Chapter 16
Improving and Tweaking the System
In This Chapter
Setting up a support strategy
Constructing reports
Asking for help
Upgrading your EHR
Connecting to the HIE
Someone once said that the only constant is change. It can be true in life and very true with your EHR. Though your new EHR isn’t necessarily a living, breathing entity, it’s managed by living, breathing people — all of whom are capable of affecting how the technology works and changes.
As time goes on, your system needs to change with your practice. Maybe you no longer need some of your EHR’s features, or perhaps you need to add functionality. You might need to improve your reporting capabilities or work to meet new, updated Meaningful Use guidelines (and there will be some, we promise). No matter what kind of change comes your way, you need to be ready to roll with it and improve your systems to meet your practice’s ever-changing needs.
Traveling the Long Road to Get It Right
Life is all about the journey, and your EHR is, too. While familiarizing yourself with what the system offers and what you can accomplish when you use it, you’ll start to make some connections between your goals and your use of the EHR. What you find might surprise you. You may find that you don’t really use as many of the bells and whistles as you thought, or that you need some features less regularly than you thought. The reality is that you’ll most likely take advantage of less than 50 percent of your EHR capabilities and functions. ...
