Description:

As healthcare organizations consolidate operations and have largely adopted electronic health record systems (EHRs), they may consider migrating from one mature or home-grown electronic health record (EHR) system to another. A key benefit is to improve information access and patient care processes across an integrated health care delivery network. However, there are significant challenges. EHR systems are varied and complex, and each implementation is unique. Transitions must maintain integrity of patient information and avoid disrupting care. As EHRs have only recently become widely adopted, there is scant literature on EHR transitions. Each institution must develop its own processes, without the benefit of learning health systems lessons learned, or guidelines. What is the current experience and evidence regarding these migrations? Key issues, challenges, and facilitators will be discussed, along with a decision-making framework and expert recommendations for improving the success of EHR migrations.