Reference no: EM133048810

River Forks Clinic

River Forks Clinic is a community-based outpatient clinic providing family medicine healthcare in a large city, with three full-time physicians, two nurse practitioners, a physician's assistant, three medical assistants, and two medical technicians. Open six days a week, the clinic averages 90 patient visits per day. The clinic maintains a master patient index (MPI) on the computer and has a computerized scheduling and billing system. Recently, the clinic implemented Open Notes and patient portals which allow patients to read doctor notes online. The clinic implemented e-prescribing, as well. Bill Brad is the administrator of River Forks Clinic. Knowing that the clinic needed to improve the use of the health information systems and move toward a complete EHR system, Bill hired your team of HIM consultants to help with strategic planning and other ongoing needs pertaining to health IT.

By now, you have familiarized yourself with River Forks Clinic and even analyzed its status in terms of health IT. This week, you learn that the EHR systems Bill has been considering are EPIC, Cerner, and eClinical Works. You also learn that the clinic is juggling with the idea of becoming part of an accountable care organization (ACO). In relation to the financial status, Bill is under the impression that the costs of an EHR would be about $170,000-200,000. Considering this new information, this week your team will focus on the following tasks.

1. Develop at least 4 key SMART goals that reflect the vision of this facility. Expand by how the implementation of a full EHR would contribute to achieving these goals.
2. Identify some of the processes that are most likely to be in place at this facility, given the current systems (which you analyzed in week 1). Identify some key aspects that are likely to change with the implementation of an EHR (despite which system is selected).
3. Given the mixture in staff (many have been doing their work the same way for 30 years and some have started using Open Notes and e-prescribing in the last couple of years) prepare a communication plan for changes that about to come to this organization.

Valley View Hospital System

Valley View Hospital System serves a population of about 200,000. The main campus hospital has 120 beds, and the other has 100 beds. Both hospitals use the same health information systems vendor, Cerner for some of the systems but do not have a complete EHR system and are not networked to exchange patient data. Those systems are somewhat old and include registration, nursing notes, medication administration, and physician order entry. Other ancillary systems, such as the clinical laboratory, radiology, pharmacy, and dietary, are different in each hospital (some from Cerner and some from other vendors). Maintenance and Information System personnel costs for the disparate systems are unreasonably high, because the hospital system cannot capitalize on economies of scale. Information is not readily accessible for analysis for either business purposes or evaluation of quality of care. Strategically, the hospital knows that it must eliminate these information systems problems to provide quality care and to operate all its facilities efficiently and effectively. The first step toward meeting its strategic objectives is to develop an information system strategic plan.

By now, you have familiarized yourself with Valley View Hospital System and even analyzed its status in terms of health IT. This week, you learn that the complete EHRs the system has been considering are EPIC, Cerner, and McKesson. You also learn that the hospitals are juggling with the idea of acquiring several physician practices in the area. Last, you are told that the hospital is seeking to most cost-effective alternative. Considering this new information, this week your team will focus on the following tasks.

1. Develop at least 4 key SMART goals that reflect the vision of this facility. Expand by how the implementation of a full EHR would contribute to achieving these goals.
2. Identify some of the processes that are most likely to be in place at this facility, given the current systems (which you analyzed in week 1). Identify some key aspects that are likely to change with the implementation of an EHR (despite which system is selected).
3. Given the mixture in staff (many have been doing their work the same way for 30 years and some have started using Open Notes and e-prescribing in the last couple of years) prepare a communication plan for changes that are about to come to this organization.

Bay Area Physicians

Bay Area Physicians practice is an outpatient clinic providing family medicine healthcare for a population of 80,000 people. They have three full-time physicians, two nurse practitioners, and ten registered nurses. Open six days a week, the clinic averages 100 patient visits per day. The clinic maintains a master patient index (MPI) on the computer and has a computerized scheduling and billing system. Recently, the clinic implemented Open Notes and patient portals which allow patients to read doctor notes online. The clinic implemented e-prescribing, as well.

Jim is the office manager and administrator for this practice. Knowing that the clinic needed to improve the use of the health information system and move toward a complete EHR system, Jim hired your team of HIM consultants to help with strategic planning and other ongoing needs pertaining to health IT.

By now, you have familiarized yourself with Bay Area Physicians and even analyzed its status in terms of health IT. This week, you learn that the EHR systems the administrator, Jim has been considering are PracticeFusion, NextGen, and Cerner. You also learn that the clinic is juggling with the idea of becoming a Patient-Centered Medical Home. Considering this new information, this week your team will focus on the following tasks.

1. Develop at least 4 key SMART goals that reflect the vision of this facility. Expand by how the implementation of a full EHR would contribute to achieving these goals.
2. Identify some of the processes that are most likely to be in place at this facility, given the current systems (which you analyzed in week 1). Identify some key aspects that are likely to change with the implementation of an EHR (despite which system is selected).
3. Given the mixture in staff (many have been doing their work the same way for 30 years and some have started using Open Notes and e-prescribing in the last couple of years) prepare a communication plan for changes that are about to come to this organization.