If the team is not there, it’s easy for things to go wrong
A recent article attempted to describe the overrun in hospital costs that occurred during launch of EMR. Although the article explained the causes of the cost overrun, it failed to explain why.
Hospitals can be fueled by resistance to change and high emotions. It can be hard to control the pressures and stress that go-live brings. However, they can cause financial problems in the long-term if you allow these forces to impact your decision-making. If all the planning, budget constraints and common sense you should apply are not applied, then it is almost impossible to expect the worst. While it can seem as though appeasement will be the most effective way to ease stress, this may not necessarily be the best. When under pressure, sticking to the plan and keeping within your budget should be the driving force behind all decisions.
Sometimes, it’s not good for the soul to make decisions based upon problems that don’t exist or are perceived as negative. A team of experts is essential to make fact-based decisions.
The skills of negotiation pay off!
Logistics should be treated like your money.
Excellent deals can be made by negotiating with the top hotels of the city for the most affordable rates. This agreement included transportation from and to the airport, as well as managing the flights. The hotel provided a large conference space for orientation. We were surprised by the complimentary reception that included heavy hors d’oeuvres and a welcome party for 120 guests. Two luxury coaches with 56 seats and many shuttles were provided to transport the consultants from their training center to their destination. The shuttles would be used to transport consultants who live within two miles from the hotel. All of this was included in the room price at $105.09 plus tax. This took the consultant firm a great deal of burden, but the savings were transferred to the hospital.
If a hospital employs a consultant firm to help them save money and not waste money. A positive cost variance (CV), is a sign that the consultant firm is actually part of your team. While it is important to negotiate for the best price, getting the highest value at the lowest cost is more valuable.
Consultants saved the day
The difference between success, failure and good consultants is often made by skilled professionals.
As I sat with nearly three hundred consultants, the speaker asked me to join him. “Dr. So and So has overseen the EMR implementation of nineteen plus hospitals please give him a round of applause.”That’s 19 projects! It turned out to be challenging in several areas, but it was primarily about significant workflow problems.
While it’s unclear how this happened, it is evident that leadership was not in touch. It is attractive to look for someone with exceptional qualifications. However, having someone who can identify problems and solve them before they occur can prove invaluable. It is a mystery to me why the project manager did not know this.
It was a blessing for all that the consultants had the knowledge and experience to deal with these kinds of problems. They jumped into action, and using their past experience they started the process of teaching the leadership and staff what worked. The consultant’s tremendous effort was crucial in ensuring that this live-action would be possible.