Last week two of Galen’s own hosted the #HITsm (healthcare IT social media) community chat on Twitter. Justin Campbell (@tjustincampbell) and Julie Champagne (@JulieEChampagne) held the discussion on EHR Optimization where we weighed optimization against replacement, discussed EHR optimization opportunities and barriers, and considered EHR optimization levers, effort, KPIs, and ROI.

LEARN ABOUT EMR CLINICAL OPTIMIZATION BEST PRACTICES, PERSPECTIVES, AND TIPS & TRICKS HERE

We used the following 6 questions as the framework. Here are the top 10 insights from them:

T1: How did the big-bang implementation approaches contribute to EMR inefficiencies and what can be done to mitigate?

T1 Too many drank #EHR koolaid that it would fix all. Now we have to go back to basics & fit tech into daily lives of users. #HITsm

— Colin Hung (@Colin_Hung) June 30, 2017

Imagine if Lebron-WHILE PLAYING-had to keep his own stats & document every move? What would he accomplish? –>docs current #EHR mess #HITsm pic.twitter.com/zLJy78h54K

— Nicholas DiNubile MD (@drnickUSA) June 30, 2017

IMO #Interoperability is a manufactured crisis. Please read this insightful piece by @DrMikeKoriwchak 2 C Y https://t.co/WtiDOj4tIn #HITsm https://t.co/l9F5jqDBzN

— Chuck Webster MDMSIE (@wareFLO) June 30, 2017

T2: What is it about current EMR technology that contributes directly to physician inefficiency?

T2: Too many clicks, systems aren’t intuitive, more time is spent on the computer to document a single problem than w/ patient #hitsm pic.twitter.com/HqLffr9H2M

— Julie Champagne (@JulieEChampagne) June 30, 2017

Physicians are intended to be diagnosticians practicing artful science of medicine. NOT data-entry clerks. #HITsm https://t.co/iYHQPw2mxs

— Mandi Bishop (@MandiBPro) June 30, 2017

T2: Imagine writing a novel in Excel. That’d be annoying and not at all efficient. Can it be done? Yes. Would you want to? No. #HITsm

— Monica Stout (@MI_turnaround) June 30, 2017

T3: How do you get providers engaged in an optimization initiative if they are disenchanted with the product and suffering from burnout?

A3 look for success stories and emulate-don't reinvent the wheel here #HITsm

— Lea Chatham (@LeaChatham) June 30, 2017

Don't call it an #EHR. #HITsm https://t.co/6sLuq0KcIW

— Chuck Webster MDMSIE (@wareFLO) June 30, 2017

T4: How can clinical workflows be adjusted to improve physician-patient interactions by removing EHR technology and data entry as an obstacle to F2F interaction?

T4: When the technology matches the clinical workflow, more F2F time with patients will happen. #HITsm

— Monica Stout (@MI_turnaround) June 30, 2017

We talk about personalized/precision medicine yet accept #EHR that spit out templated white noise unreadable notes describing no one #HITsm

— Nicholas DiNubile MD (@drnickUSA) June 30, 2017

T5: What are the most common barriers to EHR optimization and how are they overcome?

T5 Common barrier = #EHR fatigue. Hard to get up off the mat & go another round to try & fix problems…yet we need to #HITsm pic.twitter.com/9fCxlUaQc0

— Colin Hung (@Colin_Hung) June 30, 2017

T5: Pinpointing what needs to be optimized – rationalize your application portfolio then prioritize prioritize prioritize #hitsm pic.twitter.com/bMLmNjG5lm

— Julie Champagne (@JulieEChampagne) June 30, 2017

Bonus: What amount (if any) of ROI should HDOs expect from EHR optimization and is it worth the effort?

More important than #ROI is perhaps improved usability and better clinician engagement; improved use of system – @JBHealthIT #hitsm pic.twitter.com/A2LJV1A73j

— Justin Campbell (@tjustincampbell) June 30, 2017

To learn more about the #HITsm chat overview visit EMR & HIPAA, or check out the full tweet chat transcript here. If you’re interested in how Galen can help with your optimization efforts, view our full suite of services, or contact us below: