Sharing of Lessons learned to create a future successful EHR implementation for YOU

Purpose:
Our purpose is to share lessons learned during UPMC Mercy Hospital's electronic health record (EHR) implementation that enhanced quality with electronic documentation while minimizing the impact on patient care delivery. We migrated from forty systems to the UPMC Corporate Applications in May 2009.

Significance:
UPMC Mercy is a 400+ level I trauma center. Migration to EHR required altering established workflows to ensure quality clinical documentation. Recognizing a lack of documentation on lessons learned from prior implementations, we embraced the opportunity to document our journey to support others.

Strategy and Implementation:
Lessons learned are grouped into three categories: environment and scope of project, existing computer systems and non automated processes, and key resources to support project development. In an effort to bring quick resolution, conference calls were held daily to identify issues and assign the responsible person for resolution of the issue. A share point site was crucial in tracking the issues log and maintaining communication continuously throughout the implementation. Training materials utilized were health system based and not “Mercy” specific. A useful tool would have been a road map or guide linking documentation found in existing systems to where it could be located in the new EHR. In the early phases of the project and throughout implementation, user continuity or a tag team approach would have helped in developing a super user.

Evaluation:
May 2010 UPMC Passavant went live with the UPMC Corporate Suite of Applications. They reviewed the lessons learned from UPMC Mercy's implementation and altered their strategies accordingly. Through direct observation, we witnessed a smooth transition for the staff using the system.

Implications for Practice:
0.7% of US hospitals have achieved HIMSS level 6 certification. UPMC Mercy reached this level in April. Creation of the eRecord council provides a consistent group to evaluate the EHR process. Training materials were enhanced to support actual nursing practice providing the road map to success.