EMR Implementation: Getting It Right the First Time

Electronic medical records support the entire healthcare delivery value chain, from patient registration and appointment scheduling to management and transitions of care to discharge and billing. Having an EMR is also crucial to be ready for the current and forthcoming digitalization of care delivery. Organizational activity in this area has been spurred on by the COVID-19 pandemic. A global survey of 200 healthcare CEOs1 in 2021 found that almost 50 % of healthcare leaders were fundamentally revising their approaches to electronic health records (EHRs).Given the complexity and cost associated with EMR implementations, it may be tempting for a healthcare organization to rush an implementation with the intention of making iterative changes down the line. However, shortcuts may not be the best route to choose. Based on KPMG’s experience in supporting these projects worldwide, shortcutting an EMR project can negatively impact benefits realization and lead to broader organizational disruption.