Are You Overwhelmed by Your EMR Choices?
An Electronic Medical Record (EMR) system can have the power to transform an organization into an efficient, streamlined paperless or nearly paperless environment. Unfortunately, the number, variety and complexity of EMR systems available, the rapid advancement of technology, and the newness of the market make it difficult to compare the features and benefits of EMR systems and make the search for one seem overwhelming and intimidating.

Outlook Associates can help you understand the choices available, help you determine whether your organization is ready for an EMR system and help you select and implement the system best suited to meet your unique requirements. The following is a summary of the EMR services we provide:

EMR Workshop
A three-hour, practical, vendor-neutral educational program on EMR systems and components, requirements, benefits, costs, impacts and other considerations to help you think through your financial, business, technical and management readiness to move forward with an EMR system. This workshop:

• Gives the attendees a clear, common understanding of EMR terminology, components, implications and options regarding EMR systems.
• Provides tools and methods for assessing your organization's readiness for implementing an EMR system and the potential benefits and costs.
• Provides instructions, tools and methods for evaluating and selecting the best system for your organization.

EMR Readiness Assessment
A two to three day in-depth review of your organization to determine its readiness for an EMR system, goals for implementing an EMR system, the specific benefits and obstacles it can expect with an EMR system and the estimated costs and savings associated with moving forward with an EMR system. This assessment:

• Gives your organization a knowledgeable, objective analysis of its readiness for automating portions or all of its charting and medical records activities and document management.
• Provides estimated costs and Return on Investment (ROI) analysis for making an EMR selection decision and for budget planning.

EMR System Evaluation and Selection
Guides your organization through the requirements analysis, product evaluation and selection activities to assure it selects the best possible system to meet its business, clinical, budget and support requirements. This also provides:

• Guided processes to assure an accurate "apples to apples" comparison of vendors, products, costs, and other considerations to support a well-informed EMR system vendor and software selection.
• Prioritized functional and technical requirements.
• Accurate costs for initial and on-going system usage and support.

EMR Implementation Planning and Workflow Redesign
An in-depth planning process that guides your organization through the clinical, business and facility workflow considerations and implications involved in implementing its selected EMR system. The process also assists in implementation. Outcomes include:

• Facilitated agreement on the most effective approach for phasing in system features for best possible use and acceptance by clinical and business staff.
• Preliminary redesign of workflows and processes addressing key decisions for clinical use and efficiency, business integration and facility changes to achieve maximum value from the EMR system.
• A detailed implementation project work plan documenting tasks, dependencies, milestones and timelines and delineating responsibilities between your organization and vendor team members.
• Acceptance testing scenarios and criteria that must be met for milestone payments to the vendor.

EMR Implementation Project Management
Hands-on, detailed involvement with the vendor and your organization's implementation team members in day-to-day managing and executing the implementation, testing, training, and "go-live" activities associated with the EMR migration.

The process also provides sound medical-legal advice in the areas of "scope of practice" and regulatory compliance. Other benefits include:

• Detailed analysis and redesign of clinical and business processes and flows to gain maximum value from the EMR system with full consideration for clinical needs.
• Accurate and thoroughly built master files.
• Tested workflows and processes.
• Well-executed training plan with materials to support workflows and processes.
• A successful "live" use of your organization's new EMR system
• Well-trained, system-savvy staff able to support the system on an on-going basis.