The Custom EHR Development Process: What to Expect from Start to Finish

The introduction of electronic health records in healthcare practices has improved various aspects of the patient care journey. Bridging the care gaps by improving care quality, efficiency, EHR software solutions have reduced medications errors, improved data security and has been a successful cost saving venture of the healthcare industry as a whole.

EHR’s introduction also welcomed some of the newer and intriguing problems that need to be addressed for a smooth and effective transition of the healthcare industry to digital practices. This particular aspect of healthcare gave rise to a new set of unique challenges.

Being so unique to every healthcare practice, the focus started to shift from medical practice software development to custom EHR development across healthcare practices. However, during the custom EHR development stages, knowing the process inside out and addressing the gaps that exist in the care delivery can prove to be the defining factor. But how to prepare for a custom ehr needs assessment?

So, let this blog post be your guide to the custom EHR development process, how long does custom EHR development take? And what is to be expected from start to finish!

Initiation & Planning

Custom EHR development process involves careful planning and execution to make sure the software works exactly the way you want it to. Here are some of the things in the first step of custom EHR development process that you should consider:

Assessment & Project Scope

Sit down with your EHR development partner and identify the specific needs and requirements of your practice. This will involve whether you want to give your patient the complete care journey and how the clinical workflow of your clinic will be for both patients and providers. By doing this process, you can easily decide the functions and functionalities of the EHR software that you are developing.

The next part is defining the scope of the project to ensure a successful custom EHR implementation roadmap of the software where you do not have to stretch your budget and timeline. However, for defining the scope of your practice, you need to ensure the growth aspect of your practice and how you will be taking it to the public for expanding its reach.

Workflow Analysis & System Design

Once the outline of your custom EHR software is done, the next step is to define the workflow of your EHR software. Though this step is majorly overlooked by the development partner, crucial aspects and improvements in the workflow can be defined easily. For instance, the custom EHR software developer will analyze the current workflow and design an outcome for your entire system ecosystem. 

This will help you understand how data will flow which will also define the clinical workflow of your healthcare practice. Here you can make changes and enhance your clinical workflow for maximum efficiency.

During this design step, develop a feedback mechanism and make the most of the user input for designing the software. Such best practices in custom EHR software development can solve most of the problems in the development phase itself.

Data Migration Strategy

Most of the healthcare practices today are using some form of IT system in their practice. During the custom EHR development process, data migration considerations for custom EHR implementation from the existing system to the new system becomes necessary. That is why it becomes essential for you to collaborate with the development team and strategize smooth and secure transition of data across existing and the new system.

Development & Implementation 

Once the planning of custom EHR development is completed, the next step in the custom EHR development process is the development and custom EHR implementation roadmap. Below are some of the steps that you need to consider for smooth development and implementation of the custom EHR software development.

System Development & Testing

During the designing phase of custom EHR development, we define the design, functions, functionalities and outline this custom EHR software development stages. During the development process the EHR developers develop the software completely based on the agreed-upon design specifications. 

Once it is developed, rigorous testing is required to ensure the system functions flawlessly and complies with the necessary security requirements. 

User Training & System Customization

Once the custom EHR application is developed, the next thing that needs to be done is to provide comprehensive training for the staff. This is crucial because it is not the IT professionals that are going to use the software but the clinical staff and healthcare providers. This is done before deploying the custom EHR software to address any problems in the system and also address some user-centric issues that might be pre-existing in the system.

In this way, the user training not only acts as a enables providers to effectively use the software but also helps in making the software more user-friendly and easy to use. However, security considerations in custom EHR development is something that should not be taken lightly and special emphasis should be put of the healthcare IT project management to avoid any legal and regulatory issues.

System Deployment & Go-Live Phase

The last step is the deployment of the software and implementing it is the clinical workflow of the virtual care practice. After the software goes live with the help from ongoing support and maintenance from the development team so that you can easily enjoy the features and benefits of custom EHR development in your practice.

Post-Implementation & Ongoing Support

Many think that after the software is deployed, the job is done. But it’s quite the contrary. After the software system is deployed, the real work starts. Below are some of the major things that need to be considered when the software system is implemented, and the care delivery process starts.

Maintenance & Support Services

This custom EHR development stages involve the team starting offering ongoing maintenance and support to the healthcare providers of the clinical IT department. They overlook the maintenance of the server and support them by solving any technical issues that might be hindering the smooth functioning of the system. One of the major things that comes under maintenance and support services is the system updates that enhance the system to the latest advancements and developments in custom EHR software development.

Data Analytics & System Optimization

Since the custom EHR software is going to deal with data of the patients, it will also generate some data about the use of the software. This where data analytics in the software system comes into the picture for healthcare professionals. By using data analytics, the clinicians can gain valuable insights about the practice workflow. Here any gaps or inefficiencies of the software and workflow are addressed and resolved to improve efficiency.

The role of custom EHR development partners is also crucial as they alter and assist the providers with ongoing system optimization based on the evolving needs of the practice.

Conclusion

Long story short, the development stages of a custom EHR software development can be narrowed down to three stages. The first one is the assessment stage, where the unique needs of the practice are addressed to outline and design the custom EHR software for the specific needs of the healthcare providers. The second stage is the development stage, where the software is developed, and the last is the deployment stage, where the software is implemented into the practice and the development partner starts providing ongoing maintenance and support. However, cost considerations for custom EHR development is something that should be done before choosing the right partner for custom EHR development.

The value of choosing a custom EHR development partner becomes essential here as they offer a smooth and successful implementation of the custom EHR software into your practice. Benefits of Custom EHR development have been paving the way for the future of the healthcare industry. Start your transition stage today.