will prompt providers to do more services like EKGs and immunizations that can be billed.
   
• Have all hands on deck. There was no loss in productivity or patient volume at White River Family Practice because of the way providers were scheduled during the training process. Usually only five of the practice’s nine providers are on site at any one time, seeing patients in 11 exam rooms. During training, all nine providers were on site at the same time -- working at half-speed. The 11 exam rooms remained in full use.
   
• Provide back up support. Practitioners working at Evergreen Family Health in Williston took turns being available during their non-scheduled time to see overflow patients during go-live and training.
   
• Make templates, share tips. While learning the EHR, practitioners at Winooski Family Health met weekly to make templates together and share tips and tricks for efficient EHR use.

There is much more to managing EHR implementation so that the impact on productivity is minimized. VITL’s experienced EHR implementation specialists can help you design a plan. To learn more about VITL’s services, click here or contact Larry Gilbert at 802-839-1943 or email lgilbert@vitl.net