Electronic health records (EHRs) play a pivotal role in streamlining patient care, improving efficiency, and enhancing overall healthcare delivery. But they require constant optimization to match your healthcare organization’s needs and to produce long-term ROI. Here are the essential people and components of a successful Epic EHR optimization team, a team that will be able to offer continuous optimization of features, functionalities, and workflows, while providing training to end users.
The Key People behind Successful Ongoing Epic EHR Support
Clinical Analysts
Their expertise lies in understanding the clinical workflows, identifying pain points, and recommending improvements. They collaborate with end-users to gather insights and ensure that the system supports seamless patient care.
Technical Experts
A team of technical experts, including system administrators and integration specialists, is vital for managing the technical aspects of Epic EHR. They ensure system stability, handle upgrades, and integrate the EHR with other tools in the healthcare ecosystem.
Project Managers
Effective project management is key to successful EHR optimization. Project managers oversee the planning, execution, and monitoring of optimization initiatives, ensuring they align with organizational objectives and are completed within budget and timelines.
End-User Trainers
Trainers work closely with clinical and administrative staff to educate them on new features, updates, and best practices. This proactive approach minimizes resistance to change, enhances user adoption, and can even reduce clinician burnout.
Dr. Patty, our Chief Medical Informatics Officer, on the EHR training-to-burnout connection: “KLAS recently released an impact report… Of the clinicians who reported they were completely burned out, 60% stated they were likely to leave the organization versus only 9% of those who reported no burnout. When those who said they were very dissatisfied with the EHR were asked, 34% stated they were likely to leave the organization. Of those very satisfied with the EHR, only 12% said they were likely to leave the organization. Our experience at Rush and the data from the KLAS Arch Collaborative clearly show a link between EHR satisfaction, burnout, and subsequent clinician turnover.”
Data Analysts
Data analysts play a pivotal role in deriving actionable insights from the vast amounts of data generated by the EHR system and an organization’s users. Their analysis can inform decision-making, identifies trends, and supports evidence-based practices.
The Key Components for Successful Ongoing Epic EHR Support
Staffing Flexibility
Flexibility is crucial for an Epic EHR optimization team to adapt to changing organizational needs and industry trends. Cross-training team members ensures that expertise is not siloed, allowing for a more versatile and responsive team.
Outsourcing certain aspects of EHR optimization can also enhance flexibility. Leveraging external, Epic-certified contractors for specific projects or during peak periods can be a cost-effective strategy, providing access to specialized skills without the long-term commitment.
Speaking of flexibility and staffing, Medix Technology is a trusted Epic EHR staffing partner, offering a new level of staffing flexibility. We have approximately 20 years of experience working on Epic implementations and support efforts at hospitals and health systems across the country, perfecting two staffing solutions along the way:
- MedixDirect – We build new talent pools by identifying non-Epic certified talent from your local market with a strong likelihood to succeed on an Epic project. We pay to have them certified, and place them at your organization at a fraction of the cost of traditional consultants. At the end of the project, if you have a need and they are a good fit, you can convert them to your employees at no conversion cost.
- MedixFlex – With MedixFlex, you can essentially subscribe to Epic-certified talent when you need it, based on project demand, for any type of project or optimization. This allows you to “flex” up and down as your needs arise.
Proactive Monitoring and Maintenance
Regularly monitoring system performance and addressing issues promptly can prevent disruptions and ensure a smooth user experience. Proactive maintenance reduces the risk of costly downtime and supports a more efficient healthcare delivery process.
Alignment with Organizational Goals
The optimization team must be aligned with the broader organizational goals. This ensures that EHR enhancements directly contribute to strategic initiatives, improving patient outcomes, reducing costs, and enhancing overall operational efficiency.
Continuous Training and Support
We already alluded to this. Ongoing training and support for end-users is paramount. Well-trained staff can maximize the use of Epic EHR features, leading to improved efficiency and better patient care. Providing robust support mechanisms ensures quick issue resolution and minimizes disruptions.
Communication is another critical layer here, because updates without communication can be a waste of time and money, particularly when it comes to clinician satisfaction.
Jason Kulaga, our Practice Director of Healthcare Solutions, on communication: “Communication is a key component of clinician satisfaction programs. Oftentimes, organizations have configured and released functionality to better support clinician workflows only to bury the announcement in a 50-page upgrade summary that most clinicians will never take the time to read. Get creative! Lunch and learn sessions, informatics presentations at department meetings, tip sheets, drop-in labs, and other strategies are needed to provide timely, efficient, and consumable information to clinicians.”
Here more from Jason in his recent on-demand webinar, “How to Construct a Cost-Effective and Flexible Epic EHR Optimization Team—and Maximize Return on Your Investment,” which is a part of our Digital Healthcare Technology Summit.
Constructing a cost-effective and flexible Epic EHR optimization team requires a strategic approach that balances technical expertise with a deep understanding of clinical workflows. By fostering flexibility, aligning with organizational goals, and maximizing user training and support, healthcare organizations can ensure their investment in Epic EHR yields the greatest possible return.
Partner with Medix Technology to Assemble Your Best Epic Support Team
We can help you mitigate resource limitations by hiring permanent or temporary staff to become a part of your Epic support team. With our unique solutions, we can accomplish this at a far lower cost compared to traditional consulting firms. You’ll gain the resource flexibility you need, within budget, at any stage and across any module of your Epic EHR.
Contact us today for a free 1:1 consultation with one of our Epic staffing experts. We’ll discuss your unique staffing needs and offer proven best practices and solutions.