Question

the mid-1950s in a small CASE STUDY The ABC Home Health certified organization Midwestern city. It is accredite mission for Health Care me Health Agency is a nonprofit, Medicare- donganization established in the mid-1950 ity. It is accredited by the Accreditation Com- Health Care, Inc. The agency offers a continuum services that have an individual, itv focus. Clinicians provide services to of preventive and therapeutic servi family, and community focus. Ci The Agency has used an automated billing, statistical, and financial management information system for 15 years. Clini cians enter all patient data using an unstructured, narrative. automated software system. The previous director, who has just retired, did not believe that the cost was justified to imple ment an EHR capable of capturing discreet clinical data to support tracking patient-specific assessment information, identifying the specifics of care, and generating outcome mea sures. You have just been hired as the new director. The board of directors asks you to investigate purchasing an EHR and submit your recommendations to them. employs supervisory, administrar rients ranging in age from infants to elders. The agency os supervisory, administrative, IT, and support staff as well as 45 clinicians: 25 nurses, 10 home care aides, 5 home- makers, 3 physical therapists, 1 occupational therapist, and 1 social worker. Staff members are on call 24 hours a day. ABC Home Health Agency services include (1) skilled home health and hospice; (2) home care aide and homemaker: (3) private duty, including nursing, personal care, and respite care; (4) wellness, flu, and immunization clinics; (5) school health: (6) jail health; and (7) durable medical equipment. There are two hospitals with about 100 beds and 15 physi cians within the service area. The Agency has a good working relationship with both hospitals and the physicians. Many patients followed by the Agency have been referred rvices. Last year the Agency provided 20,345 home visits. o ong Discussion Questions 1. Should you introduce the clinicians to standardized termi- nologies and involve them in discussions about EHRS before contacting potential software vendors? Or should you contact vendors, select the best software, and tell the clinicians what you selected? 2. What steps would you need to complete before reporting to the board of directors? 3. What strategies will likely increase your chances of suc- cess? What strategies will increase your chances of failure? from these services. Last year the Agen

Answer 1

1.As the setup runs in a better condition the implementation of the EHR has to be informed to the physician for their active participation, involvement and implementing. As the physician are aware of the terminology ,a brief discussion can be made with them and their suggestion can be considered before contacting a potential software vendor.It can be difficult if the software is selected and then informed to physician because the needs and the opinion of the physician will be lacking and can lead to unsuccessful implementation..

2.Some of the steps which has to be completed before reporting to the board of directors are

• Conducting a meeting with the physician and getting their suggestions
• Training initiation to the physician, IT department
• Make sure security system is maintained and effectively handled by the information technologists
• Selecting the right vendor
• Choosing of the software from multiple choices and as per the need of the healthcare professionals and the organization
• Assessing for HIPAA compliance
• Cost of maintenance
• Sources available to correct any faults timely

3.The strategy which will increase success is an easy to use software ,properly trained healthcare professionals ,high security we with data encryption of the patient details,etc.,

The strategy which can increase the chance of failure are lack of training, inadequate supply,poor or non HIPAA compliant software.