Financial parameters
You already know what sorts of costs you will incur with EHR adoption and implementation. However, you’re bound to run into a fair amount of fine print when it comes time to signing the contract. To avoid any big, earth-shaking surprises, make sure you understand the financial expectations of migrating to EHR. Discuss the following with your vendor rep prior to making your relationship official:
How do software license fees work? Do we have to purchase multiple licenses or renew them at any time? Are the licenses sold per practice, physician, or user? How do you account for part-time employee usage?
How do you provide access to databases, such as code sets or journals? Is there a license that we must pay for, or is access included in your overall cost?
What is covered under your standard maintenance policy? Is there anything we have to pay extra for to have serviced?
What support is included in your package?
Will there be regular updates or enhancements that we have to purchase, or are they optional?
How much does having you preload existing charts cost?
What is your best estimate of the cost for loss in productivity during implementation and go-live? Get the vendor’s estimate, based upon actual experience, on how long your reduced patient load will last.
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