Electronic Health Records For Dummies

Evaluating infrastructure and readiness

Think about how your current workflow, well . . . works. Consider the organizational structure of the office, and then ask who does each job and how each job is performed. Think of your office, if you will, as a city. The roads and varied transportation options act as critical components that allow you to get to and from work and social activities. Your practice workflows are the roadways of your clinic — if your office has potholes and road-blocking construction, you and your staff can’t be efficient. You need strong background systems to provide a solid foundation for the people who live and work there.

Ask questions about everyone’s workflow situation, from the top down, including

Physician

Physician assistant

Nurse practitioner

Nurse

Medical assistant

Lab technician

Front office staff

Filing or organizational staff

Billing or back office staff

Office manager

Interns or temporary staff

Have each staff member share a detailed description of a typical day, from the moment he walks in the door to the minute he closes for the night. Have each member include every type of patient or filing interaction he might typically have each day.

Then, ask yourself some big picture questions that encompass more of your corporate philosophy, including

How is your organization situated in every respect — workflow, structure, culture, leadership, and so on ...