Strategy and governance for successful implementation of an enterprise-wide ambulatory EMR.

Coordinating the implementation of an enterprise-wide ambulatory EMR has its challenges both from an IT technology perspective as well as from a clinical workflow perspective. Add to it the complexities of integrating a wide variety of legacy systems, the desire for electronic prescription processes, the need for remote access for doctors and patients, along with the number of physicians from diverse specialties that want to qualify for the federal stimulus funding and you have a summary of the Continuum Health Partners, Inc. (CHP) ongoing Ambulatory EMR project. This article will provide a detailed description of the key benefits to implementing an EMR, typical challenges, key strategies and techniques for managing an implementation, and critical success drivers to be monitored. Using a case study of a healthcare provider that leveraged strategic planning and these techniques, the article will show how an organization can maneuver successfully through the challenges in implementing an EMR and how the initiative can serve as a catalyst for change.