Running head INFORMATION BRIEFING 1 Information Briefing HCS 483 INFORMATION BRIEFING 2 Information Briefing Introduction There is an accelerating movement toward EHR systems However selecting a system can be a very daunting task There are questions the organization must ask where they plan to start and who or which vendor will they choose We will see just how organizations go about choosing their vendors and how they go about training their employees to become efficient with the system so that it can be a great service to the patient first and the company and those who work for the organization INFORMATION BRIEFING 3 The process for selecting an information system begins with first what the system is going to be used for If the company decides to go with updated EHR system then what has to be decided is will it be for a primary practice group or for a major hospital will there be multiple sites What the encompasses is all of the EMRs and other health information So in the EMR one can locate the patient accounts financial and pharmacy records so this just to name a few In knowing this will help the company pick the system that will work for the patient and other health care providers including the IT department Hence everyone needs to be on board with deciding on a new IT system that will deliver prompt patient information Johnson 2003 Choosing the appropriate vendor is imperative to the selection and maintaining cost Things that the organization will have to keep in mind are the system that is already in place The number of staff and how effective the system that is in place is working and what needs to be changed Hence what also has to be taken into consideration is the workflow within the office The organization goals must be taken into consideration first the financial factor is one of the most important steps If the company does not have an idea what the cost will be Then just start buying additional and unnecessary things that will not be used Then that is considered wasteful and the company is not making sound decisions What most companies have found useful is establishing a work team and has a strategic plan in place These people could include your office manager health care provider or anyone who is able to work in an advisory role Once there is an organized team then the company can work together to develop an overall plan So then the plan begins where do we start then there s a process maybe the company is going from paper records to electronic records Boutelle 2004 The purchase of the system continues with the INFORMATION BRIEFING 4 acquisition process from planning contracting implementing and then the acceptance of the software The involvement of stakeholders has a vested interest in the company So stakeholders can be defined as those persons concern or affected by the organization issues Most often the stakeholders have a monetary interest in the company and stand to lose from the success or failure of the company Hence knowing who the stakeholders are in the organizations is very important You will find many stakeholders as CEO s or CFO s of the company or in management positions Most often stakeholders with this group of people they are most likely to gain acceptance Johnson 2003 Their goals and their methods and the way that they familiarize themselves with the different software In recent years a wider variety of goals have been suggested for a business These include the traditional objective of profit maximization in other words the shareholder concept has not been abandoned However they also include goals relating to earnings per share total sales numbers employed measures of employee welfare manager satisfaction environmental protection and many others Boutelle 2004 INFORMATION BRIEFING 5 Conclusion Ultimately selecting an electronic medical record system for a physician practice involves orientation a careful assessment evaluation and planning before you make a final decision on a product Following a systematic process in preparation for migration will undoubtedly limit the number of problems experienced by the practice Finally input from professional associations consultants other specialties stakeholders will provide the appropriate support and assistance Reference Boutelle J 2004 Understanding Organizational Stakeholders for Design Success Retrieved from http www boxesandarrows com understanding organizational stakeholders for design success Johnson E 2003 Selecting an Electronic Medical Record System for the Physician Retrieved from http library ahima org xpedio groups public INFORMATION BRIEFING 6