Module 2: My Involvement in IS Implementation

What is one way I could become involved in designing, selecting, evaluating or implementing an information system in my workplace?

As a home health nurse I will choose to be involved in the design and selection process of a new EHR at my employment as the representative from the nursing department. This is a switch from paper to electronic charting.  Some of the criteria on the clinical dimension that I will focus on are the following: what tools will clinicians use to enter patient information and how accessible are these tools, are they easy to use, is the EHR accessible at the patient’s home or wherever the patient resides, how is privacy maintained in the home health setting where clinicians are more likely to keep patient records in their cars, does it save time in documentation, and does it improve quality of patient care and contribute to good patient outcomes?

Several years back, I was involved in our transition from paper to electronic OASIS and plans of care. I helped review an EHR program (Misys) that my employer was interested in purchasing. I was involved in evaluating and testing the program’s fit in the home health arena.  I reviewed ease of use, simplicity especially in navigating through all outcome-based assessment questions, and if the medical diagnoses, nursing diagnoses and clinical pathways were based on approved standards. I helped create our company’s standardized clinical pathways (including goals and interventions), yet allowing free-texting for better customization of care plans.  It was exciting when we finally were in the test and evaluation process if it met our expectations. There are always ongoing issues such as system maintenance, privacy, security, and confidentiality,  ongoing training, costs, system failure, and so forth that are all associated with IS and we have to see it as just part of what we do.