In your work as a chiropractor, it takes more than just knowledge to be an effective doctor.
Experience shows that the qualities and talents you have will be tested over and over again―you’ll have opportunities, face difficulties, and learn more about yourself and your patients. This is true about your EHR use, too. Having the right habits can help you make friends with your EHR system instead of feeling like it’s your enemy.
So, what makes for a highly efficient DC? Here are seven habits and traits that can help you in your everyday use of EHR.
1. Be trainable
As you go through the training offered by your EHR vendor, embrace it.
Staying open-minded to new ideas will help you as you encounter unfamiliar material or when you have to learn technology you’re not completely confident with.
2. Get help when you need it
When you’re up against a wall, be willing and humble enough to look for help. Find the people who can act as networking resources.
These could be your colleagues, coworkers, team members, other chiropractors, or even other specialists using the same system; you can learn best practices from them. Find what works and what doesn’t from the right people.
3. Practice your knowledge
Once you have skills or identify a best practice that works in your office, use it. Put it into practice and get ready to test it out in your work. Practicing your EHR skills will help you become a lot more proficient at a much faster pace, so it’s worth the time.
4. Share what you know
Pass along your knowledge and teach other people. Don’t be afraid to share best practices you’ve learned. Your colleagues can help you practice your skills and learn even more, even while you do much of the teaching.
Using EHR well is an ongoing process requiring diligence and a willingness to build alongside other people. It is more than just learning some IT stuff―you need the right approach. Teach that approach as you learn something that works for you.
5. Build your team
Help your coworkers and colleagues find the right workflow. Identify the leaders in your organization if you work with a larger clinic, and make sure they have what they need to thrive. Put the tech-savvy people where they need to be and ensure they have the freedom to make decisions.
Appointing an “EHR czar” in the office can help you and the rest of the team have a point of contact who can work with the EHR vendor. This person might also be the right one to conduct EHR training with new employees.
6. Have a plan
Don’t go into an EHR implementation without a plan. Have a plan in place for how you’ll use EHR, what to do in case of a natural disaster, how to secure your patients’ data, and so on. Anticipate different outcomes and think about what you will do in response.
Jumping into EHR without a plan is dangerous because there are so many regulations, potential pitfalls and challenges. An EHR system is a wonderful tool, but you will need to bring your best ideas forward and be ready if something unexpected happens.
7. Don’t overthink it
Sometimes, there’s a simpler solution to the problem. Don’t waste time and resources solving a problem that doesn’t exist. Look for a good solution, but also look for one that is practical enough to implement.
Choose best practices that fit your clinic and your practice. Tailor your thinking and try to find straightforward ways to manage the challenges that arise.
If you’re ready to become more efficient with your EHR, don’t be afraid to embrace the new and different, but don’t be too quick to throw out established best practices, either. EHR has a lot of potential to help your clinic, but you’ll need to take the right approach with it.
Sources:
Kirby R. “Seven habits of highly effective doctors.” Trends in Urology and Men’s Health. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/tre.517. Published: May 2016. Accessed: May 2018.
“Seven habits of highly effective medical students.” The Student Doctor Network online. https://www.studentdoctor.net/2014/02/02/the-seven-habits-of-highly-successful-medical-students. Published February 2014. Accessed May 2018.
