Question

What is the current situation of Workflow and Process Improvement with EHR? Why there are no “silver bullets” in improving workflows? Difference between customization and workflow and process redesign?What is the current situation of Workflow and Process Improvement with EHR? Why there are no “silver bullets” in improving workflows? Difference between customization and workflow and process redesign?

Answer 1

Before discussing the current situation of workflow with EHR, one should know what is the major component of physician workflow:-

1. Review the information( past allergies, medication, etc)
2. Assessment of the patient( diagnostic reports, X rays, etc)
3. Completing the documentation
4. Care delivery

Patient assessment and verbal communication with the patient is an important aspect for the physician. But recent studies state that now physicians are spending more time with the computer than with the patient. Physicians use EHR for reporting diagnostic strategies and prescribing medicine. They also use EHR for Billing and Scheduling purposes.

Physicians had a hard time having to perform with conventional ways like charts and reports. Now with the EHR is meeting the purpose as well as connecting the hospital's database with it. So, that physicians could access needful information. Thus looking out all the aspects of the workforce with a perspective of the electronic point.

There is no miracle to be done in the workflow. There is no single development, all it improves by decades of process. Even scholars state that the system of workflow is perfect. We all are ambitious for a better one, as more isn't enough. A new method is what needed, not a silver bullet. It is like fighting for a better yesterday. Thus, there are no silver bullets, all it takes a slow improvement by focusing on every aspect individually and contributing to the whole.

A workflow is a repeated pattern of business activity. Where the organization uses a systematical approach to transform its valuable resources into final products. It can be stated as a sequence of the process. It is a series of steps by which the work is done by the employees. While customization is much distinct to the workflow. It is the action of modifying an existing one as per the specification of the needful one. It is the process through which various choices are generated and the aptest one is selected. Process design is a procedural activity where the current process is examined and necessary steps are taken for cutting slacks and reducing costs.