10 lessons you need to know before investing in EMR

1.    Think of EMR as a power tool – it should help to improve patient care and practice efficiency.

2.    Selection & implementation requires a substantial amount of time, planning, and support.

3.    Don’t try to implement if current system is in a state of chaos.

4.    Train, train, train, train, and train again.

5.    Change is hard – very hard.

6.    Any implementation plan should be group based, not vendor based.

7.    Pay close attention to data conversion.

8.    Plan and allow enough time.

9.    Get buy-in from key players.

10. Don’t confuse wants and needs. You don’t know what you don’t know.