Written by Tim Pacek Monday, 12 July 2010 11:46

There are dozens of things that have to happen correctly for an practice management or electronic health record solution to be implemented successfully.  Workflow and process transformation performed, a product selected, contracts negotiated, scanning plan developed (you all know how I feel about this), and the list goes on and on. However, there is something intangible that I would like to add to this rather lengthy list that is just as important as any other aspect of an implementation; attitude.

The attitude of the practice makes a world of difference when it comes to the success of an implementation. Now please be aware that I am not talking about the desire of the practice, or whether they like their current EHR or not.  Just because a practice is excited about EHR, does not guarantee that their implementation will go smoothly or be successful.  I have seen physicians that are so excited about the prospect of an EHR that they get involved in all of the minutiae, and their implementation comes to a screeching halt.  What I am referring to is how a practice embraces their implementation.  Some fight the change by dragging their feet, making compromises, or not using the system properly or to its fullest extent.  On the contrary, others put in extra hours to learn and customize the system, develop plans to optimize and use its full functionality, and invest in training.

A practice can choose either route, but the ones that choose the latter, find success faster and easier.  Think of it as jumping off of a diving board.  If you put the effort in to run a little faster, and jump a little higher, you will enter the water smoothly.  Those who are forced to the end of the board and simply jump, make a large splash that reverberates for a while.  EHR implementations are hard, but they are not impossible.  Through all of the toil and frustration stay positive and keep moving.  There will be a day when you look back and say "that wasn't so bad after all."  One thing that we always tell our clients is there is a light at the end of the tunnel, and it is not an oncoming train.  You will make it through the arduous process, but your attitude towards it will determine how quickly and easily you get to the end of the tunnel.