EMR Implementation & HITECH Act Blog

Need an EMR Software Guru? Hire a Clinical Application Coordinator

As the health care industry transitions to electronic medical records (EMRs), more professionals are realizing EMR software can be a challenge.  In fact, at some stage in the process of implementing an EMR system, medical offices may need to hire at least one clinical application coordinator (CAC).  The reason is simple: few staffed health care professionals can spare the time required to become an expert in EMR software.  Issues such as following best practices and training of health care professionals can be time consuming.  And don’t forget the ever-changing legal and political landscape born out of the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act.  Whether a medical office hires a professional on a part time basis or makes them a permanent member of staff, attempting to stay in compliance without a coordinator is a major gamble.

According to Vistapedia, a CAC is a clinically experienced person who guides and supports clinicians, IT experts, and others in connection with use of clinical computing systems.  They bridge the gap between clinical personnel and technology vendors through an entire project: design, adoption, tailoring, and implementation of tools such as EMRs. A CAC teaches, trains, supports and innovates.

So what kind of background and experience does a clinical application coordinator need to have?

• an expert in EMR software, including tailoring its use for medical doctors and staff
• currently a medical professional, such as a nurse, or possesses a strong medical background
• able to demonstrate strong management skills, capable of coordinating an EMR software roll-out
• a great researcher able to stay up-to-date on EMR compliance issues and the law
• committed to the interests of both health care professionals and patients
• able to offer real-time support for the necessary all-hours access to patient records
• an excellent communicator able to explain technical information to users of varying ability, for training purposes

Although somewhat of a tall order, a coordinator needs to have a broad skill set.  EMR software encompasses a host of tools but EMR compliance is not trivial.  Details regarding pending issues such as the definition of “meaningful use,” can potentially have enormous impacts on security and accessibility issues for patient records.  Each medical office and clinic needs an EMR go-to person to monitor the system continuously, keeping it up-to-date and secure.

While community health centers and hospitals may require more than one clinical application coordinator working with IT staff support, family practices and smaller medical offices will likely be able to hire a CAC part time.  Alternatively, a coordinator may become part of a network of a few small practices.  However, it’s important that a coordinator is capable of providing 24-hr clinical support for the EMR system, because EMR access doesn’t have a “down” time.

In the end, a clinical application coordinator will bridge the clinical world to the government compliance universe, making the day-to-day use of an EMR system that much smoother.

David Hill
PC Healthstop Blogging Team

Image credit – photograph by Paul Moore from www.photoxpress.com

Posted by PC Healthstop Blogging Team