Training

Having the correct training for your staff is an incredibly critical part of the implementation process. The leading cause of failed EHR implementations is the inability to properly train your staff.

When Should Training Happen

Training should occur during off times so you and your staff are not distracted.  Schedule training times so you are sure to take the time to do the training.  When you are ready to "go live", you may choose to lighten your schedule some to accommodate the change you and your staff are making to your office management.  It is good that all staff and providers learn the system prior to the "go live" so be sure to not leave all the training to just one or two members of your team.

How Should the Staff be Trained

The recommended forms of training from your EHR company are both live sessions and training videos.

• Live sessions, with a training consultant on the phone while both of you have the system open in front of you, is the best way for your staff to learn the system.
• Training videos that many EHR companies provide with the software are recommended because they show you every screen you need in order to learn the program.

Who Should be Trained First

Find out which employees are the most technologically savvy. This is usually the younger generations. Especially for large clinics, this will be beneficial to know because they can be trained first and then they can help you train the rest of the staff.

For a smaller clinic this is not recommended because it will be easier and more cost efficient to train everyone at the same time. 

Make Sure Everyone Knows the Basics

When you start training you need to make sure everyone knows the basics such as: how to use a mouse, turning the computer on and off, setting a default printer, familiarity with file hierarchies, following password protocols, and logging on and off. Note: The clinical staff should be savvier about practice management software than the clerical staff.

Minimize Disruptions

In order to help staff stay focused, make sure to minimize disruptions. Have them take notes in case they need to remember specific parts of the program so that they will be able to look back if they need more information on a problem. 

Taking breaks is a good idea as well as providing refreshments to keep everyone focused on the training. Keep in mind that time is money so make sure breaks do not interfere with the training process.

Patience is Key

Learning something new can sometimes be overwhelming. Take it slow and utilize all training and support options that are available to you and your staff.