Discussing an EHR Integration Project in Detail

Suppose you have developed an outstanding product and are ready to present it to healthcare systems, but how do you ensure it gets the proper attention? Tackling fundamental inquiries can be the difference between your product being ignored and clinching a partnership.

Now, we will explore some crucial elements related to the possible integration, such as key stakeholders, its duration, and timelines for project execution.

Main Stakeholders

To ensure seamless coordination and clear communication throughout the integration project, it is essential to define and comprehend the roles of all involved parties. Below is a list of roles commonly occupied by health system employees and additional participants. Each role is pivotal in driving the project to successful completion.

• Project Advocate. Provides insight into the reasons for implementing the app and makes crucial purchasing decisions. They also act as the primary contact for addressing escalated project issues. 
• IT Lead. Serves as the initial point of contact within the IT department, handling and overseeing project inquiries.
• Network Analyst. Offers Virtual Private Network (VPN) connectivity support and addresses any associated problems.
• Interface Specialist. Establishes and configures the interface to enable message exchanges and conduct test transmissions.
• EHR Expert. Involved in updating EHRs when needed and assists in testing workflows.
• Application Lead. Manages project activities at the application level, ensures the completion of development tasks, and leads the exploration of workflow processes.
• SPsoft Team. Consists of various members, including integration specialists and healthcare data experts, who work together to further the project's progress.

These roles are crucial to the project team, facilitating a unified approach to ensure the integration's success.

SPsoft experts have vast experience in EHR interoperability, performing over 60 successful integrations with Epic, Cerner, and AllScripts. Fill out the contact form to discuss the details.

Estimating Connection Time

The initial phase of establishing a connection with SPsoft usually leads to a go-live event, which takes place about 10-14 weeks after the project begins. However, you should remember that this estimated period may change due to various factors. They can range from the readiness and involvement of the health system partner to the complexity of the integration effort.

Research from HIMSS shows that for integrating a new tech system with an existing EHR tool, a 4-6 months deployment period is acceptable by more than half of the surveyed respondents. The encouraging aspect is that the expected timeline for SPsoft integrations may meet or even exceed the expectations of health systems. Ultimately, as you deepen your partnership with us as your ally, your capacity to quickly bring value to your customers will grow accordingly.

Project Timelines

The integration process with SPsoft begins with an essential kickoff meeting. It is a collaborative forum that should include stakeholders from the health-tech company, the healthcare system, the EHR provider (if relevant), and SPsoft. The aim is to examine and fine-tune the integration strategy jointly developed in partnership.

The agenda for this meeting will focus specifically on leveraging existing health system feeds and outlining a complex plan to achieve the integration goals. It also provides a valuable chance to discuss and mitigate any concerns related to security, compliance, or operational protocols.

At the same time, several external factors influence our forecasted timeline for completing the project. These can include the health system's prioritization of the project, the availability of the required interfaces, and the intricacy of your specific application.

The diagram presented above offers:

• A detailed summary of the key milestones in the integration process.
• A clear delineation of responsibilities shared between SPsoft and the health system team. That involves all phases, from the initial kickoff and connectivity stages through to the project's culmination with the go-live phase.

SPsoft's accelerator platform facilitates integration with any FHIR and HL7-based EHR system. Write to me at mlazor@spsoft.com, and we will gladly assist you with your healthcare project.

Successful integration projects rely on detailed planning, clear communication, and a thorough understanding of each participant's role. As we navigate the process effectively, we pave the way for a smoother transition and a solid partnership between SPsoft and healthcare systems.