Hospital executives shared what they learned during their meaningful use stage one experience as well as critical success factors in a white paper by CareTech Solutions, a hospital and healthcare IT services company.
The hospitals include Holy Family Memorial Medical Center in Manitowoc, Wis.; Crittenton Hospital Medical Center in Rochester, Mich.; Yampa Valley Medical Center in Steamboat Springs, Colo.; and Detroit Medical Center, among others.
CareTech Solutions conducted interviews with hospital executives, which revealed eight lessons and five success factors:
Lessons learned
1. Expect vendor delays.
2. Stay flexible regarding software.
3. Meaningful use is not easier if you are a small facility.
4. Understand entire organization's needs and requirements.
5. Don't focus just on the physicians and nursing staff.
6. The IT department can't "own" the project.
7. The discharge area provided a challenge.
8. Break the large project down into manageable components.
Success factors
1. Strong, clear, unmistakable support from the top.
2. An early start; a detailed plan.
3. A communications approach that works.
4. Simultaneous implementation.
5. An experienced partner with knowledge of available options.
According to the white paper, these themes were common regardless of facility size or complexity.
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The hospitals include Holy Family Memorial Medical Center in Manitowoc, Wis.; Crittenton Hospital Medical Center in Rochester, Mich.; Yampa Valley Medical Center in Steamboat Springs, Colo.; and Detroit Medical Center, among others.
CareTech Solutions conducted interviews with hospital executives, which revealed eight lessons and five success factors:
Lessons learned
1. Expect vendor delays.
2. Stay flexible regarding software.
3. Meaningful use is not easier if you are a small facility.
4. Understand entire organization's needs and requirements.
5. Don't focus just on the physicians and nursing staff.
6. The IT department can't "own" the project.
7. The discharge area provided a challenge.
8. Break the large project down into manageable components.
Success factors
1. Strong, clear, unmistakable support from the top.
2. An early start; a detailed plan.
3. A communications approach that works.
4. Simultaneous implementation.
5. An experienced partner with knowledge of available options.
According to the white paper, these themes were common regardless of facility size or complexity.
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