change management strategies for an effective emr implementation.pdf
TRANSCRIPT
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 139
Claire McCarthy MADouglas Eastman PhD
Contributing Editor
David E Garets FHIMSS
Change ManagementStrategies for anEffective EMRImplementation
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 239
Change Management Strategiesfor an Effective
EMR Implementation
Claire McCarthy MA
Douglas Eastman PhD
Contributing Editor
David E Garets FHIMSS
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 339
HIMSS Mission
o lead healthcare transormation through the effective use o
health inormation technology
copy 2010 by the Healthcare Inormation and Management Systems
Society
All rights reserved No part o this publication may be reproduced
adapted translated stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in
any orm or by any means electronic mechanical photocopying
recording or otherwise without the prior written permission o
the publisher
Printed in the USA 5 4 3 2 1
Requests or permission to reproduce any part o this work should
be sent to
Permissions Editor
HIMSS
230 E Ohio St Suite 500
Chicago IL 60611-3270
cmcleanhimssorg
ISBN 978-0-9821070-6-5
Te inclusion o an organization name product or service in
this publication should not be construed as an endorsement o
such organization product or service nor is the ailure to includean organization name product or service to be construed as
disapproval
For more inormation about HIMSS please visit wwwhimssorg
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 439
iii
About the Authors
Claire McCarthy MA is a recognized change managementtechnol-
ogy adoption strategist and leader with extensive experience support-
ing people through transitions driven by sofware implementations
mergers reorganizations process improvements and downsizing in
the healthcare industry Ms McCarthy works with healthcare provid-
ers and staff at all levels She advocates or the ront line understand-ing that developing willingness and ability in people is what makes
change successul and produces lasting results She speaks internation-
ally on the topic o technology adoption encouraging healthcare lead-
ers to invest in the people side o electronic medical record (EMR)
implementations
As Director o Organizational Effectiveness or Kaiser Perman-
entersquos national electronic medical records deployment Ms McCarthy
introduced the concept o technology adoption to the organization
and led a national community o practice ocused on developing user
readiness Trough integration o cross-unctional work in change
management training communication union engagement opera-tions lessons learned and workorce planning clinical and business
users were prepared to assume new roles and responsibilities in sup-
port o organizational objectives
With 25 years o healthcare industry technology adoption experi-
ence Ms McCarthy has designed and led the human side o technical
implementations in a wide variety o sofware deployments including
EMRs practice management material managementsupply chain cli-
ent relationship management contracting and sourcing e-commerce
health plan product management and currently ICD-10 conversion
Ms McCarthy is a certi1047297ed William Bridges Organizational
Change practitioner and is accredited in Accelerating ImplementationMethodology rom Implementation Management Associates Inc She
holds a masterrsquos degree in sociology rom the University o Montana
and a bachelorrsquos degree in sociology rom Caliornia State University
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 539
iv Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
Doug Eastman PhD is an organizational development executive with
extensive experience managing large-scale change initiatives Withmore than 20 years o consulting experience Dr Eastmanrsquos ocus is
to help organizations grow and manage change by unleashing human
potential His specialties are organizational transormation technol-
ogy adoption and optimization process redesign large-scale change
management strategic planning program and tools development and
acilitation
As the Executive Director o echnology Adoption and Organiza-
tional Capability within the Kaiser Permanente Inormation echnol-
ogy Care Delivery Business Inormation Offi ce Dr Eastman currently
advises senior operational and project executives on the countryrsquos larg-
est private EMR system implementation Dr Eastman leverages bestpractices rom across the program and develops implementation read-
iness tools and methodologies as well as pioneering several best prac-
tice post go-live optimization strategies and programs aimed to ensure
end-users are building the requisite level o system skill pro1047297ciency
Prior to joining Kaiser Permanente Dr Eastmanrsquos consulting career
included positions with Andersen Consulting (now Accenture) Wat-
son Wyatt Worldwide and a boutique employee relations consulting
1047297rm He was also vice president o operations or a technology services
1047297rm or which he was responsible or the companyrsquos restructuring and
repositioning in its marketplace that grew 200 during his tenure
Dr Eastman serves on the board o directors or the ChildhoodAnxiety Network He holds a PhD in organizational psychology rom
the Caliornia School o Proessional Psychology a masterrsquos degree in
psychology rom Pepperdine University and a bachelorrsquos degree rom
Ohio State University
ABOU HE CONRIBUING EDIOR
David E Garets FHIMSS is President and CEO o HIMSS Analyt-
ics and Executive Vice President o HIMSS Mr Garets has 32 years o
experience in inormation technology Beore joining HIMSS Analyt-
ics in 2004 he was Executive Vice President at Healthlink Prior to
that he was Group Vice President Healthcare Industry Research and
Advisory Services at Gartner Previously he was Senior Manager in
Emerging Practices at First Consulting Group and CIO o Magic Val-
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 639
ley Regional Medical Center in win Falls Idaho Prior to working in
the healthcare industry Mr Garets spent 13 years in various manage-ment capacities or Aamp
Mr Garets was a course director and served on the aculties o the
College o Healthcare Inormation Management Executives (CHIME)
Inormation Management Executive Courses or 11 years He serves
on the editorial advisory boards o three healthcare inormation tech-
nology journals and magazines and the board o directors o HIMSS
Analytics He is an affi liate proessor at the Medical College o Virginia
at Virginia Commonwealth University
Mr Garets is a HIMSS Fellow and was chair o the HIMSS Board
or 2003-2004 He is an internationally known author and speaker on
inormation technologies strategies benchmarking and the uture ohealthcare Mr Garets has a bachelorrsquos degree in business administra-
tion rom exas ech University
About the Authors v
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 739
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 839
vii
Contents
Foreword by David E Garets FHIMSS ix
Preace by Claire McCarthy MA and Douglas Eastman PhD xi
Acknowledgments xvii
Chapter 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 1
Section 1 LeadershipmdashEstablishing a Foundation for Change 21
Chapter 2 Vision 23
Chapter 3 Sponsorship 37
Chapter 4 Organizational Readiness eam 55
Section 2 WillingnessmdashBuilding Commitment 77
Chapter 5 Stakeholder Management 79
Chapter 6 Communication 95
Section 3 AbilitymdashDeveloping Requisite Skill 109
Chapter 7 raining Strategy 111
Chapter 8 Reinorcement 127
Chapter 9 Implementation Readiness 137
Section 4 Summary 175
Chapter 10 Te Journey 177
Reerences 185
Index 187
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 939
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1039
ix
Foreword
By David E Garets FHIMSS
Electronic medical record (EMR) deployments are not about technol-
ogy Tey are about equipping organizations to reach critical business
objectives by providing people with technical capabilities that make
new things possible and by engaging people in changing their behavior
to effectively use the new capabilities to generate resultsTis book will show you how to create an environment or suc-
cess in your organization to not only ensure that your EMR imple-
mentation effort is successul but that your organization builds change
capacity and 1047298exibility in the process Tis new nimbleness will serve
you well in our world o continual change
De1047297ning change management is as important as understand-
ing what change management is not It isnrsquot project management or
solely process improvement Rather it is a set o speci1047297c disciplines
described in detail in this book that when coordinated and integrated
make the difference between tossing money into an EMR pit (simi-
lar to the ones that we boaters throw our money into) or getting thesought-afer changes in your organization
Chapter 2 on Vision is especially important In it Claire and Doug
explain how leadership paints the picture o what is expected rom
the implementation o an EMR I would argue that it is a process that
involves not only representatives o the ront line and their managers
and the senior executive team but also the board An EMR implemen-
tation done rightmdashmeaning the technology works was implemented
on time and within budget and the people modiy their behavior and
processes to achieve commensurate value or the investmentmdashis more
transormative than anything else a healthcare organization could do
It needs to be driven rom the board Tat way the right people iethe CEO and executive management team are held accountable or the
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1139
x Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
success o this crucial business initiative with an inormation technol-
ogy componentDale Sanders then CIO at the Northwestern Medical Faculty Foun-
dation and now CIO at the Cayman Islandsrsquo Health Services Author-
ity pointed out that ldquoyou need to dedicate the time and resources to
constantly iterate re1047297ne and improve the utilization o the EMR over
time ar beyond its installation and go-live Itrsquos a race without a 1047297n-
ish line rain und and plan accordinglymdashdonrsquot short-change the
investmentrdquo In other words recognize that you are not done at go-
live yoursquove just started achieving technology adoption and changing
behavior to get value rom your EMR investment
Tis book should be required reading or every member o the
executive team in every healthcare organization that is planning toimplement an EMR in the next ew years I was happy to be asked
to review the book and to write the orewordmdashand not or the ame
and ortune It was because I would then have to read it and Irsquom glad
I did I learned an incredible amount about a topic that most o us in
the technology world do not understand well and that is dealing with
people issues Claire and Doug nail it here and I guarantee yoursquoll be
thankul or the knowledge they share
Having said that reading this de1047297nitive work on change man-
agement or EMR implementations is not going to provide you with
enough knowledge on the topic to preclude your engaging or hiring
change management expertise In act just the opposite yoursquoll ullyunderstand why you need to get some help Welcome to the epiphany
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1239
xi
Preface
By Claire McCarthy MA and Douglas Eastman PhD
Tere is much discussion today about implementation o EMR sys-
temsmdashdiscussions that usually include excitement anxiety and
downright dread Tere is also a lot o talk about whether EMRs cre-
ate opportunities or healthcare organizations such as transorming
the way care is delivered reducing medical errors increasing internaleffi ciencies or clinical and administrative users improving revenue
capture and providing a host o other critical bene1047297ts Te promise
(some would say antasy) is big
But above all an EMR implementation is disruptive Te process
can realistically be equated to a tornado whipping through an organi-
zation and lie as you once knew it is turned upside down and the new
processes expectations priorities roles and methods overwhelm the
workplace
Our intent in writing this book is to assist others who may be
struggling with many o the same issues we have addressed By sharing
lessons rom our numerous 1047297rsthand sofware implementation expe-riences we will equip you with successul practices and prepare you
to lead or participate effectively in change managementtechnology
adoption efforts so that meaningul use can be achieved
Te primary audience o this book is everyone who leads or is
directly involved in the people-ocused change managementtech-
nology adoption efforts o an EMR implementation Our secondary
audience is everyone else who has a stake in the usersrsquo willingness and
ability to change behavior so the potential o the technology can be
realized So whether you are actively engaged in change management
technology adoption work or your support and advocacy o change
managementtechnology adoption is neededmdashthis book is or youRegardless o your speci1047297c role (executive middle-management
ront-line supervisor physician nurse medical assistant I proes-
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1339
xii Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
sional consultant or other stakeholder in the success o an EMR
implementation) our hope is that you will gain an appreciation orthe importance o users and the effort required to ensure operational
success Tis book emphasizes effective ways to plan and implement
change Te content is based on decades o combined experience man-
aging the people side o sofware implementations in healthcare
It is important to point out however that this book is not meant to
be a course on change managementtechnology adoption Our intent
is not to review existing research or current academic models and the-
ories but rather to share the insights and lessons we have learned in
delivering sustainable results and healthy organizational change over
the years
For technically-oriented project leads the success o an EMRimplementation tends to ocus too heavily on ldquoscrewing in the sys-
temrdquo on time and on budget But as important as it is getting the
EMR technology up and running should not be the primary ocus
Equal emphasis must be placed on how the new technology will be
embraced utilized and leveraged to realize a return on this signi1047297-
cant investment Flipping the switch and turning the technology on is
merely hal o the game
We believe the promise o an EMR implementation is great with
potentially signi1047297cant returns or the patient user organization and
or the industry as a whole When we hear words such as electronic
computerized and automated it sounds as i lie will be made easier andbecome more organized and effi cient However healthcare organiza-
tions do not always think about the critical steps involved in making
these hopes a reality Tis is due in large part because managing the
people side o an implementation and developing and installing major
technology require different skills sets Neither side o the coin is nec-
essarily more important but they both must be seen as equally signi1047297-
cant Te role in managing the people side o an implementation rarely
1047297ts neatly into how technically-ocused projects have historically been
measured and this creates a scenario in which the people side is ofen
misunderstood discounted and worst case ignored altogether Con-
sider the difference between what it takes to install the system (a tech-nology ocus) and what it takes to get the desired outcomes (a ocus on
people doing things differently)
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1439
Preace xiii
Te management o ambiguity resistance and user motivation is
admittedly hard to measure and unortunately involves methods thatare not always easily checked off a list Te process is more 1047298uid and
organic than linear At times it is unpredictable requiring rethink-
ing and course corrections Afer all we are dealing with people Not
everything is clear cut Donrsquot believe anyone who tells you it is
People come with different backgrounds rames o reerence
experience with technology comort with change or ambiguity trust
in leadership and so orth Whatever the mix o scenarios users never
start rom the same placemdashand they move through the change pro-
cess at different speeds meaning they continue to be in different places
throughout the project Te good news is that users do grow and develop
over the course o the project and many eventually accept things theywouldnrsquot agree to at 1047297rst But they require understandingmdashtheir ears
needs hopes and their reactions to the challenges that impact their
ability to perorm A sound comprehensive people strategy that cre-
ates an environment in which they can succeed is essential
I the goal o your EMR implementation is to achieve sustainable
results growth or organizational transormation then a substantial
investment in people must be central to your overall implementation
strategy Afer all it is the user who makes or breaks your EMR imple-
mentation and ultimately determines the amount o return the organi-
zation will realize Te better prepared people are or the change and
the less they see it as threatening the aster they will deliver value
Quoteldquordquo
ldquoMan is still the most extraordinary computer of allrdquo
- John F Kennedy
Quoteldquordquo
ldquordquo
ldquoMan is still the most extraordinary computer of allrdquo
- John F Kennedy
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1539
xiv Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
HOW HE BOOK IS SRUCURED
Preparing an organization or a successul EMR implementationinvolves a big picture approach that takes into account all the actors
that in1047298uence behavior change Te idea is to establish an organiza-
tional contextmdasha culture in which desired behavior is supported and
reinorced through a variety o methodsmdashcreating a learning organiza-
tion that grows to achieve its vision priorities and goals In this book
we present an Implementation Readiness Model and discuss each ac-
tor involved in ensuring the organization and users are ully prepared
to realize the potential o the new technology
Tis book is organized in a simple ashion First we make the busi-
ness argument or change managementtechnology adoption explain-
ing why technology implementations will not deliver bene1047297ts without
a signi1047297cant ocus on users Next we discuss two critical success ac-
tors in any large-scale change management effortmdasha clear vision and
effective leadership
Ten we argue or the development o a cross-unctional team
o representatives rom key areas within the organization the Orga-
nizational Readiness eam (OR) and introduce a pragmatic model
that outlines the scope o complexity and work that the OR man-
ages throughout the project lie cycle Tis establishes a oundation
or subsequent chapters in which each provides urther detail about
the inter-relationship o work involved to effectively drive sustain-
able change Tese chapters dig deeper into lessons learned and best
practices related to stakeholder management communication train-
ing strategy and reinorcement as all must be aligned to successully
satisy the end goal o a meaningul implementation
Finally the Implementation Readiness chapter shows how the
prior chapters serve as building blocks to ormulate a comprehensive
and powerul Implementation Readiness Program aimed at securing
ready users who are engaged and prepared or the transitional changes
ahead in the world o an EMR Te book ends with a discussion o
our key lessons learned and insights regarding the overall journey Pay
particular attention to some o the larger challenges related to an EMR
implementation as these scenarios have proven to have a signi1047297cant
impact on an organizationrsquos speed and ability to position itsel or ben-
e1047297ts realization
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1639
Preace xv
It is important to stress that ocusing on just one actor o imple-
mentation readiness is not suffi cient to drive organizational changeand sustainable results Each chapter describes an individual actor in
detail and provides lessons and useul examples tools and other bits
o inormation intended to help you succeed in preparing your orga-
nization or a successul EMR implementation But the real purpose
o the book is to raise awareness o how all actors work in concert to
in1047298uence desired change associated with an EMR implementation Te
actors work best as an integrated whole overlapping and reinorcing
each other Tey typically have separate leadership but whether or-
mally integrated or not they are pieces o one picture
Like other books you can jump to any chapter o interest at any
point However we strongly encourage you to read the book cover tocover 1047297rst to gain an understanding o the end-to-end process and how
each actor contributes to overall success A strategy that accounts or
all actors is more effective than just one intervention or multiple dis-
connected interventions In this case the sum is de1047297nitely greater than
all o its individual parts
We speak to you in a conversational and straightorward man-
ner to make this rather diffi cult side o an EMR implementation more
approachable We hope you will 1047297nd our insights valuable and will
leverage this book as your implementation reerence guide It will ur-
ther your cause i all stakeholders accountable or a successul launch
in your organization have a common ramework or approaching the
collective end goal We certainly wish wersquod had a book like this years
ago to guide us through the mine1047297eld o sofware implementationsFinally we hope you enjoy the process o supporting people
through the transition to the world o EMRs Tere is something very
Quoteldquordquo
ldquoExperience is a hard teacher because she gives
the test first the lessons afterwardsrdquo
- Vernon Law
Quoteldquordquo
ldquordquo
ldquoExperience is a hard teacher because she gives
the test first the lessons afterwardsrdquo
- Vernon Law
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1739
xvi Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
rewarding about seeing people who were earul and resistant even
in tears and thinking seriously o quitting eel the pride o accom-plishment when they succeed Each person who stays the course and
becomes a contributing member o the electronically enabled organi-
zation represents untold cost avoidance Knowledge and talent stay in
the organization replacement costs are avoided relationships are pre-
served and critical staff shortages are reduced echnology adoption is
truly a contribution to the bottom line
In the words o one o our grandathers ldquoPeople change when
theyrsquore damned good and ready and not beorerdquo Wersquore here to get
them ready
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1839
xvii
Acknowledgments
Te authors would like to thank the ollowing individuals or sharing
their expertise and experiences or this book
Saaa Al-Haddad MD
Internal Medicine
University Hospitals
Cleveland Ohio
Ronnie D Bower Jr MA
Manager Change Management
BayCare Health System
ampa Florida
Nabil Chehade MD MSBS
CPC
Director Medical Inormatics
Regional Chie o Urology
KP HealthConnect RegionalPhysician Lead
Kaiser Permanente Medical
Group
Cleveland Ohio
Kenneth Goodman MD
Associate Director Center
or Continuing Medical
Education
Department o Family Medicine
Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland Ohio
Marie Hamilton RN
Kaiser Permanente
Oregon Federation o Nurses
and Health ProessionalsHealthcare Inormation
echnology Committee
AF Healthcare
Portland Oregon
Lindsey P Jarrell FACHE
Senior Vice President amp CIO
BayCare Health System
ampa Florida
J Scott JoslynCIO
MemorialCare
Long Beach Caliornia
Margaret M Rudoph PhD
Consultant
Vancouver British Columbia
Canada
om Smith
CIO
NorthShore University Health
System
Evanston Illinois
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1939
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2039
1
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 983089
Te Business Case forChange Management
ldquoWersquore not in Kansas anymorehelliprdquo
In the introduction an EMR implementation is compared to a tornado
in that it whips through an organization turning lie upside down and
throwing users into a world 1047297lled with new ways o doing things and
seeking ways to recapture some sense o balance and control EMR
technology disrupts the status quo and along with the many opportu-
nities it promises it also brings a whirlwind o seemingly never-ending
changes which can have an entirely different effect on different people
While an implementation that is effectively managed even brings these
challenges a poor implementation can be disastrous and will cost the
organization much more time energy and money to get things back
on track
Dorothy the character rom the movie Te Wizard of Oz held
her composure pretty well through the tornado that ripped her rom
a calm stable lie on the arm and threw her into a oreign world She
was able to manage through the obstacles and challenges and stay the
course as she ollowed the yellow brick road in search o the wizard
Some say this is similar to the experience users have except or the
part when Dorothy wakes up rom her dream and 1047297nds hersel back
home as she remembers itEMR implementations donrsquot have to be nightmarish or users but
there certainly will be obstacles and challenges along the way Te key is
to help users through the road blocks and enable them to experience a
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2139
2 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
positive journey Tis process is always easier when people know what
they are getting into eel supported and are prepared or what liesahead both good and bad Tis is the role o change management
CHANGE MANAGEMEN DEFINED
Itrsquos important to understand why you should make an investment in
the people side o the projectmdashbringing in the best technology pos-
sible doesnrsquot mean anything unless users are comortable and pro1047297-
cient in its use Te truth is just because you build it doesnrsquot mean they
will come
Letrsquos start by answering the two questions we are most ofen asked
ldquoWhat is change management anyway What is it change managers
dordquoo avoid conusion wersquoll say up ront we are not talking about
change management as it relates to technical issues such as version or
change control We also want to be clear that change management is
not project management What we are talking about is the human side
o electronic medical records implementations the human-ocused
work o engaging and preparing people to succeed in the new world
o EMRs
A word about project management while good project manage-
ment acilitates change management the two disciplines are not the
same Project management is much more linear and task-ocused
whereas change management deals with the complexities o human
behavior But a good project plan creates a structure and a ounda-
tion in which the change management process can occur Tereore
the two disciplines though different complement and support each
other
A word o caution do not conuse the project plan with the end
result Te plan is necessary and it guides you throughout the process
Te plan is proactive itrsquos the order in the chaos But technology adop-
tion is kind o like herding cats itrsquos unpredictable and you need to
maintain 1047298exibility to respond as things evolve Tis is a more reactive
process than what may be expressed in a plan In our experience an
EMR implementation requires both structure and 1047298exibility
Tere is a saying in change management circles When one door
closes another one opens but sometimes itrsquos hell in the hallway Change
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2239
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 3
management deals mostly with the hallway situation acilitating the
human transition rom the present to the uture Tese days change isongoing and requires ocused leadership i it is to be as ast and pain-
less as possible
Te three legs o the project stool represent the critical compo-nents o an implementation (Figure 1-1)mdashPeople Process and ech-
nology Te people are the most important When technology projects
ail it is primarily due to a lack o use and not a ailure o the sof-
ware Te ocus o change management is people and the objective is
to change behavior Tis is good or business because it accelerates the
change process so bene1047297ts are achieved aster Change management
is not about being nice or placing an emphasis on eelings Itrsquos about
perormance improvement and results
I you search the literature you will 1047297nd a variety o de1047297nitions o
human-ocused change management Tey all cover similar concepts
sometimes using different terminology Te simplest explanation ochange management is to say ldquoItrsquos all about the peoplerdquo But or the
purposes o this book we expand on that concept and use the ollow-
ing de1047297nition o change management
bull A structured process designed to deal directly and intentionally
with the human actors involved in not just planning and imple-
menting an EMR but through behavior change achieving the
anticipated bene1047297ts that justi1047297ed the project in the 1047297rst place
bull Desired behavior change is achieved by helping people understand
and internalize change and by preparing them to be successul
contributors in the uture state In the case o EMR implementa-
tions effective change management delivers users who are willingand able to use an EMR in a way that satis1047297es the requirements o
the job the needs o the patient and the health o the organization
Key Tip
Our assumption is that the software you are implementing
works If the software doesnrsquot work you have another kind of
problem one that even the best change management wonrsquot
resolve
Key Tip
Our assumption is that the software you are implementing
works If the software doesnrsquot work you have another kind of
problemmdashone that even the best change management wonrsquot
resolve
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2339
4 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
Well-designed integrated people-ocused work builds logically
over time in a way that makes sense to the user It brings users along
guiding and supporting them so they arrive at where you want them
to be Tis is about willingness and ability hearts and minds You must
have both
Te overarching purpose o change management is to acceleratethe speed at which people move successfully through the change
process so that anticipated bene1047297ts are achieved faster And there
are additional bene1047297ts to change management Trough optimizing
the effi ciency and effi cacy o users an effective EMR change manage-
ment program will also
bull Improve organizational outcomes and perormance (effective use
o the system generates value to patients and the organization)
bull Enhance employee satisaction morale and engagement (when
people learn new skills meet perormance expectations and con-
tribute to a greater good they eel pride in their accomplishments)
bull Improve service quality (users eel valued and supported by anorganization that makes an investment in them this positively
impacts how they treat patients)
Figure 1-1 The Three-legged Stool
Technology
People Process
Technology
People Process
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2439
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 5
bull Help achieve hoped-or bene1047297ts (bene1047297ts that include EMR value
realization reduction o errors return on investment)bull Create higher levels o openness trust involvement and teamwork
(develop an engaged workorce)
bull Build change capability and capacity in the organization resulting
in improved ability to respond quickly and effectively to new situa-
tions (create organizational nimbleness through embedded change
management knowledge structure and process)
In other words it really is all about the people Intentionally man-
aging the cultural behavioral and organizational changes that need
to take place to make the desired EMR uture not only a reality but
a sustainable reality pays off on many levels in that it also acilitates
organizational transormation Building on individual capability andorganizational capacity change management results in a change-
capable culturemdasha huge advantage in todayrsquos competitive and ast-
changing world
Change Management echnology AdoptionmdashWhatrsquos the Difference
Tere are a number o terms that people use to reer to the work
involved in managing the people side o a change effort We think o
change management as the mother ship that is the umbrella term that
embraces all specialties within the 1047297eld Similar to the various special-
ties or domains o service within a healthcare system change man-agement proessionals may choose speci1047297c areas o ocus echnology
adoption speci1047297cally inormation technology (I) is one such area
and it involves the application o change management principles to the
implementation o I Te focus of this book is technology adoption
and we will mostly use this term instead of change management
throughout the rest of the book
Effective technology adoption proessionals align themselves with
the operationalbusiness side o the organization and tailor solutions
that drive behavioral change and tangible outcomes Tey participate in
EMR implementation projects rom the beginning driving the people
side o change throughout and continuing to add value post-live as theEMR becomes part o the central nervous system o the organization
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2539
6 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
HE IMPORANCE OF HE PEOPLE SIDE
OF AN EMR IMPLEMENAIONTere are many reerences in the literature to ailed change efforts and
I implementations Estimates are that only one third o these projects
achieve success which means two thirds ail to meet expectations Te
good news is that ailure is optional as much has been learned about
why some change efforts ail and others succeed
Herersquos the issue while the change that is going to occur is an exter-
nal eventmdashthe EMR implementation a reorganization proposed out-
sourcing a promotion etcmdashthe transition rom old to new that those
who are impacted experience is a psychological and emotional pro-
cess It is this transition that is diffi cultmdasheven when a change is sel-
imposed or considered positive
In the words o William Bridges a key thought leader in manage-
ment o transitions ldquoIt isnrsquot the changes that do you in itrsquos the transi-
tion afer the change that doesrdquo1
For an implementation team part o the problem encountered
during transition is that change is messy people start where they are
not where we want them to be And when considering the personnel
within a typical hospital people can be all over the place in terms o
comort with computers stage in lie commitment to the organiza-
tion ear o change etc Add to this the act that or change to be suc-
cessul three things must occur People
bull Must let go o their current reality have an ending
bull Go through a conused period in-between (hell in the hallway)
bull Only then can have a new beginning 1
o take this a step urther while I consultants want to install the
system and make enhancements the users will ultimately determine
how the system is used Tis use is affected by human not technical
actors
bull Different rames o reerence backgrounds experiences with
technology
bull Organizational history and experience with other large-scale
change projects
bull Levels o resistance ear ability to deal with ambiguity
bull Degree o alignment o ldquoWhatrsquos in it or merdquo or the various stake-
holder groups
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2639
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 7
bull Ineffi ciencies uncovered because the system creates transparency
bull Workarounds that become quickly entrenchedbull Pressure to get through the day can override doing what is right
bull User worklie balance issues coming into play rom the very
beginning
All o these actors create problems or implementation teams that
just want to install technology How do you effectively address the
people issues Or is it easier to just install the technology and assume
that people will learn because they have to use it Some on the imple-
mentation team may alsely assume that users o an EMR system will
snap into place over time and do what is right or the organization
Tis thinking is a oolrsquos paradise
In the oreword to this book Dave Garets made the point that EMRdeployments are not about technology but about equipping organiza-
tions to reach critical business objectives by providing employees with
technical capabilities that make new things possible and by engaging
them in changing their behavior to effectively use the new capabilities
to generate desired results
With all due respect to the technical side o an EMR implemen-
tation installing the technology is only hal the battle Tis is not to
degrade the importance o the technology Te act that we spend a lot
o money researching technology acquiring it con1047297guring it install-
ing it and supporting it speaks to its importance I we werenrsquot imple-
menting EMRs we wouldnrsquot even be having a discussion about EMR-related change management
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2739
8 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
But implementation o the technology is just a 1047297rst and very nec-
essary stepmdashbecause in and o itsel the technology does not generate
value Te technology is necessary but not suffi cient or bene1047297t realiza-
tion to occur o create value requires people and this is why change
management is so important oo much o a ocus on technology even
in the early stages will create issues downstream And even with the
best technology i not used effi ciently hoped-or bene1047297ts will be tough
to achieve
CIO Perspective
ldquoDuring my masters program I took an Organization Development
class that really opened my eyes to peoplesrsquo needs during large-scale
change Since the OD class I have been very interested in what makes
people tick and why people react in different ways to the same
environment No matter how good of an idea a large-scale technology
implementation is we will always have early adopters average adopters
and laggards As leaders within large organizations we have a
responsibility to plan for and respect all types of technology adopters
Ultimately the people who work within in our organizations want a positive
human experience when they are at work
Utilizing a change management methodology enables the implementation
and leadership teams to provide a positive experience during the period of
significant change By utilizing a solid change management methodologythe organization promotes team communication a safer environment for
the patient a work environment that promotes trust and an environment
where people are allowed to talk about the fear of change All of this
promotes a better human experience and a much stronger work force
hellip An effective change management program has meant the difference
between good go-lives and great go-lives at our 10 hospitalsrdquo
Lindsey P Jarrell FACHE
SVP amp CIO
BayCare Health System
Clearwater FL
CIO Perspective
During my masters program I took an Organization Development
class that really opened my eyes to peoplesrsquo needs during large-scale
change Since the OD class I have been very interested in what makes
people tick and why people react in different ways to the same
environment No matter how good of an idea a large-scale technology
implementation is we will always have early adopters average adopters
and laggards As leaders within large organizations we have a
responsibility to plan for and respect all types of technology adopters
Ultimately the people who work within in our organizations want a positive
human experience when they are at work
Utilizing a change management methodology enables the implementation
and leadership teams to provide a positive experience during the period of
significant change By utilizing a solid change management methodologythe organization promotes team communication a safer environment for
the patient a work environment that promotes trust and an environment
where people are allowed to talk about the fear of change All of this
promotes a better human experience and a much stronger work force
hellip An effective change management program has meant the difference
between good go-lives and great go-lives at our 10 hospitals
Lindsey P Jarrell FACHE
SVP amp CIO
BayCare Health System
Clearwater FL
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2839
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 9
Remember that change is a personal experience It is also local and
individual And itrsquos hardmdasheven when itrsquos sel-imposed and positive
Tere are no shortcuts People have to go through the process o change
in much the same way that we move through the stages o grie2 It canrsquot
be avoided or skipped You can measure twice and cut once or you
can cut now and then do costly remediation later Either way you canrsquot
avoid the expense or time required or real change to occur
SYSEMS PERSPECIVE
Experienced technology adoption proessionals embrace a systems
perspective when given the assignment to drive perormance man-
age perceptions and increase the utilization o new and existing tech-
nology A systems approach is the ability to see the big picture and
address the interrelationships among the variables within the abric o
CIO Perspective
ldquoIrsquove been in healthcare IT a long time and I now realize itrsquos
all about change management What was considered soft is
now hard We know so much more about how to install
technologymdashItrsquos the people part we donrsquot know well yet
and so itrsquos hardrdquo
Scott Joslyn
CIO
MemorialCare
Long Beach CA
CIO Perspective
Irsquove been in healthcare IT a long time and I now realize itrsquos
all about change management What was considered soft is
now hard We know so much more about how to install
technologymdashitrsquos the people part we donrsquot know well yet
and so itrsquos hard
J Scott Joslyn
CIO
MemorialCare
Long Beach CA
Quoteldquordquo
ldquoNo man can think clearly when his fists are clenchedrdquo
- George Jean Nathan
Quoteldquordquo
ldquordquo
ldquoNo man can think clearly when his fists are clenchedrdquo
- George Jean Nathan
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2939
10 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
the organization and in1047298uence the combined impact these variables
have on organizational effectiveness As each variable has the powerto in1047298uence the outcome o any intervention behavior change is ofen
not sustainable because variables tend to work against one another
Effective technology adoption strategies account or this interrelation-
shipinterdependency and aim to bring these variables into alignment
as a means or driving sustainable results
Figure 1-2 introduces the Organizational Fabric Model which
highlights the six primary threads (or variables) that are interwoven
in the abric (or culture) o an organization Te model suggests that
all six threads must work in concert to successully shape the organi-
zational abric A well-woven technology adoption plan strategically
manipulates these threads to in1047298uence desired change A poorly wovenplan in which a thread or combination o threads is not accounted
or leads to disaster or by way o analogy will hit a snag down the
road Depending on the 1047298exibility and durability o this abric a snag
can result in a huge hole that detracts rom the overall strength o the
intervention Te intent o the Organizational Fabric Model is to stress
how important it is to understand the uture state recognize how each
variable or combination o variables will come into play and develop a
sound technology adoption program that appropriately in1047298uences this
set o variables to reshape the abric or culture so desired change can
actually take place
Te Organizational Fabric Model will be revisited in subsequent
chapters as each thread or variable is explored in urther detail For
now we reiterate that technology adoption strategies must not rely
on only one or two threads to drive behavior change Sustainable out-
comes result rom an organizationrsquos ability to leverage the combination
o all six threads working in concert to create an environment orsuccess
Key Point
Fundamentally culture is ldquothe way we do things around hererdquo
Key Point
Fundamentally culture is ldquothe way we do things around hererdquo
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3039
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 11
CREAING AN ENVIRONMEN FOR SUCCESS
echnology adoption is about creating a context an environment in
which change can be achieved and sustained over the long term Tis
involves two levelsmdashorganizational and individual
With an EMR implementation the organization must create thesupporting environment provide needed training and resources
articulate a clear direction coupled with clear expectations engage its
people include them in the process and reinorce desired new behav-
iors Tis is not about checking things off a list but rather about 1047297nd-
ing synergy among impacted groups giving them what they need and
coordinating efforts to meet the end goal Itrsquos an ongoing effort
o give you an idea o what we are talking about herersquos an exam-
ple o an individual situation occurring within a social context Tink
about what happens when you want to make a signi1047297cant change in
your personal liemdashquit smoking stop drinking lose weight Itrsquos one
thing to talk with a doctor or another proessional about what needsto happen when yoursquore in their offi ce but once you leave the offi ce
you then return to your social reality I your riends and amily donrsquot
want your behavior to change you will have a tough time All the rein-
Figure 1-2 Organizational Fabric Model
Sponsorship
Stakeholder Mgmt
Training
Vision
Reinforcement
Communications
Sponsorship
Stakeholder Mgmt
Training
Vision
Reinforcement
Communications
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3139
12 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
orcements and temptations will conspire to prevent you rom mak-
ing changes But i you can get some important people in your lieto make the changes with you or at least support you in the process
you have a much greater chance o success Te lesson is donrsquot send a
changed person back into an unchanged environment if you want
to see behavior change
Engaging individuals involves arousing two key aspects mdashwilling-
ness and ability Te organization must in1047298uence both in order to suc-
ceed With the help o the Skill Versus Will Matrix (Figure 1-3) think
about it this way
bull When people want to do something but donrsquot know how they canrsquot
(willingunable)
bull When people know how but donrsquot want to they wonrsquot(ableunwilling)
Can you think o examples in your own lie when you have been in
either o these situations
Consider the circumstance o people who know how to do some-
thing but donrsquot want to do it Tis is a ldquowillrdquo not a ldquoskillrdquo issue and it is
a very common technology adoption dilemma I the amount o work
and effort involved are not perceived by the user as being equal to the
Figure 1-3 The Skill versus Will Matrix
Skill
Will
WONrsquoT
WONrsquoT
DOES
CANrsquoTLow
High
HighLow
Skill
Will
WONrsquoT
WONrsquoT
DOES
CANrsquoTLow
High
HighLow HighLow
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3239
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 13
return or value experienced through the implementation the user will
most likely choose to reduce the effort A goal o an effective people-ocused strategy is to identiy potential areas o disconnect and 1047297nd
ways to increase the perceived value to users Te assumption is that
when the return is perceived to be greater the effort increases When
there are no incentives to try harder it may be diffi cult to drive desired
behavior change
Te point in getting users to actively support the deployment o
an EMR is about a lot more than a communication plan or eature
unction training Managing the people side o an EMR implementa-
tion requires a savvy technology adoption plan that ties sponsorship
training communication work1047298ow harmonization user support and
reinorcement with the business priorities o the organization andeffectively coordinates all o these activities with the user in mindmdashin
an environment that reinorces desired behavior changes
Key Questions
Two key questions to remember throughout the
project arehellip
(1) How will this decision impact the user
(2) How might it impact patients
Key Questions
Two key questions to remember throughout the
project are
(1) How will this decision impact the user
(2) How might it impact patients
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3339
14 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
Consider this example
In this example what are the key elements o this process that
ensure success
bull Te picture of success the desired outcome is clearmdashit is or the
child to become a unctioning adult in the community
bull How this happens is clearly de1047297ned in behavioral terms Tere is a
process that is known and understood by the entire community
including children
bull Leaders at all levels in the community agree on the desired out-
come support the entire process and actively ful1047297ll their roles to ensure success Leaders include village elders and ormal lead-
ers parents o the children inormal opinion leaders and amily
members
bull Te children who are about to become adults take an active role
in their own transormation taking responsibility or their suc-
cess Tey receive guidance and counsel rom elders Tey know
and understand the transormation process and what they must do
to achieve their new status Goals and steps are clear Tey also
understand the consequences o not successully transitioning to
adulthood
bull I there is more than one child slated to go through transormationto adulthood at the same time they are a peer group and as appro-
priate prepare together and support each other
Key Point
In native cultures there tend to be rites of passage that serve
to transition a person from childhood to adult status in the
community The child may actually leave the village for a day or
two of contemplation following a prescribed process When the
child returns he or she is redefined as an adult and assumes
the consequent privileges and responsibilities The entire
community reinforces the personrsquos new status the new adult is
not allowed to return to being a child whenever itrsquos convenient
but is supported to complete the transformation to adulthood
The change to adulthood does not happen in a vacuum but is
part of a carefully designed process that ensures success
Key Point
In native cultures there tend to be rites of passage that serve
to transition a person from childhood to adult status in the
community The child may actually leave the village for a day or
two of contemplation following a prescribed process When the
child returns he or she is redefined as an adult and assumes
the consequent privileges and responsibilities The entire
community reinforces the personrsquos new status the new adult is
not allowed to return to being a child whenever itrsquos convenient
but is supported to complete the transformation to adulthood
The change to adulthood does not happen in a vacuum but is
part of a carefully designed process that ensures success
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3439
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 15
bull Te entire community works together to bring about the
transormationbull Success results in positive reinforcement
Te environmental context is the trump card in any implementerrsquos
hand It takes a lot o work to create a suitable environment but it is an
essential ingredient in being able to drive and sustain change
Willingness and Ability
Earlier we mentioned willingness and ability as key concepts in tech-
nology adoption Willingness and ability can also be thought o as
hearts and minds or will and skill Te point is the same regardless
o the terms used People need to be supported on both an emotional
level to commit and on an intellectual level to be able Te questionto be answered is ldquoWhat are the conditions under which users will
accept and adopt the EMRrdquo
Letrsquos talk about willingness 1047297rst
Willingness or hearts is the commitment to go orward Tis is
impacted by many things including the ollowing elements
bull Leadership Perceived support or lack o support or the change
rom senior executives in the company the cascade o sponsors
down through the organization and just as importantly rom the
employeersquos direct supervisor
bull Communication Quality and requency o verbal and written
messages that describe the desired uture state tell why the changeneeds to happen and what will happen i change isnrsquot made set
clear expectations explain how the company will prepare and sup-
port people to success and describe local details such as timelines
etc
bull Reinforcement Degree o appropriateness and timeliness o
rewards or demonstrating desired new behaviors and conse-
quences or sticking to the old ways
bull Participation Degree to which users are involved every step o
the way either directly as individuals or indirectly by being effec-
tively represented by trusted local opinion leader peers who serve
as liaisons between users and the project teambull Organizational History with Change Previous organizational
experience with changemdashgood and badmdashwill in1047298uence user per-
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3539
16 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
ceptions and expectations o the EMR implementation Under-
standing the past is important in planning or the utureTis all sounds logical but the reaction to it can be emotional Tis
is where people conront their ear o ailure eeling stupid making
mistakes etc Remember that the change may require people to give
up the very things that they believe made them successul in the past
Tis can be a diffi cult sell
Ability or minds is about the actual capability to successully
meet new job expectations Tis is impacted by many things including
the ollowing elements
bull raining and Support In most cases the new EMR abilities must
be learned An effective training program that is role-based and
intentionally ocused on preparing people to perorm new jobexpectations is key Just discussing desired outcomes is not enough
though we have to clearly tell people what we want them to do
Tis requires an intellectual understanding o what and how a
conceptual understanding is necessary but not suffi cient Most
people need to practice something new to develop competence and
con1047297dence Sae opportunities to practice preerably with immedi-
ate eedback are very important to pro1047297ciency development and
sustainability
Getting people to move in the direction you want is the diffi -
cultymdashsome say the hardest part o the whole project And i you agree
that people are the oundation o successmdashthat bene1047297t realization isdependant not on technology but on people agreeing to go through
personal disruption learn new things change established patterns and
conront their earsmdashthen we must be proactive and courageous in
addressing the human issues
Tis is the people side o the project Tis is the organizational read-
iness unction It involves collaboration coordination and sequencing
o activities inormation and events rom all people-ocused areas Te
idea is to have all the people-ocused unctions working together to
reach clearly de1047297ned shared outcomes Te organizational readiness
plan to create individual and organizational readiness is the umbrella
that connects it allmdashthe glue that holds it together and the grease thatmakes it workmdashor the user We will address the structure and process
or doing this in more detail in subsequent chapters
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3639
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 17
Good News on wo Fronts
1 Tere is a social science Tere is a body o work research andsubsequent publications about the human experience with change
Tere are proven change management strategies tools and tech-
niques Tis isnrsquot olklore hooey or black magic Te transition
process is known and predictable Tere is a change curve that
describes the steps (Chapter 5 Stakeholder Management) And
though there is no silver bullet it isnrsquot rocket science Senior
healthcare executives must take the emerging proession o change
managementtechnology adoption seriously Not understanding it
is no excuse or ignoring it Tat is ar too expensive an option
2 All people go through transition when changemdashgood or badmdash
happens in both their personal and proessional lie You canrsquot
avoid it Te wonderul thing is i you learn about change and
transition at work it will improve your personal lie Tis is one
o the times to ldquotry this at homerdquo Wersquore all humanmdashat work and
at home So treat your people as the humans they are and avoid
some predictable expense and diffi culty Lead your organization
to a successul outcome and speed up the process by treating your
staff as customers 1047297rst
Donrsquot make the mistake o glossing over the critical human aspects
o change Hire experts and 1047297nd the emotionally intelligent people in
your organization who want to participate And remember you can
install technology without your people but you canrsquot ully implement
and achieve return on investment without them Consciously choose
to move fear and resistance to trust and adoption Itrsquos a case o pay
now or pay later I you wait until later it will always cost more ech-
nology Adoption is expensive but not as expensive as trying to gloss
it over and then having to undo the damage When ailure happens it
Quoteldquordquo
ldquoNot everything that can be counted counts and not everything thatcounts can be countedrdquo
- Albert Einstein
Quoteldquordquo
ldquordquo
ldquoNot everything that can be counted counts and not everything thatcounts can be countedrdquo
- Albert Einstein
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3739
18 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
takes a long time or people to re-engage And in todayrsquos world this
presents real problems or healthcare organizations aced with short-ages in many proessions Tere is a huge risk o alienating and poten-
tially losing needed staff or in causing long delays We can do better
Not so long ago it wasnrsquot conventional wisdom that clinical application
rollouts are not I projects More frequently than not these were consid-
ered technical projects in which the point of celebration was when con-nection from workstation to central processor was reliable and wireless
access actually worked Te classic I People-Process-echnology trian-
gle never got much past echnology to the real hard work on the People-
Process axis Tat has all changed in the 21st century system implemen-
tations that are both successful and valuable have had people and process
on the front burner
When MemorialCare embarked on a 1047297ve-hospital roll-out of an
EMR in 2002 it had several things in its favor
bull Te technology the organization ultimately acquired was robust and
reliable it worked
bull It had 15 yearsrsquo experience with CPOE (computerized providerorder entry) Terefore although unevenly adopted it was not new
territory
bull It had had the experience of a system-wide roll-out and standard-
ization on a general 1047297nance human resources and materials man-
agement system When all was said and done users had not been
suffi ciently involved standardization fell short because involvement
was low business leadership was diffuse and I ownership was too
high It was judged successful overall but the organization continues
to move slowly forward with an underutilized set of applications
With this experience and the insights of others MemorialCare pri-
oritized engagement of physicians nurses pharmacists and other staffWell before 1047297nancial commitment to a new system was obtained Memo-
rialCare hired a ldquoCare Planning Executiverdquo a person whose full-time
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3839
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 19
activities were devoted to the project 1047297rst to help understand the drivers
of a new system scope out the territory to be covered gain the com-mitment of senior leaders as well as governance and outline the case
for change At my insistence the Care Planning Executive a registered
nurse and former hospital chief operating offi cer joined the organization
reporting to the system-wide CEO as a peer and partner of the CIO not
a staff member and a peer to the CEOs of each medical center campus
Tat dedication alone made clear the commitment intentions and over-
all priority of the company
Among several other critical success factorsmdashand the outcome was
a successmdashwas the overall employee engagement program that the Care
Planning Executive established In summary it was an education mar-
keting and training program dedicated to equipping the affected staffwith the knowledge and tools to embrace unavoidable change Staff com-
munication was clear that it wasnrsquot change for changersquos sake but a major
move forward in the paperless way care would be delivered and work-
1047298ows would be streamlined Of course at the time no one could have
foreseen later moves by government to push everyone in this direction
(with the American Recovery and Reconstruction Act of 2009) Because
of our early efforts wersquore now very well positioned
J Scott Joslyn
CIO
MemorialCareLong Beach California
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3939
About the BookDespite the promise of improving care and other benefits EMR implementations are highly disruptive to the
organization This book prepares you to lead or participate successfully in change managementtechnologyadoption efforts so that meaningful use of EMRs can be achieved The authors provide successful strategies
to plan and implement change The content is based on their decades of combined experience designing
and leading technology adoption programs
Sections of the book deal with establishing a foundation for change building commitment and developing
requisite skill in helping users be successful with technology The book includes numerous lessons learned
tips for success best practices and case studies from organizations that have handled change well
About the AuthorsClaire McCarthy MA is a recognized technology adoption strategist and leader
with 25 years of healthcare industry experience supporting people through softwareimplementations and other large-scale change efforts As Director of Organizational
Effectiveness for Kaiser Permanentersquos enterprise-wide EMR deployment Ms McCarthy
led a national community of practice focused on preparing users to assume new
roles and responsibilities in support of organizational objectives Ms McCarthy
speaks internationally on the topic of technology adoption encouraging healthcare
leaders around the globe to set the stage for benefit realization by investing in the
people side of EMR implementation
Douglas Eastman PhD is an organizational development executive with extensive
experience managing large-scale change initiatives With more than 20 years
of consulting experience Dr Eastmanrsquos focus is to help organizations grow and
manage change by unleashing human potential His specialties are organizationaltransformation technology adoption and optimization process redesign strategic
planning and program and tools development As the Executive Director of Technology
Adoption and Organizational Capability within the Kaiser Permanente IT Care
Delivery Business Information Office Dr Eastman has pioneered several of Kaiserrsquos
implementation readiness toolsmethodologies and post-live optimization strategies
programs adding to the organizationrsquos ability to realize the benefit of its technology
About HIMSS The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) is a comprehensive healthcare-
stakeholder membership organization exclusively focused on providing global leadership for the optimal
use of information technology (IT) and management systems for the betterment of healthcare Founded in
1961 with offices in Chicago Washington DC Brussels Singapore and other locations across the United
States HIMSS represents more than 23000 individual members of which 73 work in patient care delivery
settings HIMSS also includes over 380 corporate members and nearly 30 not-for-profit organizations that
share our mission of transforming healthcare through the effective use of information technology and
management systems HIMSS frames and leads healthcare public policy and industry practices through
its educational professional development and advocacy initiatives designed to promote information and
management systemsrsquo contributions to ensuring quality patient care
ISBN 978-0-9821070-6-5
Order Code 564
230 E Ohio St Suite 500
Chicago IL 60611ndash3270
312-915-9295
www himss org
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 239
Change Management Strategiesfor an Effective
EMR Implementation
Claire McCarthy MA
Douglas Eastman PhD
Contributing Editor
David E Garets FHIMSS
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 339
HIMSS Mission
o lead healthcare transormation through the effective use o
health inormation technology
copy 2010 by the Healthcare Inormation and Management Systems
Society
All rights reserved No part o this publication may be reproduced
adapted translated stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in
any orm or by any means electronic mechanical photocopying
recording or otherwise without the prior written permission o
the publisher
Printed in the USA 5 4 3 2 1
Requests or permission to reproduce any part o this work should
be sent to
Permissions Editor
HIMSS
230 E Ohio St Suite 500
Chicago IL 60611-3270
cmcleanhimssorg
ISBN 978-0-9821070-6-5
Te inclusion o an organization name product or service in
this publication should not be construed as an endorsement o
such organization product or service nor is the ailure to includean organization name product or service to be construed as
disapproval
For more inormation about HIMSS please visit wwwhimssorg
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 439
iii
About the Authors
Claire McCarthy MA is a recognized change managementtechnol-
ogy adoption strategist and leader with extensive experience support-
ing people through transitions driven by sofware implementations
mergers reorganizations process improvements and downsizing in
the healthcare industry Ms McCarthy works with healthcare provid-
ers and staff at all levels She advocates or the ront line understand-ing that developing willingness and ability in people is what makes
change successul and produces lasting results She speaks internation-
ally on the topic o technology adoption encouraging healthcare lead-
ers to invest in the people side o electronic medical record (EMR)
implementations
As Director o Organizational Effectiveness or Kaiser Perman-
entersquos national electronic medical records deployment Ms McCarthy
introduced the concept o technology adoption to the organization
and led a national community o practice ocused on developing user
readiness Trough integration o cross-unctional work in change
management training communication union engagement opera-tions lessons learned and workorce planning clinical and business
users were prepared to assume new roles and responsibilities in sup-
port o organizational objectives
With 25 years o healthcare industry technology adoption experi-
ence Ms McCarthy has designed and led the human side o technical
implementations in a wide variety o sofware deployments including
EMRs practice management material managementsupply chain cli-
ent relationship management contracting and sourcing e-commerce
health plan product management and currently ICD-10 conversion
Ms McCarthy is a certi1047297ed William Bridges Organizational
Change practitioner and is accredited in Accelerating ImplementationMethodology rom Implementation Management Associates Inc She
holds a masterrsquos degree in sociology rom the University o Montana
and a bachelorrsquos degree in sociology rom Caliornia State University
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 539
iv Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
Doug Eastman PhD is an organizational development executive with
extensive experience managing large-scale change initiatives Withmore than 20 years o consulting experience Dr Eastmanrsquos ocus is
to help organizations grow and manage change by unleashing human
potential His specialties are organizational transormation technol-
ogy adoption and optimization process redesign large-scale change
management strategic planning program and tools development and
acilitation
As the Executive Director o echnology Adoption and Organiza-
tional Capability within the Kaiser Permanente Inormation echnol-
ogy Care Delivery Business Inormation Offi ce Dr Eastman currently
advises senior operational and project executives on the countryrsquos larg-
est private EMR system implementation Dr Eastman leverages bestpractices rom across the program and develops implementation read-
iness tools and methodologies as well as pioneering several best prac-
tice post go-live optimization strategies and programs aimed to ensure
end-users are building the requisite level o system skill pro1047297ciency
Prior to joining Kaiser Permanente Dr Eastmanrsquos consulting career
included positions with Andersen Consulting (now Accenture) Wat-
son Wyatt Worldwide and a boutique employee relations consulting
1047297rm He was also vice president o operations or a technology services
1047297rm or which he was responsible or the companyrsquos restructuring and
repositioning in its marketplace that grew 200 during his tenure
Dr Eastman serves on the board o directors or the ChildhoodAnxiety Network He holds a PhD in organizational psychology rom
the Caliornia School o Proessional Psychology a masterrsquos degree in
psychology rom Pepperdine University and a bachelorrsquos degree rom
Ohio State University
ABOU HE CONRIBUING EDIOR
David E Garets FHIMSS is President and CEO o HIMSS Analyt-
ics and Executive Vice President o HIMSS Mr Garets has 32 years o
experience in inormation technology Beore joining HIMSS Analyt-
ics in 2004 he was Executive Vice President at Healthlink Prior to
that he was Group Vice President Healthcare Industry Research and
Advisory Services at Gartner Previously he was Senior Manager in
Emerging Practices at First Consulting Group and CIO o Magic Val-
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 639
ley Regional Medical Center in win Falls Idaho Prior to working in
the healthcare industry Mr Garets spent 13 years in various manage-ment capacities or Aamp
Mr Garets was a course director and served on the aculties o the
College o Healthcare Inormation Management Executives (CHIME)
Inormation Management Executive Courses or 11 years He serves
on the editorial advisory boards o three healthcare inormation tech-
nology journals and magazines and the board o directors o HIMSS
Analytics He is an affi liate proessor at the Medical College o Virginia
at Virginia Commonwealth University
Mr Garets is a HIMSS Fellow and was chair o the HIMSS Board
or 2003-2004 He is an internationally known author and speaker on
inormation technologies strategies benchmarking and the uture ohealthcare Mr Garets has a bachelorrsquos degree in business administra-
tion rom exas ech University
About the Authors v
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 739
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 839
vii
Contents
Foreword by David E Garets FHIMSS ix
Preace by Claire McCarthy MA and Douglas Eastman PhD xi
Acknowledgments xvii
Chapter 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 1
Section 1 LeadershipmdashEstablishing a Foundation for Change 21
Chapter 2 Vision 23
Chapter 3 Sponsorship 37
Chapter 4 Organizational Readiness eam 55
Section 2 WillingnessmdashBuilding Commitment 77
Chapter 5 Stakeholder Management 79
Chapter 6 Communication 95
Section 3 AbilitymdashDeveloping Requisite Skill 109
Chapter 7 raining Strategy 111
Chapter 8 Reinorcement 127
Chapter 9 Implementation Readiness 137
Section 4 Summary 175
Chapter 10 Te Journey 177
Reerences 185
Index 187
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 939
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1039
ix
Foreword
By David E Garets FHIMSS
Electronic medical record (EMR) deployments are not about technol-
ogy Tey are about equipping organizations to reach critical business
objectives by providing people with technical capabilities that make
new things possible and by engaging people in changing their behavior
to effectively use the new capabilities to generate resultsTis book will show you how to create an environment or suc-
cess in your organization to not only ensure that your EMR imple-
mentation effort is successul but that your organization builds change
capacity and 1047298exibility in the process Tis new nimbleness will serve
you well in our world o continual change
De1047297ning change management is as important as understand-
ing what change management is not It isnrsquot project management or
solely process improvement Rather it is a set o speci1047297c disciplines
described in detail in this book that when coordinated and integrated
make the difference between tossing money into an EMR pit (simi-
lar to the ones that we boaters throw our money into) or getting thesought-afer changes in your organization
Chapter 2 on Vision is especially important In it Claire and Doug
explain how leadership paints the picture o what is expected rom
the implementation o an EMR I would argue that it is a process that
involves not only representatives o the ront line and their managers
and the senior executive team but also the board An EMR implemen-
tation done rightmdashmeaning the technology works was implemented
on time and within budget and the people modiy their behavior and
processes to achieve commensurate value or the investmentmdashis more
transormative than anything else a healthcare organization could do
It needs to be driven rom the board Tat way the right people iethe CEO and executive management team are held accountable or the
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1139
x Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
success o this crucial business initiative with an inormation technol-
ogy componentDale Sanders then CIO at the Northwestern Medical Faculty Foun-
dation and now CIO at the Cayman Islandsrsquo Health Services Author-
ity pointed out that ldquoyou need to dedicate the time and resources to
constantly iterate re1047297ne and improve the utilization o the EMR over
time ar beyond its installation and go-live Itrsquos a race without a 1047297n-
ish line rain und and plan accordinglymdashdonrsquot short-change the
investmentrdquo In other words recognize that you are not done at go-
live yoursquove just started achieving technology adoption and changing
behavior to get value rom your EMR investment
Tis book should be required reading or every member o the
executive team in every healthcare organization that is planning toimplement an EMR in the next ew years I was happy to be asked
to review the book and to write the orewordmdashand not or the ame
and ortune It was because I would then have to read it and Irsquom glad
I did I learned an incredible amount about a topic that most o us in
the technology world do not understand well and that is dealing with
people issues Claire and Doug nail it here and I guarantee yoursquoll be
thankul or the knowledge they share
Having said that reading this de1047297nitive work on change man-
agement or EMR implementations is not going to provide you with
enough knowledge on the topic to preclude your engaging or hiring
change management expertise In act just the opposite yoursquoll ullyunderstand why you need to get some help Welcome to the epiphany
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1239
xi
Preface
By Claire McCarthy MA and Douglas Eastman PhD
Tere is much discussion today about implementation o EMR sys-
temsmdashdiscussions that usually include excitement anxiety and
downright dread Tere is also a lot o talk about whether EMRs cre-
ate opportunities or healthcare organizations such as transorming
the way care is delivered reducing medical errors increasing internaleffi ciencies or clinical and administrative users improving revenue
capture and providing a host o other critical bene1047297ts Te promise
(some would say antasy) is big
But above all an EMR implementation is disruptive Te process
can realistically be equated to a tornado whipping through an organi-
zation and lie as you once knew it is turned upside down and the new
processes expectations priorities roles and methods overwhelm the
workplace
Our intent in writing this book is to assist others who may be
struggling with many o the same issues we have addressed By sharing
lessons rom our numerous 1047297rsthand sofware implementation expe-riences we will equip you with successul practices and prepare you
to lead or participate effectively in change managementtechnology
adoption efforts so that meaningul use can be achieved
Te primary audience o this book is everyone who leads or is
directly involved in the people-ocused change managementtech-
nology adoption efforts o an EMR implementation Our secondary
audience is everyone else who has a stake in the usersrsquo willingness and
ability to change behavior so the potential o the technology can be
realized So whether you are actively engaged in change management
technology adoption work or your support and advocacy o change
managementtechnology adoption is neededmdashthis book is or youRegardless o your speci1047297c role (executive middle-management
ront-line supervisor physician nurse medical assistant I proes-
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1339
xii Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
sional consultant or other stakeholder in the success o an EMR
implementation) our hope is that you will gain an appreciation orthe importance o users and the effort required to ensure operational
success Tis book emphasizes effective ways to plan and implement
change Te content is based on decades o combined experience man-
aging the people side o sofware implementations in healthcare
It is important to point out however that this book is not meant to
be a course on change managementtechnology adoption Our intent
is not to review existing research or current academic models and the-
ories but rather to share the insights and lessons we have learned in
delivering sustainable results and healthy organizational change over
the years
For technically-oriented project leads the success o an EMRimplementation tends to ocus too heavily on ldquoscrewing in the sys-
temrdquo on time and on budget But as important as it is getting the
EMR technology up and running should not be the primary ocus
Equal emphasis must be placed on how the new technology will be
embraced utilized and leveraged to realize a return on this signi1047297-
cant investment Flipping the switch and turning the technology on is
merely hal o the game
We believe the promise o an EMR implementation is great with
potentially signi1047297cant returns or the patient user organization and
or the industry as a whole When we hear words such as electronic
computerized and automated it sounds as i lie will be made easier andbecome more organized and effi cient However healthcare organiza-
tions do not always think about the critical steps involved in making
these hopes a reality Tis is due in large part because managing the
people side o an implementation and developing and installing major
technology require different skills sets Neither side o the coin is nec-
essarily more important but they both must be seen as equally signi1047297-
cant Te role in managing the people side o an implementation rarely
1047297ts neatly into how technically-ocused projects have historically been
measured and this creates a scenario in which the people side is ofen
misunderstood discounted and worst case ignored altogether Con-
sider the difference between what it takes to install the system (a tech-nology ocus) and what it takes to get the desired outcomes (a ocus on
people doing things differently)
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1439
Preace xiii
Te management o ambiguity resistance and user motivation is
admittedly hard to measure and unortunately involves methods thatare not always easily checked off a list Te process is more 1047298uid and
organic than linear At times it is unpredictable requiring rethink-
ing and course corrections Afer all we are dealing with people Not
everything is clear cut Donrsquot believe anyone who tells you it is
People come with different backgrounds rames o reerence
experience with technology comort with change or ambiguity trust
in leadership and so orth Whatever the mix o scenarios users never
start rom the same placemdashand they move through the change pro-
cess at different speeds meaning they continue to be in different places
throughout the project Te good news is that users do grow and develop
over the course o the project and many eventually accept things theywouldnrsquot agree to at 1047297rst But they require understandingmdashtheir ears
needs hopes and their reactions to the challenges that impact their
ability to perorm A sound comprehensive people strategy that cre-
ates an environment in which they can succeed is essential
I the goal o your EMR implementation is to achieve sustainable
results growth or organizational transormation then a substantial
investment in people must be central to your overall implementation
strategy Afer all it is the user who makes or breaks your EMR imple-
mentation and ultimately determines the amount o return the organi-
zation will realize Te better prepared people are or the change and
the less they see it as threatening the aster they will deliver value
Quoteldquordquo
ldquoMan is still the most extraordinary computer of allrdquo
- John F Kennedy
Quoteldquordquo
ldquordquo
ldquoMan is still the most extraordinary computer of allrdquo
- John F Kennedy
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1539
xiv Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
HOW HE BOOK IS SRUCURED
Preparing an organization or a successul EMR implementationinvolves a big picture approach that takes into account all the actors
that in1047298uence behavior change Te idea is to establish an organiza-
tional contextmdasha culture in which desired behavior is supported and
reinorced through a variety o methodsmdashcreating a learning organiza-
tion that grows to achieve its vision priorities and goals In this book
we present an Implementation Readiness Model and discuss each ac-
tor involved in ensuring the organization and users are ully prepared
to realize the potential o the new technology
Tis book is organized in a simple ashion First we make the busi-
ness argument or change managementtechnology adoption explain-
ing why technology implementations will not deliver bene1047297ts without
a signi1047297cant ocus on users Next we discuss two critical success ac-
tors in any large-scale change management effortmdasha clear vision and
effective leadership
Ten we argue or the development o a cross-unctional team
o representatives rom key areas within the organization the Orga-
nizational Readiness eam (OR) and introduce a pragmatic model
that outlines the scope o complexity and work that the OR man-
ages throughout the project lie cycle Tis establishes a oundation
or subsequent chapters in which each provides urther detail about
the inter-relationship o work involved to effectively drive sustain-
able change Tese chapters dig deeper into lessons learned and best
practices related to stakeholder management communication train-
ing strategy and reinorcement as all must be aligned to successully
satisy the end goal o a meaningul implementation
Finally the Implementation Readiness chapter shows how the
prior chapters serve as building blocks to ormulate a comprehensive
and powerul Implementation Readiness Program aimed at securing
ready users who are engaged and prepared or the transitional changes
ahead in the world o an EMR Te book ends with a discussion o
our key lessons learned and insights regarding the overall journey Pay
particular attention to some o the larger challenges related to an EMR
implementation as these scenarios have proven to have a signi1047297cant
impact on an organizationrsquos speed and ability to position itsel or ben-
e1047297ts realization
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1639
Preace xv
It is important to stress that ocusing on just one actor o imple-
mentation readiness is not suffi cient to drive organizational changeand sustainable results Each chapter describes an individual actor in
detail and provides lessons and useul examples tools and other bits
o inormation intended to help you succeed in preparing your orga-
nization or a successul EMR implementation But the real purpose
o the book is to raise awareness o how all actors work in concert to
in1047298uence desired change associated with an EMR implementation Te
actors work best as an integrated whole overlapping and reinorcing
each other Tey typically have separate leadership but whether or-
mally integrated or not they are pieces o one picture
Like other books you can jump to any chapter o interest at any
point However we strongly encourage you to read the book cover tocover 1047297rst to gain an understanding o the end-to-end process and how
each actor contributes to overall success A strategy that accounts or
all actors is more effective than just one intervention or multiple dis-
connected interventions In this case the sum is de1047297nitely greater than
all o its individual parts
We speak to you in a conversational and straightorward man-
ner to make this rather diffi cult side o an EMR implementation more
approachable We hope you will 1047297nd our insights valuable and will
leverage this book as your implementation reerence guide It will ur-
ther your cause i all stakeholders accountable or a successul launch
in your organization have a common ramework or approaching the
collective end goal We certainly wish wersquod had a book like this years
ago to guide us through the mine1047297eld o sofware implementationsFinally we hope you enjoy the process o supporting people
through the transition to the world o EMRs Tere is something very
Quoteldquordquo
ldquoExperience is a hard teacher because she gives
the test first the lessons afterwardsrdquo
- Vernon Law
Quoteldquordquo
ldquordquo
ldquoExperience is a hard teacher because she gives
the test first the lessons afterwardsrdquo
- Vernon Law
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1739
xvi Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
rewarding about seeing people who were earul and resistant even
in tears and thinking seriously o quitting eel the pride o accom-plishment when they succeed Each person who stays the course and
becomes a contributing member o the electronically enabled organi-
zation represents untold cost avoidance Knowledge and talent stay in
the organization replacement costs are avoided relationships are pre-
served and critical staff shortages are reduced echnology adoption is
truly a contribution to the bottom line
In the words o one o our grandathers ldquoPeople change when
theyrsquore damned good and ready and not beorerdquo Wersquore here to get
them ready
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1839
xvii
Acknowledgments
Te authors would like to thank the ollowing individuals or sharing
their expertise and experiences or this book
Saaa Al-Haddad MD
Internal Medicine
University Hospitals
Cleveland Ohio
Ronnie D Bower Jr MA
Manager Change Management
BayCare Health System
ampa Florida
Nabil Chehade MD MSBS
CPC
Director Medical Inormatics
Regional Chie o Urology
KP HealthConnect RegionalPhysician Lead
Kaiser Permanente Medical
Group
Cleveland Ohio
Kenneth Goodman MD
Associate Director Center
or Continuing Medical
Education
Department o Family Medicine
Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland Ohio
Marie Hamilton RN
Kaiser Permanente
Oregon Federation o Nurses
and Health ProessionalsHealthcare Inormation
echnology Committee
AF Healthcare
Portland Oregon
Lindsey P Jarrell FACHE
Senior Vice President amp CIO
BayCare Health System
ampa Florida
J Scott JoslynCIO
MemorialCare
Long Beach Caliornia
Margaret M Rudoph PhD
Consultant
Vancouver British Columbia
Canada
om Smith
CIO
NorthShore University Health
System
Evanston Illinois
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1939
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2039
1
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 983089
Te Business Case forChange Management
ldquoWersquore not in Kansas anymorehelliprdquo
In the introduction an EMR implementation is compared to a tornado
in that it whips through an organization turning lie upside down and
throwing users into a world 1047297lled with new ways o doing things and
seeking ways to recapture some sense o balance and control EMR
technology disrupts the status quo and along with the many opportu-
nities it promises it also brings a whirlwind o seemingly never-ending
changes which can have an entirely different effect on different people
While an implementation that is effectively managed even brings these
challenges a poor implementation can be disastrous and will cost the
organization much more time energy and money to get things back
on track
Dorothy the character rom the movie Te Wizard of Oz held
her composure pretty well through the tornado that ripped her rom
a calm stable lie on the arm and threw her into a oreign world She
was able to manage through the obstacles and challenges and stay the
course as she ollowed the yellow brick road in search o the wizard
Some say this is similar to the experience users have except or the
part when Dorothy wakes up rom her dream and 1047297nds hersel back
home as she remembers itEMR implementations donrsquot have to be nightmarish or users but
there certainly will be obstacles and challenges along the way Te key is
to help users through the road blocks and enable them to experience a
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2139
2 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
positive journey Tis process is always easier when people know what
they are getting into eel supported and are prepared or what liesahead both good and bad Tis is the role o change management
CHANGE MANAGEMEN DEFINED
Itrsquos important to understand why you should make an investment in
the people side o the projectmdashbringing in the best technology pos-
sible doesnrsquot mean anything unless users are comortable and pro1047297-
cient in its use Te truth is just because you build it doesnrsquot mean they
will come
Letrsquos start by answering the two questions we are most ofen asked
ldquoWhat is change management anyway What is it change managers
dordquoo avoid conusion wersquoll say up ront we are not talking about
change management as it relates to technical issues such as version or
change control We also want to be clear that change management is
not project management What we are talking about is the human side
o electronic medical records implementations the human-ocused
work o engaging and preparing people to succeed in the new world
o EMRs
A word about project management while good project manage-
ment acilitates change management the two disciplines are not the
same Project management is much more linear and task-ocused
whereas change management deals with the complexities o human
behavior But a good project plan creates a structure and a ounda-
tion in which the change management process can occur Tereore
the two disciplines though different complement and support each
other
A word o caution do not conuse the project plan with the end
result Te plan is necessary and it guides you throughout the process
Te plan is proactive itrsquos the order in the chaos But technology adop-
tion is kind o like herding cats itrsquos unpredictable and you need to
maintain 1047298exibility to respond as things evolve Tis is a more reactive
process than what may be expressed in a plan In our experience an
EMR implementation requires both structure and 1047298exibility
Tere is a saying in change management circles When one door
closes another one opens but sometimes itrsquos hell in the hallway Change
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2239
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 3
management deals mostly with the hallway situation acilitating the
human transition rom the present to the uture Tese days change isongoing and requires ocused leadership i it is to be as ast and pain-
less as possible
Te three legs o the project stool represent the critical compo-nents o an implementation (Figure 1-1)mdashPeople Process and ech-
nology Te people are the most important When technology projects
ail it is primarily due to a lack o use and not a ailure o the sof-
ware Te ocus o change management is people and the objective is
to change behavior Tis is good or business because it accelerates the
change process so bene1047297ts are achieved aster Change management
is not about being nice or placing an emphasis on eelings Itrsquos about
perormance improvement and results
I you search the literature you will 1047297nd a variety o de1047297nitions o
human-ocused change management Tey all cover similar concepts
sometimes using different terminology Te simplest explanation ochange management is to say ldquoItrsquos all about the peoplerdquo But or the
purposes o this book we expand on that concept and use the ollow-
ing de1047297nition o change management
bull A structured process designed to deal directly and intentionally
with the human actors involved in not just planning and imple-
menting an EMR but through behavior change achieving the
anticipated bene1047297ts that justi1047297ed the project in the 1047297rst place
bull Desired behavior change is achieved by helping people understand
and internalize change and by preparing them to be successul
contributors in the uture state In the case o EMR implementa-
tions effective change management delivers users who are willingand able to use an EMR in a way that satis1047297es the requirements o
the job the needs o the patient and the health o the organization
Key Tip
Our assumption is that the software you are implementing
works If the software doesnrsquot work you have another kind of
problem one that even the best change management wonrsquot
resolve
Key Tip
Our assumption is that the software you are implementing
works If the software doesnrsquot work you have another kind of
problemmdashone that even the best change management wonrsquot
resolve
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2339
4 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
Well-designed integrated people-ocused work builds logically
over time in a way that makes sense to the user It brings users along
guiding and supporting them so they arrive at where you want them
to be Tis is about willingness and ability hearts and minds You must
have both
Te overarching purpose o change management is to acceleratethe speed at which people move successfully through the change
process so that anticipated bene1047297ts are achieved faster And there
are additional bene1047297ts to change management Trough optimizing
the effi ciency and effi cacy o users an effective EMR change manage-
ment program will also
bull Improve organizational outcomes and perormance (effective use
o the system generates value to patients and the organization)
bull Enhance employee satisaction morale and engagement (when
people learn new skills meet perormance expectations and con-
tribute to a greater good they eel pride in their accomplishments)
bull Improve service quality (users eel valued and supported by anorganization that makes an investment in them this positively
impacts how they treat patients)
Figure 1-1 The Three-legged Stool
Technology
People Process
Technology
People Process
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2439
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 5
bull Help achieve hoped-or bene1047297ts (bene1047297ts that include EMR value
realization reduction o errors return on investment)bull Create higher levels o openness trust involvement and teamwork
(develop an engaged workorce)
bull Build change capability and capacity in the organization resulting
in improved ability to respond quickly and effectively to new situa-
tions (create organizational nimbleness through embedded change
management knowledge structure and process)
In other words it really is all about the people Intentionally man-
aging the cultural behavioral and organizational changes that need
to take place to make the desired EMR uture not only a reality but
a sustainable reality pays off on many levels in that it also acilitates
organizational transormation Building on individual capability andorganizational capacity change management results in a change-
capable culturemdasha huge advantage in todayrsquos competitive and ast-
changing world
Change Management echnology AdoptionmdashWhatrsquos the Difference
Tere are a number o terms that people use to reer to the work
involved in managing the people side o a change effort We think o
change management as the mother ship that is the umbrella term that
embraces all specialties within the 1047297eld Similar to the various special-
ties or domains o service within a healthcare system change man-agement proessionals may choose speci1047297c areas o ocus echnology
adoption speci1047297cally inormation technology (I) is one such area
and it involves the application o change management principles to the
implementation o I Te focus of this book is technology adoption
and we will mostly use this term instead of change management
throughout the rest of the book
Effective technology adoption proessionals align themselves with
the operationalbusiness side o the organization and tailor solutions
that drive behavioral change and tangible outcomes Tey participate in
EMR implementation projects rom the beginning driving the people
side o change throughout and continuing to add value post-live as theEMR becomes part o the central nervous system o the organization
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2539
6 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
HE IMPORANCE OF HE PEOPLE SIDE
OF AN EMR IMPLEMENAIONTere are many reerences in the literature to ailed change efforts and
I implementations Estimates are that only one third o these projects
achieve success which means two thirds ail to meet expectations Te
good news is that ailure is optional as much has been learned about
why some change efforts ail and others succeed
Herersquos the issue while the change that is going to occur is an exter-
nal eventmdashthe EMR implementation a reorganization proposed out-
sourcing a promotion etcmdashthe transition rom old to new that those
who are impacted experience is a psychological and emotional pro-
cess It is this transition that is diffi cultmdasheven when a change is sel-
imposed or considered positive
In the words o William Bridges a key thought leader in manage-
ment o transitions ldquoIt isnrsquot the changes that do you in itrsquos the transi-
tion afer the change that doesrdquo1
For an implementation team part o the problem encountered
during transition is that change is messy people start where they are
not where we want them to be And when considering the personnel
within a typical hospital people can be all over the place in terms o
comort with computers stage in lie commitment to the organiza-
tion ear o change etc Add to this the act that or change to be suc-
cessul three things must occur People
bull Must let go o their current reality have an ending
bull Go through a conused period in-between (hell in the hallway)
bull Only then can have a new beginning 1
o take this a step urther while I consultants want to install the
system and make enhancements the users will ultimately determine
how the system is used Tis use is affected by human not technical
actors
bull Different rames o reerence backgrounds experiences with
technology
bull Organizational history and experience with other large-scale
change projects
bull Levels o resistance ear ability to deal with ambiguity
bull Degree o alignment o ldquoWhatrsquos in it or merdquo or the various stake-
holder groups
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2639
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 7
bull Ineffi ciencies uncovered because the system creates transparency
bull Workarounds that become quickly entrenchedbull Pressure to get through the day can override doing what is right
bull User worklie balance issues coming into play rom the very
beginning
All o these actors create problems or implementation teams that
just want to install technology How do you effectively address the
people issues Or is it easier to just install the technology and assume
that people will learn because they have to use it Some on the imple-
mentation team may alsely assume that users o an EMR system will
snap into place over time and do what is right or the organization
Tis thinking is a oolrsquos paradise
In the oreword to this book Dave Garets made the point that EMRdeployments are not about technology but about equipping organiza-
tions to reach critical business objectives by providing employees with
technical capabilities that make new things possible and by engaging
them in changing their behavior to effectively use the new capabilities
to generate desired results
With all due respect to the technical side o an EMR implemen-
tation installing the technology is only hal the battle Tis is not to
degrade the importance o the technology Te act that we spend a lot
o money researching technology acquiring it con1047297guring it install-
ing it and supporting it speaks to its importance I we werenrsquot imple-
menting EMRs we wouldnrsquot even be having a discussion about EMR-related change management
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2739
8 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
But implementation o the technology is just a 1047297rst and very nec-
essary stepmdashbecause in and o itsel the technology does not generate
value Te technology is necessary but not suffi cient or bene1047297t realiza-
tion to occur o create value requires people and this is why change
management is so important oo much o a ocus on technology even
in the early stages will create issues downstream And even with the
best technology i not used effi ciently hoped-or bene1047297ts will be tough
to achieve
CIO Perspective
ldquoDuring my masters program I took an Organization Development
class that really opened my eyes to peoplesrsquo needs during large-scale
change Since the OD class I have been very interested in what makes
people tick and why people react in different ways to the same
environment No matter how good of an idea a large-scale technology
implementation is we will always have early adopters average adopters
and laggards As leaders within large organizations we have a
responsibility to plan for and respect all types of technology adopters
Ultimately the people who work within in our organizations want a positive
human experience when they are at work
Utilizing a change management methodology enables the implementation
and leadership teams to provide a positive experience during the period of
significant change By utilizing a solid change management methodologythe organization promotes team communication a safer environment for
the patient a work environment that promotes trust and an environment
where people are allowed to talk about the fear of change All of this
promotes a better human experience and a much stronger work force
hellip An effective change management program has meant the difference
between good go-lives and great go-lives at our 10 hospitalsrdquo
Lindsey P Jarrell FACHE
SVP amp CIO
BayCare Health System
Clearwater FL
CIO Perspective
During my masters program I took an Organization Development
class that really opened my eyes to peoplesrsquo needs during large-scale
change Since the OD class I have been very interested in what makes
people tick and why people react in different ways to the same
environment No matter how good of an idea a large-scale technology
implementation is we will always have early adopters average adopters
and laggards As leaders within large organizations we have a
responsibility to plan for and respect all types of technology adopters
Ultimately the people who work within in our organizations want a positive
human experience when they are at work
Utilizing a change management methodology enables the implementation
and leadership teams to provide a positive experience during the period of
significant change By utilizing a solid change management methodologythe organization promotes team communication a safer environment for
the patient a work environment that promotes trust and an environment
where people are allowed to talk about the fear of change All of this
promotes a better human experience and a much stronger work force
hellip An effective change management program has meant the difference
between good go-lives and great go-lives at our 10 hospitals
Lindsey P Jarrell FACHE
SVP amp CIO
BayCare Health System
Clearwater FL
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2839
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 9
Remember that change is a personal experience It is also local and
individual And itrsquos hardmdasheven when itrsquos sel-imposed and positive
Tere are no shortcuts People have to go through the process o change
in much the same way that we move through the stages o grie2 It canrsquot
be avoided or skipped You can measure twice and cut once or you
can cut now and then do costly remediation later Either way you canrsquot
avoid the expense or time required or real change to occur
SYSEMS PERSPECIVE
Experienced technology adoption proessionals embrace a systems
perspective when given the assignment to drive perormance man-
age perceptions and increase the utilization o new and existing tech-
nology A systems approach is the ability to see the big picture and
address the interrelationships among the variables within the abric o
CIO Perspective
ldquoIrsquove been in healthcare IT a long time and I now realize itrsquos
all about change management What was considered soft is
now hard We know so much more about how to install
technologymdashItrsquos the people part we donrsquot know well yet
and so itrsquos hardrdquo
Scott Joslyn
CIO
MemorialCare
Long Beach CA
CIO Perspective
Irsquove been in healthcare IT a long time and I now realize itrsquos
all about change management What was considered soft is
now hard We know so much more about how to install
technologymdashitrsquos the people part we donrsquot know well yet
and so itrsquos hard
J Scott Joslyn
CIO
MemorialCare
Long Beach CA
Quoteldquordquo
ldquoNo man can think clearly when his fists are clenchedrdquo
- George Jean Nathan
Quoteldquordquo
ldquordquo
ldquoNo man can think clearly when his fists are clenchedrdquo
- George Jean Nathan
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2939
10 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
the organization and in1047298uence the combined impact these variables
have on organizational effectiveness As each variable has the powerto in1047298uence the outcome o any intervention behavior change is ofen
not sustainable because variables tend to work against one another
Effective technology adoption strategies account or this interrelation-
shipinterdependency and aim to bring these variables into alignment
as a means or driving sustainable results
Figure 1-2 introduces the Organizational Fabric Model which
highlights the six primary threads (or variables) that are interwoven
in the abric (or culture) o an organization Te model suggests that
all six threads must work in concert to successully shape the organi-
zational abric A well-woven technology adoption plan strategically
manipulates these threads to in1047298uence desired change A poorly wovenplan in which a thread or combination o threads is not accounted
or leads to disaster or by way o analogy will hit a snag down the
road Depending on the 1047298exibility and durability o this abric a snag
can result in a huge hole that detracts rom the overall strength o the
intervention Te intent o the Organizational Fabric Model is to stress
how important it is to understand the uture state recognize how each
variable or combination o variables will come into play and develop a
sound technology adoption program that appropriately in1047298uences this
set o variables to reshape the abric or culture so desired change can
actually take place
Te Organizational Fabric Model will be revisited in subsequent
chapters as each thread or variable is explored in urther detail For
now we reiterate that technology adoption strategies must not rely
on only one or two threads to drive behavior change Sustainable out-
comes result rom an organizationrsquos ability to leverage the combination
o all six threads working in concert to create an environment orsuccess
Key Point
Fundamentally culture is ldquothe way we do things around hererdquo
Key Point
Fundamentally culture is ldquothe way we do things around hererdquo
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3039
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 11
CREAING AN ENVIRONMEN FOR SUCCESS
echnology adoption is about creating a context an environment in
which change can be achieved and sustained over the long term Tis
involves two levelsmdashorganizational and individual
With an EMR implementation the organization must create thesupporting environment provide needed training and resources
articulate a clear direction coupled with clear expectations engage its
people include them in the process and reinorce desired new behav-
iors Tis is not about checking things off a list but rather about 1047297nd-
ing synergy among impacted groups giving them what they need and
coordinating efforts to meet the end goal Itrsquos an ongoing effort
o give you an idea o what we are talking about herersquos an exam-
ple o an individual situation occurring within a social context Tink
about what happens when you want to make a signi1047297cant change in
your personal liemdashquit smoking stop drinking lose weight Itrsquos one
thing to talk with a doctor or another proessional about what needsto happen when yoursquore in their offi ce but once you leave the offi ce
you then return to your social reality I your riends and amily donrsquot
want your behavior to change you will have a tough time All the rein-
Figure 1-2 Organizational Fabric Model
Sponsorship
Stakeholder Mgmt
Training
Vision
Reinforcement
Communications
Sponsorship
Stakeholder Mgmt
Training
Vision
Reinforcement
Communications
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3139
12 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
orcements and temptations will conspire to prevent you rom mak-
ing changes But i you can get some important people in your lieto make the changes with you or at least support you in the process
you have a much greater chance o success Te lesson is donrsquot send a
changed person back into an unchanged environment if you want
to see behavior change
Engaging individuals involves arousing two key aspects mdashwilling-
ness and ability Te organization must in1047298uence both in order to suc-
ceed With the help o the Skill Versus Will Matrix (Figure 1-3) think
about it this way
bull When people want to do something but donrsquot know how they canrsquot
(willingunable)
bull When people know how but donrsquot want to they wonrsquot(ableunwilling)
Can you think o examples in your own lie when you have been in
either o these situations
Consider the circumstance o people who know how to do some-
thing but donrsquot want to do it Tis is a ldquowillrdquo not a ldquoskillrdquo issue and it is
a very common technology adoption dilemma I the amount o work
and effort involved are not perceived by the user as being equal to the
Figure 1-3 The Skill versus Will Matrix
Skill
Will
WONrsquoT
WONrsquoT
DOES
CANrsquoTLow
High
HighLow
Skill
Will
WONrsquoT
WONrsquoT
DOES
CANrsquoTLow
High
HighLow HighLow
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3239
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 13
return or value experienced through the implementation the user will
most likely choose to reduce the effort A goal o an effective people-ocused strategy is to identiy potential areas o disconnect and 1047297nd
ways to increase the perceived value to users Te assumption is that
when the return is perceived to be greater the effort increases When
there are no incentives to try harder it may be diffi cult to drive desired
behavior change
Te point in getting users to actively support the deployment o
an EMR is about a lot more than a communication plan or eature
unction training Managing the people side o an EMR implementa-
tion requires a savvy technology adoption plan that ties sponsorship
training communication work1047298ow harmonization user support and
reinorcement with the business priorities o the organization andeffectively coordinates all o these activities with the user in mindmdashin
an environment that reinorces desired behavior changes
Key Questions
Two key questions to remember throughout the
project arehellip
(1) How will this decision impact the user
(2) How might it impact patients
Key Questions
Two key questions to remember throughout the
project are
(1) How will this decision impact the user
(2) How might it impact patients
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3339
14 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
Consider this example
In this example what are the key elements o this process that
ensure success
bull Te picture of success the desired outcome is clearmdashit is or the
child to become a unctioning adult in the community
bull How this happens is clearly de1047297ned in behavioral terms Tere is a
process that is known and understood by the entire community
including children
bull Leaders at all levels in the community agree on the desired out-
come support the entire process and actively ful1047297ll their roles to ensure success Leaders include village elders and ormal lead-
ers parents o the children inormal opinion leaders and amily
members
bull Te children who are about to become adults take an active role
in their own transormation taking responsibility or their suc-
cess Tey receive guidance and counsel rom elders Tey know
and understand the transormation process and what they must do
to achieve their new status Goals and steps are clear Tey also
understand the consequences o not successully transitioning to
adulthood
bull I there is more than one child slated to go through transormationto adulthood at the same time they are a peer group and as appro-
priate prepare together and support each other
Key Point
In native cultures there tend to be rites of passage that serve
to transition a person from childhood to adult status in the
community The child may actually leave the village for a day or
two of contemplation following a prescribed process When the
child returns he or she is redefined as an adult and assumes
the consequent privileges and responsibilities The entire
community reinforces the personrsquos new status the new adult is
not allowed to return to being a child whenever itrsquos convenient
but is supported to complete the transformation to adulthood
The change to adulthood does not happen in a vacuum but is
part of a carefully designed process that ensures success
Key Point
In native cultures there tend to be rites of passage that serve
to transition a person from childhood to adult status in the
community The child may actually leave the village for a day or
two of contemplation following a prescribed process When the
child returns he or she is redefined as an adult and assumes
the consequent privileges and responsibilities The entire
community reinforces the personrsquos new status the new adult is
not allowed to return to being a child whenever itrsquos convenient
but is supported to complete the transformation to adulthood
The change to adulthood does not happen in a vacuum but is
part of a carefully designed process that ensures success
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3439
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 15
bull Te entire community works together to bring about the
transormationbull Success results in positive reinforcement
Te environmental context is the trump card in any implementerrsquos
hand It takes a lot o work to create a suitable environment but it is an
essential ingredient in being able to drive and sustain change
Willingness and Ability
Earlier we mentioned willingness and ability as key concepts in tech-
nology adoption Willingness and ability can also be thought o as
hearts and minds or will and skill Te point is the same regardless
o the terms used People need to be supported on both an emotional
level to commit and on an intellectual level to be able Te questionto be answered is ldquoWhat are the conditions under which users will
accept and adopt the EMRrdquo
Letrsquos talk about willingness 1047297rst
Willingness or hearts is the commitment to go orward Tis is
impacted by many things including the ollowing elements
bull Leadership Perceived support or lack o support or the change
rom senior executives in the company the cascade o sponsors
down through the organization and just as importantly rom the
employeersquos direct supervisor
bull Communication Quality and requency o verbal and written
messages that describe the desired uture state tell why the changeneeds to happen and what will happen i change isnrsquot made set
clear expectations explain how the company will prepare and sup-
port people to success and describe local details such as timelines
etc
bull Reinforcement Degree o appropriateness and timeliness o
rewards or demonstrating desired new behaviors and conse-
quences or sticking to the old ways
bull Participation Degree to which users are involved every step o
the way either directly as individuals or indirectly by being effec-
tively represented by trusted local opinion leader peers who serve
as liaisons between users and the project teambull Organizational History with Change Previous organizational
experience with changemdashgood and badmdashwill in1047298uence user per-
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3539
16 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
ceptions and expectations o the EMR implementation Under-
standing the past is important in planning or the utureTis all sounds logical but the reaction to it can be emotional Tis
is where people conront their ear o ailure eeling stupid making
mistakes etc Remember that the change may require people to give
up the very things that they believe made them successul in the past
Tis can be a diffi cult sell
Ability or minds is about the actual capability to successully
meet new job expectations Tis is impacted by many things including
the ollowing elements
bull raining and Support In most cases the new EMR abilities must
be learned An effective training program that is role-based and
intentionally ocused on preparing people to perorm new jobexpectations is key Just discussing desired outcomes is not enough
though we have to clearly tell people what we want them to do
Tis requires an intellectual understanding o what and how a
conceptual understanding is necessary but not suffi cient Most
people need to practice something new to develop competence and
con1047297dence Sae opportunities to practice preerably with immedi-
ate eedback are very important to pro1047297ciency development and
sustainability
Getting people to move in the direction you want is the diffi -
cultymdashsome say the hardest part o the whole project And i you agree
that people are the oundation o successmdashthat bene1047297t realization isdependant not on technology but on people agreeing to go through
personal disruption learn new things change established patterns and
conront their earsmdashthen we must be proactive and courageous in
addressing the human issues
Tis is the people side o the project Tis is the organizational read-
iness unction It involves collaboration coordination and sequencing
o activities inormation and events rom all people-ocused areas Te
idea is to have all the people-ocused unctions working together to
reach clearly de1047297ned shared outcomes Te organizational readiness
plan to create individual and organizational readiness is the umbrella
that connects it allmdashthe glue that holds it together and the grease thatmakes it workmdashor the user We will address the structure and process
or doing this in more detail in subsequent chapters
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3639
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 17
Good News on wo Fronts
1 Tere is a social science Tere is a body o work research andsubsequent publications about the human experience with change
Tere are proven change management strategies tools and tech-
niques Tis isnrsquot olklore hooey or black magic Te transition
process is known and predictable Tere is a change curve that
describes the steps (Chapter 5 Stakeholder Management) And
though there is no silver bullet it isnrsquot rocket science Senior
healthcare executives must take the emerging proession o change
managementtechnology adoption seriously Not understanding it
is no excuse or ignoring it Tat is ar too expensive an option
2 All people go through transition when changemdashgood or badmdash
happens in both their personal and proessional lie You canrsquot
avoid it Te wonderul thing is i you learn about change and
transition at work it will improve your personal lie Tis is one
o the times to ldquotry this at homerdquo Wersquore all humanmdashat work and
at home So treat your people as the humans they are and avoid
some predictable expense and diffi culty Lead your organization
to a successul outcome and speed up the process by treating your
staff as customers 1047297rst
Donrsquot make the mistake o glossing over the critical human aspects
o change Hire experts and 1047297nd the emotionally intelligent people in
your organization who want to participate And remember you can
install technology without your people but you canrsquot ully implement
and achieve return on investment without them Consciously choose
to move fear and resistance to trust and adoption Itrsquos a case o pay
now or pay later I you wait until later it will always cost more ech-
nology Adoption is expensive but not as expensive as trying to gloss
it over and then having to undo the damage When ailure happens it
Quoteldquordquo
ldquoNot everything that can be counted counts and not everything thatcounts can be countedrdquo
- Albert Einstein
Quoteldquordquo
ldquordquo
ldquoNot everything that can be counted counts and not everything thatcounts can be countedrdquo
- Albert Einstein
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3739
18 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
takes a long time or people to re-engage And in todayrsquos world this
presents real problems or healthcare organizations aced with short-ages in many proessions Tere is a huge risk o alienating and poten-
tially losing needed staff or in causing long delays We can do better
Not so long ago it wasnrsquot conventional wisdom that clinical application
rollouts are not I projects More frequently than not these were consid-
ered technical projects in which the point of celebration was when con-nection from workstation to central processor was reliable and wireless
access actually worked Te classic I People-Process-echnology trian-
gle never got much past echnology to the real hard work on the People-
Process axis Tat has all changed in the 21st century system implemen-
tations that are both successful and valuable have had people and process
on the front burner
When MemorialCare embarked on a 1047297ve-hospital roll-out of an
EMR in 2002 it had several things in its favor
bull Te technology the organization ultimately acquired was robust and
reliable it worked
bull It had 15 yearsrsquo experience with CPOE (computerized providerorder entry) Terefore although unevenly adopted it was not new
territory
bull It had had the experience of a system-wide roll-out and standard-
ization on a general 1047297nance human resources and materials man-
agement system When all was said and done users had not been
suffi ciently involved standardization fell short because involvement
was low business leadership was diffuse and I ownership was too
high It was judged successful overall but the organization continues
to move slowly forward with an underutilized set of applications
With this experience and the insights of others MemorialCare pri-
oritized engagement of physicians nurses pharmacists and other staffWell before 1047297nancial commitment to a new system was obtained Memo-
rialCare hired a ldquoCare Planning Executiverdquo a person whose full-time
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3839
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 19
activities were devoted to the project 1047297rst to help understand the drivers
of a new system scope out the territory to be covered gain the com-mitment of senior leaders as well as governance and outline the case
for change At my insistence the Care Planning Executive a registered
nurse and former hospital chief operating offi cer joined the organization
reporting to the system-wide CEO as a peer and partner of the CIO not
a staff member and a peer to the CEOs of each medical center campus
Tat dedication alone made clear the commitment intentions and over-
all priority of the company
Among several other critical success factorsmdashand the outcome was
a successmdashwas the overall employee engagement program that the Care
Planning Executive established In summary it was an education mar-
keting and training program dedicated to equipping the affected staffwith the knowledge and tools to embrace unavoidable change Staff com-
munication was clear that it wasnrsquot change for changersquos sake but a major
move forward in the paperless way care would be delivered and work-
1047298ows would be streamlined Of course at the time no one could have
foreseen later moves by government to push everyone in this direction
(with the American Recovery and Reconstruction Act of 2009) Because
of our early efforts wersquore now very well positioned
J Scott Joslyn
CIO
MemorialCareLong Beach California
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3939
About the BookDespite the promise of improving care and other benefits EMR implementations are highly disruptive to the
organization This book prepares you to lead or participate successfully in change managementtechnologyadoption efforts so that meaningful use of EMRs can be achieved The authors provide successful strategies
to plan and implement change The content is based on their decades of combined experience designing
and leading technology adoption programs
Sections of the book deal with establishing a foundation for change building commitment and developing
requisite skill in helping users be successful with technology The book includes numerous lessons learned
tips for success best practices and case studies from organizations that have handled change well
About the AuthorsClaire McCarthy MA is a recognized technology adoption strategist and leader
with 25 years of healthcare industry experience supporting people through softwareimplementations and other large-scale change efforts As Director of Organizational
Effectiveness for Kaiser Permanentersquos enterprise-wide EMR deployment Ms McCarthy
led a national community of practice focused on preparing users to assume new
roles and responsibilities in support of organizational objectives Ms McCarthy
speaks internationally on the topic of technology adoption encouraging healthcare
leaders around the globe to set the stage for benefit realization by investing in the
people side of EMR implementation
Douglas Eastman PhD is an organizational development executive with extensive
experience managing large-scale change initiatives With more than 20 years
of consulting experience Dr Eastmanrsquos focus is to help organizations grow and
manage change by unleashing human potential His specialties are organizationaltransformation technology adoption and optimization process redesign strategic
planning and program and tools development As the Executive Director of Technology
Adoption and Organizational Capability within the Kaiser Permanente IT Care
Delivery Business Information Office Dr Eastman has pioneered several of Kaiserrsquos
implementation readiness toolsmethodologies and post-live optimization strategies
programs adding to the organizationrsquos ability to realize the benefit of its technology
About HIMSS The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) is a comprehensive healthcare-
stakeholder membership organization exclusively focused on providing global leadership for the optimal
use of information technology (IT) and management systems for the betterment of healthcare Founded in
1961 with offices in Chicago Washington DC Brussels Singapore and other locations across the United
States HIMSS represents more than 23000 individual members of which 73 work in patient care delivery
settings HIMSS also includes over 380 corporate members and nearly 30 not-for-profit organizations that
share our mission of transforming healthcare through the effective use of information technology and
management systems HIMSS frames and leads healthcare public policy and industry practices through
its educational professional development and advocacy initiatives designed to promote information and
management systemsrsquo contributions to ensuring quality patient care
ISBN 978-0-9821070-6-5
Order Code 564
230 E Ohio St Suite 500
Chicago IL 60611ndash3270
312-915-9295
www himss org
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 339
HIMSS Mission
o lead healthcare transormation through the effective use o
health inormation technology
copy 2010 by the Healthcare Inormation and Management Systems
Society
All rights reserved No part o this publication may be reproduced
adapted translated stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in
any orm or by any means electronic mechanical photocopying
recording or otherwise without the prior written permission o
the publisher
Printed in the USA 5 4 3 2 1
Requests or permission to reproduce any part o this work should
be sent to
Permissions Editor
HIMSS
230 E Ohio St Suite 500
Chicago IL 60611-3270
cmcleanhimssorg
ISBN 978-0-9821070-6-5
Te inclusion o an organization name product or service in
this publication should not be construed as an endorsement o
such organization product or service nor is the ailure to includean organization name product or service to be construed as
disapproval
For more inormation about HIMSS please visit wwwhimssorg
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 439
iii
About the Authors
Claire McCarthy MA is a recognized change managementtechnol-
ogy adoption strategist and leader with extensive experience support-
ing people through transitions driven by sofware implementations
mergers reorganizations process improvements and downsizing in
the healthcare industry Ms McCarthy works with healthcare provid-
ers and staff at all levels She advocates or the ront line understand-ing that developing willingness and ability in people is what makes
change successul and produces lasting results She speaks internation-
ally on the topic o technology adoption encouraging healthcare lead-
ers to invest in the people side o electronic medical record (EMR)
implementations
As Director o Organizational Effectiveness or Kaiser Perman-
entersquos national electronic medical records deployment Ms McCarthy
introduced the concept o technology adoption to the organization
and led a national community o practice ocused on developing user
readiness Trough integration o cross-unctional work in change
management training communication union engagement opera-tions lessons learned and workorce planning clinical and business
users were prepared to assume new roles and responsibilities in sup-
port o organizational objectives
With 25 years o healthcare industry technology adoption experi-
ence Ms McCarthy has designed and led the human side o technical
implementations in a wide variety o sofware deployments including
EMRs practice management material managementsupply chain cli-
ent relationship management contracting and sourcing e-commerce
health plan product management and currently ICD-10 conversion
Ms McCarthy is a certi1047297ed William Bridges Organizational
Change practitioner and is accredited in Accelerating ImplementationMethodology rom Implementation Management Associates Inc She
holds a masterrsquos degree in sociology rom the University o Montana
and a bachelorrsquos degree in sociology rom Caliornia State University
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 539
iv Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
Doug Eastman PhD is an organizational development executive with
extensive experience managing large-scale change initiatives Withmore than 20 years o consulting experience Dr Eastmanrsquos ocus is
to help organizations grow and manage change by unleashing human
potential His specialties are organizational transormation technol-
ogy adoption and optimization process redesign large-scale change
management strategic planning program and tools development and
acilitation
As the Executive Director o echnology Adoption and Organiza-
tional Capability within the Kaiser Permanente Inormation echnol-
ogy Care Delivery Business Inormation Offi ce Dr Eastman currently
advises senior operational and project executives on the countryrsquos larg-
est private EMR system implementation Dr Eastman leverages bestpractices rom across the program and develops implementation read-
iness tools and methodologies as well as pioneering several best prac-
tice post go-live optimization strategies and programs aimed to ensure
end-users are building the requisite level o system skill pro1047297ciency
Prior to joining Kaiser Permanente Dr Eastmanrsquos consulting career
included positions with Andersen Consulting (now Accenture) Wat-
son Wyatt Worldwide and a boutique employee relations consulting
1047297rm He was also vice president o operations or a technology services
1047297rm or which he was responsible or the companyrsquos restructuring and
repositioning in its marketplace that grew 200 during his tenure
Dr Eastman serves on the board o directors or the ChildhoodAnxiety Network He holds a PhD in organizational psychology rom
the Caliornia School o Proessional Psychology a masterrsquos degree in
psychology rom Pepperdine University and a bachelorrsquos degree rom
Ohio State University
ABOU HE CONRIBUING EDIOR
David E Garets FHIMSS is President and CEO o HIMSS Analyt-
ics and Executive Vice President o HIMSS Mr Garets has 32 years o
experience in inormation technology Beore joining HIMSS Analyt-
ics in 2004 he was Executive Vice President at Healthlink Prior to
that he was Group Vice President Healthcare Industry Research and
Advisory Services at Gartner Previously he was Senior Manager in
Emerging Practices at First Consulting Group and CIO o Magic Val-
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 639
ley Regional Medical Center in win Falls Idaho Prior to working in
the healthcare industry Mr Garets spent 13 years in various manage-ment capacities or Aamp
Mr Garets was a course director and served on the aculties o the
College o Healthcare Inormation Management Executives (CHIME)
Inormation Management Executive Courses or 11 years He serves
on the editorial advisory boards o three healthcare inormation tech-
nology journals and magazines and the board o directors o HIMSS
Analytics He is an affi liate proessor at the Medical College o Virginia
at Virginia Commonwealth University
Mr Garets is a HIMSS Fellow and was chair o the HIMSS Board
or 2003-2004 He is an internationally known author and speaker on
inormation technologies strategies benchmarking and the uture ohealthcare Mr Garets has a bachelorrsquos degree in business administra-
tion rom exas ech University
About the Authors v
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 739
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 839
vii
Contents
Foreword by David E Garets FHIMSS ix
Preace by Claire McCarthy MA and Douglas Eastman PhD xi
Acknowledgments xvii
Chapter 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 1
Section 1 LeadershipmdashEstablishing a Foundation for Change 21
Chapter 2 Vision 23
Chapter 3 Sponsorship 37
Chapter 4 Organizational Readiness eam 55
Section 2 WillingnessmdashBuilding Commitment 77
Chapter 5 Stakeholder Management 79
Chapter 6 Communication 95
Section 3 AbilitymdashDeveloping Requisite Skill 109
Chapter 7 raining Strategy 111
Chapter 8 Reinorcement 127
Chapter 9 Implementation Readiness 137
Section 4 Summary 175
Chapter 10 Te Journey 177
Reerences 185
Index 187
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 939
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1039
ix
Foreword
By David E Garets FHIMSS
Electronic medical record (EMR) deployments are not about technol-
ogy Tey are about equipping organizations to reach critical business
objectives by providing people with technical capabilities that make
new things possible and by engaging people in changing their behavior
to effectively use the new capabilities to generate resultsTis book will show you how to create an environment or suc-
cess in your organization to not only ensure that your EMR imple-
mentation effort is successul but that your organization builds change
capacity and 1047298exibility in the process Tis new nimbleness will serve
you well in our world o continual change
De1047297ning change management is as important as understand-
ing what change management is not It isnrsquot project management or
solely process improvement Rather it is a set o speci1047297c disciplines
described in detail in this book that when coordinated and integrated
make the difference between tossing money into an EMR pit (simi-
lar to the ones that we boaters throw our money into) or getting thesought-afer changes in your organization
Chapter 2 on Vision is especially important In it Claire and Doug
explain how leadership paints the picture o what is expected rom
the implementation o an EMR I would argue that it is a process that
involves not only representatives o the ront line and their managers
and the senior executive team but also the board An EMR implemen-
tation done rightmdashmeaning the technology works was implemented
on time and within budget and the people modiy their behavior and
processes to achieve commensurate value or the investmentmdashis more
transormative than anything else a healthcare organization could do
It needs to be driven rom the board Tat way the right people iethe CEO and executive management team are held accountable or the
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1139
x Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
success o this crucial business initiative with an inormation technol-
ogy componentDale Sanders then CIO at the Northwestern Medical Faculty Foun-
dation and now CIO at the Cayman Islandsrsquo Health Services Author-
ity pointed out that ldquoyou need to dedicate the time and resources to
constantly iterate re1047297ne and improve the utilization o the EMR over
time ar beyond its installation and go-live Itrsquos a race without a 1047297n-
ish line rain und and plan accordinglymdashdonrsquot short-change the
investmentrdquo In other words recognize that you are not done at go-
live yoursquove just started achieving technology adoption and changing
behavior to get value rom your EMR investment
Tis book should be required reading or every member o the
executive team in every healthcare organization that is planning toimplement an EMR in the next ew years I was happy to be asked
to review the book and to write the orewordmdashand not or the ame
and ortune It was because I would then have to read it and Irsquom glad
I did I learned an incredible amount about a topic that most o us in
the technology world do not understand well and that is dealing with
people issues Claire and Doug nail it here and I guarantee yoursquoll be
thankul or the knowledge they share
Having said that reading this de1047297nitive work on change man-
agement or EMR implementations is not going to provide you with
enough knowledge on the topic to preclude your engaging or hiring
change management expertise In act just the opposite yoursquoll ullyunderstand why you need to get some help Welcome to the epiphany
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1239
xi
Preface
By Claire McCarthy MA and Douglas Eastman PhD
Tere is much discussion today about implementation o EMR sys-
temsmdashdiscussions that usually include excitement anxiety and
downright dread Tere is also a lot o talk about whether EMRs cre-
ate opportunities or healthcare organizations such as transorming
the way care is delivered reducing medical errors increasing internaleffi ciencies or clinical and administrative users improving revenue
capture and providing a host o other critical bene1047297ts Te promise
(some would say antasy) is big
But above all an EMR implementation is disruptive Te process
can realistically be equated to a tornado whipping through an organi-
zation and lie as you once knew it is turned upside down and the new
processes expectations priorities roles and methods overwhelm the
workplace
Our intent in writing this book is to assist others who may be
struggling with many o the same issues we have addressed By sharing
lessons rom our numerous 1047297rsthand sofware implementation expe-riences we will equip you with successul practices and prepare you
to lead or participate effectively in change managementtechnology
adoption efforts so that meaningul use can be achieved
Te primary audience o this book is everyone who leads or is
directly involved in the people-ocused change managementtech-
nology adoption efforts o an EMR implementation Our secondary
audience is everyone else who has a stake in the usersrsquo willingness and
ability to change behavior so the potential o the technology can be
realized So whether you are actively engaged in change management
technology adoption work or your support and advocacy o change
managementtechnology adoption is neededmdashthis book is or youRegardless o your speci1047297c role (executive middle-management
ront-line supervisor physician nurse medical assistant I proes-
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1339
xii Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
sional consultant or other stakeholder in the success o an EMR
implementation) our hope is that you will gain an appreciation orthe importance o users and the effort required to ensure operational
success Tis book emphasizes effective ways to plan and implement
change Te content is based on decades o combined experience man-
aging the people side o sofware implementations in healthcare
It is important to point out however that this book is not meant to
be a course on change managementtechnology adoption Our intent
is not to review existing research or current academic models and the-
ories but rather to share the insights and lessons we have learned in
delivering sustainable results and healthy organizational change over
the years
For technically-oriented project leads the success o an EMRimplementation tends to ocus too heavily on ldquoscrewing in the sys-
temrdquo on time and on budget But as important as it is getting the
EMR technology up and running should not be the primary ocus
Equal emphasis must be placed on how the new technology will be
embraced utilized and leveraged to realize a return on this signi1047297-
cant investment Flipping the switch and turning the technology on is
merely hal o the game
We believe the promise o an EMR implementation is great with
potentially signi1047297cant returns or the patient user organization and
or the industry as a whole When we hear words such as electronic
computerized and automated it sounds as i lie will be made easier andbecome more organized and effi cient However healthcare organiza-
tions do not always think about the critical steps involved in making
these hopes a reality Tis is due in large part because managing the
people side o an implementation and developing and installing major
technology require different skills sets Neither side o the coin is nec-
essarily more important but they both must be seen as equally signi1047297-
cant Te role in managing the people side o an implementation rarely
1047297ts neatly into how technically-ocused projects have historically been
measured and this creates a scenario in which the people side is ofen
misunderstood discounted and worst case ignored altogether Con-
sider the difference between what it takes to install the system (a tech-nology ocus) and what it takes to get the desired outcomes (a ocus on
people doing things differently)
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1439
Preace xiii
Te management o ambiguity resistance and user motivation is
admittedly hard to measure and unortunately involves methods thatare not always easily checked off a list Te process is more 1047298uid and
organic than linear At times it is unpredictable requiring rethink-
ing and course corrections Afer all we are dealing with people Not
everything is clear cut Donrsquot believe anyone who tells you it is
People come with different backgrounds rames o reerence
experience with technology comort with change or ambiguity trust
in leadership and so orth Whatever the mix o scenarios users never
start rom the same placemdashand they move through the change pro-
cess at different speeds meaning they continue to be in different places
throughout the project Te good news is that users do grow and develop
over the course o the project and many eventually accept things theywouldnrsquot agree to at 1047297rst But they require understandingmdashtheir ears
needs hopes and their reactions to the challenges that impact their
ability to perorm A sound comprehensive people strategy that cre-
ates an environment in which they can succeed is essential
I the goal o your EMR implementation is to achieve sustainable
results growth or organizational transormation then a substantial
investment in people must be central to your overall implementation
strategy Afer all it is the user who makes or breaks your EMR imple-
mentation and ultimately determines the amount o return the organi-
zation will realize Te better prepared people are or the change and
the less they see it as threatening the aster they will deliver value
Quoteldquordquo
ldquoMan is still the most extraordinary computer of allrdquo
- John F Kennedy
Quoteldquordquo
ldquordquo
ldquoMan is still the most extraordinary computer of allrdquo
- John F Kennedy
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1539
xiv Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
HOW HE BOOK IS SRUCURED
Preparing an organization or a successul EMR implementationinvolves a big picture approach that takes into account all the actors
that in1047298uence behavior change Te idea is to establish an organiza-
tional contextmdasha culture in which desired behavior is supported and
reinorced through a variety o methodsmdashcreating a learning organiza-
tion that grows to achieve its vision priorities and goals In this book
we present an Implementation Readiness Model and discuss each ac-
tor involved in ensuring the organization and users are ully prepared
to realize the potential o the new technology
Tis book is organized in a simple ashion First we make the busi-
ness argument or change managementtechnology adoption explain-
ing why technology implementations will not deliver bene1047297ts without
a signi1047297cant ocus on users Next we discuss two critical success ac-
tors in any large-scale change management effortmdasha clear vision and
effective leadership
Ten we argue or the development o a cross-unctional team
o representatives rom key areas within the organization the Orga-
nizational Readiness eam (OR) and introduce a pragmatic model
that outlines the scope o complexity and work that the OR man-
ages throughout the project lie cycle Tis establishes a oundation
or subsequent chapters in which each provides urther detail about
the inter-relationship o work involved to effectively drive sustain-
able change Tese chapters dig deeper into lessons learned and best
practices related to stakeholder management communication train-
ing strategy and reinorcement as all must be aligned to successully
satisy the end goal o a meaningul implementation
Finally the Implementation Readiness chapter shows how the
prior chapters serve as building blocks to ormulate a comprehensive
and powerul Implementation Readiness Program aimed at securing
ready users who are engaged and prepared or the transitional changes
ahead in the world o an EMR Te book ends with a discussion o
our key lessons learned and insights regarding the overall journey Pay
particular attention to some o the larger challenges related to an EMR
implementation as these scenarios have proven to have a signi1047297cant
impact on an organizationrsquos speed and ability to position itsel or ben-
e1047297ts realization
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1639
Preace xv
It is important to stress that ocusing on just one actor o imple-
mentation readiness is not suffi cient to drive organizational changeand sustainable results Each chapter describes an individual actor in
detail and provides lessons and useul examples tools and other bits
o inormation intended to help you succeed in preparing your orga-
nization or a successul EMR implementation But the real purpose
o the book is to raise awareness o how all actors work in concert to
in1047298uence desired change associated with an EMR implementation Te
actors work best as an integrated whole overlapping and reinorcing
each other Tey typically have separate leadership but whether or-
mally integrated or not they are pieces o one picture
Like other books you can jump to any chapter o interest at any
point However we strongly encourage you to read the book cover tocover 1047297rst to gain an understanding o the end-to-end process and how
each actor contributes to overall success A strategy that accounts or
all actors is more effective than just one intervention or multiple dis-
connected interventions In this case the sum is de1047297nitely greater than
all o its individual parts
We speak to you in a conversational and straightorward man-
ner to make this rather diffi cult side o an EMR implementation more
approachable We hope you will 1047297nd our insights valuable and will
leverage this book as your implementation reerence guide It will ur-
ther your cause i all stakeholders accountable or a successul launch
in your organization have a common ramework or approaching the
collective end goal We certainly wish wersquod had a book like this years
ago to guide us through the mine1047297eld o sofware implementationsFinally we hope you enjoy the process o supporting people
through the transition to the world o EMRs Tere is something very
Quoteldquordquo
ldquoExperience is a hard teacher because she gives
the test first the lessons afterwardsrdquo
- Vernon Law
Quoteldquordquo
ldquordquo
ldquoExperience is a hard teacher because she gives
the test first the lessons afterwardsrdquo
- Vernon Law
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1739
xvi Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
rewarding about seeing people who were earul and resistant even
in tears and thinking seriously o quitting eel the pride o accom-plishment when they succeed Each person who stays the course and
becomes a contributing member o the electronically enabled organi-
zation represents untold cost avoidance Knowledge and talent stay in
the organization replacement costs are avoided relationships are pre-
served and critical staff shortages are reduced echnology adoption is
truly a contribution to the bottom line
In the words o one o our grandathers ldquoPeople change when
theyrsquore damned good and ready and not beorerdquo Wersquore here to get
them ready
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1839
xvii
Acknowledgments
Te authors would like to thank the ollowing individuals or sharing
their expertise and experiences or this book
Saaa Al-Haddad MD
Internal Medicine
University Hospitals
Cleveland Ohio
Ronnie D Bower Jr MA
Manager Change Management
BayCare Health System
ampa Florida
Nabil Chehade MD MSBS
CPC
Director Medical Inormatics
Regional Chie o Urology
KP HealthConnect RegionalPhysician Lead
Kaiser Permanente Medical
Group
Cleveland Ohio
Kenneth Goodman MD
Associate Director Center
or Continuing Medical
Education
Department o Family Medicine
Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland Ohio
Marie Hamilton RN
Kaiser Permanente
Oregon Federation o Nurses
and Health ProessionalsHealthcare Inormation
echnology Committee
AF Healthcare
Portland Oregon
Lindsey P Jarrell FACHE
Senior Vice President amp CIO
BayCare Health System
ampa Florida
J Scott JoslynCIO
MemorialCare
Long Beach Caliornia
Margaret M Rudoph PhD
Consultant
Vancouver British Columbia
Canada
om Smith
CIO
NorthShore University Health
System
Evanston Illinois
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1939
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2039
1
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 983089
Te Business Case forChange Management
ldquoWersquore not in Kansas anymorehelliprdquo
In the introduction an EMR implementation is compared to a tornado
in that it whips through an organization turning lie upside down and
throwing users into a world 1047297lled with new ways o doing things and
seeking ways to recapture some sense o balance and control EMR
technology disrupts the status quo and along with the many opportu-
nities it promises it also brings a whirlwind o seemingly never-ending
changes which can have an entirely different effect on different people
While an implementation that is effectively managed even brings these
challenges a poor implementation can be disastrous and will cost the
organization much more time energy and money to get things back
on track
Dorothy the character rom the movie Te Wizard of Oz held
her composure pretty well through the tornado that ripped her rom
a calm stable lie on the arm and threw her into a oreign world She
was able to manage through the obstacles and challenges and stay the
course as she ollowed the yellow brick road in search o the wizard
Some say this is similar to the experience users have except or the
part when Dorothy wakes up rom her dream and 1047297nds hersel back
home as she remembers itEMR implementations donrsquot have to be nightmarish or users but
there certainly will be obstacles and challenges along the way Te key is
to help users through the road blocks and enable them to experience a
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2139
2 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
positive journey Tis process is always easier when people know what
they are getting into eel supported and are prepared or what liesahead both good and bad Tis is the role o change management
CHANGE MANAGEMEN DEFINED
Itrsquos important to understand why you should make an investment in
the people side o the projectmdashbringing in the best technology pos-
sible doesnrsquot mean anything unless users are comortable and pro1047297-
cient in its use Te truth is just because you build it doesnrsquot mean they
will come
Letrsquos start by answering the two questions we are most ofen asked
ldquoWhat is change management anyway What is it change managers
dordquoo avoid conusion wersquoll say up ront we are not talking about
change management as it relates to technical issues such as version or
change control We also want to be clear that change management is
not project management What we are talking about is the human side
o electronic medical records implementations the human-ocused
work o engaging and preparing people to succeed in the new world
o EMRs
A word about project management while good project manage-
ment acilitates change management the two disciplines are not the
same Project management is much more linear and task-ocused
whereas change management deals with the complexities o human
behavior But a good project plan creates a structure and a ounda-
tion in which the change management process can occur Tereore
the two disciplines though different complement and support each
other
A word o caution do not conuse the project plan with the end
result Te plan is necessary and it guides you throughout the process
Te plan is proactive itrsquos the order in the chaos But technology adop-
tion is kind o like herding cats itrsquos unpredictable and you need to
maintain 1047298exibility to respond as things evolve Tis is a more reactive
process than what may be expressed in a plan In our experience an
EMR implementation requires both structure and 1047298exibility
Tere is a saying in change management circles When one door
closes another one opens but sometimes itrsquos hell in the hallway Change
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2239
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 3
management deals mostly with the hallway situation acilitating the
human transition rom the present to the uture Tese days change isongoing and requires ocused leadership i it is to be as ast and pain-
less as possible
Te three legs o the project stool represent the critical compo-nents o an implementation (Figure 1-1)mdashPeople Process and ech-
nology Te people are the most important When technology projects
ail it is primarily due to a lack o use and not a ailure o the sof-
ware Te ocus o change management is people and the objective is
to change behavior Tis is good or business because it accelerates the
change process so bene1047297ts are achieved aster Change management
is not about being nice or placing an emphasis on eelings Itrsquos about
perormance improvement and results
I you search the literature you will 1047297nd a variety o de1047297nitions o
human-ocused change management Tey all cover similar concepts
sometimes using different terminology Te simplest explanation ochange management is to say ldquoItrsquos all about the peoplerdquo But or the
purposes o this book we expand on that concept and use the ollow-
ing de1047297nition o change management
bull A structured process designed to deal directly and intentionally
with the human actors involved in not just planning and imple-
menting an EMR but through behavior change achieving the
anticipated bene1047297ts that justi1047297ed the project in the 1047297rst place
bull Desired behavior change is achieved by helping people understand
and internalize change and by preparing them to be successul
contributors in the uture state In the case o EMR implementa-
tions effective change management delivers users who are willingand able to use an EMR in a way that satis1047297es the requirements o
the job the needs o the patient and the health o the organization
Key Tip
Our assumption is that the software you are implementing
works If the software doesnrsquot work you have another kind of
problem one that even the best change management wonrsquot
resolve
Key Tip
Our assumption is that the software you are implementing
works If the software doesnrsquot work you have another kind of
problemmdashone that even the best change management wonrsquot
resolve
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2339
4 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
Well-designed integrated people-ocused work builds logically
over time in a way that makes sense to the user It brings users along
guiding and supporting them so they arrive at where you want them
to be Tis is about willingness and ability hearts and minds You must
have both
Te overarching purpose o change management is to acceleratethe speed at which people move successfully through the change
process so that anticipated bene1047297ts are achieved faster And there
are additional bene1047297ts to change management Trough optimizing
the effi ciency and effi cacy o users an effective EMR change manage-
ment program will also
bull Improve organizational outcomes and perormance (effective use
o the system generates value to patients and the organization)
bull Enhance employee satisaction morale and engagement (when
people learn new skills meet perormance expectations and con-
tribute to a greater good they eel pride in their accomplishments)
bull Improve service quality (users eel valued and supported by anorganization that makes an investment in them this positively
impacts how they treat patients)
Figure 1-1 The Three-legged Stool
Technology
People Process
Technology
People Process
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2439
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 5
bull Help achieve hoped-or bene1047297ts (bene1047297ts that include EMR value
realization reduction o errors return on investment)bull Create higher levels o openness trust involvement and teamwork
(develop an engaged workorce)
bull Build change capability and capacity in the organization resulting
in improved ability to respond quickly and effectively to new situa-
tions (create organizational nimbleness through embedded change
management knowledge structure and process)
In other words it really is all about the people Intentionally man-
aging the cultural behavioral and organizational changes that need
to take place to make the desired EMR uture not only a reality but
a sustainable reality pays off on many levels in that it also acilitates
organizational transormation Building on individual capability andorganizational capacity change management results in a change-
capable culturemdasha huge advantage in todayrsquos competitive and ast-
changing world
Change Management echnology AdoptionmdashWhatrsquos the Difference
Tere are a number o terms that people use to reer to the work
involved in managing the people side o a change effort We think o
change management as the mother ship that is the umbrella term that
embraces all specialties within the 1047297eld Similar to the various special-
ties or domains o service within a healthcare system change man-agement proessionals may choose speci1047297c areas o ocus echnology
adoption speci1047297cally inormation technology (I) is one such area
and it involves the application o change management principles to the
implementation o I Te focus of this book is technology adoption
and we will mostly use this term instead of change management
throughout the rest of the book
Effective technology adoption proessionals align themselves with
the operationalbusiness side o the organization and tailor solutions
that drive behavioral change and tangible outcomes Tey participate in
EMR implementation projects rom the beginning driving the people
side o change throughout and continuing to add value post-live as theEMR becomes part o the central nervous system o the organization
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2539
6 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
HE IMPORANCE OF HE PEOPLE SIDE
OF AN EMR IMPLEMENAIONTere are many reerences in the literature to ailed change efforts and
I implementations Estimates are that only one third o these projects
achieve success which means two thirds ail to meet expectations Te
good news is that ailure is optional as much has been learned about
why some change efforts ail and others succeed
Herersquos the issue while the change that is going to occur is an exter-
nal eventmdashthe EMR implementation a reorganization proposed out-
sourcing a promotion etcmdashthe transition rom old to new that those
who are impacted experience is a psychological and emotional pro-
cess It is this transition that is diffi cultmdasheven when a change is sel-
imposed or considered positive
In the words o William Bridges a key thought leader in manage-
ment o transitions ldquoIt isnrsquot the changes that do you in itrsquos the transi-
tion afer the change that doesrdquo1
For an implementation team part o the problem encountered
during transition is that change is messy people start where they are
not where we want them to be And when considering the personnel
within a typical hospital people can be all over the place in terms o
comort with computers stage in lie commitment to the organiza-
tion ear o change etc Add to this the act that or change to be suc-
cessul three things must occur People
bull Must let go o their current reality have an ending
bull Go through a conused period in-between (hell in the hallway)
bull Only then can have a new beginning 1
o take this a step urther while I consultants want to install the
system and make enhancements the users will ultimately determine
how the system is used Tis use is affected by human not technical
actors
bull Different rames o reerence backgrounds experiences with
technology
bull Organizational history and experience with other large-scale
change projects
bull Levels o resistance ear ability to deal with ambiguity
bull Degree o alignment o ldquoWhatrsquos in it or merdquo or the various stake-
holder groups
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2639
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 7
bull Ineffi ciencies uncovered because the system creates transparency
bull Workarounds that become quickly entrenchedbull Pressure to get through the day can override doing what is right
bull User worklie balance issues coming into play rom the very
beginning
All o these actors create problems or implementation teams that
just want to install technology How do you effectively address the
people issues Or is it easier to just install the technology and assume
that people will learn because they have to use it Some on the imple-
mentation team may alsely assume that users o an EMR system will
snap into place over time and do what is right or the organization
Tis thinking is a oolrsquos paradise
In the oreword to this book Dave Garets made the point that EMRdeployments are not about technology but about equipping organiza-
tions to reach critical business objectives by providing employees with
technical capabilities that make new things possible and by engaging
them in changing their behavior to effectively use the new capabilities
to generate desired results
With all due respect to the technical side o an EMR implemen-
tation installing the technology is only hal the battle Tis is not to
degrade the importance o the technology Te act that we spend a lot
o money researching technology acquiring it con1047297guring it install-
ing it and supporting it speaks to its importance I we werenrsquot imple-
menting EMRs we wouldnrsquot even be having a discussion about EMR-related change management
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2739
8 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
But implementation o the technology is just a 1047297rst and very nec-
essary stepmdashbecause in and o itsel the technology does not generate
value Te technology is necessary but not suffi cient or bene1047297t realiza-
tion to occur o create value requires people and this is why change
management is so important oo much o a ocus on technology even
in the early stages will create issues downstream And even with the
best technology i not used effi ciently hoped-or bene1047297ts will be tough
to achieve
CIO Perspective
ldquoDuring my masters program I took an Organization Development
class that really opened my eyes to peoplesrsquo needs during large-scale
change Since the OD class I have been very interested in what makes
people tick and why people react in different ways to the same
environment No matter how good of an idea a large-scale technology
implementation is we will always have early adopters average adopters
and laggards As leaders within large organizations we have a
responsibility to plan for and respect all types of technology adopters
Ultimately the people who work within in our organizations want a positive
human experience when they are at work
Utilizing a change management methodology enables the implementation
and leadership teams to provide a positive experience during the period of
significant change By utilizing a solid change management methodologythe organization promotes team communication a safer environment for
the patient a work environment that promotes trust and an environment
where people are allowed to talk about the fear of change All of this
promotes a better human experience and a much stronger work force
hellip An effective change management program has meant the difference
between good go-lives and great go-lives at our 10 hospitalsrdquo
Lindsey P Jarrell FACHE
SVP amp CIO
BayCare Health System
Clearwater FL
CIO Perspective
During my masters program I took an Organization Development
class that really opened my eyes to peoplesrsquo needs during large-scale
change Since the OD class I have been very interested in what makes
people tick and why people react in different ways to the same
environment No matter how good of an idea a large-scale technology
implementation is we will always have early adopters average adopters
and laggards As leaders within large organizations we have a
responsibility to plan for and respect all types of technology adopters
Ultimately the people who work within in our organizations want a positive
human experience when they are at work
Utilizing a change management methodology enables the implementation
and leadership teams to provide a positive experience during the period of
significant change By utilizing a solid change management methodologythe organization promotes team communication a safer environment for
the patient a work environment that promotes trust and an environment
where people are allowed to talk about the fear of change All of this
promotes a better human experience and a much stronger work force
hellip An effective change management program has meant the difference
between good go-lives and great go-lives at our 10 hospitals
Lindsey P Jarrell FACHE
SVP amp CIO
BayCare Health System
Clearwater FL
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2839
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 9
Remember that change is a personal experience It is also local and
individual And itrsquos hardmdasheven when itrsquos sel-imposed and positive
Tere are no shortcuts People have to go through the process o change
in much the same way that we move through the stages o grie2 It canrsquot
be avoided or skipped You can measure twice and cut once or you
can cut now and then do costly remediation later Either way you canrsquot
avoid the expense or time required or real change to occur
SYSEMS PERSPECIVE
Experienced technology adoption proessionals embrace a systems
perspective when given the assignment to drive perormance man-
age perceptions and increase the utilization o new and existing tech-
nology A systems approach is the ability to see the big picture and
address the interrelationships among the variables within the abric o
CIO Perspective
ldquoIrsquove been in healthcare IT a long time and I now realize itrsquos
all about change management What was considered soft is
now hard We know so much more about how to install
technologymdashItrsquos the people part we donrsquot know well yet
and so itrsquos hardrdquo
Scott Joslyn
CIO
MemorialCare
Long Beach CA
CIO Perspective
Irsquove been in healthcare IT a long time and I now realize itrsquos
all about change management What was considered soft is
now hard We know so much more about how to install
technologymdashitrsquos the people part we donrsquot know well yet
and so itrsquos hard
J Scott Joslyn
CIO
MemorialCare
Long Beach CA
Quoteldquordquo
ldquoNo man can think clearly when his fists are clenchedrdquo
- George Jean Nathan
Quoteldquordquo
ldquordquo
ldquoNo man can think clearly when his fists are clenchedrdquo
- George Jean Nathan
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2939
10 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
the organization and in1047298uence the combined impact these variables
have on organizational effectiveness As each variable has the powerto in1047298uence the outcome o any intervention behavior change is ofen
not sustainable because variables tend to work against one another
Effective technology adoption strategies account or this interrelation-
shipinterdependency and aim to bring these variables into alignment
as a means or driving sustainable results
Figure 1-2 introduces the Organizational Fabric Model which
highlights the six primary threads (or variables) that are interwoven
in the abric (or culture) o an organization Te model suggests that
all six threads must work in concert to successully shape the organi-
zational abric A well-woven technology adoption plan strategically
manipulates these threads to in1047298uence desired change A poorly wovenplan in which a thread or combination o threads is not accounted
or leads to disaster or by way o analogy will hit a snag down the
road Depending on the 1047298exibility and durability o this abric a snag
can result in a huge hole that detracts rom the overall strength o the
intervention Te intent o the Organizational Fabric Model is to stress
how important it is to understand the uture state recognize how each
variable or combination o variables will come into play and develop a
sound technology adoption program that appropriately in1047298uences this
set o variables to reshape the abric or culture so desired change can
actually take place
Te Organizational Fabric Model will be revisited in subsequent
chapters as each thread or variable is explored in urther detail For
now we reiterate that technology adoption strategies must not rely
on only one or two threads to drive behavior change Sustainable out-
comes result rom an organizationrsquos ability to leverage the combination
o all six threads working in concert to create an environment orsuccess
Key Point
Fundamentally culture is ldquothe way we do things around hererdquo
Key Point
Fundamentally culture is ldquothe way we do things around hererdquo
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3039
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 11
CREAING AN ENVIRONMEN FOR SUCCESS
echnology adoption is about creating a context an environment in
which change can be achieved and sustained over the long term Tis
involves two levelsmdashorganizational and individual
With an EMR implementation the organization must create thesupporting environment provide needed training and resources
articulate a clear direction coupled with clear expectations engage its
people include them in the process and reinorce desired new behav-
iors Tis is not about checking things off a list but rather about 1047297nd-
ing synergy among impacted groups giving them what they need and
coordinating efforts to meet the end goal Itrsquos an ongoing effort
o give you an idea o what we are talking about herersquos an exam-
ple o an individual situation occurring within a social context Tink
about what happens when you want to make a signi1047297cant change in
your personal liemdashquit smoking stop drinking lose weight Itrsquos one
thing to talk with a doctor or another proessional about what needsto happen when yoursquore in their offi ce but once you leave the offi ce
you then return to your social reality I your riends and amily donrsquot
want your behavior to change you will have a tough time All the rein-
Figure 1-2 Organizational Fabric Model
Sponsorship
Stakeholder Mgmt
Training
Vision
Reinforcement
Communications
Sponsorship
Stakeholder Mgmt
Training
Vision
Reinforcement
Communications
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3139
12 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
orcements and temptations will conspire to prevent you rom mak-
ing changes But i you can get some important people in your lieto make the changes with you or at least support you in the process
you have a much greater chance o success Te lesson is donrsquot send a
changed person back into an unchanged environment if you want
to see behavior change
Engaging individuals involves arousing two key aspects mdashwilling-
ness and ability Te organization must in1047298uence both in order to suc-
ceed With the help o the Skill Versus Will Matrix (Figure 1-3) think
about it this way
bull When people want to do something but donrsquot know how they canrsquot
(willingunable)
bull When people know how but donrsquot want to they wonrsquot(ableunwilling)
Can you think o examples in your own lie when you have been in
either o these situations
Consider the circumstance o people who know how to do some-
thing but donrsquot want to do it Tis is a ldquowillrdquo not a ldquoskillrdquo issue and it is
a very common technology adoption dilemma I the amount o work
and effort involved are not perceived by the user as being equal to the
Figure 1-3 The Skill versus Will Matrix
Skill
Will
WONrsquoT
WONrsquoT
DOES
CANrsquoTLow
High
HighLow
Skill
Will
WONrsquoT
WONrsquoT
DOES
CANrsquoTLow
High
HighLow HighLow
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3239
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 13
return or value experienced through the implementation the user will
most likely choose to reduce the effort A goal o an effective people-ocused strategy is to identiy potential areas o disconnect and 1047297nd
ways to increase the perceived value to users Te assumption is that
when the return is perceived to be greater the effort increases When
there are no incentives to try harder it may be diffi cult to drive desired
behavior change
Te point in getting users to actively support the deployment o
an EMR is about a lot more than a communication plan or eature
unction training Managing the people side o an EMR implementa-
tion requires a savvy technology adoption plan that ties sponsorship
training communication work1047298ow harmonization user support and
reinorcement with the business priorities o the organization andeffectively coordinates all o these activities with the user in mindmdashin
an environment that reinorces desired behavior changes
Key Questions
Two key questions to remember throughout the
project arehellip
(1) How will this decision impact the user
(2) How might it impact patients
Key Questions
Two key questions to remember throughout the
project are
(1) How will this decision impact the user
(2) How might it impact patients
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3339
14 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
Consider this example
In this example what are the key elements o this process that
ensure success
bull Te picture of success the desired outcome is clearmdashit is or the
child to become a unctioning adult in the community
bull How this happens is clearly de1047297ned in behavioral terms Tere is a
process that is known and understood by the entire community
including children
bull Leaders at all levels in the community agree on the desired out-
come support the entire process and actively ful1047297ll their roles to ensure success Leaders include village elders and ormal lead-
ers parents o the children inormal opinion leaders and amily
members
bull Te children who are about to become adults take an active role
in their own transormation taking responsibility or their suc-
cess Tey receive guidance and counsel rom elders Tey know
and understand the transormation process and what they must do
to achieve their new status Goals and steps are clear Tey also
understand the consequences o not successully transitioning to
adulthood
bull I there is more than one child slated to go through transormationto adulthood at the same time they are a peer group and as appro-
priate prepare together and support each other
Key Point
In native cultures there tend to be rites of passage that serve
to transition a person from childhood to adult status in the
community The child may actually leave the village for a day or
two of contemplation following a prescribed process When the
child returns he or she is redefined as an adult and assumes
the consequent privileges and responsibilities The entire
community reinforces the personrsquos new status the new adult is
not allowed to return to being a child whenever itrsquos convenient
but is supported to complete the transformation to adulthood
The change to adulthood does not happen in a vacuum but is
part of a carefully designed process that ensures success
Key Point
In native cultures there tend to be rites of passage that serve
to transition a person from childhood to adult status in the
community The child may actually leave the village for a day or
two of contemplation following a prescribed process When the
child returns he or she is redefined as an adult and assumes
the consequent privileges and responsibilities The entire
community reinforces the personrsquos new status the new adult is
not allowed to return to being a child whenever itrsquos convenient
but is supported to complete the transformation to adulthood
The change to adulthood does not happen in a vacuum but is
part of a carefully designed process that ensures success
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3439
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 15
bull Te entire community works together to bring about the
transormationbull Success results in positive reinforcement
Te environmental context is the trump card in any implementerrsquos
hand It takes a lot o work to create a suitable environment but it is an
essential ingredient in being able to drive and sustain change
Willingness and Ability
Earlier we mentioned willingness and ability as key concepts in tech-
nology adoption Willingness and ability can also be thought o as
hearts and minds or will and skill Te point is the same regardless
o the terms used People need to be supported on both an emotional
level to commit and on an intellectual level to be able Te questionto be answered is ldquoWhat are the conditions under which users will
accept and adopt the EMRrdquo
Letrsquos talk about willingness 1047297rst
Willingness or hearts is the commitment to go orward Tis is
impacted by many things including the ollowing elements
bull Leadership Perceived support or lack o support or the change
rom senior executives in the company the cascade o sponsors
down through the organization and just as importantly rom the
employeersquos direct supervisor
bull Communication Quality and requency o verbal and written
messages that describe the desired uture state tell why the changeneeds to happen and what will happen i change isnrsquot made set
clear expectations explain how the company will prepare and sup-
port people to success and describe local details such as timelines
etc
bull Reinforcement Degree o appropriateness and timeliness o
rewards or demonstrating desired new behaviors and conse-
quences or sticking to the old ways
bull Participation Degree to which users are involved every step o
the way either directly as individuals or indirectly by being effec-
tively represented by trusted local opinion leader peers who serve
as liaisons between users and the project teambull Organizational History with Change Previous organizational
experience with changemdashgood and badmdashwill in1047298uence user per-
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3539
16 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
ceptions and expectations o the EMR implementation Under-
standing the past is important in planning or the utureTis all sounds logical but the reaction to it can be emotional Tis
is where people conront their ear o ailure eeling stupid making
mistakes etc Remember that the change may require people to give
up the very things that they believe made them successul in the past
Tis can be a diffi cult sell
Ability or minds is about the actual capability to successully
meet new job expectations Tis is impacted by many things including
the ollowing elements
bull raining and Support In most cases the new EMR abilities must
be learned An effective training program that is role-based and
intentionally ocused on preparing people to perorm new jobexpectations is key Just discussing desired outcomes is not enough
though we have to clearly tell people what we want them to do
Tis requires an intellectual understanding o what and how a
conceptual understanding is necessary but not suffi cient Most
people need to practice something new to develop competence and
con1047297dence Sae opportunities to practice preerably with immedi-
ate eedback are very important to pro1047297ciency development and
sustainability
Getting people to move in the direction you want is the diffi -
cultymdashsome say the hardest part o the whole project And i you agree
that people are the oundation o successmdashthat bene1047297t realization isdependant not on technology but on people agreeing to go through
personal disruption learn new things change established patterns and
conront their earsmdashthen we must be proactive and courageous in
addressing the human issues
Tis is the people side o the project Tis is the organizational read-
iness unction It involves collaboration coordination and sequencing
o activities inormation and events rom all people-ocused areas Te
idea is to have all the people-ocused unctions working together to
reach clearly de1047297ned shared outcomes Te organizational readiness
plan to create individual and organizational readiness is the umbrella
that connects it allmdashthe glue that holds it together and the grease thatmakes it workmdashor the user We will address the structure and process
or doing this in more detail in subsequent chapters
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3639
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 17
Good News on wo Fronts
1 Tere is a social science Tere is a body o work research andsubsequent publications about the human experience with change
Tere are proven change management strategies tools and tech-
niques Tis isnrsquot olklore hooey or black magic Te transition
process is known and predictable Tere is a change curve that
describes the steps (Chapter 5 Stakeholder Management) And
though there is no silver bullet it isnrsquot rocket science Senior
healthcare executives must take the emerging proession o change
managementtechnology adoption seriously Not understanding it
is no excuse or ignoring it Tat is ar too expensive an option
2 All people go through transition when changemdashgood or badmdash
happens in both their personal and proessional lie You canrsquot
avoid it Te wonderul thing is i you learn about change and
transition at work it will improve your personal lie Tis is one
o the times to ldquotry this at homerdquo Wersquore all humanmdashat work and
at home So treat your people as the humans they are and avoid
some predictable expense and diffi culty Lead your organization
to a successul outcome and speed up the process by treating your
staff as customers 1047297rst
Donrsquot make the mistake o glossing over the critical human aspects
o change Hire experts and 1047297nd the emotionally intelligent people in
your organization who want to participate And remember you can
install technology without your people but you canrsquot ully implement
and achieve return on investment without them Consciously choose
to move fear and resistance to trust and adoption Itrsquos a case o pay
now or pay later I you wait until later it will always cost more ech-
nology Adoption is expensive but not as expensive as trying to gloss
it over and then having to undo the damage When ailure happens it
Quoteldquordquo
ldquoNot everything that can be counted counts and not everything thatcounts can be countedrdquo
- Albert Einstein
Quoteldquordquo
ldquordquo
ldquoNot everything that can be counted counts and not everything thatcounts can be countedrdquo
- Albert Einstein
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3739
18 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
takes a long time or people to re-engage And in todayrsquos world this
presents real problems or healthcare organizations aced with short-ages in many proessions Tere is a huge risk o alienating and poten-
tially losing needed staff or in causing long delays We can do better
Not so long ago it wasnrsquot conventional wisdom that clinical application
rollouts are not I projects More frequently than not these were consid-
ered technical projects in which the point of celebration was when con-nection from workstation to central processor was reliable and wireless
access actually worked Te classic I People-Process-echnology trian-
gle never got much past echnology to the real hard work on the People-
Process axis Tat has all changed in the 21st century system implemen-
tations that are both successful and valuable have had people and process
on the front burner
When MemorialCare embarked on a 1047297ve-hospital roll-out of an
EMR in 2002 it had several things in its favor
bull Te technology the organization ultimately acquired was robust and
reliable it worked
bull It had 15 yearsrsquo experience with CPOE (computerized providerorder entry) Terefore although unevenly adopted it was not new
territory
bull It had had the experience of a system-wide roll-out and standard-
ization on a general 1047297nance human resources and materials man-
agement system When all was said and done users had not been
suffi ciently involved standardization fell short because involvement
was low business leadership was diffuse and I ownership was too
high It was judged successful overall but the organization continues
to move slowly forward with an underutilized set of applications
With this experience and the insights of others MemorialCare pri-
oritized engagement of physicians nurses pharmacists and other staffWell before 1047297nancial commitment to a new system was obtained Memo-
rialCare hired a ldquoCare Planning Executiverdquo a person whose full-time
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3839
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 19
activities were devoted to the project 1047297rst to help understand the drivers
of a new system scope out the territory to be covered gain the com-mitment of senior leaders as well as governance and outline the case
for change At my insistence the Care Planning Executive a registered
nurse and former hospital chief operating offi cer joined the organization
reporting to the system-wide CEO as a peer and partner of the CIO not
a staff member and a peer to the CEOs of each medical center campus
Tat dedication alone made clear the commitment intentions and over-
all priority of the company
Among several other critical success factorsmdashand the outcome was
a successmdashwas the overall employee engagement program that the Care
Planning Executive established In summary it was an education mar-
keting and training program dedicated to equipping the affected staffwith the knowledge and tools to embrace unavoidable change Staff com-
munication was clear that it wasnrsquot change for changersquos sake but a major
move forward in the paperless way care would be delivered and work-
1047298ows would be streamlined Of course at the time no one could have
foreseen later moves by government to push everyone in this direction
(with the American Recovery and Reconstruction Act of 2009) Because
of our early efforts wersquore now very well positioned
J Scott Joslyn
CIO
MemorialCareLong Beach California
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3939
About the BookDespite the promise of improving care and other benefits EMR implementations are highly disruptive to the
organization This book prepares you to lead or participate successfully in change managementtechnologyadoption efforts so that meaningful use of EMRs can be achieved The authors provide successful strategies
to plan and implement change The content is based on their decades of combined experience designing
and leading technology adoption programs
Sections of the book deal with establishing a foundation for change building commitment and developing
requisite skill in helping users be successful with technology The book includes numerous lessons learned
tips for success best practices and case studies from organizations that have handled change well
About the AuthorsClaire McCarthy MA is a recognized technology adoption strategist and leader
with 25 years of healthcare industry experience supporting people through softwareimplementations and other large-scale change efforts As Director of Organizational
Effectiveness for Kaiser Permanentersquos enterprise-wide EMR deployment Ms McCarthy
led a national community of practice focused on preparing users to assume new
roles and responsibilities in support of organizational objectives Ms McCarthy
speaks internationally on the topic of technology adoption encouraging healthcare
leaders around the globe to set the stage for benefit realization by investing in the
people side of EMR implementation
Douglas Eastman PhD is an organizational development executive with extensive
experience managing large-scale change initiatives With more than 20 years
of consulting experience Dr Eastmanrsquos focus is to help organizations grow and
manage change by unleashing human potential His specialties are organizationaltransformation technology adoption and optimization process redesign strategic
planning and program and tools development As the Executive Director of Technology
Adoption and Organizational Capability within the Kaiser Permanente IT Care
Delivery Business Information Office Dr Eastman has pioneered several of Kaiserrsquos
implementation readiness toolsmethodologies and post-live optimization strategies
programs adding to the organizationrsquos ability to realize the benefit of its technology
About HIMSS The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) is a comprehensive healthcare-
stakeholder membership organization exclusively focused on providing global leadership for the optimal
use of information technology (IT) and management systems for the betterment of healthcare Founded in
1961 with offices in Chicago Washington DC Brussels Singapore and other locations across the United
States HIMSS represents more than 23000 individual members of which 73 work in patient care delivery
settings HIMSS also includes over 380 corporate members and nearly 30 not-for-profit organizations that
share our mission of transforming healthcare through the effective use of information technology and
management systems HIMSS frames and leads healthcare public policy and industry practices through
its educational professional development and advocacy initiatives designed to promote information and
management systemsrsquo contributions to ensuring quality patient care
ISBN 978-0-9821070-6-5
Order Code 564
230 E Ohio St Suite 500
Chicago IL 60611ndash3270
312-915-9295
www himss org
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 439
iii
About the Authors
Claire McCarthy MA is a recognized change managementtechnol-
ogy adoption strategist and leader with extensive experience support-
ing people through transitions driven by sofware implementations
mergers reorganizations process improvements and downsizing in
the healthcare industry Ms McCarthy works with healthcare provid-
ers and staff at all levels She advocates or the ront line understand-ing that developing willingness and ability in people is what makes
change successul and produces lasting results She speaks internation-
ally on the topic o technology adoption encouraging healthcare lead-
ers to invest in the people side o electronic medical record (EMR)
implementations
As Director o Organizational Effectiveness or Kaiser Perman-
entersquos national electronic medical records deployment Ms McCarthy
introduced the concept o technology adoption to the organization
and led a national community o practice ocused on developing user
readiness Trough integration o cross-unctional work in change
management training communication union engagement opera-tions lessons learned and workorce planning clinical and business
users were prepared to assume new roles and responsibilities in sup-
port o organizational objectives
With 25 years o healthcare industry technology adoption experi-
ence Ms McCarthy has designed and led the human side o technical
implementations in a wide variety o sofware deployments including
EMRs practice management material managementsupply chain cli-
ent relationship management contracting and sourcing e-commerce
health plan product management and currently ICD-10 conversion
Ms McCarthy is a certi1047297ed William Bridges Organizational
Change practitioner and is accredited in Accelerating ImplementationMethodology rom Implementation Management Associates Inc She
holds a masterrsquos degree in sociology rom the University o Montana
and a bachelorrsquos degree in sociology rom Caliornia State University
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 539
iv Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
Doug Eastman PhD is an organizational development executive with
extensive experience managing large-scale change initiatives Withmore than 20 years o consulting experience Dr Eastmanrsquos ocus is
to help organizations grow and manage change by unleashing human
potential His specialties are organizational transormation technol-
ogy adoption and optimization process redesign large-scale change
management strategic planning program and tools development and
acilitation
As the Executive Director o echnology Adoption and Organiza-
tional Capability within the Kaiser Permanente Inormation echnol-
ogy Care Delivery Business Inormation Offi ce Dr Eastman currently
advises senior operational and project executives on the countryrsquos larg-
est private EMR system implementation Dr Eastman leverages bestpractices rom across the program and develops implementation read-
iness tools and methodologies as well as pioneering several best prac-
tice post go-live optimization strategies and programs aimed to ensure
end-users are building the requisite level o system skill pro1047297ciency
Prior to joining Kaiser Permanente Dr Eastmanrsquos consulting career
included positions with Andersen Consulting (now Accenture) Wat-
son Wyatt Worldwide and a boutique employee relations consulting
1047297rm He was also vice president o operations or a technology services
1047297rm or which he was responsible or the companyrsquos restructuring and
repositioning in its marketplace that grew 200 during his tenure
Dr Eastman serves on the board o directors or the ChildhoodAnxiety Network He holds a PhD in organizational psychology rom
the Caliornia School o Proessional Psychology a masterrsquos degree in
psychology rom Pepperdine University and a bachelorrsquos degree rom
Ohio State University
ABOU HE CONRIBUING EDIOR
David E Garets FHIMSS is President and CEO o HIMSS Analyt-
ics and Executive Vice President o HIMSS Mr Garets has 32 years o
experience in inormation technology Beore joining HIMSS Analyt-
ics in 2004 he was Executive Vice President at Healthlink Prior to
that he was Group Vice President Healthcare Industry Research and
Advisory Services at Gartner Previously he was Senior Manager in
Emerging Practices at First Consulting Group and CIO o Magic Val-
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 639
ley Regional Medical Center in win Falls Idaho Prior to working in
the healthcare industry Mr Garets spent 13 years in various manage-ment capacities or Aamp
Mr Garets was a course director and served on the aculties o the
College o Healthcare Inormation Management Executives (CHIME)
Inormation Management Executive Courses or 11 years He serves
on the editorial advisory boards o three healthcare inormation tech-
nology journals and magazines and the board o directors o HIMSS
Analytics He is an affi liate proessor at the Medical College o Virginia
at Virginia Commonwealth University
Mr Garets is a HIMSS Fellow and was chair o the HIMSS Board
or 2003-2004 He is an internationally known author and speaker on
inormation technologies strategies benchmarking and the uture ohealthcare Mr Garets has a bachelorrsquos degree in business administra-
tion rom exas ech University
About the Authors v
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 739
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 839
vii
Contents
Foreword by David E Garets FHIMSS ix
Preace by Claire McCarthy MA and Douglas Eastman PhD xi
Acknowledgments xvii
Chapter 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 1
Section 1 LeadershipmdashEstablishing a Foundation for Change 21
Chapter 2 Vision 23
Chapter 3 Sponsorship 37
Chapter 4 Organizational Readiness eam 55
Section 2 WillingnessmdashBuilding Commitment 77
Chapter 5 Stakeholder Management 79
Chapter 6 Communication 95
Section 3 AbilitymdashDeveloping Requisite Skill 109
Chapter 7 raining Strategy 111
Chapter 8 Reinorcement 127
Chapter 9 Implementation Readiness 137
Section 4 Summary 175
Chapter 10 Te Journey 177
Reerences 185
Index 187
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 939
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1039
ix
Foreword
By David E Garets FHIMSS
Electronic medical record (EMR) deployments are not about technol-
ogy Tey are about equipping organizations to reach critical business
objectives by providing people with technical capabilities that make
new things possible and by engaging people in changing their behavior
to effectively use the new capabilities to generate resultsTis book will show you how to create an environment or suc-
cess in your organization to not only ensure that your EMR imple-
mentation effort is successul but that your organization builds change
capacity and 1047298exibility in the process Tis new nimbleness will serve
you well in our world o continual change
De1047297ning change management is as important as understand-
ing what change management is not It isnrsquot project management or
solely process improvement Rather it is a set o speci1047297c disciplines
described in detail in this book that when coordinated and integrated
make the difference between tossing money into an EMR pit (simi-
lar to the ones that we boaters throw our money into) or getting thesought-afer changes in your organization
Chapter 2 on Vision is especially important In it Claire and Doug
explain how leadership paints the picture o what is expected rom
the implementation o an EMR I would argue that it is a process that
involves not only representatives o the ront line and their managers
and the senior executive team but also the board An EMR implemen-
tation done rightmdashmeaning the technology works was implemented
on time and within budget and the people modiy their behavior and
processes to achieve commensurate value or the investmentmdashis more
transormative than anything else a healthcare organization could do
It needs to be driven rom the board Tat way the right people iethe CEO and executive management team are held accountable or the
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1139
x Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
success o this crucial business initiative with an inormation technol-
ogy componentDale Sanders then CIO at the Northwestern Medical Faculty Foun-
dation and now CIO at the Cayman Islandsrsquo Health Services Author-
ity pointed out that ldquoyou need to dedicate the time and resources to
constantly iterate re1047297ne and improve the utilization o the EMR over
time ar beyond its installation and go-live Itrsquos a race without a 1047297n-
ish line rain und and plan accordinglymdashdonrsquot short-change the
investmentrdquo In other words recognize that you are not done at go-
live yoursquove just started achieving technology adoption and changing
behavior to get value rom your EMR investment
Tis book should be required reading or every member o the
executive team in every healthcare organization that is planning toimplement an EMR in the next ew years I was happy to be asked
to review the book and to write the orewordmdashand not or the ame
and ortune It was because I would then have to read it and Irsquom glad
I did I learned an incredible amount about a topic that most o us in
the technology world do not understand well and that is dealing with
people issues Claire and Doug nail it here and I guarantee yoursquoll be
thankul or the knowledge they share
Having said that reading this de1047297nitive work on change man-
agement or EMR implementations is not going to provide you with
enough knowledge on the topic to preclude your engaging or hiring
change management expertise In act just the opposite yoursquoll ullyunderstand why you need to get some help Welcome to the epiphany
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1239
xi
Preface
By Claire McCarthy MA and Douglas Eastman PhD
Tere is much discussion today about implementation o EMR sys-
temsmdashdiscussions that usually include excitement anxiety and
downright dread Tere is also a lot o talk about whether EMRs cre-
ate opportunities or healthcare organizations such as transorming
the way care is delivered reducing medical errors increasing internaleffi ciencies or clinical and administrative users improving revenue
capture and providing a host o other critical bene1047297ts Te promise
(some would say antasy) is big
But above all an EMR implementation is disruptive Te process
can realistically be equated to a tornado whipping through an organi-
zation and lie as you once knew it is turned upside down and the new
processes expectations priorities roles and methods overwhelm the
workplace
Our intent in writing this book is to assist others who may be
struggling with many o the same issues we have addressed By sharing
lessons rom our numerous 1047297rsthand sofware implementation expe-riences we will equip you with successul practices and prepare you
to lead or participate effectively in change managementtechnology
adoption efforts so that meaningul use can be achieved
Te primary audience o this book is everyone who leads or is
directly involved in the people-ocused change managementtech-
nology adoption efforts o an EMR implementation Our secondary
audience is everyone else who has a stake in the usersrsquo willingness and
ability to change behavior so the potential o the technology can be
realized So whether you are actively engaged in change management
technology adoption work or your support and advocacy o change
managementtechnology adoption is neededmdashthis book is or youRegardless o your speci1047297c role (executive middle-management
ront-line supervisor physician nurse medical assistant I proes-
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1339
xii Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
sional consultant or other stakeholder in the success o an EMR
implementation) our hope is that you will gain an appreciation orthe importance o users and the effort required to ensure operational
success Tis book emphasizes effective ways to plan and implement
change Te content is based on decades o combined experience man-
aging the people side o sofware implementations in healthcare
It is important to point out however that this book is not meant to
be a course on change managementtechnology adoption Our intent
is not to review existing research or current academic models and the-
ories but rather to share the insights and lessons we have learned in
delivering sustainable results and healthy organizational change over
the years
For technically-oriented project leads the success o an EMRimplementation tends to ocus too heavily on ldquoscrewing in the sys-
temrdquo on time and on budget But as important as it is getting the
EMR technology up and running should not be the primary ocus
Equal emphasis must be placed on how the new technology will be
embraced utilized and leveraged to realize a return on this signi1047297-
cant investment Flipping the switch and turning the technology on is
merely hal o the game
We believe the promise o an EMR implementation is great with
potentially signi1047297cant returns or the patient user organization and
or the industry as a whole When we hear words such as electronic
computerized and automated it sounds as i lie will be made easier andbecome more organized and effi cient However healthcare organiza-
tions do not always think about the critical steps involved in making
these hopes a reality Tis is due in large part because managing the
people side o an implementation and developing and installing major
technology require different skills sets Neither side o the coin is nec-
essarily more important but they both must be seen as equally signi1047297-
cant Te role in managing the people side o an implementation rarely
1047297ts neatly into how technically-ocused projects have historically been
measured and this creates a scenario in which the people side is ofen
misunderstood discounted and worst case ignored altogether Con-
sider the difference between what it takes to install the system (a tech-nology ocus) and what it takes to get the desired outcomes (a ocus on
people doing things differently)
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1439
Preace xiii
Te management o ambiguity resistance and user motivation is
admittedly hard to measure and unortunately involves methods thatare not always easily checked off a list Te process is more 1047298uid and
organic than linear At times it is unpredictable requiring rethink-
ing and course corrections Afer all we are dealing with people Not
everything is clear cut Donrsquot believe anyone who tells you it is
People come with different backgrounds rames o reerence
experience with technology comort with change or ambiguity trust
in leadership and so orth Whatever the mix o scenarios users never
start rom the same placemdashand they move through the change pro-
cess at different speeds meaning they continue to be in different places
throughout the project Te good news is that users do grow and develop
over the course o the project and many eventually accept things theywouldnrsquot agree to at 1047297rst But they require understandingmdashtheir ears
needs hopes and their reactions to the challenges that impact their
ability to perorm A sound comprehensive people strategy that cre-
ates an environment in which they can succeed is essential
I the goal o your EMR implementation is to achieve sustainable
results growth or organizational transormation then a substantial
investment in people must be central to your overall implementation
strategy Afer all it is the user who makes or breaks your EMR imple-
mentation and ultimately determines the amount o return the organi-
zation will realize Te better prepared people are or the change and
the less they see it as threatening the aster they will deliver value
Quoteldquordquo
ldquoMan is still the most extraordinary computer of allrdquo
- John F Kennedy
Quoteldquordquo
ldquordquo
ldquoMan is still the most extraordinary computer of allrdquo
- John F Kennedy
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1539
xiv Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
HOW HE BOOK IS SRUCURED
Preparing an organization or a successul EMR implementationinvolves a big picture approach that takes into account all the actors
that in1047298uence behavior change Te idea is to establish an organiza-
tional contextmdasha culture in which desired behavior is supported and
reinorced through a variety o methodsmdashcreating a learning organiza-
tion that grows to achieve its vision priorities and goals In this book
we present an Implementation Readiness Model and discuss each ac-
tor involved in ensuring the organization and users are ully prepared
to realize the potential o the new technology
Tis book is organized in a simple ashion First we make the busi-
ness argument or change managementtechnology adoption explain-
ing why technology implementations will not deliver bene1047297ts without
a signi1047297cant ocus on users Next we discuss two critical success ac-
tors in any large-scale change management effortmdasha clear vision and
effective leadership
Ten we argue or the development o a cross-unctional team
o representatives rom key areas within the organization the Orga-
nizational Readiness eam (OR) and introduce a pragmatic model
that outlines the scope o complexity and work that the OR man-
ages throughout the project lie cycle Tis establishes a oundation
or subsequent chapters in which each provides urther detail about
the inter-relationship o work involved to effectively drive sustain-
able change Tese chapters dig deeper into lessons learned and best
practices related to stakeholder management communication train-
ing strategy and reinorcement as all must be aligned to successully
satisy the end goal o a meaningul implementation
Finally the Implementation Readiness chapter shows how the
prior chapters serve as building blocks to ormulate a comprehensive
and powerul Implementation Readiness Program aimed at securing
ready users who are engaged and prepared or the transitional changes
ahead in the world o an EMR Te book ends with a discussion o
our key lessons learned and insights regarding the overall journey Pay
particular attention to some o the larger challenges related to an EMR
implementation as these scenarios have proven to have a signi1047297cant
impact on an organizationrsquos speed and ability to position itsel or ben-
e1047297ts realization
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1639
Preace xv
It is important to stress that ocusing on just one actor o imple-
mentation readiness is not suffi cient to drive organizational changeand sustainable results Each chapter describes an individual actor in
detail and provides lessons and useul examples tools and other bits
o inormation intended to help you succeed in preparing your orga-
nization or a successul EMR implementation But the real purpose
o the book is to raise awareness o how all actors work in concert to
in1047298uence desired change associated with an EMR implementation Te
actors work best as an integrated whole overlapping and reinorcing
each other Tey typically have separate leadership but whether or-
mally integrated or not they are pieces o one picture
Like other books you can jump to any chapter o interest at any
point However we strongly encourage you to read the book cover tocover 1047297rst to gain an understanding o the end-to-end process and how
each actor contributes to overall success A strategy that accounts or
all actors is more effective than just one intervention or multiple dis-
connected interventions In this case the sum is de1047297nitely greater than
all o its individual parts
We speak to you in a conversational and straightorward man-
ner to make this rather diffi cult side o an EMR implementation more
approachable We hope you will 1047297nd our insights valuable and will
leverage this book as your implementation reerence guide It will ur-
ther your cause i all stakeholders accountable or a successul launch
in your organization have a common ramework or approaching the
collective end goal We certainly wish wersquod had a book like this years
ago to guide us through the mine1047297eld o sofware implementationsFinally we hope you enjoy the process o supporting people
through the transition to the world o EMRs Tere is something very
Quoteldquordquo
ldquoExperience is a hard teacher because she gives
the test first the lessons afterwardsrdquo
- Vernon Law
Quoteldquordquo
ldquordquo
ldquoExperience is a hard teacher because she gives
the test first the lessons afterwardsrdquo
- Vernon Law
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1739
xvi Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
rewarding about seeing people who were earul and resistant even
in tears and thinking seriously o quitting eel the pride o accom-plishment when they succeed Each person who stays the course and
becomes a contributing member o the electronically enabled organi-
zation represents untold cost avoidance Knowledge and talent stay in
the organization replacement costs are avoided relationships are pre-
served and critical staff shortages are reduced echnology adoption is
truly a contribution to the bottom line
In the words o one o our grandathers ldquoPeople change when
theyrsquore damned good and ready and not beorerdquo Wersquore here to get
them ready
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1839
xvii
Acknowledgments
Te authors would like to thank the ollowing individuals or sharing
their expertise and experiences or this book
Saaa Al-Haddad MD
Internal Medicine
University Hospitals
Cleveland Ohio
Ronnie D Bower Jr MA
Manager Change Management
BayCare Health System
ampa Florida
Nabil Chehade MD MSBS
CPC
Director Medical Inormatics
Regional Chie o Urology
KP HealthConnect RegionalPhysician Lead
Kaiser Permanente Medical
Group
Cleveland Ohio
Kenneth Goodman MD
Associate Director Center
or Continuing Medical
Education
Department o Family Medicine
Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland Ohio
Marie Hamilton RN
Kaiser Permanente
Oregon Federation o Nurses
and Health ProessionalsHealthcare Inormation
echnology Committee
AF Healthcare
Portland Oregon
Lindsey P Jarrell FACHE
Senior Vice President amp CIO
BayCare Health System
ampa Florida
J Scott JoslynCIO
MemorialCare
Long Beach Caliornia
Margaret M Rudoph PhD
Consultant
Vancouver British Columbia
Canada
om Smith
CIO
NorthShore University Health
System
Evanston Illinois
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1939
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2039
1
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 983089
Te Business Case forChange Management
ldquoWersquore not in Kansas anymorehelliprdquo
In the introduction an EMR implementation is compared to a tornado
in that it whips through an organization turning lie upside down and
throwing users into a world 1047297lled with new ways o doing things and
seeking ways to recapture some sense o balance and control EMR
technology disrupts the status quo and along with the many opportu-
nities it promises it also brings a whirlwind o seemingly never-ending
changes which can have an entirely different effect on different people
While an implementation that is effectively managed even brings these
challenges a poor implementation can be disastrous and will cost the
organization much more time energy and money to get things back
on track
Dorothy the character rom the movie Te Wizard of Oz held
her composure pretty well through the tornado that ripped her rom
a calm stable lie on the arm and threw her into a oreign world She
was able to manage through the obstacles and challenges and stay the
course as she ollowed the yellow brick road in search o the wizard
Some say this is similar to the experience users have except or the
part when Dorothy wakes up rom her dream and 1047297nds hersel back
home as she remembers itEMR implementations donrsquot have to be nightmarish or users but
there certainly will be obstacles and challenges along the way Te key is
to help users through the road blocks and enable them to experience a
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2139
2 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
positive journey Tis process is always easier when people know what
they are getting into eel supported and are prepared or what liesahead both good and bad Tis is the role o change management
CHANGE MANAGEMEN DEFINED
Itrsquos important to understand why you should make an investment in
the people side o the projectmdashbringing in the best technology pos-
sible doesnrsquot mean anything unless users are comortable and pro1047297-
cient in its use Te truth is just because you build it doesnrsquot mean they
will come
Letrsquos start by answering the two questions we are most ofen asked
ldquoWhat is change management anyway What is it change managers
dordquoo avoid conusion wersquoll say up ront we are not talking about
change management as it relates to technical issues such as version or
change control We also want to be clear that change management is
not project management What we are talking about is the human side
o electronic medical records implementations the human-ocused
work o engaging and preparing people to succeed in the new world
o EMRs
A word about project management while good project manage-
ment acilitates change management the two disciplines are not the
same Project management is much more linear and task-ocused
whereas change management deals with the complexities o human
behavior But a good project plan creates a structure and a ounda-
tion in which the change management process can occur Tereore
the two disciplines though different complement and support each
other
A word o caution do not conuse the project plan with the end
result Te plan is necessary and it guides you throughout the process
Te plan is proactive itrsquos the order in the chaos But technology adop-
tion is kind o like herding cats itrsquos unpredictable and you need to
maintain 1047298exibility to respond as things evolve Tis is a more reactive
process than what may be expressed in a plan In our experience an
EMR implementation requires both structure and 1047298exibility
Tere is a saying in change management circles When one door
closes another one opens but sometimes itrsquos hell in the hallway Change
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2239
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 3
management deals mostly with the hallway situation acilitating the
human transition rom the present to the uture Tese days change isongoing and requires ocused leadership i it is to be as ast and pain-
less as possible
Te three legs o the project stool represent the critical compo-nents o an implementation (Figure 1-1)mdashPeople Process and ech-
nology Te people are the most important When technology projects
ail it is primarily due to a lack o use and not a ailure o the sof-
ware Te ocus o change management is people and the objective is
to change behavior Tis is good or business because it accelerates the
change process so bene1047297ts are achieved aster Change management
is not about being nice or placing an emphasis on eelings Itrsquos about
perormance improvement and results
I you search the literature you will 1047297nd a variety o de1047297nitions o
human-ocused change management Tey all cover similar concepts
sometimes using different terminology Te simplest explanation ochange management is to say ldquoItrsquos all about the peoplerdquo But or the
purposes o this book we expand on that concept and use the ollow-
ing de1047297nition o change management
bull A structured process designed to deal directly and intentionally
with the human actors involved in not just planning and imple-
menting an EMR but through behavior change achieving the
anticipated bene1047297ts that justi1047297ed the project in the 1047297rst place
bull Desired behavior change is achieved by helping people understand
and internalize change and by preparing them to be successul
contributors in the uture state In the case o EMR implementa-
tions effective change management delivers users who are willingand able to use an EMR in a way that satis1047297es the requirements o
the job the needs o the patient and the health o the organization
Key Tip
Our assumption is that the software you are implementing
works If the software doesnrsquot work you have another kind of
problem one that even the best change management wonrsquot
resolve
Key Tip
Our assumption is that the software you are implementing
works If the software doesnrsquot work you have another kind of
problemmdashone that even the best change management wonrsquot
resolve
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2339
4 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
Well-designed integrated people-ocused work builds logically
over time in a way that makes sense to the user It brings users along
guiding and supporting them so they arrive at where you want them
to be Tis is about willingness and ability hearts and minds You must
have both
Te overarching purpose o change management is to acceleratethe speed at which people move successfully through the change
process so that anticipated bene1047297ts are achieved faster And there
are additional bene1047297ts to change management Trough optimizing
the effi ciency and effi cacy o users an effective EMR change manage-
ment program will also
bull Improve organizational outcomes and perormance (effective use
o the system generates value to patients and the organization)
bull Enhance employee satisaction morale and engagement (when
people learn new skills meet perormance expectations and con-
tribute to a greater good they eel pride in their accomplishments)
bull Improve service quality (users eel valued and supported by anorganization that makes an investment in them this positively
impacts how they treat patients)
Figure 1-1 The Three-legged Stool
Technology
People Process
Technology
People Process
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2439
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 5
bull Help achieve hoped-or bene1047297ts (bene1047297ts that include EMR value
realization reduction o errors return on investment)bull Create higher levels o openness trust involvement and teamwork
(develop an engaged workorce)
bull Build change capability and capacity in the organization resulting
in improved ability to respond quickly and effectively to new situa-
tions (create organizational nimbleness through embedded change
management knowledge structure and process)
In other words it really is all about the people Intentionally man-
aging the cultural behavioral and organizational changes that need
to take place to make the desired EMR uture not only a reality but
a sustainable reality pays off on many levels in that it also acilitates
organizational transormation Building on individual capability andorganizational capacity change management results in a change-
capable culturemdasha huge advantage in todayrsquos competitive and ast-
changing world
Change Management echnology AdoptionmdashWhatrsquos the Difference
Tere are a number o terms that people use to reer to the work
involved in managing the people side o a change effort We think o
change management as the mother ship that is the umbrella term that
embraces all specialties within the 1047297eld Similar to the various special-
ties or domains o service within a healthcare system change man-agement proessionals may choose speci1047297c areas o ocus echnology
adoption speci1047297cally inormation technology (I) is one such area
and it involves the application o change management principles to the
implementation o I Te focus of this book is technology adoption
and we will mostly use this term instead of change management
throughout the rest of the book
Effective technology adoption proessionals align themselves with
the operationalbusiness side o the organization and tailor solutions
that drive behavioral change and tangible outcomes Tey participate in
EMR implementation projects rom the beginning driving the people
side o change throughout and continuing to add value post-live as theEMR becomes part o the central nervous system o the organization
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2539
6 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
HE IMPORANCE OF HE PEOPLE SIDE
OF AN EMR IMPLEMENAIONTere are many reerences in the literature to ailed change efforts and
I implementations Estimates are that only one third o these projects
achieve success which means two thirds ail to meet expectations Te
good news is that ailure is optional as much has been learned about
why some change efforts ail and others succeed
Herersquos the issue while the change that is going to occur is an exter-
nal eventmdashthe EMR implementation a reorganization proposed out-
sourcing a promotion etcmdashthe transition rom old to new that those
who are impacted experience is a psychological and emotional pro-
cess It is this transition that is diffi cultmdasheven when a change is sel-
imposed or considered positive
In the words o William Bridges a key thought leader in manage-
ment o transitions ldquoIt isnrsquot the changes that do you in itrsquos the transi-
tion afer the change that doesrdquo1
For an implementation team part o the problem encountered
during transition is that change is messy people start where they are
not where we want them to be And when considering the personnel
within a typical hospital people can be all over the place in terms o
comort with computers stage in lie commitment to the organiza-
tion ear o change etc Add to this the act that or change to be suc-
cessul three things must occur People
bull Must let go o their current reality have an ending
bull Go through a conused period in-between (hell in the hallway)
bull Only then can have a new beginning 1
o take this a step urther while I consultants want to install the
system and make enhancements the users will ultimately determine
how the system is used Tis use is affected by human not technical
actors
bull Different rames o reerence backgrounds experiences with
technology
bull Organizational history and experience with other large-scale
change projects
bull Levels o resistance ear ability to deal with ambiguity
bull Degree o alignment o ldquoWhatrsquos in it or merdquo or the various stake-
holder groups
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2639
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 7
bull Ineffi ciencies uncovered because the system creates transparency
bull Workarounds that become quickly entrenchedbull Pressure to get through the day can override doing what is right
bull User worklie balance issues coming into play rom the very
beginning
All o these actors create problems or implementation teams that
just want to install technology How do you effectively address the
people issues Or is it easier to just install the technology and assume
that people will learn because they have to use it Some on the imple-
mentation team may alsely assume that users o an EMR system will
snap into place over time and do what is right or the organization
Tis thinking is a oolrsquos paradise
In the oreword to this book Dave Garets made the point that EMRdeployments are not about technology but about equipping organiza-
tions to reach critical business objectives by providing employees with
technical capabilities that make new things possible and by engaging
them in changing their behavior to effectively use the new capabilities
to generate desired results
With all due respect to the technical side o an EMR implemen-
tation installing the technology is only hal the battle Tis is not to
degrade the importance o the technology Te act that we spend a lot
o money researching technology acquiring it con1047297guring it install-
ing it and supporting it speaks to its importance I we werenrsquot imple-
menting EMRs we wouldnrsquot even be having a discussion about EMR-related change management
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2739
8 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
But implementation o the technology is just a 1047297rst and very nec-
essary stepmdashbecause in and o itsel the technology does not generate
value Te technology is necessary but not suffi cient or bene1047297t realiza-
tion to occur o create value requires people and this is why change
management is so important oo much o a ocus on technology even
in the early stages will create issues downstream And even with the
best technology i not used effi ciently hoped-or bene1047297ts will be tough
to achieve
CIO Perspective
ldquoDuring my masters program I took an Organization Development
class that really opened my eyes to peoplesrsquo needs during large-scale
change Since the OD class I have been very interested in what makes
people tick and why people react in different ways to the same
environment No matter how good of an idea a large-scale technology
implementation is we will always have early adopters average adopters
and laggards As leaders within large organizations we have a
responsibility to plan for and respect all types of technology adopters
Ultimately the people who work within in our organizations want a positive
human experience when they are at work
Utilizing a change management methodology enables the implementation
and leadership teams to provide a positive experience during the period of
significant change By utilizing a solid change management methodologythe organization promotes team communication a safer environment for
the patient a work environment that promotes trust and an environment
where people are allowed to talk about the fear of change All of this
promotes a better human experience and a much stronger work force
hellip An effective change management program has meant the difference
between good go-lives and great go-lives at our 10 hospitalsrdquo
Lindsey P Jarrell FACHE
SVP amp CIO
BayCare Health System
Clearwater FL
CIO Perspective
During my masters program I took an Organization Development
class that really opened my eyes to peoplesrsquo needs during large-scale
change Since the OD class I have been very interested in what makes
people tick and why people react in different ways to the same
environment No matter how good of an idea a large-scale technology
implementation is we will always have early adopters average adopters
and laggards As leaders within large organizations we have a
responsibility to plan for and respect all types of technology adopters
Ultimately the people who work within in our organizations want a positive
human experience when they are at work
Utilizing a change management methodology enables the implementation
and leadership teams to provide a positive experience during the period of
significant change By utilizing a solid change management methodologythe organization promotes team communication a safer environment for
the patient a work environment that promotes trust and an environment
where people are allowed to talk about the fear of change All of this
promotes a better human experience and a much stronger work force
hellip An effective change management program has meant the difference
between good go-lives and great go-lives at our 10 hospitals
Lindsey P Jarrell FACHE
SVP amp CIO
BayCare Health System
Clearwater FL
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2839
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 9
Remember that change is a personal experience It is also local and
individual And itrsquos hardmdasheven when itrsquos sel-imposed and positive
Tere are no shortcuts People have to go through the process o change
in much the same way that we move through the stages o grie2 It canrsquot
be avoided or skipped You can measure twice and cut once or you
can cut now and then do costly remediation later Either way you canrsquot
avoid the expense or time required or real change to occur
SYSEMS PERSPECIVE
Experienced technology adoption proessionals embrace a systems
perspective when given the assignment to drive perormance man-
age perceptions and increase the utilization o new and existing tech-
nology A systems approach is the ability to see the big picture and
address the interrelationships among the variables within the abric o
CIO Perspective
ldquoIrsquove been in healthcare IT a long time and I now realize itrsquos
all about change management What was considered soft is
now hard We know so much more about how to install
technologymdashItrsquos the people part we donrsquot know well yet
and so itrsquos hardrdquo
Scott Joslyn
CIO
MemorialCare
Long Beach CA
CIO Perspective
Irsquove been in healthcare IT a long time and I now realize itrsquos
all about change management What was considered soft is
now hard We know so much more about how to install
technologymdashitrsquos the people part we donrsquot know well yet
and so itrsquos hard
J Scott Joslyn
CIO
MemorialCare
Long Beach CA
Quoteldquordquo
ldquoNo man can think clearly when his fists are clenchedrdquo
- George Jean Nathan
Quoteldquordquo
ldquordquo
ldquoNo man can think clearly when his fists are clenchedrdquo
- George Jean Nathan
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2939
10 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
the organization and in1047298uence the combined impact these variables
have on organizational effectiveness As each variable has the powerto in1047298uence the outcome o any intervention behavior change is ofen
not sustainable because variables tend to work against one another
Effective technology adoption strategies account or this interrelation-
shipinterdependency and aim to bring these variables into alignment
as a means or driving sustainable results
Figure 1-2 introduces the Organizational Fabric Model which
highlights the six primary threads (or variables) that are interwoven
in the abric (or culture) o an organization Te model suggests that
all six threads must work in concert to successully shape the organi-
zational abric A well-woven technology adoption plan strategically
manipulates these threads to in1047298uence desired change A poorly wovenplan in which a thread or combination o threads is not accounted
or leads to disaster or by way o analogy will hit a snag down the
road Depending on the 1047298exibility and durability o this abric a snag
can result in a huge hole that detracts rom the overall strength o the
intervention Te intent o the Organizational Fabric Model is to stress
how important it is to understand the uture state recognize how each
variable or combination o variables will come into play and develop a
sound technology adoption program that appropriately in1047298uences this
set o variables to reshape the abric or culture so desired change can
actually take place
Te Organizational Fabric Model will be revisited in subsequent
chapters as each thread or variable is explored in urther detail For
now we reiterate that technology adoption strategies must not rely
on only one or two threads to drive behavior change Sustainable out-
comes result rom an organizationrsquos ability to leverage the combination
o all six threads working in concert to create an environment orsuccess
Key Point
Fundamentally culture is ldquothe way we do things around hererdquo
Key Point
Fundamentally culture is ldquothe way we do things around hererdquo
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3039
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 11
CREAING AN ENVIRONMEN FOR SUCCESS
echnology adoption is about creating a context an environment in
which change can be achieved and sustained over the long term Tis
involves two levelsmdashorganizational and individual
With an EMR implementation the organization must create thesupporting environment provide needed training and resources
articulate a clear direction coupled with clear expectations engage its
people include them in the process and reinorce desired new behav-
iors Tis is not about checking things off a list but rather about 1047297nd-
ing synergy among impacted groups giving them what they need and
coordinating efforts to meet the end goal Itrsquos an ongoing effort
o give you an idea o what we are talking about herersquos an exam-
ple o an individual situation occurring within a social context Tink
about what happens when you want to make a signi1047297cant change in
your personal liemdashquit smoking stop drinking lose weight Itrsquos one
thing to talk with a doctor or another proessional about what needsto happen when yoursquore in their offi ce but once you leave the offi ce
you then return to your social reality I your riends and amily donrsquot
want your behavior to change you will have a tough time All the rein-
Figure 1-2 Organizational Fabric Model
Sponsorship
Stakeholder Mgmt
Training
Vision
Reinforcement
Communications
Sponsorship
Stakeholder Mgmt
Training
Vision
Reinforcement
Communications
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3139
12 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
orcements and temptations will conspire to prevent you rom mak-
ing changes But i you can get some important people in your lieto make the changes with you or at least support you in the process
you have a much greater chance o success Te lesson is donrsquot send a
changed person back into an unchanged environment if you want
to see behavior change
Engaging individuals involves arousing two key aspects mdashwilling-
ness and ability Te organization must in1047298uence both in order to suc-
ceed With the help o the Skill Versus Will Matrix (Figure 1-3) think
about it this way
bull When people want to do something but donrsquot know how they canrsquot
(willingunable)
bull When people know how but donrsquot want to they wonrsquot(ableunwilling)
Can you think o examples in your own lie when you have been in
either o these situations
Consider the circumstance o people who know how to do some-
thing but donrsquot want to do it Tis is a ldquowillrdquo not a ldquoskillrdquo issue and it is
a very common technology adoption dilemma I the amount o work
and effort involved are not perceived by the user as being equal to the
Figure 1-3 The Skill versus Will Matrix
Skill
Will
WONrsquoT
WONrsquoT
DOES
CANrsquoTLow
High
HighLow
Skill
Will
WONrsquoT
WONrsquoT
DOES
CANrsquoTLow
High
HighLow HighLow
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3239
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 13
return or value experienced through the implementation the user will
most likely choose to reduce the effort A goal o an effective people-ocused strategy is to identiy potential areas o disconnect and 1047297nd
ways to increase the perceived value to users Te assumption is that
when the return is perceived to be greater the effort increases When
there are no incentives to try harder it may be diffi cult to drive desired
behavior change
Te point in getting users to actively support the deployment o
an EMR is about a lot more than a communication plan or eature
unction training Managing the people side o an EMR implementa-
tion requires a savvy technology adoption plan that ties sponsorship
training communication work1047298ow harmonization user support and
reinorcement with the business priorities o the organization andeffectively coordinates all o these activities with the user in mindmdashin
an environment that reinorces desired behavior changes
Key Questions
Two key questions to remember throughout the
project arehellip
(1) How will this decision impact the user
(2) How might it impact patients
Key Questions
Two key questions to remember throughout the
project are
(1) How will this decision impact the user
(2) How might it impact patients
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3339
14 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
Consider this example
In this example what are the key elements o this process that
ensure success
bull Te picture of success the desired outcome is clearmdashit is or the
child to become a unctioning adult in the community
bull How this happens is clearly de1047297ned in behavioral terms Tere is a
process that is known and understood by the entire community
including children
bull Leaders at all levels in the community agree on the desired out-
come support the entire process and actively ful1047297ll their roles to ensure success Leaders include village elders and ormal lead-
ers parents o the children inormal opinion leaders and amily
members
bull Te children who are about to become adults take an active role
in their own transormation taking responsibility or their suc-
cess Tey receive guidance and counsel rom elders Tey know
and understand the transormation process and what they must do
to achieve their new status Goals and steps are clear Tey also
understand the consequences o not successully transitioning to
adulthood
bull I there is more than one child slated to go through transormationto adulthood at the same time they are a peer group and as appro-
priate prepare together and support each other
Key Point
In native cultures there tend to be rites of passage that serve
to transition a person from childhood to adult status in the
community The child may actually leave the village for a day or
two of contemplation following a prescribed process When the
child returns he or she is redefined as an adult and assumes
the consequent privileges and responsibilities The entire
community reinforces the personrsquos new status the new adult is
not allowed to return to being a child whenever itrsquos convenient
but is supported to complete the transformation to adulthood
The change to adulthood does not happen in a vacuum but is
part of a carefully designed process that ensures success
Key Point
In native cultures there tend to be rites of passage that serve
to transition a person from childhood to adult status in the
community The child may actually leave the village for a day or
two of contemplation following a prescribed process When the
child returns he or she is redefined as an adult and assumes
the consequent privileges and responsibilities The entire
community reinforces the personrsquos new status the new adult is
not allowed to return to being a child whenever itrsquos convenient
but is supported to complete the transformation to adulthood
The change to adulthood does not happen in a vacuum but is
part of a carefully designed process that ensures success
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3439
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 15
bull Te entire community works together to bring about the
transormationbull Success results in positive reinforcement
Te environmental context is the trump card in any implementerrsquos
hand It takes a lot o work to create a suitable environment but it is an
essential ingredient in being able to drive and sustain change
Willingness and Ability
Earlier we mentioned willingness and ability as key concepts in tech-
nology adoption Willingness and ability can also be thought o as
hearts and minds or will and skill Te point is the same regardless
o the terms used People need to be supported on both an emotional
level to commit and on an intellectual level to be able Te questionto be answered is ldquoWhat are the conditions under which users will
accept and adopt the EMRrdquo
Letrsquos talk about willingness 1047297rst
Willingness or hearts is the commitment to go orward Tis is
impacted by many things including the ollowing elements
bull Leadership Perceived support or lack o support or the change
rom senior executives in the company the cascade o sponsors
down through the organization and just as importantly rom the
employeersquos direct supervisor
bull Communication Quality and requency o verbal and written
messages that describe the desired uture state tell why the changeneeds to happen and what will happen i change isnrsquot made set
clear expectations explain how the company will prepare and sup-
port people to success and describe local details such as timelines
etc
bull Reinforcement Degree o appropriateness and timeliness o
rewards or demonstrating desired new behaviors and conse-
quences or sticking to the old ways
bull Participation Degree to which users are involved every step o
the way either directly as individuals or indirectly by being effec-
tively represented by trusted local opinion leader peers who serve
as liaisons between users and the project teambull Organizational History with Change Previous organizational
experience with changemdashgood and badmdashwill in1047298uence user per-
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3539
16 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
ceptions and expectations o the EMR implementation Under-
standing the past is important in planning or the utureTis all sounds logical but the reaction to it can be emotional Tis
is where people conront their ear o ailure eeling stupid making
mistakes etc Remember that the change may require people to give
up the very things that they believe made them successul in the past
Tis can be a diffi cult sell
Ability or minds is about the actual capability to successully
meet new job expectations Tis is impacted by many things including
the ollowing elements
bull raining and Support In most cases the new EMR abilities must
be learned An effective training program that is role-based and
intentionally ocused on preparing people to perorm new jobexpectations is key Just discussing desired outcomes is not enough
though we have to clearly tell people what we want them to do
Tis requires an intellectual understanding o what and how a
conceptual understanding is necessary but not suffi cient Most
people need to practice something new to develop competence and
con1047297dence Sae opportunities to practice preerably with immedi-
ate eedback are very important to pro1047297ciency development and
sustainability
Getting people to move in the direction you want is the diffi -
cultymdashsome say the hardest part o the whole project And i you agree
that people are the oundation o successmdashthat bene1047297t realization isdependant not on technology but on people agreeing to go through
personal disruption learn new things change established patterns and
conront their earsmdashthen we must be proactive and courageous in
addressing the human issues
Tis is the people side o the project Tis is the organizational read-
iness unction It involves collaboration coordination and sequencing
o activities inormation and events rom all people-ocused areas Te
idea is to have all the people-ocused unctions working together to
reach clearly de1047297ned shared outcomes Te organizational readiness
plan to create individual and organizational readiness is the umbrella
that connects it allmdashthe glue that holds it together and the grease thatmakes it workmdashor the user We will address the structure and process
or doing this in more detail in subsequent chapters
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3639
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 17
Good News on wo Fronts
1 Tere is a social science Tere is a body o work research andsubsequent publications about the human experience with change
Tere are proven change management strategies tools and tech-
niques Tis isnrsquot olklore hooey or black magic Te transition
process is known and predictable Tere is a change curve that
describes the steps (Chapter 5 Stakeholder Management) And
though there is no silver bullet it isnrsquot rocket science Senior
healthcare executives must take the emerging proession o change
managementtechnology adoption seriously Not understanding it
is no excuse or ignoring it Tat is ar too expensive an option
2 All people go through transition when changemdashgood or badmdash
happens in both their personal and proessional lie You canrsquot
avoid it Te wonderul thing is i you learn about change and
transition at work it will improve your personal lie Tis is one
o the times to ldquotry this at homerdquo Wersquore all humanmdashat work and
at home So treat your people as the humans they are and avoid
some predictable expense and diffi culty Lead your organization
to a successul outcome and speed up the process by treating your
staff as customers 1047297rst
Donrsquot make the mistake o glossing over the critical human aspects
o change Hire experts and 1047297nd the emotionally intelligent people in
your organization who want to participate And remember you can
install technology without your people but you canrsquot ully implement
and achieve return on investment without them Consciously choose
to move fear and resistance to trust and adoption Itrsquos a case o pay
now or pay later I you wait until later it will always cost more ech-
nology Adoption is expensive but not as expensive as trying to gloss
it over and then having to undo the damage When ailure happens it
Quoteldquordquo
ldquoNot everything that can be counted counts and not everything thatcounts can be countedrdquo
- Albert Einstein
Quoteldquordquo
ldquordquo
ldquoNot everything that can be counted counts and not everything thatcounts can be countedrdquo
- Albert Einstein
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3739
18 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
takes a long time or people to re-engage And in todayrsquos world this
presents real problems or healthcare organizations aced with short-ages in many proessions Tere is a huge risk o alienating and poten-
tially losing needed staff or in causing long delays We can do better
Not so long ago it wasnrsquot conventional wisdom that clinical application
rollouts are not I projects More frequently than not these were consid-
ered technical projects in which the point of celebration was when con-nection from workstation to central processor was reliable and wireless
access actually worked Te classic I People-Process-echnology trian-
gle never got much past echnology to the real hard work on the People-
Process axis Tat has all changed in the 21st century system implemen-
tations that are both successful and valuable have had people and process
on the front burner
When MemorialCare embarked on a 1047297ve-hospital roll-out of an
EMR in 2002 it had several things in its favor
bull Te technology the organization ultimately acquired was robust and
reliable it worked
bull It had 15 yearsrsquo experience with CPOE (computerized providerorder entry) Terefore although unevenly adopted it was not new
territory
bull It had had the experience of a system-wide roll-out and standard-
ization on a general 1047297nance human resources and materials man-
agement system When all was said and done users had not been
suffi ciently involved standardization fell short because involvement
was low business leadership was diffuse and I ownership was too
high It was judged successful overall but the organization continues
to move slowly forward with an underutilized set of applications
With this experience and the insights of others MemorialCare pri-
oritized engagement of physicians nurses pharmacists and other staffWell before 1047297nancial commitment to a new system was obtained Memo-
rialCare hired a ldquoCare Planning Executiverdquo a person whose full-time
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3839
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 19
activities were devoted to the project 1047297rst to help understand the drivers
of a new system scope out the territory to be covered gain the com-mitment of senior leaders as well as governance and outline the case
for change At my insistence the Care Planning Executive a registered
nurse and former hospital chief operating offi cer joined the organization
reporting to the system-wide CEO as a peer and partner of the CIO not
a staff member and a peer to the CEOs of each medical center campus
Tat dedication alone made clear the commitment intentions and over-
all priority of the company
Among several other critical success factorsmdashand the outcome was
a successmdashwas the overall employee engagement program that the Care
Planning Executive established In summary it was an education mar-
keting and training program dedicated to equipping the affected staffwith the knowledge and tools to embrace unavoidable change Staff com-
munication was clear that it wasnrsquot change for changersquos sake but a major
move forward in the paperless way care would be delivered and work-
1047298ows would be streamlined Of course at the time no one could have
foreseen later moves by government to push everyone in this direction
(with the American Recovery and Reconstruction Act of 2009) Because
of our early efforts wersquore now very well positioned
J Scott Joslyn
CIO
MemorialCareLong Beach California
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3939
About the BookDespite the promise of improving care and other benefits EMR implementations are highly disruptive to the
organization This book prepares you to lead or participate successfully in change managementtechnologyadoption efforts so that meaningful use of EMRs can be achieved The authors provide successful strategies
to plan and implement change The content is based on their decades of combined experience designing
and leading technology adoption programs
Sections of the book deal with establishing a foundation for change building commitment and developing
requisite skill in helping users be successful with technology The book includes numerous lessons learned
tips for success best practices and case studies from organizations that have handled change well
About the AuthorsClaire McCarthy MA is a recognized technology adoption strategist and leader
with 25 years of healthcare industry experience supporting people through softwareimplementations and other large-scale change efforts As Director of Organizational
Effectiveness for Kaiser Permanentersquos enterprise-wide EMR deployment Ms McCarthy
led a national community of practice focused on preparing users to assume new
roles and responsibilities in support of organizational objectives Ms McCarthy
speaks internationally on the topic of technology adoption encouraging healthcare
leaders around the globe to set the stage for benefit realization by investing in the
people side of EMR implementation
Douglas Eastman PhD is an organizational development executive with extensive
experience managing large-scale change initiatives With more than 20 years
of consulting experience Dr Eastmanrsquos focus is to help organizations grow and
manage change by unleashing human potential His specialties are organizationaltransformation technology adoption and optimization process redesign strategic
planning and program and tools development As the Executive Director of Technology
Adoption and Organizational Capability within the Kaiser Permanente IT Care
Delivery Business Information Office Dr Eastman has pioneered several of Kaiserrsquos
implementation readiness toolsmethodologies and post-live optimization strategies
programs adding to the organizationrsquos ability to realize the benefit of its technology
About HIMSS The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) is a comprehensive healthcare-
stakeholder membership organization exclusively focused on providing global leadership for the optimal
use of information technology (IT) and management systems for the betterment of healthcare Founded in
1961 with offices in Chicago Washington DC Brussels Singapore and other locations across the United
States HIMSS represents more than 23000 individual members of which 73 work in patient care delivery
settings HIMSS also includes over 380 corporate members and nearly 30 not-for-profit organizations that
share our mission of transforming healthcare through the effective use of information technology and
management systems HIMSS frames and leads healthcare public policy and industry practices through
its educational professional development and advocacy initiatives designed to promote information and
management systemsrsquo contributions to ensuring quality patient care
ISBN 978-0-9821070-6-5
Order Code 564
230 E Ohio St Suite 500
Chicago IL 60611ndash3270
312-915-9295
www himss org
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 539
iv Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
Doug Eastman PhD is an organizational development executive with
extensive experience managing large-scale change initiatives Withmore than 20 years o consulting experience Dr Eastmanrsquos ocus is
to help organizations grow and manage change by unleashing human
potential His specialties are organizational transormation technol-
ogy adoption and optimization process redesign large-scale change
management strategic planning program and tools development and
acilitation
As the Executive Director o echnology Adoption and Organiza-
tional Capability within the Kaiser Permanente Inormation echnol-
ogy Care Delivery Business Inormation Offi ce Dr Eastman currently
advises senior operational and project executives on the countryrsquos larg-
est private EMR system implementation Dr Eastman leverages bestpractices rom across the program and develops implementation read-
iness tools and methodologies as well as pioneering several best prac-
tice post go-live optimization strategies and programs aimed to ensure
end-users are building the requisite level o system skill pro1047297ciency
Prior to joining Kaiser Permanente Dr Eastmanrsquos consulting career
included positions with Andersen Consulting (now Accenture) Wat-
son Wyatt Worldwide and a boutique employee relations consulting
1047297rm He was also vice president o operations or a technology services
1047297rm or which he was responsible or the companyrsquos restructuring and
repositioning in its marketplace that grew 200 during his tenure
Dr Eastman serves on the board o directors or the ChildhoodAnxiety Network He holds a PhD in organizational psychology rom
the Caliornia School o Proessional Psychology a masterrsquos degree in
psychology rom Pepperdine University and a bachelorrsquos degree rom
Ohio State University
ABOU HE CONRIBUING EDIOR
David E Garets FHIMSS is President and CEO o HIMSS Analyt-
ics and Executive Vice President o HIMSS Mr Garets has 32 years o
experience in inormation technology Beore joining HIMSS Analyt-
ics in 2004 he was Executive Vice President at Healthlink Prior to
that he was Group Vice President Healthcare Industry Research and
Advisory Services at Gartner Previously he was Senior Manager in
Emerging Practices at First Consulting Group and CIO o Magic Val-
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 639
ley Regional Medical Center in win Falls Idaho Prior to working in
the healthcare industry Mr Garets spent 13 years in various manage-ment capacities or Aamp
Mr Garets was a course director and served on the aculties o the
College o Healthcare Inormation Management Executives (CHIME)
Inormation Management Executive Courses or 11 years He serves
on the editorial advisory boards o three healthcare inormation tech-
nology journals and magazines and the board o directors o HIMSS
Analytics He is an affi liate proessor at the Medical College o Virginia
at Virginia Commonwealth University
Mr Garets is a HIMSS Fellow and was chair o the HIMSS Board
or 2003-2004 He is an internationally known author and speaker on
inormation technologies strategies benchmarking and the uture ohealthcare Mr Garets has a bachelorrsquos degree in business administra-
tion rom exas ech University
About the Authors v
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 739
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 839
vii
Contents
Foreword by David E Garets FHIMSS ix
Preace by Claire McCarthy MA and Douglas Eastman PhD xi
Acknowledgments xvii
Chapter 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 1
Section 1 LeadershipmdashEstablishing a Foundation for Change 21
Chapter 2 Vision 23
Chapter 3 Sponsorship 37
Chapter 4 Organizational Readiness eam 55
Section 2 WillingnessmdashBuilding Commitment 77
Chapter 5 Stakeholder Management 79
Chapter 6 Communication 95
Section 3 AbilitymdashDeveloping Requisite Skill 109
Chapter 7 raining Strategy 111
Chapter 8 Reinorcement 127
Chapter 9 Implementation Readiness 137
Section 4 Summary 175
Chapter 10 Te Journey 177
Reerences 185
Index 187
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 939
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1039
ix
Foreword
By David E Garets FHIMSS
Electronic medical record (EMR) deployments are not about technol-
ogy Tey are about equipping organizations to reach critical business
objectives by providing people with technical capabilities that make
new things possible and by engaging people in changing their behavior
to effectively use the new capabilities to generate resultsTis book will show you how to create an environment or suc-
cess in your organization to not only ensure that your EMR imple-
mentation effort is successul but that your organization builds change
capacity and 1047298exibility in the process Tis new nimbleness will serve
you well in our world o continual change
De1047297ning change management is as important as understand-
ing what change management is not It isnrsquot project management or
solely process improvement Rather it is a set o speci1047297c disciplines
described in detail in this book that when coordinated and integrated
make the difference between tossing money into an EMR pit (simi-
lar to the ones that we boaters throw our money into) or getting thesought-afer changes in your organization
Chapter 2 on Vision is especially important In it Claire and Doug
explain how leadership paints the picture o what is expected rom
the implementation o an EMR I would argue that it is a process that
involves not only representatives o the ront line and their managers
and the senior executive team but also the board An EMR implemen-
tation done rightmdashmeaning the technology works was implemented
on time and within budget and the people modiy their behavior and
processes to achieve commensurate value or the investmentmdashis more
transormative than anything else a healthcare organization could do
It needs to be driven rom the board Tat way the right people iethe CEO and executive management team are held accountable or the
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1139
x Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
success o this crucial business initiative with an inormation technol-
ogy componentDale Sanders then CIO at the Northwestern Medical Faculty Foun-
dation and now CIO at the Cayman Islandsrsquo Health Services Author-
ity pointed out that ldquoyou need to dedicate the time and resources to
constantly iterate re1047297ne and improve the utilization o the EMR over
time ar beyond its installation and go-live Itrsquos a race without a 1047297n-
ish line rain und and plan accordinglymdashdonrsquot short-change the
investmentrdquo In other words recognize that you are not done at go-
live yoursquove just started achieving technology adoption and changing
behavior to get value rom your EMR investment
Tis book should be required reading or every member o the
executive team in every healthcare organization that is planning toimplement an EMR in the next ew years I was happy to be asked
to review the book and to write the orewordmdashand not or the ame
and ortune It was because I would then have to read it and Irsquom glad
I did I learned an incredible amount about a topic that most o us in
the technology world do not understand well and that is dealing with
people issues Claire and Doug nail it here and I guarantee yoursquoll be
thankul or the knowledge they share
Having said that reading this de1047297nitive work on change man-
agement or EMR implementations is not going to provide you with
enough knowledge on the topic to preclude your engaging or hiring
change management expertise In act just the opposite yoursquoll ullyunderstand why you need to get some help Welcome to the epiphany
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1239
xi
Preface
By Claire McCarthy MA and Douglas Eastman PhD
Tere is much discussion today about implementation o EMR sys-
temsmdashdiscussions that usually include excitement anxiety and
downright dread Tere is also a lot o talk about whether EMRs cre-
ate opportunities or healthcare organizations such as transorming
the way care is delivered reducing medical errors increasing internaleffi ciencies or clinical and administrative users improving revenue
capture and providing a host o other critical bene1047297ts Te promise
(some would say antasy) is big
But above all an EMR implementation is disruptive Te process
can realistically be equated to a tornado whipping through an organi-
zation and lie as you once knew it is turned upside down and the new
processes expectations priorities roles and methods overwhelm the
workplace
Our intent in writing this book is to assist others who may be
struggling with many o the same issues we have addressed By sharing
lessons rom our numerous 1047297rsthand sofware implementation expe-riences we will equip you with successul practices and prepare you
to lead or participate effectively in change managementtechnology
adoption efforts so that meaningul use can be achieved
Te primary audience o this book is everyone who leads or is
directly involved in the people-ocused change managementtech-
nology adoption efforts o an EMR implementation Our secondary
audience is everyone else who has a stake in the usersrsquo willingness and
ability to change behavior so the potential o the technology can be
realized So whether you are actively engaged in change management
technology adoption work or your support and advocacy o change
managementtechnology adoption is neededmdashthis book is or youRegardless o your speci1047297c role (executive middle-management
ront-line supervisor physician nurse medical assistant I proes-
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1339
xii Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
sional consultant or other stakeholder in the success o an EMR
implementation) our hope is that you will gain an appreciation orthe importance o users and the effort required to ensure operational
success Tis book emphasizes effective ways to plan and implement
change Te content is based on decades o combined experience man-
aging the people side o sofware implementations in healthcare
It is important to point out however that this book is not meant to
be a course on change managementtechnology adoption Our intent
is not to review existing research or current academic models and the-
ories but rather to share the insights and lessons we have learned in
delivering sustainable results and healthy organizational change over
the years
For technically-oriented project leads the success o an EMRimplementation tends to ocus too heavily on ldquoscrewing in the sys-
temrdquo on time and on budget But as important as it is getting the
EMR technology up and running should not be the primary ocus
Equal emphasis must be placed on how the new technology will be
embraced utilized and leveraged to realize a return on this signi1047297-
cant investment Flipping the switch and turning the technology on is
merely hal o the game
We believe the promise o an EMR implementation is great with
potentially signi1047297cant returns or the patient user organization and
or the industry as a whole When we hear words such as electronic
computerized and automated it sounds as i lie will be made easier andbecome more organized and effi cient However healthcare organiza-
tions do not always think about the critical steps involved in making
these hopes a reality Tis is due in large part because managing the
people side o an implementation and developing and installing major
technology require different skills sets Neither side o the coin is nec-
essarily more important but they both must be seen as equally signi1047297-
cant Te role in managing the people side o an implementation rarely
1047297ts neatly into how technically-ocused projects have historically been
measured and this creates a scenario in which the people side is ofen
misunderstood discounted and worst case ignored altogether Con-
sider the difference between what it takes to install the system (a tech-nology ocus) and what it takes to get the desired outcomes (a ocus on
people doing things differently)
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1439
Preace xiii
Te management o ambiguity resistance and user motivation is
admittedly hard to measure and unortunately involves methods thatare not always easily checked off a list Te process is more 1047298uid and
organic than linear At times it is unpredictable requiring rethink-
ing and course corrections Afer all we are dealing with people Not
everything is clear cut Donrsquot believe anyone who tells you it is
People come with different backgrounds rames o reerence
experience with technology comort with change or ambiguity trust
in leadership and so orth Whatever the mix o scenarios users never
start rom the same placemdashand they move through the change pro-
cess at different speeds meaning they continue to be in different places
throughout the project Te good news is that users do grow and develop
over the course o the project and many eventually accept things theywouldnrsquot agree to at 1047297rst But they require understandingmdashtheir ears
needs hopes and their reactions to the challenges that impact their
ability to perorm A sound comprehensive people strategy that cre-
ates an environment in which they can succeed is essential
I the goal o your EMR implementation is to achieve sustainable
results growth or organizational transormation then a substantial
investment in people must be central to your overall implementation
strategy Afer all it is the user who makes or breaks your EMR imple-
mentation and ultimately determines the amount o return the organi-
zation will realize Te better prepared people are or the change and
the less they see it as threatening the aster they will deliver value
Quoteldquordquo
ldquoMan is still the most extraordinary computer of allrdquo
- John F Kennedy
Quoteldquordquo
ldquordquo
ldquoMan is still the most extraordinary computer of allrdquo
- John F Kennedy
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1539
xiv Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
HOW HE BOOK IS SRUCURED
Preparing an organization or a successul EMR implementationinvolves a big picture approach that takes into account all the actors
that in1047298uence behavior change Te idea is to establish an organiza-
tional contextmdasha culture in which desired behavior is supported and
reinorced through a variety o methodsmdashcreating a learning organiza-
tion that grows to achieve its vision priorities and goals In this book
we present an Implementation Readiness Model and discuss each ac-
tor involved in ensuring the organization and users are ully prepared
to realize the potential o the new technology
Tis book is organized in a simple ashion First we make the busi-
ness argument or change managementtechnology adoption explain-
ing why technology implementations will not deliver bene1047297ts without
a signi1047297cant ocus on users Next we discuss two critical success ac-
tors in any large-scale change management effortmdasha clear vision and
effective leadership
Ten we argue or the development o a cross-unctional team
o representatives rom key areas within the organization the Orga-
nizational Readiness eam (OR) and introduce a pragmatic model
that outlines the scope o complexity and work that the OR man-
ages throughout the project lie cycle Tis establishes a oundation
or subsequent chapters in which each provides urther detail about
the inter-relationship o work involved to effectively drive sustain-
able change Tese chapters dig deeper into lessons learned and best
practices related to stakeholder management communication train-
ing strategy and reinorcement as all must be aligned to successully
satisy the end goal o a meaningul implementation
Finally the Implementation Readiness chapter shows how the
prior chapters serve as building blocks to ormulate a comprehensive
and powerul Implementation Readiness Program aimed at securing
ready users who are engaged and prepared or the transitional changes
ahead in the world o an EMR Te book ends with a discussion o
our key lessons learned and insights regarding the overall journey Pay
particular attention to some o the larger challenges related to an EMR
implementation as these scenarios have proven to have a signi1047297cant
impact on an organizationrsquos speed and ability to position itsel or ben-
e1047297ts realization
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1639
Preace xv
It is important to stress that ocusing on just one actor o imple-
mentation readiness is not suffi cient to drive organizational changeand sustainable results Each chapter describes an individual actor in
detail and provides lessons and useul examples tools and other bits
o inormation intended to help you succeed in preparing your orga-
nization or a successul EMR implementation But the real purpose
o the book is to raise awareness o how all actors work in concert to
in1047298uence desired change associated with an EMR implementation Te
actors work best as an integrated whole overlapping and reinorcing
each other Tey typically have separate leadership but whether or-
mally integrated or not they are pieces o one picture
Like other books you can jump to any chapter o interest at any
point However we strongly encourage you to read the book cover tocover 1047297rst to gain an understanding o the end-to-end process and how
each actor contributes to overall success A strategy that accounts or
all actors is more effective than just one intervention or multiple dis-
connected interventions In this case the sum is de1047297nitely greater than
all o its individual parts
We speak to you in a conversational and straightorward man-
ner to make this rather diffi cult side o an EMR implementation more
approachable We hope you will 1047297nd our insights valuable and will
leverage this book as your implementation reerence guide It will ur-
ther your cause i all stakeholders accountable or a successul launch
in your organization have a common ramework or approaching the
collective end goal We certainly wish wersquod had a book like this years
ago to guide us through the mine1047297eld o sofware implementationsFinally we hope you enjoy the process o supporting people
through the transition to the world o EMRs Tere is something very
Quoteldquordquo
ldquoExperience is a hard teacher because she gives
the test first the lessons afterwardsrdquo
- Vernon Law
Quoteldquordquo
ldquordquo
ldquoExperience is a hard teacher because she gives
the test first the lessons afterwardsrdquo
- Vernon Law
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1739
xvi Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
rewarding about seeing people who were earul and resistant even
in tears and thinking seriously o quitting eel the pride o accom-plishment when they succeed Each person who stays the course and
becomes a contributing member o the electronically enabled organi-
zation represents untold cost avoidance Knowledge and talent stay in
the organization replacement costs are avoided relationships are pre-
served and critical staff shortages are reduced echnology adoption is
truly a contribution to the bottom line
In the words o one o our grandathers ldquoPeople change when
theyrsquore damned good and ready and not beorerdquo Wersquore here to get
them ready
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1839
xvii
Acknowledgments
Te authors would like to thank the ollowing individuals or sharing
their expertise and experiences or this book
Saaa Al-Haddad MD
Internal Medicine
University Hospitals
Cleveland Ohio
Ronnie D Bower Jr MA
Manager Change Management
BayCare Health System
ampa Florida
Nabil Chehade MD MSBS
CPC
Director Medical Inormatics
Regional Chie o Urology
KP HealthConnect RegionalPhysician Lead
Kaiser Permanente Medical
Group
Cleveland Ohio
Kenneth Goodman MD
Associate Director Center
or Continuing Medical
Education
Department o Family Medicine
Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland Ohio
Marie Hamilton RN
Kaiser Permanente
Oregon Federation o Nurses
and Health ProessionalsHealthcare Inormation
echnology Committee
AF Healthcare
Portland Oregon
Lindsey P Jarrell FACHE
Senior Vice President amp CIO
BayCare Health System
ampa Florida
J Scott JoslynCIO
MemorialCare
Long Beach Caliornia
Margaret M Rudoph PhD
Consultant
Vancouver British Columbia
Canada
om Smith
CIO
NorthShore University Health
System
Evanston Illinois
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1939
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2039
1
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 983089
Te Business Case forChange Management
ldquoWersquore not in Kansas anymorehelliprdquo
In the introduction an EMR implementation is compared to a tornado
in that it whips through an organization turning lie upside down and
throwing users into a world 1047297lled with new ways o doing things and
seeking ways to recapture some sense o balance and control EMR
technology disrupts the status quo and along with the many opportu-
nities it promises it also brings a whirlwind o seemingly never-ending
changes which can have an entirely different effect on different people
While an implementation that is effectively managed even brings these
challenges a poor implementation can be disastrous and will cost the
organization much more time energy and money to get things back
on track
Dorothy the character rom the movie Te Wizard of Oz held
her composure pretty well through the tornado that ripped her rom
a calm stable lie on the arm and threw her into a oreign world She
was able to manage through the obstacles and challenges and stay the
course as she ollowed the yellow brick road in search o the wizard
Some say this is similar to the experience users have except or the
part when Dorothy wakes up rom her dream and 1047297nds hersel back
home as she remembers itEMR implementations donrsquot have to be nightmarish or users but
there certainly will be obstacles and challenges along the way Te key is
to help users through the road blocks and enable them to experience a
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2139
2 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
positive journey Tis process is always easier when people know what
they are getting into eel supported and are prepared or what liesahead both good and bad Tis is the role o change management
CHANGE MANAGEMEN DEFINED
Itrsquos important to understand why you should make an investment in
the people side o the projectmdashbringing in the best technology pos-
sible doesnrsquot mean anything unless users are comortable and pro1047297-
cient in its use Te truth is just because you build it doesnrsquot mean they
will come
Letrsquos start by answering the two questions we are most ofen asked
ldquoWhat is change management anyway What is it change managers
dordquoo avoid conusion wersquoll say up ront we are not talking about
change management as it relates to technical issues such as version or
change control We also want to be clear that change management is
not project management What we are talking about is the human side
o electronic medical records implementations the human-ocused
work o engaging and preparing people to succeed in the new world
o EMRs
A word about project management while good project manage-
ment acilitates change management the two disciplines are not the
same Project management is much more linear and task-ocused
whereas change management deals with the complexities o human
behavior But a good project plan creates a structure and a ounda-
tion in which the change management process can occur Tereore
the two disciplines though different complement and support each
other
A word o caution do not conuse the project plan with the end
result Te plan is necessary and it guides you throughout the process
Te plan is proactive itrsquos the order in the chaos But technology adop-
tion is kind o like herding cats itrsquos unpredictable and you need to
maintain 1047298exibility to respond as things evolve Tis is a more reactive
process than what may be expressed in a plan In our experience an
EMR implementation requires both structure and 1047298exibility
Tere is a saying in change management circles When one door
closes another one opens but sometimes itrsquos hell in the hallway Change
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2239
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 3
management deals mostly with the hallway situation acilitating the
human transition rom the present to the uture Tese days change isongoing and requires ocused leadership i it is to be as ast and pain-
less as possible
Te three legs o the project stool represent the critical compo-nents o an implementation (Figure 1-1)mdashPeople Process and ech-
nology Te people are the most important When technology projects
ail it is primarily due to a lack o use and not a ailure o the sof-
ware Te ocus o change management is people and the objective is
to change behavior Tis is good or business because it accelerates the
change process so bene1047297ts are achieved aster Change management
is not about being nice or placing an emphasis on eelings Itrsquos about
perormance improvement and results
I you search the literature you will 1047297nd a variety o de1047297nitions o
human-ocused change management Tey all cover similar concepts
sometimes using different terminology Te simplest explanation ochange management is to say ldquoItrsquos all about the peoplerdquo But or the
purposes o this book we expand on that concept and use the ollow-
ing de1047297nition o change management
bull A structured process designed to deal directly and intentionally
with the human actors involved in not just planning and imple-
menting an EMR but through behavior change achieving the
anticipated bene1047297ts that justi1047297ed the project in the 1047297rst place
bull Desired behavior change is achieved by helping people understand
and internalize change and by preparing them to be successul
contributors in the uture state In the case o EMR implementa-
tions effective change management delivers users who are willingand able to use an EMR in a way that satis1047297es the requirements o
the job the needs o the patient and the health o the organization
Key Tip
Our assumption is that the software you are implementing
works If the software doesnrsquot work you have another kind of
problem one that even the best change management wonrsquot
resolve
Key Tip
Our assumption is that the software you are implementing
works If the software doesnrsquot work you have another kind of
problemmdashone that even the best change management wonrsquot
resolve
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2339
4 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
Well-designed integrated people-ocused work builds logically
over time in a way that makes sense to the user It brings users along
guiding and supporting them so they arrive at where you want them
to be Tis is about willingness and ability hearts and minds You must
have both
Te overarching purpose o change management is to acceleratethe speed at which people move successfully through the change
process so that anticipated bene1047297ts are achieved faster And there
are additional bene1047297ts to change management Trough optimizing
the effi ciency and effi cacy o users an effective EMR change manage-
ment program will also
bull Improve organizational outcomes and perormance (effective use
o the system generates value to patients and the organization)
bull Enhance employee satisaction morale and engagement (when
people learn new skills meet perormance expectations and con-
tribute to a greater good they eel pride in their accomplishments)
bull Improve service quality (users eel valued and supported by anorganization that makes an investment in them this positively
impacts how they treat patients)
Figure 1-1 The Three-legged Stool
Technology
People Process
Technology
People Process
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2439
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 5
bull Help achieve hoped-or bene1047297ts (bene1047297ts that include EMR value
realization reduction o errors return on investment)bull Create higher levels o openness trust involvement and teamwork
(develop an engaged workorce)
bull Build change capability and capacity in the organization resulting
in improved ability to respond quickly and effectively to new situa-
tions (create organizational nimbleness through embedded change
management knowledge structure and process)
In other words it really is all about the people Intentionally man-
aging the cultural behavioral and organizational changes that need
to take place to make the desired EMR uture not only a reality but
a sustainable reality pays off on many levels in that it also acilitates
organizational transormation Building on individual capability andorganizational capacity change management results in a change-
capable culturemdasha huge advantage in todayrsquos competitive and ast-
changing world
Change Management echnology AdoptionmdashWhatrsquos the Difference
Tere are a number o terms that people use to reer to the work
involved in managing the people side o a change effort We think o
change management as the mother ship that is the umbrella term that
embraces all specialties within the 1047297eld Similar to the various special-
ties or domains o service within a healthcare system change man-agement proessionals may choose speci1047297c areas o ocus echnology
adoption speci1047297cally inormation technology (I) is one such area
and it involves the application o change management principles to the
implementation o I Te focus of this book is technology adoption
and we will mostly use this term instead of change management
throughout the rest of the book
Effective technology adoption proessionals align themselves with
the operationalbusiness side o the organization and tailor solutions
that drive behavioral change and tangible outcomes Tey participate in
EMR implementation projects rom the beginning driving the people
side o change throughout and continuing to add value post-live as theEMR becomes part o the central nervous system o the organization
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2539
6 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
HE IMPORANCE OF HE PEOPLE SIDE
OF AN EMR IMPLEMENAIONTere are many reerences in the literature to ailed change efforts and
I implementations Estimates are that only one third o these projects
achieve success which means two thirds ail to meet expectations Te
good news is that ailure is optional as much has been learned about
why some change efforts ail and others succeed
Herersquos the issue while the change that is going to occur is an exter-
nal eventmdashthe EMR implementation a reorganization proposed out-
sourcing a promotion etcmdashthe transition rom old to new that those
who are impacted experience is a psychological and emotional pro-
cess It is this transition that is diffi cultmdasheven when a change is sel-
imposed or considered positive
In the words o William Bridges a key thought leader in manage-
ment o transitions ldquoIt isnrsquot the changes that do you in itrsquos the transi-
tion afer the change that doesrdquo1
For an implementation team part o the problem encountered
during transition is that change is messy people start where they are
not where we want them to be And when considering the personnel
within a typical hospital people can be all over the place in terms o
comort with computers stage in lie commitment to the organiza-
tion ear o change etc Add to this the act that or change to be suc-
cessul three things must occur People
bull Must let go o their current reality have an ending
bull Go through a conused period in-between (hell in the hallway)
bull Only then can have a new beginning 1
o take this a step urther while I consultants want to install the
system and make enhancements the users will ultimately determine
how the system is used Tis use is affected by human not technical
actors
bull Different rames o reerence backgrounds experiences with
technology
bull Organizational history and experience with other large-scale
change projects
bull Levels o resistance ear ability to deal with ambiguity
bull Degree o alignment o ldquoWhatrsquos in it or merdquo or the various stake-
holder groups
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2639
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 7
bull Ineffi ciencies uncovered because the system creates transparency
bull Workarounds that become quickly entrenchedbull Pressure to get through the day can override doing what is right
bull User worklie balance issues coming into play rom the very
beginning
All o these actors create problems or implementation teams that
just want to install technology How do you effectively address the
people issues Or is it easier to just install the technology and assume
that people will learn because they have to use it Some on the imple-
mentation team may alsely assume that users o an EMR system will
snap into place over time and do what is right or the organization
Tis thinking is a oolrsquos paradise
In the oreword to this book Dave Garets made the point that EMRdeployments are not about technology but about equipping organiza-
tions to reach critical business objectives by providing employees with
technical capabilities that make new things possible and by engaging
them in changing their behavior to effectively use the new capabilities
to generate desired results
With all due respect to the technical side o an EMR implemen-
tation installing the technology is only hal the battle Tis is not to
degrade the importance o the technology Te act that we spend a lot
o money researching technology acquiring it con1047297guring it install-
ing it and supporting it speaks to its importance I we werenrsquot imple-
menting EMRs we wouldnrsquot even be having a discussion about EMR-related change management
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2739
8 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
But implementation o the technology is just a 1047297rst and very nec-
essary stepmdashbecause in and o itsel the technology does not generate
value Te technology is necessary but not suffi cient or bene1047297t realiza-
tion to occur o create value requires people and this is why change
management is so important oo much o a ocus on technology even
in the early stages will create issues downstream And even with the
best technology i not used effi ciently hoped-or bene1047297ts will be tough
to achieve
CIO Perspective
ldquoDuring my masters program I took an Organization Development
class that really opened my eyes to peoplesrsquo needs during large-scale
change Since the OD class I have been very interested in what makes
people tick and why people react in different ways to the same
environment No matter how good of an idea a large-scale technology
implementation is we will always have early adopters average adopters
and laggards As leaders within large organizations we have a
responsibility to plan for and respect all types of technology adopters
Ultimately the people who work within in our organizations want a positive
human experience when they are at work
Utilizing a change management methodology enables the implementation
and leadership teams to provide a positive experience during the period of
significant change By utilizing a solid change management methodologythe organization promotes team communication a safer environment for
the patient a work environment that promotes trust and an environment
where people are allowed to talk about the fear of change All of this
promotes a better human experience and a much stronger work force
hellip An effective change management program has meant the difference
between good go-lives and great go-lives at our 10 hospitalsrdquo
Lindsey P Jarrell FACHE
SVP amp CIO
BayCare Health System
Clearwater FL
CIO Perspective
During my masters program I took an Organization Development
class that really opened my eyes to peoplesrsquo needs during large-scale
change Since the OD class I have been very interested in what makes
people tick and why people react in different ways to the same
environment No matter how good of an idea a large-scale technology
implementation is we will always have early adopters average adopters
and laggards As leaders within large organizations we have a
responsibility to plan for and respect all types of technology adopters
Ultimately the people who work within in our organizations want a positive
human experience when they are at work
Utilizing a change management methodology enables the implementation
and leadership teams to provide a positive experience during the period of
significant change By utilizing a solid change management methodologythe organization promotes team communication a safer environment for
the patient a work environment that promotes trust and an environment
where people are allowed to talk about the fear of change All of this
promotes a better human experience and a much stronger work force
hellip An effective change management program has meant the difference
between good go-lives and great go-lives at our 10 hospitals
Lindsey P Jarrell FACHE
SVP amp CIO
BayCare Health System
Clearwater FL
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2839
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 9
Remember that change is a personal experience It is also local and
individual And itrsquos hardmdasheven when itrsquos sel-imposed and positive
Tere are no shortcuts People have to go through the process o change
in much the same way that we move through the stages o grie2 It canrsquot
be avoided or skipped You can measure twice and cut once or you
can cut now and then do costly remediation later Either way you canrsquot
avoid the expense or time required or real change to occur
SYSEMS PERSPECIVE
Experienced technology adoption proessionals embrace a systems
perspective when given the assignment to drive perormance man-
age perceptions and increase the utilization o new and existing tech-
nology A systems approach is the ability to see the big picture and
address the interrelationships among the variables within the abric o
CIO Perspective
ldquoIrsquove been in healthcare IT a long time and I now realize itrsquos
all about change management What was considered soft is
now hard We know so much more about how to install
technologymdashItrsquos the people part we donrsquot know well yet
and so itrsquos hardrdquo
Scott Joslyn
CIO
MemorialCare
Long Beach CA
CIO Perspective
Irsquove been in healthcare IT a long time and I now realize itrsquos
all about change management What was considered soft is
now hard We know so much more about how to install
technologymdashitrsquos the people part we donrsquot know well yet
and so itrsquos hard
J Scott Joslyn
CIO
MemorialCare
Long Beach CA
Quoteldquordquo
ldquoNo man can think clearly when his fists are clenchedrdquo
- George Jean Nathan
Quoteldquordquo
ldquordquo
ldquoNo man can think clearly when his fists are clenchedrdquo
- George Jean Nathan
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2939
10 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
the organization and in1047298uence the combined impact these variables
have on organizational effectiveness As each variable has the powerto in1047298uence the outcome o any intervention behavior change is ofen
not sustainable because variables tend to work against one another
Effective technology adoption strategies account or this interrelation-
shipinterdependency and aim to bring these variables into alignment
as a means or driving sustainable results
Figure 1-2 introduces the Organizational Fabric Model which
highlights the six primary threads (or variables) that are interwoven
in the abric (or culture) o an organization Te model suggests that
all six threads must work in concert to successully shape the organi-
zational abric A well-woven technology adoption plan strategically
manipulates these threads to in1047298uence desired change A poorly wovenplan in which a thread or combination o threads is not accounted
or leads to disaster or by way o analogy will hit a snag down the
road Depending on the 1047298exibility and durability o this abric a snag
can result in a huge hole that detracts rom the overall strength o the
intervention Te intent o the Organizational Fabric Model is to stress
how important it is to understand the uture state recognize how each
variable or combination o variables will come into play and develop a
sound technology adoption program that appropriately in1047298uences this
set o variables to reshape the abric or culture so desired change can
actually take place
Te Organizational Fabric Model will be revisited in subsequent
chapters as each thread or variable is explored in urther detail For
now we reiterate that technology adoption strategies must not rely
on only one or two threads to drive behavior change Sustainable out-
comes result rom an organizationrsquos ability to leverage the combination
o all six threads working in concert to create an environment orsuccess
Key Point
Fundamentally culture is ldquothe way we do things around hererdquo
Key Point
Fundamentally culture is ldquothe way we do things around hererdquo
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3039
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 11
CREAING AN ENVIRONMEN FOR SUCCESS
echnology adoption is about creating a context an environment in
which change can be achieved and sustained over the long term Tis
involves two levelsmdashorganizational and individual
With an EMR implementation the organization must create thesupporting environment provide needed training and resources
articulate a clear direction coupled with clear expectations engage its
people include them in the process and reinorce desired new behav-
iors Tis is not about checking things off a list but rather about 1047297nd-
ing synergy among impacted groups giving them what they need and
coordinating efforts to meet the end goal Itrsquos an ongoing effort
o give you an idea o what we are talking about herersquos an exam-
ple o an individual situation occurring within a social context Tink
about what happens when you want to make a signi1047297cant change in
your personal liemdashquit smoking stop drinking lose weight Itrsquos one
thing to talk with a doctor or another proessional about what needsto happen when yoursquore in their offi ce but once you leave the offi ce
you then return to your social reality I your riends and amily donrsquot
want your behavior to change you will have a tough time All the rein-
Figure 1-2 Organizational Fabric Model
Sponsorship
Stakeholder Mgmt
Training
Vision
Reinforcement
Communications
Sponsorship
Stakeholder Mgmt
Training
Vision
Reinforcement
Communications
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3139
12 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
orcements and temptations will conspire to prevent you rom mak-
ing changes But i you can get some important people in your lieto make the changes with you or at least support you in the process
you have a much greater chance o success Te lesson is donrsquot send a
changed person back into an unchanged environment if you want
to see behavior change
Engaging individuals involves arousing two key aspects mdashwilling-
ness and ability Te organization must in1047298uence both in order to suc-
ceed With the help o the Skill Versus Will Matrix (Figure 1-3) think
about it this way
bull When people want to do something but donrsquot know how they canrsquot
(willingunable)
bull When people know how but donrsquot want to they wonrsquot(ableunwilling)
Can you think o examples in your own lie when you have been in
either o these situations
Consider the circumstance o people who know how to do some-
thing but donrsquot want to do it Tis is a ldquowillrdquo not a ldquoskillrdquo issue and it is
a very common technology adoption dilemma I the amount o work
and effort involved are not perceived by the user as being equal to the
Figure 1-3 The Skill versus Will Matrix
Skill
Will
WONrsquoT
WONrsquoT
DOES
CANrsquoTLow
High
HighLow
Skill
Will
WONrsquoT
WONrsquoT
DOES
CANrsquoTLow
High
HighLow HighLow
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3239
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 13
return or value experienced through the implementation the user will
most likely choose to reduce the effort A goal o an effective people-ocused strategy is to identiy potential areas o disconnect and 1047297nd
ways to increase the perceived value to users Te assumption is that
when the return is perceived to be greater the effort increases When
there are no incentives to try harder it may be diffi cult to drive desired
behavior change
Te point in getting users to actively support the deployment o
an EMR is about a lot more than a communication plan or eature
unction training Managing the people side o an EMR implementa-
tion requires a savvy technology adoption plan that ties sponsorship
training communication work1047298ow harmonization user support and
reinorcement with the business priorities o the organization andeffectively coordinates all o these activities with the user in mindmdashin
an environment that reinorces desired behavior changes
Key Questions
Two key questions to remember throughout the
project arehellip
(1) How will this decision impact the user
(2) How might it impact patients
Key Questions
Two key questions to remember throughout the
project are
(1) How will this decision impact the user
(2) How might it impact patients
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3339
14 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
Consider this example
In this example what are the key elements o this process that
ensure success
bull Te picture of success the desired outcome is clearmdashit is or the
child to become a unctioning adult in the community
bull How this happens is clearly de1047297ned in behavioral terms Tere is a
process that is known and understood by the entire community
including children
bull Leaders at all levels in the community agree on the desired out-
come support the entire process and actively ful1047297ll their roles to ensure success Leaders include village elders and ormal lead-
ers parents o the children inormal opinion leaders and amily
members
bull Te children who are about to become adults take an active role
in their own transormation taking responsibility or their suc-
cess Tey receive guidance and counsel rom elders Tey know
and understand the transormation process and what they must do
to achieve their new status Goals and steps are clear Tey also
understand the consequences o not successully transitioning to
adulthood
bull I there is more than one child slated to go through transormationto adulthood at the same time they are a peer group and as appro-
priate prepare together and support each other
Key Point
In native cultures there tend to be rites of passage that serve
to transition a person from childhood to adult status in the
community The child may actually leave the village for a day or
two of contemplation following a prescribed process When the
child returns he or she is redefined as an adult and assumes
the consequent privileges and responsibilities The entire
community reinforces the personrsquos new status the new adult is
not allowed to return to being a child whenever itrsquos convenient
but is supported to complete the transformation to adulthood
The change to adulthood does not happen in a vacuum but is
part of a carefully designed process that ensures success
Key Point
In native cultures there tend to be rites of passage that serve
to transition a person from childhood to adult status in the
community The child may actually leave the village for a day or
two of contemplation following a prescribed process When the
child returns he or she is redefined as an adult and assumes
the consequent privileges and responsibilities The entire
community reinforces the personrsquos new status the new adult is
not allowed to return to being a child whenever itrsquos convenient
but is supported to complete the transformation to adulthood
The change to adulthood does not happen in a vacuum but is
part of a carefully designed process that ensures success
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3439
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 15
bull Te entire community works together to bring about the
transormationbull Success results in positive reinforcement
Te environmental context is the trump card in any implementerrsquos
hand It takes a lot o work to create a suitable environment but it is an
essential ingredient in being able to drive and sustain change
Willingness and Ability
Earlier we mentioned willingness and ability as key concepts in tech-
nology adoption Willingness and ability can also be thought o as
hearts and minds or will and skill Te point is the same regardless
o the terms used People need to be supported on both an emotional
level to commit and on an intellectual level to be able Te questionto be answered is ldquoWhat are the conditions under which users will
accept and adopt the EMRrdquo
Letrsquos talk about willingness 1047297rst
Willingness or hearts is the commitment to go orward Tis is
impacted by many things including the ollowing elements
bull Leadership Perceived support or lack o support or the change
rom senior executives in the company the cascade o sponsors
down through the organization and just as importantly rom the
employeersquos direct supervisor
bull Communication Quality and requency o verbal and written
messages that describe the desired uture state tell why the changeneeds to happen and what will happen i change isnrsquot made set
clear expectations explain how the company will prepare and sup-
port people to success and describe local details such as timelines
etc
bull Reinforcement Degree o appropriateness and timeliness o
rewards or demonstrating desired new behaviors and conse-
quences or sticking to the old ways
bull Participation Degree to which users are involved every step o
the way either directly as individuals or indirectly by being effec-
tively represented by trusted local opinion leader peers who serve
as liaisons between users and the project teambull Organizational History with Change Previous organizational
experience with changemdashgood and badmdashwill in1047298uence user per-
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3539
16 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
ceptions and expectations o the EMR implementation Under-
standing the past is important in planning or the utureTis all sounds logical but the reaction to it can be emotional Tis
is where people conront their ear o ailure eeling stupid making
mistakes etc Remember that the change may require people to give
up the very things that they believe made them successul in the past
Tis can be a diffi cult sell
Ability or minds is about the actual capability to successully
meet new job expectations Tis is impacted by many things including
the ollowing elements
bull raining and Support In most cases the new EMR abilities must
be learned An effective training program that is role-based and
intentionally ocused on preparing people to perorm new jobexpectations is key Just discussing desired outcomes is not enough
though we have to clearly tell people what we want them to do
Tis requires an intellectual understanding o what and how a
conceptual understanding is necessary but not suffi cient Most
people need to practice something new to develop competence and
con1047297dence Sae opportunities to practice preerably with immedi-
ate eedback are very important to pro1047297ciency development and
sustainability
Getting people to move in the direction you want is the diffi -
cultymdashsome say the hardest part o the whole project And i you agree
that people are the oundation o successmdashthat bene1047297t realization isdependant not on technology but on people agreeing to go through
personal disruption learn new things change established patterns and
conront their earsmdashthen we must be proactive and courageous in
addressing the human issues
Tis is the people side o the project Tis is the organizational read-
iness unction It involves collaboration coordination and sequencing
o activities inormation and events rom all people-ocused areas Te
idea is to have all the people-ocused unctions working together to
reach clearly de1047297ned shared outcomes Te organizational readiness
plan to create individual and organizational readiness is the umbrella
that connects it allmdashthe glue that holds it together and the grease thatmakes it workmdashor the user We will address the structure and process
or doing this in more detail in subsequent chapters
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3639
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 17
Good News on wo Fronts
1 Tere is a social science Tere is a body o work research andsubsequent publications about the human experience with change
Tere are proven change management strategies tools and tech-
niques Tis isnrsquot olklore hooey or black magic Te transition
process is known and predictable Tere is a change curve that
describes the steps (Chapter 5 Stakeholder Management) And
though there is no silver bullet it isnrsquot rocket science Senior
healthcare executives must take the emerging proession o change
managementtechnology adoption seriously Not understanding it
is no excuse or ignoring it Tat is ar too expensive an option
2 All people go through transition when changemdashgood or badmdash
happens in both their personal and proessional lie You canrsquot
avoid it Te wonderul thing is i you learn about change and
transition at work it will improve your personal lie Tis is one
o the times to ldquotry this at homerdquo Wersquore all humanmdashat work and
at home So treat your people as the humans they are and avoid
some predictable expense and diffi culty Lead your organization
to a successul outcome and speed up the process by treating your
staff as customers 1047297rst
Donrsquot make the mistake o glossing over the critical human aspects
o change Hire experts and 1047297nd the emotionally intelligent people in
your organization who want to participate And remember you can
install technology without your people but you canrsquot ully implement
and achieve return on investment without them Consciously choose
to move fear and resistance to trust and adoption Itrsquos a case o pay
now or pay later I you wait until later it will always cost more ech-
nology Adoption is expensive but not as expensive as trying to gloss
it over and then having to undo the damage When ailure happens it
Quoteldquordquo
ldquoNot everything that can be counted counts and not everything thatcounts can be countedrdquo
- Albert Einstein
Quoteldquordquo
ldquordquo
ldquoNot everything that can be counted counts and not everything thatcounts can be countedrdquo
- Albert Einstein
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3739
18 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
takes a long time or people to re-engage And in todayrsquos world this
presents real problems or healthcare organizations aced with short-ages in many proessions Tere is a huge risk o alienating and poten-
tially losing needed staff or in causing long delays We can do better
Not so long ago it wasnrsquot conventional wisdom that clinical application
rollouts are not I projects More frequently than not these were consid-
ered technical projects in which the point of celebration was when con-nection from workstation to central processor was reliable and wireless
access actually worked Te classic I People-Process-echnology trian-
gle never got much past echnology to the real hard work on the People-
Process axis Tat has all changed in the 21st century system implemen-
tations that are both successful and valuable have had people and process
on the front burner
When MemorialCare embarked on a 1047297ve-hospital roll-out of an
EMR in 2002 it had several things in its favor
bull Te technology the organization ultimately acquired was robust and
reliable it worked
bull It had 15 yearsrsquo experience with CPOE (computerized providerorder entry) Terefore although unevenly adopted it was not new
territory
bull It had had the experience of a system-wide roll-out and standard-
ization on a general 1047297nance human resources and materials man-
agement system When all was said and done users had not been
suffi ciently involved standardization fell short because involvement
was low business leadership was diffuse and I ownership was too
high It was judged successful overall but the organization continues
to move slowly forward with an underutilized set of applications
With this experience and the insights of others MemorialCare pri-
oritized engagement of physicians nurses pharmacists and other staffWell before 1047297nancial commitment to a new system was obtained Memo-
rialCare hired a ldquoCare Planning Executiverdquo a person whose full-time
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3839
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 19
activities were devoted to the project 1047297rst to help understand the drivers
of a new system scope out the territory to be covered gain the com-mitment of senior leaders as well as governance and outline the case
for change At my insistence the Care Planning Executive a registered
nurse and former hospital chief operating offi cer joined the organization
reporting to the system-wide CEO as a peer and partner of the CIO not
a staff member and a peer to the CEOs of each medical center campus
Tat dedication alone made clear the commitment intentions and over-
all priority of the company
Among several other critical success factorsmdashand the outcome was
a successmdashwas the overall employee engagement program that the Care
Planning Executive established In summary it was an education mar-
keting and training program dedicated to equipping the affected staffwith the knowledge and tools to embrace unavoidable change Staff com-
munication was clear that it wasnrsquot change for changersquos sake but a major
move forward in the paperless way care would be delivered and work-
1047298ows would be streamlined Of course at the time no one could have
foreseen later moves by government to push everyone in this direction
(with the American Recovery and Reconstruction Act of 2009) Because
of our early efforts wersquore now very well positioned
J Scott Joslyn
CIO
MemorialCareLong Beach California
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3939
About the BookDespite the promise of improving care and other benefits EMR implementations are highly disruptive to the
organization This book prepares you to lead or participate successfully in change managementtechnologyadoption efforts so that meaningful use of EMRs can be achieved The authors provide successful strategies
to plan and implement change The content is based on their decades of combined experience designing
and leading technology adoption programs
Sections of the book deal with establishing a foundation for change building commitment and developing
requisite skill in helping users be successful with technology The book includes numerous lessons learned
tips for success best practices and case studies from organizations that have handled change well
About the AuthorsClaire McCarthy MA is a recognized technology adoption strategist and leader
with 25 years of healthcare industry experience supporting people through softwareimplementations and other large-scale change efforts As Director of Organizational
Effectiveness for Kaiser Permanentersquos enterprise-wide EMR deployment Ms McCarthy
led a national community of practice focused on preparing users to assume new
roles and responsibilities in support of organizational objectives Ms McCarthy
speaks internationally on the topic of technology adoption encouraging healthcare
leaders around the globe to set the stage for benefit realization by investing in the
people side of EMR implementation
Douglas Eastman PhD is an organizational development executive with extensive
experience managing large-scale change initiatives With more than 20 years
of consulting experience Dr Eastmanrsquos focus is to help organizations grow and
manage change by unleashing human potential His specialties are organizationaltransformation technology adoption and optimization process redesign strategic
planning and program and tools development As the Executive Director of Technology
Adoption and Organizational Capability within the Kaiser Permanente IT Care
Delivery Business Information Office Dr Eastman has pioneered several of Kaiserrsquos
implementation readiness toolsmethodologies and post-live optimization strategies
programs adding to the organizationrsquos ability to realize the benefit of its technology
About HIMSS The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) is a comprehensive healthcare-
stakeholder membership organization exclusively focused on providing global leadership for the optimal
use of information technology (IT) and management systems for the betterment of healthcare Founded in
1961 with offices in Chicago Washington DC Brussels Singapore and other locations across the United
States HIMSS represents more than 23000 individual members of which 73 work in patient care delivery
settings HIMSS also includes over 380 corporate members and nearly 30 not-for-profit organizations that
share our mission of transforming healthcare through the effective use of information technology and
management systems HIMSS frames and leads healthcare public policy and industry practices through
its educational professional development and advocacy initiatives designed to promote information and
management systemsrsquo contributions to ensuring quality patient care
ISBN 978-0-9821070-6-5
Order Code 564
230 E Ohio St Suite 500
Chicago IL 60611ndash3270
312-915-9295
www himss org
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 639
ley Regional Medical Center in win Falls Idaho Prior to working in
the healthcare industry Mr Garets spent 13 years in various manage-ment capacities or Aamp
Mr Garets was a course director and served on the aculties o the
College o Healthcare Inormation Management Executives (CHIME)
Inormation Management Executive Courses or 11 years He serves
on the editorial advisory boards o three healthcare inormation tech-
nology journals and magazines and the board o directors o HIMSS
Analytics He is an affi liate proessor at the Medical College o Virginia
at Virginia Commonwealth University
Mr Garets is a HIMSS Fellow and was chair o the HIMSS Board
or 2003-2004 He is an internationally known author and speaker on
inormation technologies strategies benchmarking and the uture ohealthcare Mr Garets has a bachelorrsquos degree in business administra-
tion rom exas ech University
About the Authors v
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 739
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 839
vii
Contents
Foreword by David E Garets FHIMSS ix
Preace by Claire McCarthy MA and Douglas Eastman PhD xi
Acknowledgments xvii
Chapter 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 1
Section 1 LeadershipmdashEstablishing a Foundation for Change 21
Chapter 2 Vision 23
Chapter 3 Sponsorship 37
Chapter 4 Organizational Readiness eam 55
Section 2 WillingnessmdashBuilding Commitment 77
Chapter 5 Stakeholder Management 79
Chapter 6 Communication 95
Section 3 AbilitymdashDeveloping Requisite Skill 109
Chapter 7 raining Strategy 111
Chapter 8 Reinorcement 127
Chapter 9 Implementation Readiness 137
Section 4 Summary 175
Chapter 10 Te Journey 177
Reerences 185
Index 187
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 939
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1039
ix
Foreword
By David E Garets FHIMSS
Electronic medical record (EMR) deployments are not about technol-
ogy Tey are about equipping organizations to reach critical business
objectives by providing people with technical capabilities that make
new things possible and by engaging people in changing their behavior
to effectively use the new capabilities to generate resultsTis book will show you how to create an environment or suc-
cess in your organization to not only ensure that your EMR imple-
mentation effort is successul but that your organization builds change
capacity and 1047298exibility in the process Tis new nimbleness will serve
you well in our world o continual change
De1047297ning change management is as important as understand-
ing what change management is not It isnrsquot project management or
solely process improvement Rather it is a set o speci1047297c disciplines
described in detail in this book that when coordinated and integrated
make the difference between tossing money into an EMR pit (simi-
lar to the ones that we boaters throw our money into) or getting thesought-afer changes in your organization
Chapter 2 on Vision is especially important In it Claire and Doug
explain how leadership paints the picture o what is expected rom
the implementation o an EMR I would argue that it is a process that
involves not only representatives o the ront line and their managers
and the senior executive team but also the board An EMR implemen-
tation done rightmdashmeaning the technology works was implemented
on time and within budget and the people modiy their behavior and
processes to achieve commensurate value or the investmentmdashis more
transormative than anything else a healthcare organization could do
It needs to be driven rom the board Tat way the right people iethe CEO and executive management team are held accountable or the
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1139
x Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
success o this crucial business initiative with an inormation technol-
ogy componentDale Sanders then CIO at the Northwestern Medical Faculty Foun-
dation and now CIO at the Cayman Islandsrsquo Health Services Author-
ity pointed out that ldquoyou need to dedicate the time and resources to
constantly iterate re1047297ne and improve the utilization o the EMR over
time ar beyond its installation and go-live Itrsquos a race without a 1047297n-
ish line rain und and plan accordinglymdashdonrsquot short-change the
investmentrdquo In other words recognize that you are not done at go-
live yoursquove just started achieving technology adoption and changing
behavior to get value rom your EMR investment
Tis book should be required reading or every member o the
executive team in every healthcare organization that is planning toimplement an EMR in the next ew years I was happy to be asked
to review the book and to write the orewordmdashand not or the ame
and ortune It was because I would then have to read it and Irsquom glad
I did I learned an incredible amount about a topic that most o us in
the technology world do not understand well and that is dealing with
people issues Claire and Doug nail it here and I guarantee yoursquoll be
thankul or the knowledge they share
Having said that reading this de1047297nitive work on change man-
agement or EMR implementations is not going to provide you with
enough knowledge on the topic to preclude your engaging or hiring
change management expertise In act just the opposite yoursquoll ullyunderstand why you need to get some help Welcome to the epiphany
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1239
xi
Preface
By Claire McCarthy MA and Douglas Eastman PhD
Tere is much discussion today about implementation o EMR sys-
temsmdashdiscussions that usually include excitement anxiety and
downright dread Tere is also a lot o talk about whether EMRs cre-
ate opportunities or healthcare organizations such as transorming
the way care is delivered reducing medical errors increasing internaleffi ciencies or clinical and administrative users improving revenue
capture and providing a host o other critical bene1047297ts Te promise
(some would say antasy) is big
But above all an EMR implementation is disruptive Te process
can realistically be equated to a tornado whipping through an organi-
zation and lie as you once knew it is turned upside down and the new
processes expectations priorities roles and methods overwhelm the
workplace
Our intent in writing this book is to assist others who may be
struggling with many o the same issues we have addressed By sharing
lessons rom our numerous 1047297rsthand sofware implementation expe-riences we will equip you with successul practices and prepare you
to lead or participate effectively in change managementtechnology
adoption efforts so that meaningul use can be achieved
Te primary audience o this book is everyone who leads or is
directly involved in the people-ocused change managementtech-
nology adoption efforts o an EMR implementation Our secondary
audience is everyone else who has a stake in the usersrsquo willingness and
ability to change behavior so the potential o the technology can be
realized So whether you are actively engaged in change management
technology adoption work or your support and advocacy o change
managementtechnology adoption is neededmdashthis book is or youRegardless o your speci1047297c role (executive middle-management
ront-line supervisor physician nurse medical assistant I proes-
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1339
xii Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
sional consultant or other stakeholder in the success o an EMR
implementation) our hope is that you will gain an appreciation orthe importance o users and the effort required to ensure operational
success Tis book emphasizes effective ways to plan and implement
change Te content is based on decades o combined experience man-
aging the people side o sofware implementations in healthcare
It is important to point out however that this book is not meant to
be a course on change managementtechnology adoption Our intent
is not to review existing research or current academic models and the-
ories but rather to share the insights and lessons we have learned in
delivering sustainable results and healthy organizational change over
the years
For technically-oriented project leads the success o an EMRimplementation tends to ocus too heavily on ldquoscrewing in the sys-
temrdquo on time and on budget But as important as it is getting the
EMR technology up and running should not be the primary ocus
Equal emphasis must be placed on how the new technology will be
embraced utilized and leveraged to realize a return on this signi1047297-
cant investment Flipping the switch and turning the technology on is
merely hal o the game
We believe the promise o an EMR implementation is great with
potentially signi1047297cant returns or the patient user organization and
or the industry as a whole When we hear words such as electronic
computerized and automated it sounds as i lie will be made easier andbecome more organized and effi cient However healthcare organiza-
tions do not always think about the critical steps involved in making
these hopes a reality Tis is due in large part because managing the
people side o an implementation and developing and installing major
technology require different skills sets Neither side o the coin is nec-
essarily more important but they both must be seen as equally signi1047297-
cant Te role in managing the people side o an implementation rarely
1047297ts neatly into how technically-ocused projects have historically been
measured and this creates a scenario in which the people side is ofen
misunderstood discounted and worst case ignored altogether Con-
sider the difference between what it takes to install the system (a tech-nology ocus) and what it takes to get the desired outcomes (a ocus on
people doing things differently)
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1439
Preace xiii
Te management o ambiguity resistance and user motivation is
admittedly hard to measure and unortunately involves methods thatare not always easily checked off a list Te process is more 1047298uid and
organic than linear At times it is unpredictable requiring rethink-
ing and course corrections Afer all we are dealing with people Not
everything is clear cut Donrsquot believe anyone who tells you it is
People come with different backgrounds rames o reerence
experience with technology comort with change or ambiguity trust
in leadership and so orth Whatever the mix o scenarios users never
start rom the same placemdashand they move through the change pro-
cess at different speeds meaning they continue to be in different places
throughout the project Te good news is that users do grow and develop
over the course o the project and many eventually accept things theywouldnrsquot agree to at 1047297rst But they require understandingmdashtheir ears
needs hopes and their reactions to the challenges that impact their
ability to perorm A sound comprehensive people strategy that cre-
ates an environment in which they can succeed is essential
I the goal o your EMR implementation is to achieve sustainable
results growth or organizational transormation then a substantial
investment in people must be central to your overall implementation
strategy Afer all it is the user who makes or breaks your EMR imple-
mentation and ultimately determines the amount o return the organi-
zation will realize Te better prepared people are or the change and
the less they see it as threatening the aster they will deliver value
Quoteldquordquo
ldquoMan is still the most extraordinary computer of allrdquo
- John F Kennedy
Quoteldquordquo
ldquordquo
ldquoMan is still the most extraordinary computer of allrdquo
- John F Kennedy
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1539
xiv Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
HOW HE BOOK IS SRUCURED
Preparing an organization or a successul EMR implementationinvolves a big picture approach that takes into account all the actors
that in1047298uence behavior change Te idea is to establish an organiza-
tional contextmdasha culture in which desired behavior is supported and
reinorced through a variety o methodsmdashcreating a learning organiza-
tion that grows to achieve its vision priorities and goals In this book
we present an Implementation Readiness Model and discuss each ac-
tor involved in ensuring the organization and users are ully prepared
to realize the potential o the new technology
Tis book is organized in a simple ashion First we make the busi-
ness argument or change managementtechnology adoption explain-
ing why technology implementations will not deliver bene1047297ts without
a signi1047297cant ocus on users Next we discuss two critical success ac-
tors in any large-scale change management effortmdasha clear vision and
effective leadership
Ten we argue or the development o a cross-unctional team
o representatives rom key areas within the organization the Orga-
nizational Readiness eam (OR) and introduce a pragmatic model
that outlines the scope o complexity and work that the OR man-
ages throughout the project lie cycle Tis establishes a oundation
or subsequent chapters in which each provides urther detail about
the inter-relationship o work involved to effectively drive sustain-
able change Tese chapters dig deeper into lessons learned and best
practices related to stakeholder management communication train-
ing strategy and reinorcement as all must be aligned to successully
satisy the end goal o a meaningul implementation
Finally the Implementation Readiness chapter shows how the
prior chapters serve as building blocks to ormulate a comprehensive
and powerul Implementation Readiness Program aimed at securing
ready users who are engaged and prepared or the transitional changes
ahead in the world o an EMR Te book ends with a discussion o
our key lessons learned and insights regarding the overall journey Pay
particular attention to some o the larger challenges related to an EMR
implementation as these scenarios have proven to have a signi1047297cant
impact on an organizationrsquos speed and ability to position itsel or ben-
e1047297ts realization
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1639
Preace xv
It is important to stress that ocusing on just one actor o imple-
mentation readiness is not suffi cient to drive organizational changeand sustainable results Each chapter describes an individual actor in
detail and provides lessons and useul examples tools and other bits
o inormation intended to help you succeed in preparing your orga-
nization or a successul EMR implementation But the real purpose
o the book is to raise awareness o how all actors work in concert to
in1047298uence desired change associated with an EMR implementation Te
actors work best as an integrated whole overlapping and reinorcing
each other Tey typically have separate leadership but whether or-
mally integrated or not they are pieces o one picture
Like other books you can jump to any chapter o interest at any
point However we strongly encourage you to read the book cover tocover 1047297rst to gain an understanding o the end-to-end process and how
each actor contributes to overall success A strategy that accounts or
all actors is more effective than just one intervention or multiple dis-
connected interventions In this case the sum is de1047297nitely greater than
all o its individual parts
We speak to you in a conversational and straightorward man-
ner to make this rather diffi cult side o an EMR implementation more
approachable We hope you will 1047297nd our insights valuable and will
leverage this book as your implementation reerence guide It will ur-
ther your cause i all stakeholders accountable or a successul launch
in your organization have a common ramework or approaching the
collective end goal We certainly wish wersquod had a book like this years
ago to guide us through the mine1047297eld o sofware implementationsFinally we hope you enjoy the process o supporting people
through the transition to the world o EMRs Tere is something very
Quoteldquordquo
ldquoExperience is a hard teacher because she gives
the test first the lessons afterwardsrdquo
- Vernon Law
Quoteldquordquo
ldquordquo
ldquoExperience is a hard teacher because she gives
the test first the lessons afterwardsrdquo
- Vernon Law
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1739
xvi Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
rewarding about seeing people who were earul and resistant even
in tears and thinking seriously o quitting eel the pride o accom-plishment when they succeed Each person who stays the course and
becomes a contributing member o the electronically enabled organi-
zation represents untold cost avoidance Knowledge and talent stay in
the organization replacement costs are avoided relationships are pre-
served and critical staff shortages are reduced echnology adoption is
truly a contribution to the bottom line
In the words o one o our grandathers ldquoPeople change when
theyrsquore damned good and ready and not beorerdquo Wersquore here to get
them ready
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1839
xvii
Acknowledgments
Te authors would like to thank the ollowing individuals or sharing
their expertise and experiences or this book
Saaa Al-Haddad MD
Internal Medicine
University Hospitals
Cleveland Ohio
Ronnie D Bower Jr MA
Manager Change Management
BayCare Health System
ampa Florida
Nabil Chehade MD MSBS
CPC
Director Medical Inormatics
Regional Chie o Urology
KP HealthConnect RegionalPhysician Lead
Kaiser Permanente Medical
Group
Cleveland Ohio
Kenneth Goodman MD
Associate Director Center
or Continuing Medical
Education
Department o Family Medicine
Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland Ohio
Marie Hamilton RN
Kaiser Permanente
Oregon Federation o Nurses
and Health ProessionalsHealthcare Inormation
echnology Committee
AF Healthcare
Portland Oregon
Lindsey P Jarrell FACHE
Senior Vice President amp CIO
BayCare Health System
ampa Florida
J Scott JoslynCIO
MemorialCare
Long Beach Caliornia
Margaret M Rudoph PhD
Consultant
Vancouver British Columbia
Canada
om Smith
CIO
NorthShore University Health
System
Evanston Illinois
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1939
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2039
1
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 983089
Te Business Case forChange Management
ldquoWersquore not in Kansas anymorehelliprdquo
In the introduction an EMR implementation is compared to a tornado
in that it whips through an organization turning lie upside down and
throwing users into a world 1047297lled with new ways o doing things and
seeking ways to recapture some sense o balance and control EMR
technology disrupts the status quo and along with the many opportu-
nities it promises it also brings a whirlwind o seemingly never-ending
changes which can have an entirely different effect on different people
While an implementation that is effectively managed even brings these
challenges a poor implementation can be disastrous and will cost the
organization much more time energy and money to get things back
on track
Dorothy the character rom the movie Te Wizard of Oz held
her composure pretty well through the tornado that ripped her rom
a calm stable lie on the arm and threw her into a oreign world She
was able to manage through the obstacles and challenges and stay the
course as she ollowed the yellow brick road in search o the wizard
Some say this is similar to the experience users have except or the
part when Dorothy wakes up rom her dream and 1047297nds hersel back
home as she remembers itEMR implementations donrsquot have to be nightmarish or users but
there certainly will be obstacles and challenges along the way Te key is
to help users through the road blocks and enable them to experience a
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2139
2 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
positive journey Tis process is always easier when people know what
they are getting into eel supported and are prepared or what liesahead both good and bad Tis is the role o change management
CHANGE MANAGEMEN DEFINED
Itrsquos important to understand why you should make an investment in
the people side o the projectmdashbringing in the best technology pos-
sible doesnrsquot mean anything unless users are comortable and pro1047297-
cient in its use Te truth is just because you build it doesnrsquot mean they
will come
Letrsquos start by answering the two questions we are most ofen asked
ldquoWhat is change management anyway What is it change managers
dordquoo avoid conusion wersquoll say up ront we are not talking about
change management as it relates to technical issues such as version or
change control We also want to be clear that change management is
not project management What we are talking about is the human side
o electronic medical records implementations the human-ocused
work o engaging and preparing people to succeed in the new world
o EMRs
A word about project management while good project manage-
ment acilitates change management the two disciplines are not the
same Project management is much more linear and task-ocused
whereas change management deals with the complexities o human
behavior But a good project plan creates a structure and a ounda-
tion in which the change management process can occur Tereore
the two disciplines though different complement and support each
other
A word o caution do not conuse the project plan with the end
result Te plan is necessary and it guides you throughout the process
Te plan is proactive itrsquos the order in the chaos But technology adop-
tion is kind o like herding cats itrsquos unpredictable and you need to
maintain 1047298exibility to respond as things evolve Tis is a more reactive
process than what may be expressed in a plan In our experience an
EMR implementation requires both structure and 1047298exibility
Tere is a saying in change management circles When one door
closes another one opens but sometimes itrsquos hell in the hallway Change
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2239
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 3
management deals mostly with the hallway situation acilitating the
human transition rom the present to the uture Tese days change isongoing and requires ocused leadership i it is to be as ast and pain-
less as possible
Te three legs o the project stool represent the critical compo-nents o an implementation (Figure 1-1)mdashPeople Process and ech-
nology Te people are the most important When technology projects
ail it is primarily due to a lack o use and not a ailure o the sof-
ware Te ocus o change management is people and the objective is
to change behavior Tis is good or business because it accelerates the
change process so bene1047297ts are achieved aster Change management
is not about being nice or placing an emphasis on eelings Itrsquos about
perormance improvement and results
I you search the literature you will 1047297nd a variety o de1047297nitions o
human-ocused change management Tey all cover similar concepts
sometimes using different terminology Te simplest explanation ochange management is to say ldquoItrsquos all about the peoplerdquo But or the
purposes o this book we expand on that concept and use the ollow-
ing de1047297nition o change management
bull A structured process designed to deal directly and intentionally
with the human actors involved in not just planning and imple-
menting an EMR but through behavior change achieving the
anticipated bene1047297ts that justi1047297ed the project in the 1047297rst place
bull Desired behavior change is achieved by helping people understand
and internalize change and by preparing them to be successul
contributors in the uture state In the case o EMR implementa-
tions effective change management delivers users who are willingand able to use an EMR in a way that satis1047297es the requirements o
the job the needs o the patient and the health o the organization
Key Tip
Our assumption is that the software you are implementing
works If the software doesnrsquot work you have another kind of
problem one that even the best change management wonrsquot
resolve
Key Tip
Our assumption is that the software you are implementing
works If the software doesnrsquot work you have another kind of
problemmdashone that even the best change management wonrsquot
resolve
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2339
4 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
Well-designed integrated people-ocused work builds logically
over time in a way that makes sense to the user It brings users along
guiding and supporting them so they arrive at where you want them
to be Tis is about willingness and ability hearts and minds You must
have both
Te overarching purpose o change management is to acceleratethe speed at which people move successfully through the change
process so that anticipated bene1047297ts are achieved faster And there
are additional bene1047297ts to change management Trough optimizing
the effi ciency and effi cacy o users an effective EMR change manage-
ment program will also
bull Improve organizational outcomes and perormance (effective use
o the system generates value to patients and the organization)
bull Enhance employee satisaction morale and engagement (when
people learn new skills meet perormance expectations and con-
tribute to a greater good they eel pride in their accomplishments)
bull Improve service quality (users eel valued and supported by anorganization that makes an investment in them this positively
impacts how they treat patients)
Figure 1-1 The Three-legged Stool
Technology
People Process
Technology
People Process
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2439
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 5
bull Help achieve hoped-or bene1047297ts (bene1047297ts that include EMR value
realization reduction o errors return on investment)bull Create higher levels o openness trust involvement and teamwork
(develop an engaged workorce)
bull Build change capability and capacity in the organization resulting
in improved ability to respond quickly and effectively to new situa-
tions (create organizational nimbleness through embedded change
management knowledge structure and process)
In other words it really is all about the people Intentionally man-
aging the cultural behavioral and organizational changes that need
to take place to make the desired EMR uture not only a reality but
a sustainable reality pays off on many levels in that it also acilitates
organizational transormation Building on individual capability andorganizational capacity change management results in a change-
capable culturemdasha huge advantage in todayrsquos competitive and ast-
changing world
Change Management echnology AdoptionmdashWhatrsquos the Difference
Tere are a number o terms that people use to reer to the work
involved in managing the people side o a change effort We think o
change management as the mother ship that is the umbrella term that
embraces all specialties within the 1047297eld Similar to the various special-
ties or domains o service within a healthcare system change man-agement proessionals may choose speci1047297c areas o ocus echnology
adoption speci1047297cally inormation technology (I) is one such area
and it involves the application o change management principles to the
implementation o I Te focus of this book is technology adoption
and we will mostly use this term instead of change management
throughout the rest of the book
Effective technology adoption proessionals align themselves with
the operationalbusiness side o the organization and tailor solutions
that drive behavioral change and tangible outcomes Tey participate in
EMR implementation projects rom the beginning driving the people
side o change throughout and continuing to add value post-live as theEMR becomes part o the central nervous system o the organization
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2539
6 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
HE IMPORANCE OF HE PEOPLE SIDE
OF AN EMR IMPLEMENAIONTere are many reerences in the literature to ailed change efforts and
I implementations Estimates are that only one third o these projects
achieve success which means two thirds ail to meet expectations Te
good news is that ailure is optional as much has been learned about
why some change efforts ail and others succeed
Herersquos the issue while the change that is going to occur is an exter-
nal eventmdashthe EMR implementation a reorganization proposed out-
sourcing a promotion etcmdashthe transition rom old to new that those
who are impacted experience is a psychological and emotional pro-
cess It is this transition that is diffi cultmdasheven when a change is sel-
imposed or considered positive
In the words o William Bridges a key thought leader in manage-
ment o transitions ldquoIt isnrsquot the changes that do you in itrsquos the transi-
tion afer the change that doesrdquo1
For an implementation team part o the problem encountered
during transition is that change is messy people start where they are
not where we want them to be And when considering the personnel
within a typical hospital people can be all over the place in terms o
comort with computers stage in lie commitment to the organiza-
tion ear o change etc Add to this the act that or change to be suc-
cessul three things must occur People
bull Must let go o their current reality have an ending
bull Go through a conused period in-between (hell in the hallway)
bull Only then can have a new beginning 1
o take this a step urther while I consultants want to install the
system and make enhancements the users will ultimately determine
how the system is used Tis use is affected by human not technical
actors
bull Different rames o reerence backgrounds experiences with
technology
bull Organizational history and experience with other large-scale
change projects
bull Levels o resistance ear ability to deal with ambiguity
bull Degree o alignment o ldquoWhatrsquos in it or merdquo or the various stake-
holder groups
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2639
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 7
bull Ineffi ciencies uncovered because the system creates transparency
bull Workarounds that become quickly entrenchedbull Pressure to get through the day can override doing what is right
bull User worklie balance issues coming into play rom the very
beginning
All o these actors create problems or implementation teams that
just want to install technology How do you effectively address the
people issues Or is it easier to just install the technology and assume
that people will learn because they have to use it Some on the imple-
mentation team may alsely assume that users o an EMR system will
snap into place over time and do what is right or the organization
Tis thinking is a oolrsquos paradise
In the oreword to this book Dave Garets made the point that EMRdeployments are not about technology but about equipping organiza-
tions to reach critical business objectives by providing employees with
technical capabilities that make new things possible and by engaging
them in changing their behavior to effectively use the new capabilities
to generate desired results
With all due respect to the technical side o an EMR implemen-
tation installing the technology is only hal the battle Tis is not to
degrade the importance o the technology Te act that we spend a lot
o money researching technology acquiring it con1047297guring it install-
ing it and supporting it speaks to its importance I we werenrsquot imple-
menting EMRs we wouldnrsquot even be having a discussion about EMR-related change management
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2739
8 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
But implementation o the technology is just a 1047297rst and very nec-
essary stepmdashbecause in and o itsel the technology does not generate
value Te technology is necessary but not suffi cient or bene1047297t realiza-
tion to occur o create value requires people and this is why change
management is so important oo much o a ocus on technology even
in the early stages will create issues downstream And even with the
best technology i not used effi ciently hoped-or bene1047297ts will be tough
to achieve
CIO Perspective
ldquoDuring my masters program I took an Organization Development
class that really opened my eyes to peoplesrsquo needs during large-scale
change Since the OD class I have been very interested in what makes
people tick and why people react in different ways to the same
environment No matter how good of an idea a large-scale technology
implementation is we will always have early adopters average adopters
and laggards As leaders within large organizations we have a
responsibility to plan for and respect all types of technology adopters
Ultimately the people who work within in our organizations want a positive
human experience when they are at work
Utilizing a change management methodology enables the implementation
and leadership teams to provide a positive experience during the period of
significant change By utilizing a solid change management methodologythe organization promotes team communication a safer environment for
the patient a work environment that promotes trust and an environment
where people are allowed to talk about the fear of change All of this
promotes a better human experience and a much stronger work force
hellip An effective change management program has meant the difference
between good go-lives and great go-lives at our 10 hospitalsrdquo
Lindsey P Jarrell FACHE
SVP amp CIO
BayCare Health System
Clearwater FL
CIO Perspective
During my masters program I took an Organization Development
class that really opened my eyes to peoplesrsquo needs during large-scale
change Since the OD class I have been very interested in what makes
people tick and why people react in different ways to the same
environment No matter how good of an idea a large-scale technology
implementation is we will always have early adopters average adopters
and laggards As leaders within large organizations we have a
responsibility to plan for and respect all types of technology adopters
Ultimately the people who work within in our organizations want a positive
human experience when they are at work
Utilizing a change management methodology enables the implementation
and leadership teams to provide a positive experience during the period of
significant change By utilizing a solid change management methodologythe organization promotes team communication a safer environment for
the patient a work environment that promotes trust and an environment
where people are allowed to talk about the fear of change All of this
promotes a better human experience and a much stronger work force
hellip An effective change management program has meant the difference
between good go-lives and great go-lives at our 10 hospitals
Lindsey P Jarrell FACHE
SVP amp CIO
BayCare Health System
Clearwater FL
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2839
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 9
Remember that change is a personal experience It is also local and
individual And itrsquos hardmdasheven when itrsquos sel-imposed and positive
Tere are no shortcuts People have to go through the process o change
in much the same way that we move through the stages o grie2 It canrsquot
be avoided or skipped You can measure twice and cut once or you
can cut now and then do costly remediation later Either way you canrsquot
avoid the expense or time required or real change to occur
SYSEMS PERSPECIVE
Experienced technology adoption proessionals embrace a systems
perspective when given the assignment to drive perormance man-
age perceptions and increase the utilization o new and existing tech-
nology A systems approach is the ability to see the big picture and
address the interrelationships among the variables within the abric o
CIO Perspective
ldquoIrsquove been in healthcare IT a long time and I now realize itrsquos
all about change management What was considered soft is
now hard We know so much more about how to install
technologymdashItrsquos the people part we donrsquot know well yet
and so itrsquos hardrdquo
Scott Joslyn
CIO
MemorialCare
Long Beach CA
CIO Perspective
Irsquove been in healthcare IT a long time and I now realize itrsquos
all about change management What was considered soft is
now hard We know so much more about how to install
technologymdashitrsquos the people part we donrsquot know well yet
and so itrsquos hard
J Scott Joslyn
CIO
MemorialCare
Long Beach CA
Quoteldquordquo
ldquoNo man can think clearly when his fists are clenchedrdquo
- George Jean Nathan
Quoteldquordquo
ldquordquo
ldquoNo man can think clearly when his fists are clenchedrdquo
- George Jean Nathan
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2939
10 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
the organization and in1047298uence the combined impact these variables
have on organizational effectiveness As each variable has the powerto in1047298uence the outcome o any intervention behavior change is ofen
not sustainable because variables tend to work against one another
Effective technology adoption strategies account or this interrelation-
shipinterdependency and aim to bring these variables into alignment
as a means or driving sustainable results
Figure 1-2 introduces the Organizational Fabric Model which
highlights the six primary threads (or variables) that are interwoven
in the abric (or culture) o an organization Te model suggests that
all six threads must work in concert to successully shape the organi-
zational abric A well-woven technology adoption plan strategically
manipulates these threads to in1047298uence desired change A poorly wovenplan in which a thread or combination o threads is not accounted
or leads to disaster or by way o analogy will hit a snag down the
road Depending on the 1047298exibility and durability o this abric a snag
can result in a huge hole that detracts rom the overall strength o the
intervention Te intent o the Organizational Fabric Model is to stress
how important it is to understand the uture state recognize how each
variable or combination o variables will come into play and develop a
sound technology adoption program that appropriately in1047298uences this
set o variables to reshape the abric or culture so desired change can
actually take place
Te Organizational Fabric Model will be revisited in subsequent
chapters as each thread or variable is explored in urther detail For
now we reiterate that technology adoption strategies must not rely
on only one or two threads to drive behavior change Sustainable out-
comes result rom an organizationrsquos ability to leverage the combination
o all six threads working in concert to create an environment orsuccess
Key Point
Fundamentally culture is ldquothe way we do things around hererdquo
Key Point
Fundamentally culture is ldquothe way we do things around hererdquo
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3039
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 11
CREAING AN ENVIRONMEN FOR SUCCESS
echnology adoption is about creating a context an environment in
which change can be achieved and sustained over the long term Tis
involves two levelsmdashorganizational and individual
With an EMR implementation the organization must create thesupporting environment provide needed training and resources
articulate a clear direction coupled with clear expectations engage its
people include them in the process and reinorce desired new behav-
iors Tis is not about checking things off a list but rather about 1047297nd-
ing synergy among impacted groups giving them what they need and
coordinating efforts to meet the end goal Itrsquos an ongoing effort
o give you an idea o what we are talking about herersquos an exam-
ple o an individual situation occurring within a social context Tink
about what happens when you want to make a signi1047297cant change in
your personal liemdashquit smoking stop drinking lose weight Itrsquos one
thing to talk with a doctor or another proessional about what needsto happen when yoursquore in their offi ce but once you leave the offi ce
you then return to your social reality I your riends and amily donrsquot
want your behavior to change you will have a tough time All the rein-
Figure 1-2 Organizational Fabric Model
Sponsorship
Stakeholder Mgmt
Training
Vision
Reinforcement
Communications
Sponsorship
Stakeholder Mgmt
Training
Vision
Reinforcement
Communications
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3139
12 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
orcements and temptations will conspire to prevent you rom mak-
ing changes But i you can get some important people in your lieto make the changes with you or at least support you in the process
you have a much greater chance o success Te lesson is donrsquot send a
changed person back into an unchanged environment if you want
to see behavior change
Engaging individuals involves arousing two key aspects mdashwilling-
ness and ability Te organization must in1047298uence both in order to suc-
ceed With the help o the Skill Versus Will Matrix (Figure 1-3) think
about it this way
bull When people want to do something but donrsquot know how they canrsquot
(willingunable)
bull When people know how but donrsquot want to they wonrsquot(ableunwilling)
Can you think o examples in your own lie when you have been in
either o these situations
Consider the circumstance o people who know how to do some-
thing but donrsquot want to do it Tis is a ldquowillrdquo not a ldquoskillrdquo issue and it is
a very common technology adoption dilemma I the amount o work
and effort involved are not perceived by the user as being equal to the
Figure 1-3 The Skill versus Will Matrix
Skill
Will
WONrsquoT
WONrsquoT
DOES
CANrsquoTLow
High
HighLow
Skill
Will
WONrsquoT
WONrsquoT
DOES
CANrsquoTLow
High
HighLow HighLow
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3239
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 13
return or value experienced through the implementation the user will
most likely choose to reduce the effort A goal o an effective people-ocused strategy is to identiy potential areas o disconnect and 1047297nd
ways to increase the perceived value to users Te assumption is that
when the return is perceived to be greater the effort increases When
there are no incentives to try harder it may be diffi cult to drive desired
behavior change
Te point in getting users to actively support the deployment o
an EMR is about a lot more than a communication plan or eature
unction training Managing the people side o an EMR implementa-
tion requires a savvy technology adoption plan that ties sponsorship
training communication work1047298ow harmonization user support and
reinorcement with the business priorities o the organization andeffectively coordinates all o these activities with the user in mindmdashin
an environment that reinorces desired behavior changes
Key Questions
Two key questions to remember throughout the
project arehellip
(1) How will this decision impact the user
(2) How might it impact patients
Key Questions
Two key questions to remember throughout the
project are
(1) How will this decision impact the user
(2) How might it impact patients
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3339
14 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
Consider this example
In this example what are the key elements o this process that
ensure success
bull Te picture of success the desired outcome is clearmdashit is or the
child to become a unctioning adult in the community
bull How this happens is clearly de1047297ned in behavioral terms Tere is a
process that is known and understood by the entire community
including children
bull Leaders at all levels in the community agree on the desired out-
come support the entire process and actively ful1047297ll their roles to ensure success Leaders include village elders and ormal lead-
ers parents o the children inormal opinion leaders and amily
members
bull Te children who are about to become adults take an active role
in their own transormation taking responsibility or their suc-
cess Tey receive guidance and counsel rom elders Tey know
and understand the transormation process and what they must do
to achieve their new status Goals and steps are clear Tey also
understand the consequences o not successully transitioning to
adulthood
bull I there is more than one child slated to go through transormationto adulthood at the same time they are a peer group and as appro-
priate prepare together and support each other
Key Point
In native cultures there tend to be rites of passage that serve
to transition a person from childhood to adult status in the
community The child may actually leave the village for a day or
two of contemplation following a prescribed process When the
child returns he or she is redefined as an adult and assumes
the consequent privileges and responsibilities The entire
community reinforces the personrsquos new status the new adult is
not allowed to return to being a child whenever itrsquos convenient
but is supported to complete the transformation to adulthood
The change to adulthood does not happen in a vacuum but is
part of a carefully designed process that ensures success
Key Point
In native cultures there tend to be rites of passage that serve
to transition a person from childhood to adult status in the
community The child may actually leave the village for a day or
two of contemplation following a prescribed process When the
child returns he or she is redefined as an adult and assumes
the consequent privileges and responsibilities The entire
community reinforces the personrsquos new status the new adult is
not allowed to return to being a child whenever itrsquos convenient
but is supported to complete the transformation to adulthood
The change to adulthood does not happen in a vacuum but is
part of a carefully designed process that ensures success
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3439
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 15
bull Te entire community works together to bring about the
transormationbull Success results in positive reinforcement
Te environmental context is the trump card in any implementerrsquos
hand It takes a lot o work to create a suitable environment but it is an
essential ingredient in being able to drive and sustain change
Willingness and Ability
Earlier we mentioned willingness and ability as key concepts in tech-
nology adoption Willingness and ability can also be thought o as
hearts and minds or will and skill Te point is the same regardless
o the terms used People need to be supported on both an emotional
level to commit and on an intellectual level to be able Te questionto be answered is ldquoWhat are the conditions under which users will
accept and adopt the EMRrdquo
Letrsquos talk about willingness 1047297rst
Willingness or hearts is the commitment to go orward Tis is
impacted by many things including the ollowing elements
bull Leadership Perceived support or lack o support or the change
rom senior executives in the company the cascade o sponsors
down through the organization and just as importantly rom the
employeersquos direct supervisor
bull Communication Quality and requency o verbal and written
messages that describe the desired uture state tell why the changeneeds to happen and what will happen i change isnrsquot made set
clear expectations explain how the company will prepare and sup-
port people to success and describe local details such as timelines
etc
bull Reinforcement Degree o appropriateness and timeliness o
rewards or demonstrating desired new behaviors and conse-
quences or sticking to the old ways
bull Participation Degree to which users are involved every step o
the way either directly as individuals or indirectly by being effec-
tively represented by trusted local opinion leader peers who serve
as liaisons between users and the project teambull Organizational History with Change Previous organizational
experience with changemdashgood and badmdashwill in1047298uence user per-
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3539
16 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
ceptions and expectations o the EMR implementation Under-
standing the past is important in planning or the utureTis all sounds logical but the reaction to it can be emotional Tis
is where people conront their ear o ailure eeling stupid making
mistakes etc Remember that the change may require people to give
up the very things that they believe made them successul in the past
Tis can be a diffi cult sell
Ability or minds is about the actual capability to successully
meet new job expectations Tis is impacted by many things including
the ollowing elements
bull raining and Support In most cases the new EMR abilities must
be learned An effective training program that is role-based and
intentionally ocused on preparing people to perorm new jobexpectations is key Just discussing desired outcomes is not enough
though we have to clearly tell people what we want them to do
Tis requires an intellectual understanding o what and how a
conceptual understanding is necessary but not suffi cient Most
people need to practice something new to develop competence and
con1047297dence Sae opportunities to practice preerably with immedi-
ate eedback are very important to pro1047297ciency development and
sustainability
Getting people to move in the direction you want is the diffi -
cultymdashsome say the hardest part o the whole project And i you agree
that people are the oundation o successmdashthat bene1047297t realization isdependant not on technology but on people agreeing to go through
personal disruption learn new things change established patterns and
conront their earsmdashthen we must be proactive and courageous in
addressing the human issues
Tis is the people side o the project Tis is the organizational read-
iness unction It involves collaboration coordination and sequencing
o activities inormation and events rom all people-ocused areas Te
idea is to have all the people-ocused unctions working together to
reach clearly de1047297ned shared outcomes Te organizational readiness
plan to create individual and organizational readiness is the umbrella
that connects it allmdashthe glue that holds it together and the grease thatmakes it workmdashor the user We will address the structure and process
or doing this in more detail in subsequent chapters
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3639
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 17
Good News on wo Fronts
1 Tere is a social science Tere is a body o work research andsubsequent publications about the human experience with change
Tere are proven change management strategies tools and tech-
niques Tis isnrsquot olklore hooey or black magic Te transition
process is known and predictable Tere is a change curve that
describes the steps (Chapter 5 Stakeholder Management) And
though there is no silver bullet it isnrsquot rocket science Senior
healthcare executives must take the emerging proession o change
managementtechnology adoption seriously Not understanding it
is no excuse or ignoring it Tat is ar too expensive an option
2 All people go through transition when changemdashgood or badmdash
happens in both their personal and proessional lie You canrsquot
avoid it Te wonderul thing is i you learn about change and
transition at work it will improve your personal lie Tis is one
o the times to ldquotry this at homerdquo Wersquore all humanmdashat work and
at home So treat your people as the humans they are and avoid
some predictable expense and diffi culty Lead your organization
to a successul outcome and speed up the process by treating your
staff as customers 1047297rst
Donrsquot make the mistake o glossing over the critical human aspects
o change Hire experts and 1047297nd the emotionally intelligent people in
your organization who want to participate And remember you can
install technology without your people but you canrsquot ully implement
and achieve return on investment without them Consciously choose
to move fear and resistance to trust and adoption Itrsquos a case o pay
now or pay later I you wait until later it will always cost more ech-
nology Adoption is expensive but not as expensive as trying to gloss
it over and then having to undo the damage When ailure happens it
Quoteldquordquo
ldquoNot everything that can be counted counts and not everything thatcounts can be countedrdquo
- Albert Einstein
Quoteldquordquo
ldquordquo
ldquoNot everything that can be counted counts and not everything thatcounts can be countedrdquo
- Albert Einstein
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3739
18 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
takes a long time or people to re-engage And in todayrsquos world this
presents real problems or healthcare organizations aced with short-ages in many proessions Tere is a huge risk o alienating and poten-
tially losing needed staff or in causing long delays We can do better
Not so long ago it wasnrsquot conventional wisdom that clinical application
rollouts are not I projects More frequently than not these were consid-
ered technical projects in which the point of celebration was when con-nection from workstation to central processor was reliable and wireless
access actually worked Te classic I People-Process-echnology trian-
gle never got much past echnology to the real hard work on the People-
Process axis Tat has all changed in the 21st century system implemen-
tations that are both successful and valuable have had people and process
on the front burner
When MemorialCare embarked on a 1047297ve-hospital roll-out of an
EMR in 2002 it had several things in its favor
bull Te technology the organization ultimately acquired was robust and
reliable it worked
bull It had 15 yearsrsquo experience with CPOE (computerized providerorder entry) Terefore although unevenly adopted it was not new
territory
bull It had had the experience of a system-wide roll-out and standard-
ization on a general 1047297nance human resources and materials man-
agement system When all was said and done users had not been
suffi ciently involved standardization fell short because involvement
was low business leadership was diffuse and I ownership was too
high It was judged successful overall but the organization continues
to move slowly forward with an underutilized set of applications
With this experience and the insights of others MemorialCare pri-
oritized engagement of physicians nurses pharmacists and other staffWell before 1047297nancial commitment to a new system was obtained Memo-
rialCare hired a ldquoCare Planning Executiverdquo a person whose full-time
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3839
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 19
activities were devoted to the project 1047297rst to help understand the drivers
of a new system scope out the territory to be covered gain the com-mitment of senior leaders as well as governance and outline the case
for change At my insistence the Care Planning Executive a registered
nurse and former hospital chief operating offi cer joined the organization
reporting to the system-wide CEO as a peer and partner of the CIO not
a staff member and a peer to the CEOs of each medical center campus
Tat dedication alone made clear the commitment intentions and over-
all priority of the company
Among several other critical success factorsmdashand the outcome was
a successmdashwas the overall employee engagement program that the Care
Planning Executive established In summary it was an education mar-
keting and training program dedicated to equipping the affected staffwith the knowledge and tools to embrace unavoidable change Staff com-
munication was clear that it wasnrsquot change for changersquos sake but a major
move forward in the paperless way care would be delivered and work-
1047298ows would be streamlined Of course at the time no one could have
foreseen later moves by government to push everyone in this direction
(with the American Recovery and Reconstruction Act of 2009) Because
of our early efforts wersquore now very well positioned
J Scott Joslyn
CIO
MemorialCareLong Beach California
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3939
About the BookDespite the promise of improving care and other benefits EMR implementations are highly disruptive to the
organization This book prepares you to lead or participate successfully in change managementtechnologyadoption efforts so that meaningful use of EMRs can be achieved The authors provide successful strategies
to plan and implement change The content is based on their decades of combined experience designing
and leading technology adoption programs
Sections of the book deal with establishing a foundation for change building commitment and developing
requisite skill in helping users be successful with technology The book includes numerous lessons learned
tips for success best practices and case studies from organizations that have handled change well
About the AuthorsClaire McCarthy MA is a recognized technology adoption strategist and leader
with 25 years of healthcare industry experience supporting people through softwareimplementations and other large-scale change efforts As Director of Organizational
Effectiveness for Kaiser Permanentersquos enterprise-wide EMR deployment Ms McCarthy
led a national community of practice focused on preparing users to assume new
roles and responsibilities in support of organizational objectives Ms McCarthy
speaks internationally on the topic of technology adoption encouraging healthcare
leaders around the globe to set the stage for benefit realization by investing in the
people side of EMR implementation
Douglas Eastman PhD is an organizational development executive with extensive
experience managing large-scale change initiatives With more than 20 years
of consulting experience Dr Eastmanrsquos focus is to help organizations grow and
manage change by unleashing human potential His specialties are organizationaltransformation technology adoption and optimization process redesign strategic
planning and program and tools development As the Executive Director of Technology
Adoption and Organizational Capability within the Kaiser Permanente IT Care
Delivery Business Information Office Dr Eastman has pioneered several of Kaiserrsquos
implementation readiness toolsmethodologies and post-live optimization strategies
programs adding to the organizationrsquos ability to realize the benefit of its technology
About HIMSS The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) is a comprehensive healthcare-
stakeholder membership organization exclusively focused on providing global leadership for the optimal
use of information technology (IT) and management systems for the betterment of healthcare Founded in
1961 with offices in Chicago Washington DC Brussels Singapore and other locations across the United
States HIMSS represents more than 23000 individual members of which 73 work in patient care delivery
settings HIMSS also includes over 380 corporate members and nearly 30 not-for-profit organizations that
share our mission of transforming healthcare through the effective use of information technology and
management systems HIMSS frames and leads healthcare public policy and industry practices through
its educational professional development and advocacy initiatives designed to promote information and
management systemsrsquo contributions to ensuring quality patient care
ISBN 978-0-9821070-6-5
Order Code 564
230 E Ohio St Suite 500
Chicago IL 60611ndash3270
312-915-9295
www himss org
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 739
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 839
vii
Contents
Foreword by David E Garets FHIMSS ix
Preace by Claire McCarthy MA and Douglas Eastman PhD xi
Acknowledgments xvii
Chapter 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 1
Section 1 LeadershipmdashEstablishing a Foundation for Change 21
Chapter 2 Vision 23
Chapter 3 Sponsorship 37
Chapter 4 Organizational Readiness eam 55
Section 2 WillingnessmdashBuilding Commitment 77
Chapter 5 Stakeholder Management 79
Chapter 6 Communication 95
Section 3 AbilitymdashDeveloping Requisite Skill 109
Chapter 7 raining Strategy 111
Chapter 8 Reinorcement 127
Chapter 9 Implementation Readiness 137
Section 4 Summary 175
Chapter 10 Te Journey 177
Reerences 185
Index 187
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 939
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1039
ix
Foreword
By David E Garets FHIMSS
Electronic medical record (EMR) deployments are not about technol-
ogy Tey are about equipping organizations to reach critical business
objectives by providing people with technical capabilities that make
new things possible and by engaging people in changing their behavior
to effectively use the new capabilities to generate resultsTis book will show you how to create an environment or suc-
cess in your organization to not only ensure that your EMR imple-
mentation effort is successul but that your organization builds change
capacity and 1047298exibility in the process Tis new nimbleness will serve
you well in our world o continual change
De1047297ning change management is as important as understand-
ing what change management is not It isnrsquot project management or
solely process improvement Rather it is a set o speci1047297c disciplines
described in detail in this book that when coordinated and integrated
make the difference between tossing money into an EMR pit (simi-
lar to the ones that we boaters throw our money into) or getting thesought-afer changes in your organization
Chapter 2 on Vision is especially important In it Claire and Doug
explain how leadership paints the picture o what is expected rom
the implementation o an EMR I would argue that it is a process that
involves not only representatives o the ront line and their managers
and the senior executive team but also the board An EMR implemen-
tation done rightmdashmeaning the technology works was implemented
on time and within budget and the people modiy their behavior and
processes to achieve commensurate value or the investmentmdashis more
transormative than anything else a healthcare organization could do
It needs to be driven rom the board Tat way the right people iethe CEO and executive management team are held accountable or the
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1139
x Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
success o this crucial business initiative with an inormation technol-
ogy componentDale Sanders then CIO at the Northwestern Medical Faculty Foun-
dation and now CIO at the Cayman Islandsrsquo Health Services Author-
ity pointed out that ldquoyou need to dedicate the time and resources to
constantly iterate re1047297ne and improve the utilization o the EMR over
time ar beyond its installation and go-live Itrsquos a race without a 1047297n-
ish line rain und and plan accordinglymdashdonrsquot short-change the
investmentrdquo In other words recognize that you are not done at go-
live yoursquove just started achieving technology adoption and changing
behavior to get value rom your EMR investment
Tis book should be required reading or every member o the
executive team in every healthcare organization that is planning toimplement an EMR in the next ew years I was happy to be asked
to review the book and to write the orewordmdashand not or the ame
and ortune It was because I would then have to read it and Irsquom glad
I did I learned an incredible amount about a topic that most o us in
the technology world do not understand well and that is dealing with
people issues Claire and Doug nail it here and I guarantee yoursquoll be
thankul or the knowledge they share
Having said that reading this de1047297nitive work on change man-
agement or EMR implementations is not going to provide you with
enough knowledge on the topic to preclude your engaging or hiring
change management expertise In act just the opposite yoursquoll ullyunderstand why you need to get some help Welcome to the epiphany
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1239
xi
Preface
By Claire McCarthy MA and Douglas Eastman PhD
Tere is much discussion today about implementation o EMR sys-
temsmdashdiscussions that usually include excitement anxiety and
downright dread Tere is also a lot o talk about whether EMRs cre-
ate opportunities or healthcare organizations such as transorming
the way care is delivered reducing medical errors increasing internaleffi ciencies or clinical and administrative users improving revenue
capture and providing a host o other critical bene1047297ts Te promise
(some would say antasy) is big
But above all an EMR implementation is disruptive Te process
can realistically be equated to a tornado whipping through an organi-
zation and lie as you once knew it is turned upside down and the new
processes expectations priorities roles and methods overwhelm the
workplace
Our intent in writing this book is to assist others who may be
struggling with many o the same issues we have addressed By sharing
lessons rom our numerous 1047297rsthand sofware implementation expe-riences we will equip you with successul practices and prepare you
to lead or participate effectively in change managementtechnology
adoption efforts so that meaningul use can be achieved
Te primary audience o this book is everyone who leads or is
directly involved in the people-ocused change managementtech-
nology adoption efforts o an EMR implementation Our secondary
audience is everyone else who has a stake in the usersrsquo willingness and
ability to change behavior so the potential o the technology can be
realized So whether you are actively engaged in change management
technology adoption work or your support and advocacy o change
managementtechnology adoption is neededmdashthis book is or youRegardless o your speci1047297c role (executive middle-management
ront-line supervisor physician nurse medical assistant I proes-
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1339
xii Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
sional consultant or other stakeholder in the success o an EMR
implementation) our hope is that you will gain an appreciation orthe importance o users and the effort required to ensure operational
success Tis book emphasizes effective ways to plan and implement
change Te content is based on decades o combined experience man-
aging the people side o sofware implementations in healthcare
It is important to point out however that this book is not meant to
be a course on change managementtechnology adoption Our intent
is not to review existing research or current academic models and the-
ories but rather to share the insights and lessons we have learned in
delivering sustainable results and healthy organizational change over
the years
For technically-oriented project leads the success o an EMRimplementation tends to ocus too heavily on ldquoscrewing in the sys-
temrdquo on time and on budget But as important as it is getting the
EMR technology up and running should not be the primary ocus
Equal emphasis must be placed on how the new technology will be
embraced utilized and leveraged to realize a return on this signi1047297-
cant investment Flipping the switch and turning the technology on is
merely hal o the game
We believe the promise o an EMR implementation is great with
potentially signi1047297cant returns or the patient user organization and
or the industry as a whole When we hear words such as electronic
computerized and automated it sounds as i lie will be made easier andbecome more organized and effi cient However healthcare organiza-
tions do not always think about the critical steps involved in making
these hopes a reality Tis is due in large part because managing the
people side o an implementation and developing and installing major
technology require different skills sets Neither side o the coin is nec-
essarily more important but they both must be seen as equally signi1047297-
cant Te role in managing the people side o an implementation rarely
1047297ts neatly into how technically-ocused projects have historically been
measured and this creates a scenario in which the people side is ofen
misunderstood discounted and worst case ignored altogether Con-
sider the difference between what it takes to install the system (a tech-nology ocus) and what it takes to get the desired outcomes (a ocus on
people doing things differently)
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1439
Preace xiii
Te management o ambiguity resistance and user motivation is
admittedly hard to measure and unortunately involves methods thatare not always easily checked off a list Te process is more 1047298uid and
organic than linear At times it is unpredictable requiring rethink-
ing and course corrections Afer all we are dealing with people Not
everything is clear cut Donrsquot believe anyone who tells you it is
People come with different backgrounds rames o reerence
experience with technology comort with change or ambiguity trust
in leadership and so orth Whatever the mix o scenarios users never
start rom the same placemdashand they move through the change pro-
cess at different speeds meaning they continue to be in different places
throughout the project Te good news is that users do grow and develop
over the course o the project and many eventually accept things theywouldnrsquot agree to at 1047297rst But they require understandingmdashtheir ears
needs hopes and their reactions to the challenges that impact their
ability to perorm A sound comprehensive people strategy that cre-
ates an environment in which they can succeed is essential
I the goal o your EMR implementation is to achieve sustainable
results growth or organizational transormation then a substantial
investment in people must be central to your overall implementation
strategy Afer all it is the user who makes or breaks your EMR imple-
mentation and ultimately determines the amount o return the organi-
zation will realize Te better prepared people are or the change and
the less they see it as threatening the aster they will deliver value
Quoteldquordquo
ldquoMan is still the most extraordinary computer of allrdquo
- John F Kennedy
Quoteldquordquo
ldquordquo
ldquoMan is still the most extraordinary computer of allrdquo
- John F Kennedy
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1539
xiv Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
HOW HE BOOK IS SRUCURED
Preparing an organization or a successul EMR implementationinvolves a big picture approach that takes into account all the actors
that in1047298uence behavior change Te idea is to establish an organiza-
tional contextmdasha culture in which desired behavior is supported and
reinorced through a variety o methodsmdashcreating a learning organiza-
tion that grows to achieve its vision priorities and goals In this book
we present an Implementation Readiness Model and discuss each ac-
tor involved in ensuring the organization and users are ully prepared
to realize the potential o the new technology
Tis book is organized in a simple ashion First we make the busi-
ness argument or change managementtechnology adoption explain-
ing why technology implementations will not deliver bene1047297ts without
a signi1047297cant ocus on users Next we discuss two critical success ac-
tors in any large-scale change management effortmdasha clear vision and
effective leadership
Ten we argue or the development o a cross-unctional team
o representatives rom key areas within the organization the Orga-
nizational Readiness eam (OR) and introduce a pragmatic model
that outlines the scope o complexity and work that the OR man-
ages throughout the project lie cycle Tis establishes a oundation
or subsequent chapters in which each provides urther detail about
the inter-relationship o work involved to effectively drive sustain-
able change Tese chapters dig deeper into lessons learned and best
practices related to stakeholder management communication train-
ing strategy and reinorcement as all must be aligned to successully
satisy the end goal o a meaningul implementation
Finally the Implementation Readiness chapter shows how the
prior chapters serve as building blocks to ormulate a comprehensive
and powerul Implementation Readiness Program aimed at securing
ready users who are engaged and prepared or the transitional changes
ahead in the world o an EMR Te book ends with a discussion o
our key lessons learned and insights regarding the overall journey Pay
particular attention to some o the larger challenges related to an EMR
implementation as these scenarios have proven to have a signi1047297cant
impact on an organizationrsquos speed and ability to position itsel or ben-
e1047297ts realization
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1639
Preace xv
It is important to stress that ocusing on just one actor o imple-
mentation readiness is not suffi cient to drive organizational changeand sustainable results Each chapter describes an individual actor in
detail and provides lessons and useul examples tools and other bits
o inormation intended to help you succeed in preparing your orga-
nization or a successul EMR implementation But the real purpose
o the book is to raise awareness o how all actors work in concert to
in1047298uence desired change associated with an EMR implementation Te
actors work best as an integrated whole overlapping and reinorcing
each other Tey typically have separate leadership but whether or-
mally integrated or not they are pieces o one picture
Like other books you can jump to any chapter o interest at any
point However we strongly encourage you to read the book cover tocover 1047297rst to gain an understanding o the end-to-end process and how
each actor contributes to overall success A strategy that accounts or
all actors is more effective than just one intervention or multiple dis-
connected interventions In this case the sum is de1047297nitely greater than
all o its individual parts
We speak to you in a conversational and straightorward man-
ner to make this rather diffi cult side o an EMR implementation more
approachable We hope you will 1047297nd our insights valuable and will
leverage this book as your implementation reerence guide It will ur-
ther your cause i all stakeholders accountable or a successul launch
in your organization have a common ramework or approaching the
collective end goal We certainly wish wersquod had a book like this years
ago to guide us through the mine1047297eld o sofware implementationsFinally we hope you enjoy the process o supporting people
through the transition to the world o EMRs Tere is something very
Quoteldquordquo
ldquoExperience is a hard teacher because she gives
the test first the lessons afterwardsrdquo
- Vernon Law
Quoteldquordquo
ldquordquo
ldquoExperience is a hard teacher because she gives
the test first the lessons afterwardsrdquo
- Vernon Law
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1739
xvi Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
rewarding about seeing people who were earul and resistant even
in tears and thinking seriously o quitting eel the pride o accom-plishment when they succeed Each person who stays the course and
becomes a contributing member o the electronically enabled organi-
zation represents untold cost avoidance Knowledge and talent stay in
the organization replacement costs are avoided relationships are pre-
served and critical staff shortages are reduced echnology adoption is
truly a contribution to the bottom line
In the words o one o our grandathers ldquoPeople change when
theyrsquore damned good and ready and not beorerdquo Wersquore here to get
them ready
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1839
xvii
Acknowledgments
Te authors would like to thank the ollowing individuals or sharing
their expertise and experiences or this book
Saaa Al-Haddad MD
Internal Medicine
University Hospitals
Cleveland Ohio
Ronnie D Bower Jr MA
Manager Change Management
BayCare Health System
ampa Florida
Nabil Chehade MD MSBS
CPC
Director Medical Inormatics
Regional Chie o Urology
KP HealthConnect RegionalPhysician Lead
Kaiser Permanente Medical
Group
Cleveland Ohio
Kenneth Goodman MD
Associate Director Center
or Continuing Medical
Education
Department o Family Medicine
Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland Ohio
Marie Hamilton RN
Kaiser Permanente
Oregon Federation o Nurses
and Health ProessionalsHealthcare Inormation
echnology Committee
AF Healthcare
Portland Oregon
Lindsey P Jarrell FACHE
Senior Vice President amp CIO
BayCare Health System
ampa Florida
J Scott JoslynCIO
MemorialCare
Long Beach Caliornia
Margaret M Rudoph PhD
Consultant
Vancouver British Columbia
Canada
om Smith
CIO
NorthShore University Health
System
Evanston Illinois
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1939
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2039
1
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 983089
Te Business Case forChange Management
ldquoWersquore not in Kansas anymorehelliprdquo
In the introduction an EMR implementation is compared to a tornado
in that it whips through an organization turning lie upside down and
throwing users into a world 1047297lled with new ways o doing things and
seeking ways to recapture some sense o balance and control EMR
technology disrupts the status quo and along with the many opportu-
nities it promises it also brings a whirlwind o seemingly never-ending
changes which can have an entirely different effect on different people
While an implementation that is effectively managed even brings these
challenges a poor implementation can be disastrous and will cost the
organization much more time energy and money to get things back
on track
Dorothy the character rom the movie Te Wizard of Oz held
her composure pretty well through the tornado that ripped her rom
a calm stable lie on the arm and threw her into a oreign world She
was able to manage through the obstacles and challenges and stay the
course as she ollowed the yellow brick road in search o the wizard
Some say this is similar to the experience users have except or the
part when Dorothy wakes up rom her dream and 1047297nds hersel back
home as she remembers itEMR implementations donrsquot have to be nightmarish or users but
there certainly will be obstacles and challenges along the way Te key is
to help users through the road blocks and enable them to experience a
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2139
2 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
positive journey Tis process is always easier when people know what
they are getting into eel supported and are prepared or what liesahead both good and bad Tis is the role o change management
CHANGE MANAGEMEN DEFINED
Itrsquos important to understand why you should make an investment in
the people side o the projectmdashbringing in the best technology pos-
sible doesnrsquot mean anything unless users are comortable and pro1047297-
cient in its use Te truth is just because you build it doesnrsquot mean they
will come
Letrsquos start by answering the two questions we are most ofen asked
ldquoWhat is change management anyway What is it change managers
dordquoo avoid conusion wersquoll say up ront we are not talking about
change management as it relates to technical issues such as version or
change control We also want to be clear that change management is
not project management What we are talking about is the human side
o electronic medical records implementations the human-ocused
work o engaging and preparing people to succeed in the new world
o EMRs
A word about project management while good project manage-
ment acilitates change management the two disciplines are not the
same Project management is much more linear and task-ocused
whereas change management deals with the complexities o human
behavior But a good project plan creates a structure and a ounda-
tion in which the change management process can occur Tereore
the two disciplines though different complement and support each
other
A word o caution do not conuse the project plan with the end
result Te plan is necessary and it guides you throughout the process
Te plan is proactive itrsquos the order in the chaos But technology adop-
tion is kind o like herding cats itrsquos unpredictable and you need to
maintain 1047298exibility to respond as things evolve Tis is a more reactive
process than what may be expressed in a plan In our experience an
EMR implementation requires both structure and 1047298exibility
Tere is a saying in change management circles When one door
closes another one opens but sometimes itrsquos hell in the hallway Change
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2239
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 3
management deals mostly with the hallway situation acilitating the
human transition rom the present to the uture Tese days change isongoing and requires ocused leadership i it is to be as ast and pain-
less as possible
Te three legs o the project stool represent the critical compo-nents o an implementation (Figure 1-1)mdashPeople Process and ech-
nology Te people are the most important When technology projects
ail it is primarily due to a lack o use and not a ailure o the sof-
ware Te ocus o change management is people and the objective is
to change behavior Tis is good or business because it accelerates the
change process so bene1047297ts are achieved aster Change management
is not about being nice or placing an emphasis on eelings Itrsquos about
perormance improvement and results
I you search the literature you will 1047297nd a variety o de1047297nitions o
human-ocused change management Tey all cover similar concepts
sometimes using different terminology Te simplest explanation ochange management is to say ldquoItrsquos all about the peoplerdquo But or the
purposes o this book we expand on that concept and use the ollow-
ing de1047297nition o change management
bull A structured process designed to deal directly and intentionally
with the human actors involved in not just planning and imple-
menting an EMR but through behavior change achieving the
anticipated bene1047297ts that justi1047297ed the project in the 1047297rst place
bull Desired behavior change is achieved by helping people understand
and internalize change and by preparing them to be successul
contributors in the uture state In the case o EMR implementa-
tions effective change management delivers users who are willingand able to use an EMR in a way that satis1047297es the requirements o
the job the needs o the patient and the health o the organization
Key Tip
Our assumption is that the software you are implementing
works If the software doesnrsquot work you have another kind of
problem one that even the best change management wonrsquot
resolve
Key Tip
Our assumption is that the software you are implementing
works If the software doesnrsquot work you have another kind of
problemmdashone that even the best change management wonrsquot
resolve
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2339
4 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
Well-designed integrated people-ocused work builds logically
over time in a way that makes sense to the user It brings users along
guiding and supporting them so they arrive at where you want them
to be Tis is about willingness and ability hearts and minds You must
have both
Te overarching purpose o change management is to acceleratethe speed at which people move successfully through the change
process so that anticipated bene1047297ts are achieved faster And there
are additional bene1047297ts to change management Trough optimizing
the effi ciency and effi cacy o users an effective EMR change manage-
ment program will also
bull Improve organizational outcomes and perormance (effective use
o the system generates value to patients and the organization)
bull Enhance employee satisaction morale and engagement (when
people learn new skills meet perormance expectations and con-
tribute to a greater good they eel pride in their accomplishments)
bull Improve service quality (users eel valued and supported by anorganization that makes an investment in them this positively
impacts how they treat patients)
Figure 1-1 The Three-legged Stool
Technology
People Process
Technology
People Process
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2439
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 5
bull Help achieve hoped-or bene1047297ts (bene1047297ts that include EMR value
realization reduction o errors return on investment)bull Create higher levels o openness trust involvement and teamwork
(develop an engaged workorce)
bull Build change capability and capacity in the organization resulting
in improved ability to respond quickly and effectively to new situa-
tions (create organizational nimbleness through embedded change
management knowledge structure and process)
In other words it really is all about the people Intentionally man-
aging the cultural behavioral and organizational changes that need
to take place to make the desired EMR uture not only a reality but
a sustainable reality pays off on many levels in that it also acilitates
organizational transormation Building on individual capability andorganizational capacity change management results in a change-
capable culturemdasha huge advantage in todayrsquos competitive and ast-
changing world
Change Management echnology AdoptionmdashWhatrsquos the Difference
Tere are a number o terms that people use to reer to the work
involved in managing the people side o a change effort We think o
change management as the mother ship that is the umbrella term that
embraces all specialties within the 1047297eld Similar to the various special-
ties or domains o service within a healthcare system change man-agement proessionals may choose speci1047297c areas o ocus echnology
adoption speci1047297cally inormation technology (I) is one such area
and it involves the application o change management principles to the
implementation o I Te focus of this book is technology adoption
and we will mostly use this term instead of change management
throughout the rest of the book
Effective technology adoption proessionals align themselves with
the operationalbusiness side o the organization and tailor solutions
that drive behavioral change and tangible outcomes Tey participate in
EMR implementation projects rom the beginning driving the people
side o change throughout and continuing to add value post-live as theEMR becomes part o the central nervous system o the organization
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2539
6 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
HE IMPORANCE OF HE PEOPLE SIDE
OF AN EMR IMPLEMENAIONTere are many reerences in the literature to ailed change efforts and
I implementations Estimates are that only one third o these projects
achieve success which means two thirds ail to meet expectations Te
good news is that ailure is optional as much has been learned about
why some change efforts ail and others succeed
Herersquos the issue while the change that is going to occur is an exter-
nal eventmdashthe EMR implementation a reorganization proposed out-
sourcing a promotion etcmdashthe transition rom old to new that those
who are impacted experience is a psychological and emotional pro-
cess It is this transition that is diffi cultmdasheven when a change is sel-
imposed or considered positive
In the words o William Bridges a key thought leader in manage-
ment o transitions ldquoIt isnrsquot the changes that do you in itrsquos the transi-
tion afer the change that doesrdquo1
For an implementation team part o the problem encountered
during transition is that change is messy people start where they are
not where we want them to be And when considering the personnel
within a typical hospital people can be all over the place in terms o
comort with computers stage in lie commitment to the organiza-
tion ear o change etc Add to this the act that or change to be suc-
cessul three things must occur People
bull Must let go o their current reality have an ending
bull Go through a conused period in-between (hell in the hallway)
bull Only then can have a new beginning 1
o take this a step urther while I consultants want to install the
system and make enhancements the users will ultimately determine
how the system is used Tis use is affected by human not technical
actors
bull Different rames o reerence backgrounds experiences with
technology
bull Organizational history and experience with other large-scale
change projects
bull Levels o resistance ear ability to deal with ambiguity
bull Degree o alignment o ldquoWhatrsquos in it or merdquo or the various stake-
holder groups
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2639
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 7
bull Ineffi ciencies uncovered because the system creates transparency
bull Workarounds that become quickly entrenchedbull Pressure to get through the day can override doing what is right
bull User worklie balance issues coming into play rom the very
beginning
All o these actors create problems or implementation teams that
just want to install technology How do you effectively address the
people issues Or is it easier to just install the technology and assume
that people will learn because they have to use it Some on the imple-
mentation team may alsely assume that users o an EMR system will
snap into place over time and do what is right or the organization
Tis thinking is a oolrsquos paradise
In the oreword to this book Dave Garets made the point that EMRdeployments are not about technology but about equipping organiza-
tions to reach critical business objectives by providing employees with
technical capabilities that make new things possible and by engaging
them in changing their behavior to effectively use the new capabilities
to generate desired results
With all due respect to the technical side o an EMR implemen-
tation installing the technology is only hal the battle Tis is not to
degrade the importance o the technology Te act that we spend a lot
o money researching technology acquiring it con1047297guring it install-
ing it and supporting it speaks to its importance I we werenrsquot imple-
menting EMRs we wouldnrsquot even be having a discussion about EMR-related change management
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2739
8 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
But implementation o the technology is just a 1047297rst and very nec-
essary stepmdashbecause in and o itsel the technology does not generate
value Te technology is necessary but not suffi cient or bene1047297t realiza-
tion to occur o create value requires people and this is why change
management is so important oo much o a ocus on technology even
in the early stages will create issues downstream And even with the
best technology i not used effi ciently hoped-or bene1047297ts will be tough
to achieve
CIO Perspective
ldquoDuring my masters program I took an Organization Development
class that really opened my eyes to peoplesrsquo needs during large-scale
change Since the OD class I have been very interested in what makes
people tick and why people react in different ways to the same
environment No matter how good of an idea a large-scale technology
implementation is we will always have early adopters average adopters
and laggards As leaders within large organizations we have a
responsibility to plan for and respect all types of technology adopters
Ultimately the people who work within in our organizations want a positive
human experience when they are at work
Utilizing a change management methodology enables the implementation
and leadership teams to provide a positive experience during the period of
significant change By utilizing a solid change management methodologythe organization promotes team communication a safer environment for
the patient a work environment that promotes trust and an environment
where people are allowed to talk about the fear of change All of this
promotes a better human experience and a much stronger work force
hellip An effective change management program has meant the difference
between good go-lives and great go-lives at our 10 hospitalsrdquo
Lindsey P Jarrell FACHE
SVP amp CIO
BayCare Health System
Clearwater FL
CIO Perspective
During my masters program I took an Organization Development
class that really opened my eyes to peoplesrsquo needs during large-scale
change Since the OD class I have been very interested in what makes
people tick and why people react in different ways to the same
environment No matter how good of an idea a large-scale technology
implementation is we will always have early adopters average adopters
and laggards As leaders within large organizations we have a
responsibility to plan for and respect all types of technology adopters
Ultimately the people who work within in our organizations want a positive
human experience when they are at work
Utilizing a change management methodology enables the implementation
and leadership teams to provide a positive experience during the period of
significant change By utilizing a solid change management methodologythe organization promotes team communication a safer environment for
the patient a work environment that promotes trust and an environment
where people are allowed to talk about the fear of change All of this
promotes a better human experience and a much stronger work force
hellip An effective change management program has meant the difference
between good go-lives and great go-lives at our 10 hospitals
Lindsey P Jarrell FACHE
SVP amp CIO
BayCare Health System
Clearwater FL
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2839
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 9
Remember that change is a personal experience It is also local and
individual And itrsquos hardmdasheven when itrsquos sel-imposed and positive
Tere are no shortcuts People have to go through the process o change
in much the same way that we move through the stages o grie2 It canrsquot
be avoided or skipped You can measure twice and cut once or you
can cut now and then do costly remediation later Either way you canrsquot
avoid the expense or time required or real change to occur
SYSEMS PERSPECIVE
Experienced technology adoption proessionals embrace a systems
perspective when given the assignment to drive perormance man-
age perceptions and increase the utilization o new and existing tech-
nology A systems approach is the ability to see the big picture and
address the interrelationships among the variables within the abric o
CIO Perspective
ldquoIrsquove been in healthcare IT a long time and I now realize itrsquos
all about change management What was considered soft is
now hard We know so much more about how to install
technologymdashItrsquos the people part we donrsquot know well yet
and so itrsquos hardrdquo
Scott Joslyn
CIO
MemorialCare
Long Beach CA
CIO Perspective
Irsquove been in healthcare IT a long time and I now realize itrsquos
all about change management What was considered soft is
now hard We know so much more about how to install
technologymdashitrsquos the people part we donrsquot know well yet
and so itrsquos hard
J Scott Joslyn
CIO
MemorialCare
Long Beach CA
Quoteldquordquo
ldquoNo man can think clearly when his fists are clenchedrdquo
- George Jean Nathan
Quoteldquordquo
ldquordquo
ldquoNo man can think clearly when his fists are clenchedrdquo
- George Jean Nathan
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2939
10 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
the organization and in1047298uence the combined impact these variables
have on organizational effectiveness As each variable has the powerto in1047298uence the outcome o any intervention behavior change is ofen
not sustainable because variables tend to work against one another
Effective technology adoption strategies account or this interrelation-
shipinterdependency and aim to bring these variables into alignment
as a means or driving sustainable results
Figure 1-2 introduces the Organizational Fabric Model which
highlights the six primary threads (or variables) that are interwoven
in the abric (or culture) o an organization Te model suggests that
all six threads must work in concert to successully shape the organi-
zational abric A well-woven technology adoption plan strategically
manipulates these threads to in1047298uence desired change A poorly wovenplan in which a thread or combination o threads is not accounted
or leads to disaster or by way o analogy will hit a snag down the
road Depending on the 1047298exibility and durability o this abric a snag
can result in a huge hole that detracts rom the overall strength o the
intervention Te intent o the Organizational Fabric Model is to stress
how important it is to understand the uture state recognize how each
variable or combination o variables will come into play and develop a
sound technology adoption program that appropriately in1047298uences this
set o variables to reshape the abric or culture so desired change can
actually take place
Te Organizational Fabric Model will be revisited in subsequent
chapters as each thread or variable is explored in urther detail For
now we reiterate that technology adoption strategies must not rely
on only one or two threads to drive behavior change Sustainable out-
comes result rom an organizationrsquos ability to leverage the combination
o all six threads working in concert to create an environment orsuccess
Key Point
Fundamentally culture is ldquothe way we do things around hererdquo
Key Point
Fundamentally culture is ldquothe way we do things around hererdquo
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3039
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 11
CREAING AN ENVIRONMEN FOR SUCCESS
echnology adoption is about creating a context an environment in
which change can be achieved and sustained over the long term Tis
involves two levelsmdashorganizational and individual
With an EMR implementation the organization must create thesupporting environment provide needed training and resources
articulate a clear direction coupled with clear expectations engage its
people include them in the process and reinorce desired new behav-
iors Tis is not about checking things off a list but rather about 1047297nd-
ing synergy among impacted groups giving them what they need and
coordinating efforts to meet the end goal Itrsquos an ongoing effort
o give you an idea o what we are talking about herersquos an exam-
ple o an individual situation occurring within a social context Tink
about what happens when you want to make a signi1047297cant change in
your personal liemdashquit smoking stop drinking lose weight Itrsquos one
thing to talk with a doctor or another proessional about what needsto happen when yoursquore in their offi ce but once you leave the offi ce
you then return to your social reality I your riends and amily donrsquot
want your behavior to change you will have a tough time All the rein-
Figure 1-2 Organizational Fabric Model
Sponsorship
Stakeholder Mgmt
Training
Vision
Reinforcement
Communications
Sponsorship
Stakeholder Mgmt
Training
Vision
Reinforcement
Communications
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3139
12 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
orcements and temptations will conspire to prevent you rom mak-
ing changes But i you can get some important people in your lieto make the changes with you or at least support you in the process
you have a much greater chance o success Te lesson is donrsquot send a
changed person back into an unchanged environment if you want
to see behavior change
Engaging individuals involves arousing two key aspects mdashwilling-
ness and ability Te organization must in1047298uence both in order to suc-
ceed With the help o the Skill Versus Will Matrix (Figure 1-3) think
about it this way
bull When people want to do something but donrsquot know how they canrsquot
(willingunable)
bull When people know how but donrsquot want to they wonrsquot(ableunwilling)
Can you think o examples in your own lie when you have been in
either o these situations
Consider the circumstance o people who know how to do some-
thing but donrsquot want to do it Tis is a ldquowillrdquo not a ldquoskillrdquo issue and it is
a very common technology adoption dilemma I the amount o work
and effort involved are not perceived by the user as being equal to the
Figure 1-3 The Skill versus Will Matrix
Skill
Will
WONrsquoT
WONrsquoT
DOES
CANrsquoTLow
High
HighLow
Skill
Will
WONrsquoT
WONrsquoT
DOES
CANrsquoTLow
High
HighLow HighLow
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3239
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 13
return or value experienced through the implementation the user will
most likely choose to reduce the effort A goal o an effective people-ocused strategy is to identiy potential areas o disconnect and 1047297nd
ways to increase the perceived value to users Te assumption is that
when the return is perceived to be greater the effort increases When
there are no incentives to try harder it may be diffi cult to drive desired
behavior change
Te point in getting users to actively support the deployment o
an EMR is about a lot more than a communication plan or eature
unction training Managing the people side o an EMR implementa-
tion requires a savvy technology adoption plan that ties sponsorship
training communication work1047298ow harmonization user support and
reinorcement with the business priorities o the organization andeffectively coordinates all o these activities with the user in mindmdashin
an environment that reinorces desired behavior changes
Key Questions
Two key questions to remember throughout the
project arehellip
(1) How will this decision impact the user
(2) How might it impact patients
Key Questions
Two key questions to remember throughout the
project are
(1) How will this decision impact the user
(2) How might it impact patients
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3339
14 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
Consider this example
In this example what are the key elements o this process that
ensure success
bull Te picture of success the desired outcome is clearmdashit is or the
child to become a unctioning adult in the community
bull How this happens is clearly de1047297ned in behavioral terms Tere is a
process that is known and understood by the entire community
including children
bull Leaders at all levels in the community agree on the desired out-
come support the entire process and actively ful1047297ll their roles to ensure success Leaders include village elders and ormal lead-
ers parents o the children inormal opinion leaders and amily
members
bull Te children who are about to become adults take an active role
in their own transormation taking responsibility or their suc-
cess Tey receive guidance and counsel rom elders Tey know
and understand the transormation process and what they must do
to achieve their new status Goals and steps are clear Tey also
understand the consequences o not successully transitioning to
adulthood
bull I there is more than one child slated to go through transormationto adulthood at the same time they are a peer group and as appro-
priate prepare together and support each other
Key Point
In native cultures there tend to be rites of passage that serve
to transition a person from childhood to adult status in the
community The child may actually leave the village for a day or
two of contemplation following a prescribed process When the
child returns he or she is redefined as an adult and assumes
the consequent privileges and responsibilities The entire
community reinforces the personrsquos new status the new adult is
not allowed to return to being a child whenever itrsquos convenient
but is supported to complete the transformation to adulthood
The change to adulthood does not happen in a vacuum but is
part of a carefully designed process that ensures success
Key Point
In native cultures there tend to be rites of passage that serve
to transition a person from childhood to adult status in the
community The child may actually leave the village for a day or
two of contemplation following a prescribed process When the
child returns he or she is redefined as an adult and assumes
the consequent privileges and responsibilities The entire
community reinforces the personrsquos new status the new adult is
not allowed to return to being a child whenever itrsquos convenient
but is supported to complete the transformation to adulthood
The change to adulthood does not happen in a vacuum but is
part of a carefully designed process that ensures success
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3439
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 15
bull Te entire community works together to bring about the
transormationbull Success results in positive reinforcement
Te environmental context is the trump card in any implementerrsquos
hand It takes a lot o work to create a suitable environment but it is an
essential ingredient in being able to drive and sustain change
Willingness and Ability
Earlier we mentioned willingness and ability as key concepts in tech-
nology adoption Willingness and ability can also be thought o as
hearts and minds or will and skill Te point is the same regardless
o the terms used People need to be supported on both an emotional
level to commit and on an intellectual level to be able Te questionto be answered is ldquoWhat are the conditions under which users will
accept and adopt the EMRrdquo
Letrsquos talk about willingness 1047297rst
Willingness or hearts is the commitment to go orward Tis is
impacted by many things including the ollowing elements
bull Leadership Perceived support or lack o support or the change
rom senior executives in the company the cascade o sponsors
down through the organization and just as importantly rom the
employeersquos direct supervisor
bull Communication Quality and requency o verbal and written
messages that describe the desired uture state tell why the changeneeds to happen and what will happen i change isnrsquot made set
clear expectations explain how the company will prepare and sup-
port people to success and describe local details such as timelines
etc
bull Reinforcement Degree o appropriateness and timeliness o
rewards or demonstrating desired new behaviors and conse-
quences or sticking to the old ways
bull Participation Degree to which users are involved every step o
the way either directly as individuals or indirectly by being effec-
tively represented by trusted local opinion leader peers who serve
as liaisons between users and the project teambull Organizational History with Change Previous organizational
experience with changemdashgood and badmdashwill in1047298uence user per-
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3539
16 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
ceptions and expectations o the EMR implementation Under-
standing the past is important in planning or the utureTis all sounds logical but the reaction to it can be emotional Tis
is where people conront their ear o ailure eeling stupid making
mistakes etc Remember that the change may require people to give
up the very things that they believe made them successul in the past
Tis can be a diffi cult sell
Ability or minds is about the actual capability to successully
meet new job expectations Tis is impacted by many things including
the ollowing elements
bull raining and Support In most cases the new EMR abilities must
be learned An effective training program that is role-based and
intentionally ocused on preparing people to perorm new jobexpectations is key Just discussing desired outcomes is not enough
though we have to clearly tell people what we want them to do
Tis requires an intellectual understanding o what and how a
conceptual understanding is necessary but not suffi cient Most
people need to practice something new to develop competence and
con1047297dence Sae opportunities to practice preerably with immedi-
ate eedback are very important to pro1047297ciency development and
sustainability
Getting people to move in the direction you want is the diffi -
cultymdashsome say the hardest part o the whole project And i you agree
that people are the oundation o successmdashthat bene1047297t realization isdependant not on technology but on people agreeing to go through
personal disruption learn new things change established patterns and
conront their earsmdashthen we must be proactive and courageous in
addressing the human issues
Tis is the people side o the project Tis is the organizational read-
iness unction It involves collaboration coordination and sequencing
o activities inormation and events rom all people-ocused areas Te
idea is to have all the people-ocused unctions working together to
reach clearly de1047297ned shared outcomes Te organizational readiness
plan to create individual and organizational readiness is the umbrella
that connects it allmdashthe glue that holds it together and the grease thatmakes it workmdashor the user We will address the structure and process
or doing this in more detail in subsequent chapters
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3639
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 17
Good News on wo Fronts
1 Tere is a social science Tere is a body o work research andsubsequent publications about the human experience with change
Tere are proven change management strategies tools and tech-
niques Tis isnrsquot olklore hooey or black magic Te transition
process is known and predictable Tere is a change curve that
describes the steps (Chapter 5 Stakeholder Management) And
though there is no silver bullet it isnrsquot rocket science Senior
healthcare executives must take the emerging proession o change
managementtechnology adoption seriously Not understanding it
is no excuse or ignoring it Tat is ar too expensive an option
2 All people go through transition when changemdashgood or badmdash
happens in both their personal and proessional lie You canrsquot
avoid it Te wonderul thing is i you learn about change and
transition at work it will improve your personal lie Tis is one
o the times to ldquotry this at homerdquo Wersquore all humanmdashat work and
at home So treat your people as the humans they are and avoid
some predictable expense and diffi culty Lead your organization
to a successul outcome and speed up the process by treating your
staff as customers 1047297rst
Donrsquot make the mistake o glossing over the critical human aspects
o change Hire experts and 1047297nd the emotionally intelligent people in
your organization who want to participate And remember you can
install technology without your people but you canrsquot ully implement
and achieve return on investment without them Consciously choose
to move fear and resistance to trust and adoption Itrsquos a case o pay
now or pay later I you wait until later it will always cost more ech-
nology Adoption is expensive but not as expensive as trying to gloss
it over and then having to undo the damage When ailure happens it
Quoteldquordquo
ldquoNot everything that can be counted counts and not everything thatcounts can be countedrdquo
- Albert Einstein
Quoteldquordquo
ldquordquo
ldquoNot everything that can be counted counts and not everything thatcounts can be countedrdquo
- Albert Einstein
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3739
18 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
takes a long time or people to re-engage And in todayrsquos world this
presents real problems or healthcare organizations aced with short-ages in many proessions Tere is a huge risk o alienating and poten-
tially losing needed staff or in causing long delays We can do better
Not so long ago it wasnrsquot conventional wisdom that clinical application
rollouts are not I projects More frequently than not these were consid-
ered technical projects in which the point of celebration was when con-nection from workstation to central processor was reliable and wireless
access actually worked Te classic I People-Process-echnology trian-
gle never got much past echnology to the real hard work on the People-
Process axis Tat has all changed in the 21st century system implemen-
tations that are both successful and valuable have had people and process
on the front burner
When MemorialCare embarked on a 1047297ve-hospital roll-out of an
EMR in 2002 it had several things in its favor
bull Te technology the organization ultimately acquired was robust and
reliable it worked
bull It had 15 yearsrsquo experience with CPOE (computerized providerorder entry) Terefore although unevenly adopted it was not new
territory
bull It had had the experience of a system-wide roll-out and standard-
ization on a general 1047297nance human resources and materials man-
agement system When all was said and done users had not been
suffi ciently involved standardization fell short because involvement
was low business leadership was diffuse and I ownership was too
high It was judged successful overall but the organization continues
to move slowly forward with an underutilized set of applications
With this experience and the insights of others MemorialCare pri-
oritized engagement of physicians nurses pharmacists and other staffWell before 1047297nancial commitment to a new system was obtained Memo-
rialCare hired a ldquoCare Planning Executiverdquo a person whose full-time
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3839
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 19
activities were devoted to the project 1047297rst to help understand the drivers
of a new system scope out the territory to be covered gain the com-mitment of senior leaders as well as governance and outline the case
for change At my insistence the Care Planning Executive a registered
nurse and former hospital chief operating offi cer joined the organization
reporting to the system-wide CEO as a peer and partner of the CIO not
a staff member and a peer to the CEOs of each medical center campus
Tat dedication alone made clear the commitment intentions and over-
all priority of the company
Among several other critical success factorsmdashand the outcome was
a successmdashwas the overall employee engagement program that the Care
Planning Executive established In summary it was an education mar-
keting and training program dedicated to equipping the affected staffwith the knowledge and tools to embrace unavoidable change Staff com-
munication was clear that it wasnrsquot change for changersquos sake but a major
move forward in the paperless way care would be delivered and work-
1047298ows would be streamlined Of course at the time no one could have
foreseen later moves by government to push everyone in this direction
(with the American Recovery and Reconstruction Act of 2009) Because
of our early efforts wersquore now very well positioned
J Scott Joslyn
CIO
MemorialCareLong Beach California
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3939
About the BookDespite the promise of improving care and other benefits EMR implementations are highly disruptive to the
organization This book prepares you to lead or participate successfully in change managementtechnologyadoption efforts so that meaningful use of EMRs can be achieved The authors provide successful strategies
to plan and implement change The content is based on their decades of combined experience designing
and leading technology adoption programs
Sections of the book deal with establishing a foundation for change building commitment and developing
requisite skill in helping users be successful with technology The book includes numerous lessons learned
tips for success best practices and case studies from organizations that have handled change well
About the AuthorsClaire McCarthy MA is a recognized technology adoption strategist and leader
with 25 years of healthcare industry experience supporting people through softwareimplementations and other large-scale change efforts As Director of Organizational
Effectiveness for Kaiser Permanentersquos enterprise-wide EMR deployment Ms McCarthy
led a national community of practice focused on preparing users to assume new
roles and responsibilities in support of organizational objectives Ms McCarthy
speaks internationally on the topic of technology adoption encouraging healthcare
leaders around the globe to set the stage for benefit realization by investing in the
people side of EMR implementation
Douglas Eastman PhD is an organizational development executive with extensive
experience managing large-scale change initiatives With more than 20 years
of consulting experience Dr Eastmanrsquos focus is to help organizations grow and
manage change by unleashing human potential His specialties are organizationaltransformation technology adoption and optimization process redesign strategic
planning and program and tools development As the Executive Director of Technology
Adoption and Organizational Capability within the Kaiser Permanente IT Care
Delivery Business Information Office Dr Eastman has pioneered several of Kaiserrsquos
implementation readiness toolsmethodologies and post-live optimization strategies
programs adding to the organizationrsquos ability to realize the benefit of its technology
About HIMSS The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) is a comprehensive healthcare-
stakeholder membership organization exclusively focused on providing global leadership for the optimal
use of information technology (IT) and management systems for the betterment of healthcare Founded in
1961 with offices in Chicago Washington DC Brussels Singapore and other locations across the United
States HIMSS represents more than 23000 individual members of which 73 work in patient care delivery
settings HIMSS also includes over 380 corporate members and nearly 30 not-for-profit organizations that
share our mission of transforming healthcare through the effective use of information technology and
management systems HIMSS frames and leads healthcare public policy and industry practices through
its educational professional development and advocacy initiatives designed to promote information and
management systemsrsquo contributions to ensuring quality patient care
ISBN 978-0-9821070-6-5
Order Code 564
230 E Ohio St Suite 500
Chicago IL 60611ndash3270
312-915-9295
www himss org
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 839
vii
Contents
Foreword by David E Garets FHIMSS ix
Preace by Claire McCarthy MA and Douglas Eastman PhD xi
Acknowledgments xvii
Chapter 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 1
Section 1 LeadershipmdashEstablishing a Foundation for Change 21
Chapter 2 Vision 23
Chapter 3 Sponsorship 37
Chapter 4 Organizational Readiness eam 55
Section 2 WillingnessmdashBuilding Commitment 77
Chapter 5 Stakeholder Management 79
Chapter 6 Communication 95
Section 3 AbilitymdashDeveloping Requisite Skill 109
Chapter 7 raining Strategy 111
Chapter 8 Reinorcement 127
Chapter 9 Implementation Readiness 137
Section 4 Summary 175
Chapter 10 Te Journey 177
Reerences 185
Index 187
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 939
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1039
ix
Foreword
By David E Garets FHIMSS
Electronic medical record (EMR) deployments are not about technol-
ogy Tey are about equipping organizations to reach critical business
objectives by providing people with technical capabilities that make
new things possible and by engaging people in changing their behavior
to effectively use the new capabilities to generate resultsTis book will show you how to create an environment or suc-
cess in your organization to not only ensure that your EMR imple-
mentation effort is successul but that your organization builds change
capacity and 1047298exibility in the process Tis new nimbleness will serve
you well in our world o continual change
De1047297ning change management is as important as understand-
ing what change management is not It isnrsquot project management or
solely process improvement Rather it is a set o speci1047297c disciplines
described in detail in this book that when coordinated and integrated
make the difference between tossing money into an EMR pit (simi-
lar to the ones that we boaters throw our money into) or getting thesought-afer changes in your organization
Chapter 2 on Vision is especially important In it Claire and Doug
explain how leadership paints the picture o what is expected rom
the implementation o an EMR I would argue that it is a process that
involves not only representatives o the ront line and their managers
and the senior executive team but also the board An EMR implemen-
tation done rightmdashmeaning the technology works was implemented
on time and within budget and the people modiy their behavior and
processes to achieve commensurate value or the investmentmdashis more
transormative than anything else a healthcare organization could do
It needs to be driven rom the board Tat way the right people iethe CEO and executive management team are held accountable or the
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1139
x Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
success o this crucial business initiative with an inormation technol-
ogy componentDale Sanders then CIO at the Northwestern Medical Faculty Foun-
dation and now CIO at the Cayman Islandsrsquo Health Services Author-
ity pointed out that ldquoyou need to dedicate the time and resources to
constantly iterate re1047297ne and improve the utilization o the EMR over
time ar beyond its installation and go-live Itrsquos a race without a 1047297n-
ish line rain und and plan accordinglymdashdonrsquot short-change the
investmentrdquo In other words recognize that you are not done at go-
live yoursquove just started achieving technology adoption and changing
behavior to get value rom your EMR investment
Tis book should be required reading or every member o the
executive team in every healthcare organization that is planning toimplement an EMR in the next ew years I was happy to be asked
to review the book and to write the orewordmdashand not or the ame
and ortune It was because I would then have to read it and Irsquom glad
I did I learned an incredible amount about a topic that most o us in
the technology world do not understand well and that is dealing with
people issues Claire and Doug nail it here and I guarantee yoursquoll be
thankul or the knowledge they share
Having said that reading this de1047297nitive work on change man-
agement or EMR implementations is not going to provide you with
enough knowledge on the topic to preclude your engaging or hiring
change management expertise In act just the opposite yoursquoll ullyunderstand why you need to get some help Welcome to the epiphany
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1239
xi
Preface
By Claire McCarthy MA and Douglas Eastman PhD
Tere is much discussion today about implementation o EMR sys-
temsmdashdiscussions that usually include excitement anxiety and
downright dread Tere is also a lot o talk about whether EMRs cre-
ate opportunities or healthcare organizations such as transorming
the way care is delivered reducing medical errors increasing internaleffi ciencies or clinical and administrative users improving revenue
capture and providing a host o other critical bene1047297ts Te promise
(some would say antasy) is big
But above all an EMR implementation is disruptive Te process
can realistically be equated to a tornado whipping through an organi-
zation and lie as you once knew it is turned upside down and the new
processes expectations priorities roles and methods overwhelm the
workplace
Our intent in writing this book is to assist others who may be
struggling with many o the same issues we have addressed By sharing
lessons rom our numerous 1047297rsthand sofware implementation expe-riences we will equip you with successul practices and prepare you
to lead or participate effectively in change managementtechnology
adoption efforts so that meaningul use can be achieved
Te primary audience o this book is everyone who leads or is
directly involved in the people-ocused change managementtech-
nology adoption efforts o an EMR implementation Our secondary
audience is everyone else who has a stake in the usersrsquo willingness and
ability to change behavior so the potential o the technology can be
realized So whether you are actively engaged in change management
technology adoption work or your support and advocacy o change
managementtechnology adoption is neededmdashthis book is or youRegardless o your speci1047297c role (executive middle-management
ront-line supervisor physician nurse medical assistant I proes-
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1339
xii Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
sional consultant or other stakeholder in the success o an EMR
implementation) our hope is that you will gain an appreciation orthe importance o users and the effort required to ensure operational
success Tis book emphasizes effective ways to plan and implement
change Te content is based on decades o combined experience man-
aging the people side o sofware implementations in healthcare
It is important to point out however that this book is not meant to
be a course on change managementtechnology adoption Our intent
is not to review existing research or current academic models and the-
ories but rather to share the insights and lessons we have learned in
delivering sustainable results and healthy organizational change over
the years
For technically-oriented project leads the success o an EMRimplementation tends to ocus too heavily on ldquoscrewing in the sys-
temrdquo on time and on budget But as important as it is getting the
EMR technology up and running should not be the primary ocus
Equal emphasis must be placed on how the new technology will be
embraced utilized and leveraged to realize a return on this signi1047297-
cant investment Flipping the switch and turning the technology on is
merely hal o the game
We believe the promise o an EMR implementation is great with
potentially signi1047297cant returns or the patient user organization and
or the industry as a whole When we hear words such as electronic
computerized and automated it sounds as i lie will be made easier andbecome more organized and effi cient However healthcare organiza-
tions do not always think about the critical steps involved in making
these hopes a reality Tis is due in large part because managing the
people side o an implementation and developing and installing major
technology require different skills sets Neither side o the coin is nec-
essarily more important but they both must be seen as equally signi1047297-
cant Te role in managing the people side o an implementation rarely
1047297ts neatly into how technically-ocused projects have historically been
measured and this creates a scenario in which the people side is ofen
misunderstood discounted and worst case ignored altogether Con-
sider the difference between what it takes to install the system (a tech-nology ocus) and what it takes to get the desired outcomes (a ocus on
people doing things differently)
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1439
Preace xiii
Te management o ambiguity resistance and user motivation is
admittedly hard to measure and unortunately involves methods thatare not always easily checked off a list Te process is more 1047298uid and
organic than linear At times it is unpredictable requiring rethink-
ing and course corrections Afer all we are dealing with people Not
everything is clear cut Donrsquot believe anyone who tells you it is
People come with different backgrounds rames o reerence
experience with technology comort with change or ambiguity trust
in leadership and so orth Whatever the mix o scenarios users never
start rom the same placemdashand they move through the change pro-
cess at different speeds meaning they continue to be in different places
throughout the project Te good news is that users do grow and develop
over the course o the project and many eventually accept things theywouldnrsquot agree to at 1047297rst But they require understandingmdashtheir ears
needs hopes and their reactions to the challenges that impact their
ability to perorm A sound comprehensive people strategy that cre-
ates an environment in which they can succeed is essential
I the goal o your EMR implementation is to achieve sustainable
results growth or organizational transormation then a substantial
investment in people must be central to your overall implementation
strategy Afer all it is the user who makes or breaks your EMR imple-
mentation and ultimately determines the amount o return the organi-
zation will realize Te better prepared people are or the change and
the less they see it as threatening the aster they will deliver value
Quoteldquordquo
ldquoMan is still the most extraordinary computer of allrdquo
- John F Kennedy
Quoteldquordquo
ldquordquo
ldquoMan is still the most extraordinary computer of allrdquo
- John F Kennedy
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1539
xiv Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
HOW HE BOOK IS SRUCURED
Preparing an organization or a successul EMR implementationinvolves a big picture approach that takes into account all the actors
that in1047298uence behavior change Te idea is to establish an organiza-
tional contextmdasha culture in which desired behavior is supported and
reinorced through a variety o methodsmdashcreating a learning organiza-
tion that grows to achieve its vision priorities and goals In this book
we present an Implementation Readiness Model and discuss each ac-
tor involved in ensuring the organization and users are ully prepared
to realize the potential o the new technology
Tis book is organized in a simple ashion First we make the busi-
ness argument or change managementtechnology adoption explain-
ing why technology implementations will not deliver bene1047297ts without
a signi1047297cant ocus on users Next we discuss two critical success ac-
tors in any large-scale change management effortmdasha clear vision and
effective leadership
Ten we argue or the development o a cross-unctional team
o representatives rom key areas within the organization the Orga-
nizational Readiness eam (OR) and introduce a pragmatic model
that outlines the scope o complexity and work that the OR man-
ages throughout the project lie cycle Tis establishes a oundation
or subsequent chapters in which each provides urther detail about
the inter-relationship o work involved to effectively drive sustain-
able change Tese chapters dig deeper into lessons learned and best
practices related to stakeholder management communication train-
ing strategy and reinorcement as all must be aligned to successully
satisy the end goal o a meaningul implementation
Finally the Implementation Readiness chapter shows how the
prior chapters serve as building blocks to ormulate a comprehensive
and powerul Implementation Readiness Program aimed at securing
ready users who are engaged and prepared or the transitional changes
ahead in the world o an EMR Te book ends with a discussion o
our key lessons learned and insights regarding the overall journey Pay
particular attention to some o the larger challenges related to an EMR
implementation as these scenarios have proven to have a signi1047297cant
impact on an organizationrsquos speed and ability to position itsel or ben-
e1047297ts realization
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1639
Preace xv
It is important to stress that ocusing on just one actor o imple-
mentation readiness is not suffi cient to drive organizational changeand sustainable results Each chapter describes an individual actor in
detail and provides lessons and useul examples tools and other bits
o inormation intended to help you succeed in preparing your orga-
nization or a successul EMR implementation But the real purpose
o the book is to raise awareness o how all actors work in concert to
in1047298uence desired change associated with an EMR implementation Te
actors work best as an integrated whole overlapping and reinorcing
each other Tey typically have separate leadership but whether or-
mally integrated or not they are pieces o one picture
Like other books you can jump to any chapter o interest at any
point However we strongly encourage you to read the book cover tocover 1047297rst to gain an understanding o the end-to-end process and how
each actor contributes to overall success A strategy that accounts or
all actors is more effective than just one intervention or multiple dis-
connected interventions In this case the sum is de1047297nitely greater than
all o its individual parts
We speak to you in a conversational and straightorward man-
ner to make this rather diffi cult side o an EMR implementation more
approachable We hope you will 1047297nd our insights valuable and will
leverage this book as your implementation reerence guide It will ur-
ther your cause i all stakeholders accountable or a successul launch
in your organization have a common ramework or approaching the
collective end goal We certainly wish wersquod had a book like this years
ago to guide us through the mine1047297eld o sofware implementationsFinally we hope you enjoy the process o supporting people
through the transition to the world o EMRs Tere is something very
Quoteldquordquo
ldquoExperience is a hard teacher because she gives
the test first the lessons afterwardsrdquo
- Vernon Law
Quoteldquordquo
ldquordquo
ldquoExperience is a hard teacher because she gives
the test first the lessons afterwardsrdquo
- Vernon Law
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1739
xvi Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
rewarding about seeing people who were earul and resistant even
in tears and thinking seriously o quitting eel the pride o accom-plishment when they succeed Each person who stays the course and
becomes a contributing member o the electronically enabled organi-
zation represents untold cost avoidance Knowledge and talent stay in
the organization replacement costs are avoided relationships are pre-
served and critical staff shortages are reduced echnology adoption is
truly a contribution to the bottom line
In the words o one o our grandathers ldquoPeople change when
theyrsquore damned good and ready and not beorerdquo Wersquore here to get
them ready
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1839
xvii
Acknowledgments
Te authors would like to thank the ollowing individuals or sharing
their expertise and experiences or this book
Saaa Al-Haddad MD
Internal Medicine
University Hospitals
Cleveland Ohio
Ronnie D Bower Jr MA
Manager Change Management
BayCare Health System
ampa Florida
Nabil Chehade MD MSBS
CPC
Director Medical Inormatics
Regional Chie o Urology
KP HealthConnect RegionalPhysician Lead
Kaiser Permanente Medical
Group
Cleveland Ohio
Kenneth Goodman MD
Associate Director Center
or Continuing Medical
Education
Department o Family Medicine
Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland Ohio
Marie Hamilton RN
Kaiser Permanente
Oregon Federation o Nurses
and Health ProessionalsHealthcare Inormation
echnology Committee
AF Healthcare
Portland Oregon
Lindsey P Jarrell FACHE
Senior Vice President amp CIO
BayCare Health System
ampa Florida
J Scott JoslynCIO
MemorialCare
Long Beach Caliornia
Margaret M Rudoph PhD
Consultant
Vancouver British Columbia
Canada
om Smith
CIO
NorthShore University Health
System
Evanston Illinois
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1939
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2039
1
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 983089
Te Business Case forChange Management
ldquoWersquore not in Kansas anymorehelliprdquo
In the introduction an EMR implementation is compared to a tornado
in that it whips through an organization turning lie upside down and
throwing users into a world 1047297lled with new ways o doing things and
seeking ways to recapture some sense o balance and control EMR
technology disrupts the status quo and along with the many opportu-
nities it promises it also brings a whirlwind o seemingly never-ending
changes which can have an entirely different effect on different people
While an implementation that is effectively managed even brings these
challenges a poor implementation can be disastrous and will cost the
organization much more time energy and money to get things back
on track
Dorothy the character rom the movie Te Wizard of Oz held
her composure pretty well through the tornado that ripped her rom
a calm stable lie on the arm and threw her into a oreign world She
was able to manage through the obstacles and challenges and stay the
course as she ollowed the yellow brick road in search o the wizard
Some say this is similar to the experience users have except or the
part when Dorothy wakes up rom her dream and 1047297nds hersel back
home as she remembers itEMR implementations donrsquot have to be nightmarish or users but
there certainly will be obstacles and challenges along the way Te key is
to help users through the road blocks and enable them to experience a
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2139
2 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
positive journey Tis process is always easier when people know what
they are getting into eel supported and are prepared or what liesahead both good and bad Tis is the role o change management
CHANGE MANAGEMEN DEFINED
Itrsquos important to understand why you should make an investment in
the people side o the projectmdashbringing in the best technology pos-
sible doesnrsquot mean anything unless users are comortable and pro1047297-
cient in its use Te truth is just because you build it doesnrsquot mean they
will come
Letrsquos start by answering the two questions we are most ofen asked
ldquoWhat is change management anyway What is it change managers
dordquoo avoid conusion wersquoll say up ront we are not talking about
change management as it relates to technical issues such as version or
change control We also want to be clear that change management is
not project management What we are talking about is the human side
o electronic medical records implementations the human-ocused
work o engaging and preparing people to succeed in the new world
o EMRs
A word about project management while good project manage-
ment acilitates change management the two disciplines are not the
same Project management is much more linear and task-ocused
whereas change management deals with the complexities o human
behavior But a good project plan creates a structure and a ounda-
tion in which the change management process can occur Tereore
the two disciplines though different complement and support each
other
A word o caution do not conuse the project plan with the end
result Te plan is necessary and it guides you throughout the process
Te plan is proactive itrsquos the order in the chaos But technology adop-
tion is kind o like herding cats itrsquos unpredictable and you need to
maintain 1047298exibility to respond as things evolve Tis is a more reactive
process than what may be expressed in a plan In our experience an
EMR implementation requires both structure and 1047298exibility
Tere is a saying in change management circles When one door
closes another one opens but sometimes itrsquos hell in the hallway Change
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2239
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 3
management deals mostly with the hallway situation acilitating the
human transition rom the present to the uture Tese days change isongoing and requires ocused leadership i it is to be as ast and pain-
less as possible
Te three legs o the project stool represent the critical compo-nents o an implementation (Figure 1-1)mdashPeople Process and ech-
nology Te people are the most important When technology projects
ail it is primarily due to a lack o use and not a ailure o the sof-
ware Te ocus o change management is people and the objective is
to change behavior Tis is good or business because it accelerates the
change process so bene1047297ts are achieved aster Change management
is not about being nice or placing an emphasis on eelings Itrsquos about
perormance improvement and results
I you search the literature you will 1047297nd a variety o de1047297nitions o
human-ocused change management Tey all cover similar concepts
sometimes using different terminology Te simplest explanation ochange management is to say ldquoItrsquos all about the peoplerdquo But or the
purposes o this book we expand on that concept and use the ollow-
ing de1047297nition o change management
bull A structured process designed to deal directly and intentionally
with the human actors involved in not just planning and imple-
menting an EMR but through behavior change achieving the
anticipated bene1047297ts that justi1047297ed the project in the 1047297rst place
bull Desired behavior change is achieved by helping people understand
and internalize change and by preparing them to be successul
contributors in the uture state In the case o EMR implementa-
tions effective change management delivers users who are willingand able to use an EMR in a way that satis1047297es the requirements o
the job the needs o the patient and the health o the organization
Key Tip
Our assumption is that the software you are implementing
works If the software doesnrsquot work you have another kind of
problem one that even the best change management wonrsquot
resolve
Key Tip
Our assumption is that the software you are implementing
works If the software doesnrsquot work you have another kind of
problemmdashone that even the best change management wonrsquot
resolve
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2339
4 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
Well-designed integrated people-ocused work builds logically
over time in a way that makes sense to the user It brings users along
guiding and supporting them so they arrive at where you want them
to be Tis is about willingness and ability hearts and minds You must
have both
Te overarching purpose o change management is to acceleratethe speed at which people move successfully through the change
process so that anticipated bene1047297ts are achieved faster And there
are additional bene1047297ts to change management Trough optimizing
the effi ciency and effi cacy o users an effective EMR change manage-
ment program will also
bull Improve organizational outcomes and perormance (effective use
o the system generates value to patients and the organization)
bull Enhance employee satisaction morale and engagement (when
people learn new skills meet perormance expectations and con-
tribute to a greater good they eel pride in their accomplishments)
bull Improve service quality (users eel valued and supported by anorganization that makes an investment in them this positively
impacts how they treat patients)
Figure 1-1 The Three-legged Stool
Technology
People Process
Technology
People Process
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2439
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 5
bull Help achieve hoped-or bene1047297ts (bene1047297ts that include EMR value
realization reduction o errors return on investment)bull Create higher levels o openness trust involvement and teamwork
(develop an engaged workorce)
bull Build change capability and capacity in the organization resulting
in improved ability to respond quickly and effectively to new situa-
tions (create organizational nimbleness through embedded change
management knowledge structure and process)
In other words it really is all about the people Intentionally man-
aging the cultural behavioral and organizational changes that need
to take place to make the desired EMR uture not only a reality but
a sustainable reality pays off on many levels in that it also acilitates
organizational transormation Building on individual capability andorganizational capacity change management results in a change-
capable culturemdasha huge advantage in todayrsquos competitive and ast-
changing world
Change Management echnology AdoptionmdashWhatrsquos the Difference
Tere are a number o terms that people use to reer to the work
involved in managing the people side o a change effort We think o
change management as the mother ship that is the umbrella term that
embraces all specialties within the 1047297eld Similar to the various special-
ties or domains o service within a healthcare system change man-agement proessionals may choose speci1047297c areas o ocus echnology
adoption speci1047297cally inormation technology (I) is one such area
and it involves the application o change management principles to the
implementation o I Te focus of this book is technology adoption
and we will mostly use this term instead of change management
throughout the rest of the book
Effective technology adoption proessionals align themselves with
the operationalbusiness side o the organization and tailor solutions
that drive behavioral change and tangible outcomes Tey participate in
EMR implementation projects rom the beginning driving the people
side o change throughout and continuing to add value post-live as theEMR becomes part o the central nervous system o the organization
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2539
6 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
HE IMPORANCE OF HE PEOPLE SIDE
OF AN EMR IMPLEMENAIONTere are many reerences in the literature to ailed change efforts and
I implementations Estimates are that only one third o these projects
achieve success which means two thirds ail to meet expectations Te
good news is that ailure is optional as much has been learned about
why some change efforts ail and others succeed
Herersquos the issue while the change that is going to occur is an exter-
nal eventmdashthe EMR implementation a reorganization proposed out-
sourcing a promotion etcmdashthe transition rom old to new that those
who are impacted experience is a psychological and emotional pro-
cess It is this transition that is diffi cultmdasheven when a change is sel-
imposed or considered positive
In the words o William Bridges a key thought leader in manage-
ment o transitions ldquoIt isnrsquot the changes that do you in itrsquos the transi-
tion afer the change that doesrdquo1
For an implementation team part o the problem encountered
during transition is that change is messy people start where they are
not where we want them to be And when considering the personnel
within a typical hospital people can be all over the place in terms o
comort with computers stage in lie commitment to the organiza-
tion ear o change etc Add to this the act that or change to be suc-
cessul three things must occur People
bull Must let go o their current reality have an ending
bull Go through a conused period in-between (hell in the hallway)
bull Only then can have a new beginning 1
o take this a step urther while I consultants want to install the
system and make enhancements the users will ultimately determine
how the system is used Tis use is affected by human not technical
actors
bull Different rames o reerence backgrounds experiences with
technology
bull Organizational history and experience with other large-scale
change projects
bull Levels o resistance ear ability to deal with ambiguity
bull Degree o alignment o ldquoWhatrsquos in it or merdquo or the various stake-
holder groups
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2639
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 7
bull Ineffi ciencies uncovered because the system creates transparency
bull Workarounds that become quickly entrenchedbull Pressure to get through the day can override doing what is right
bull User worklie balance issues coming into play rom the very
beginning
All o these actors create problems or implementation teams that
just want to install technology How do you effectively address the
people issues Or is it easier to just install the technology and assume
that people will learn because they have to use it Some on the imple-
mentation team may alsely assume that users o an EMR system will
snap into place over time and do what is right or the organization
Tis thinking is a oolrsquos paradise
In the oreword to this book Dave Garets made the point that EMRdeployments are not about technology but about equipping organiza-
tions to reach critical business objectives by providing employees with
technical capabilities that make new things possible and by engaging
them in changing their behavior to effectively use the new capabilities
to generate desired results
With all due respect to the technical side o an EMR implemen-
tation installing the technology is only hal the battle Tis is not to
degrade the importance o the technology Te act that we spend a lot
o money researching technology acquiring it con1047297guring it install-
ing it and supporting it speaks to its importance I we werenrsquot imple-
menting EMRs we wouldnrsquot even be having a discussion about EMR-related change management
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2739
8 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
But implementation o the technology is just a 1047297rst and very nec-
essary stepmdashbecause in and o itsel the technology does not generate
value Te technology is necessary but not suffi cient or bene1047297t realiza-
tion to occur o create value requires people and this is why change
management is so important oo much o a ocus on technology even
in the early stages will create issues downstream And even with the
best technology i not used effi ciently hoped-or bene1047297ts will be tough
to achieve
CIO Perspective
ldquoDuring my masters program I took an Organization Development
class that really opened my eyes to peoplesrsquo needs during large-scale
change Since the OD class I have been very interested in what makes
people tick and why people react in different ways to the same
environment No matter how good of an idea a large-scale technology
implementation is we will always have early adopters average adopters
and laggards As leaders within large organizations we have a
responsibility to plan for and respect all types of technology adopters
Ultimately the people who work within in our organizations want a positive
human experience when they are at work
Utilizing a change management methodology enables the implementation
and leadership teams to provide a positive experience during the period of
significant change By utilizing a solid change management methodologythe organization promotes team communication a safer environment for
the patient a work environment that promotes trust and an environment
where people are allowed to talk about the fear of change All of this
promotes a better human experience and a much stronger work force
hellip An effective change management program has meant the difference
between good go-lives and great go-lives at our 10 hospitalsrdquo
Lindsey P Jarrell FACHE
SVP amp CIO
BayCare Health System
Clearwater FL
CIO Perspective
During my masters program I took an Organization Development
class that really opened my eyes to peoplesrsquo needs during large-scale
change Since the OD class I have been very interested in what makes
people tick and why people react in different ways to the same
environment No matter how good of an idea a large-scale technology
implementation is we will always have early adopters average adopters
and laggards As leaders within large organizations we have a
responsibility to plan for and respect all types of technology adopters
Ultimately the people who work within in our organizations want a positive
human experience when they are at work
Utilizing a change management methodology enables the implementation
and leadership teams to provide a positive experience during the period of
significant change By utilizing a solid change management methodologythe organization promotes team communication a safer environment for
the patient a work environment that promotes trust and an environment
where people are allowed to talk about the fear of change All of this
promotes a better human experience and a much stronger work force
hellip An effective change management program has meant the difference
between good go-lives and great go-lives at our 10 hospitals
Lindsey P Jarrell FACHE
SVP amp CIO
BayCare Health System
Clearwater FL
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2839
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 9
Remember that change is a personal experience It is also local and
individual And itrsquos hardmdasheven when itrsquos sel-imposed and positive
Tere are no shortcuts People have to go through the process o change
in much the same way that we move through the stages o grie2 It canrsquot
be avoided or skipped You can measure twice and cut once or you
can cut now and then do costly remediation later Either way you canrsquot
avoid the expense or time required or real change to occur
SYSEMS PERSPECIVE
Experienced technology adoption proessionals embrace a systems
perspective when given the assignment to drive perormance man-
age perceptions and increase the utilization o new and existing tech-
nology A systems approach is the ability to see the big picture and
address the interrelationships among the variables within the abric o
CIO Perspective
ldquoIrsquove been in healthcare IT a long time and I now realize itrsquos
all about change management What was considered soft is
now hard We know so much more about how to install
technologymdashItrsquos the people part we donrsquot know well yet
and so itrsquos hardrdquo
Scott Joslyn
CIO
MemorialCare
Long Beach CA
CIO Perspective
Irsquove been in healthcare IT a long time and I now realize itrsquos
all about change management What was considered soft is
now hard We know so much more about how to install
technologymdashitrsquos the people part we donrsquot know well yet
and so itrsquos hard
J Scott Joslyn
CIO
MemorialCare
Long Beach CA
Quoteldquordquo
ldquoNo man can think clearly when his fists are clenchedrdquo
- George Jean Nathan
Quoteldquordquo
ldquordquo
ldquoNo man can think clearly when his fists are clenchedrdquo
- George Jean Nathan
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2939
10 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
the organization and in1047298uence the combined impact these variables
have on organizational effectiveness As each variable has the powerto in1047298uence the outcome o any intervention behavior change is ofen
not sustainable because variables tend to work against one another
Effective technology adoption strategies account or this interrelation-
shipinterdependency and aim to bring these variables into alignment
as a means or driving sustainable results
Figure 1-2 introduces the Organizational Fabric Model which
highlights the six primary threads (or variables) that are interwoven
in the abric (or culture) o an organization Te model suggests that
all six threads must work in concert to successully shape the organi-
zational abric A well-woven technology adoption plan strategically
manipulates these threads to in1047298uence desired change A poorly wovenplan in which a thread or combination o threads is not accounted
or leads to disaster or by way o analogy will hit a snag down the
road Depending on the 1047298exibility and durability o this abric a snag
can result in a huge hole that detracts rom the overall strength o the
intervention Te intent o the Organizational Fabric Model is to stress
how important it is to understand the uture state recognize how each
variable or combination o variables will come into play and develop a
sound technology adoption program that appropriately in1047298uences this
set o variables to reshape the abric or culture so desired change can
actually take place
Te Organizational Fabric Model will be revisited in subsequent
chapters as each thread or variable is explored in urther detail For
now we reiterate that technology adoption strategies must not rely
on only one or two threads to drive behavior change Sustainable out-
comes result rom an organizationrsquos ability to leverage the combination
o all six threads working in concert to create an environment orsuccess
Key Point
Fundamentally culture is ldquothe way we do things around hererdquo
Key Point
Fundamentally culture is ldquothe way we do things around hererdquo
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3039
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 11
CREAING AN ENVIRONMEN FOR SUCCESS
echnology adoption is about creating a context an environment in
which change can be achieved and sustained over the long term Tis
involves two levelsmdashorganizational and individual
With an EMR implementation the organization must create thesupporting environment provide needed training and resources
articulate a clear direction coupled with clear expectations engage its
people include them in the process and reinorce desired new behav-
iors Tis is not about checking things off a list but rather about 1047297nd-
ing synergy among impacted groups giving them what they need and
coordinating efforts to meet the end goal Itrsquos an ongoing effort
o give you an idea o what we are talking about herersquos an exam-
ple o an individual situation occurring within a social context Tink
about what happens when you want to make a signi1047297cant change in
your personal liemdashquit smoking stop drinking lose weight Itrsquos one
thing to talk with a doctor or another proessional about what needsto happen when yoursquore in their offi ce but once you leave the offi ce
you then return to your social reality I your riends and amily donrsquot
want your behavior to change you will have a tough time All the rein-
Figure 1-2 Organizational Fabric Model
Sponsorship
Stakeholder Mgmt
Training
Vision
Reinforcement
Communications
Sponsorship
Stakeholder Mgmt
Training
Vision
Reinforcement
Communications
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3139
12 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
orcements and temptations will conspire to prevent you rom mak-
ing changes But i you can get some important people in your lieto make the changes with you or at least support you in the process
you have a much greater chance o success Te lesson is donrsquot send a
changed person back into an unchanged environment if you want
to see behavior change
Engaging individuals involves arousing two key aspects mdashwilling-
ness and ability Te organization must in1047298uence both in order to suc-
ceed With the help o the Skill Versus Will Matrix (Figure 1-3) think
about it this way
bull When people want to do something but donrsquot know how they canrsquot
(willingunable)
bull When people know how but donrsquot want to they wonrsquot(ableunwilling)
Can you think o examples in your own lie when you have been in
either o these situations
Consider the circumstance o people who know how to do some-
thing but donrsquot want to do it Tis is a ldquowillrdquo not a ldquoskillrdquo issue and it is
a very common technology adoption dilemma I the amount o work
and effort involved are not perceived by the user as being equal to the
Figure 1-3 The Skill versus Will Matrix
Skill
Will
WONrsquoT
WONrsquoT
DOES
CANrsquoTLow
High
HighLow
Skill
Will
WONrsquoT
WONrsquoT
DOES
CANrsquoTLow
High
HighLow HighLow
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3239
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 13
return or value experienced through the implementation the user will
most likely choose to reduce the effort A goal o an effective people-ocused strategy is to identiy potential areas o disconnect and 1047297nd
ways to increase the perceived value to users Te assumption is that
when the return is perceived to be greater the effort increases When
there are no incentives to try harder it may be diffi cult to drive desired
behavior change
Te point in getting users to actively support the deployment o
an EMR is about a lot more than a communication plan or eature
unction training Managing the people side o an EMR implementa-
tion requires a savvy technology adoption plan that ties sponsorship
training communication work1047298ow harmonization user support and
reinorcement with the business priorities o the organization andeffectively coordinates all o these activities with the user in mindmdashin
an environment that reinorces desired behavior changes
Key Questions
Two key questions to remember throughout the
project arehellip
(1) How will this decision impact the user
(2) How might it impact patients
Key Questions
Two key questions to remember throughout the
project are
(1) How will this decision impact the user
(2) How might it impact patients
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3339
14 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
Consider this example
In this example what are the key elements o this process that
ensure success
bull Te picture of success the desired outcome is clearmdashit is or the
child to become a unctioning adult in the community
bull How this happens is clearly de1047297ned in behavioral terms Tere is a
process that is known and understood by the entire community
including children
bull Leaders at all levels in the community agree on the desired out-
come support the entire process and actively ful1047297ll their roles to ensure success Leaders include village elders and ormal lead-
ers parents o the children inormal opinion leaders and amily
members
bull Te children who are about to become adults take an active role
in their own transormation taking responsibility or their suc-
cess Tey receive guidance and counsel rom elders Tey know
and understand the transormation process and what they must do
to achieve their new status Goals and steps are clear Tey also
understand the consequences o not successully transitioning to
adulthood
bull I there is more than one child slated to go through transormationto adulthood at the same time they are a peer group and as appro-
priate prepare together and support each other
Key Point
In native cultures there tend to be rites of passage that serve
to transition a person from childhood to adult status in the
community The child may actually leave the village for a day or
two of contemplation following a prescribed process When the
child returns he or she is redefined as an adult and assumes
the consequent privileges and responsibilities The entire
community reinforces the personrsquos new status the new adult is
not allowed to return to being a child whenever itrsquos convenient
but is supported to complete the transformation to adulthood
The change to adulthood does not happen in a vacuum but is
part of a carefully designed process that ensures success
Key Point
In native cultures there tend to be rites of passage that serve
to transition a person from childhood to adult status in the
community The child may actually leave the village for a day or
two of contemplation following a prescribed process When the
child returns he or she is redefined as an adult and assumes
the consequent privileges and responsibilities The entire
community reinforces the personrsquos new status the new adult is
not allowed to return to being a child whenever itrsquos convenient
but is supported to complete the transformation to adulthood
The change to adulthood does not happen in a vacuum but is
part of a carefully designed process that ensures success
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3439
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 15
bull Te entire community works together to bring about the
transormationbull Success results in positive reinforcement
Te environmental context is the trump card in any implementerrsquos
hand It takes a lot o work to create a suitable environment but it is an
essential ingredient in being able to drive and sustain change
Willingness and Ability
Earlier we mentioned willingness and ability as key concepts in tech-
nology adoption Willingness and ability can also be thought o as
hearts and minds or will and skill Te point is the same regardless
o the terms used People need to be supported on both an emotional
level to commit and on an intellectual level to be able Te questionto be answered is ldquoWhat are the conditions under which users will
accept and adopt the EMRrdquo
Letrsquos talk about willingness 1047297rst
Willingness or hearts is the commitment to go orward Tis is
impacted by many things including the ollowing elements
bull Leadership Perceived support or lack o support or the change
rom senior executives in the company the cascade o sponsors
down through the organization and just as importantly rom the
employeersquos direct supervisor
bull Communication Quality and requency o verbal and written
messages that describe the desired uture state tell why the changeneeds to happen and what will happen i change isnrsquot made set
clear expectations explain how the company will prepare and sup-
port people to success and describe local details such as timelines
etc
bull Reinforcement Degree o appropriateness and timeliness o
rewards or demonstrating desired new behaviors and conse-
quences or sticking to the old ways
bull Participation Degree to which users are involved every step o
the way either directly as individuals or indirectly by being effec-
tively represented by trusted local opinion leader peers who serve
as liaisons between users and the project teambull Organizational History with Change Previous organizational
experience with changemdashgood and badmdashwill in1047298uence user per-
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3539
16 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
ceptions and expectations o the EMR implementation Under-
standing the past is important in planning or the utureTis all sounds logical but the reaction to it can be emotional Tis
is where people conront their ear o ailure eeling stupid making
mistakes etc Remember that the change may require people to give
up the very things that they believe made them successul in the past
Tis can be a diffi cult sell
Ability or minds is about the actual capability to successully
meet new job expectations Tis is impacted by many things including
the ollowing elements
bull raining and Support In most cases the new EMR abilities must
be learned An effective training program that is role-based and
intentionally ocused on preparing people to perorm new jobexpectations is key Just discussing desired outcomes is not enough
though we have to clearly tell people what we want them to do
Tis requires an intellectual understanding o what and how a
conceptual understanding is necessary but not suffi cient Most
people need to practice something new to develop competence and
con1047297dence Sae opportunities to practice preerably with immedi-
ate eedback are very important to pro1047297ciency development and
sustainability
Getting people to move in the direction you want is the diffi -
cultymdashsome say the hardest part o the whole project And i you agree
that people are the oundation o successmdashthat bene1047297t realization isdependant not on technology but on people agreeing to go through
personal disruption learn new things change established patterns and
conront their earsmdashthen we must be proactive and courageous in
addressing the human issues
Tis is the people side o the project Tis is the organizational read-
iness unction It involves collaboration coordination and sequencing
o activities inormation and events rom all people-ocused areas Te
idea is to have all the people-ocused unctions working together to
reach clearly de1047297ned shared outcomes Te organizational readiness
plan to create individual and organizational readiness is the umbrella
that connects it allmdashthe glue that holds it together and the grease thatmakes it workmdashor the user We will address the structure and process
or doing this in more detail in subsequent chapters
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3639
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 17
Good News on wo Fronts
1 Tere is a social science Tere is a body o work research andsubsequent publications about the human experience with change
Tere are proven change management strategies tools and tech-
niques Tis isnrsquot olklore hooey or black magic Te transition
process is known and predictable Tere is a change curve that
describes the steps (Chapter 5 Stakeholder Management) And
though there is no silver bullet it isnrsquot rocket science Senior
healthcare executives must take the emerging proession o change
managementtechnology adoption seriously Not understanding it
is no excuse or ignoring it Tat is ar too expensive an option
2 All people go through transition when changemdashgood or badmdash
happens in both their personal and proessional lie You canrsquot
avoid it Te wonderul thing is i you learn about change and
transition at work it will improve your personal lie Tis is one
o the times to ldquotry this at homerdquo Wersquore all humanmdashat work and
at home So treat your people as the humans they are and avoid
some predictable expense and diffi culty Lead your organization
to a successul outcome and speed up the process by treating your
staff as customers 1047297rst
Donrsquot make the mistake o glossing over the critical human aspects
o change Hire experts and 1047297nd the emotionally intelligent people in
your organization who want to participate And remember you can
install technology without your people but you canrsquot ully implement
and achieve return on investment without them Consciously choose
to move fear and resistance to trust and adoption Itrsquos a case o pay
now or pay later I you wait until later it will always cost more ech-
nology Adoption is expensive but not as expensive as trying to gloss
it over and then having to undo the damage When ailure happens it
Quoteldquordquo
ldquoNot everything that can be counted counts and not everything thatcounts can be countedrdquo
- Albert Einstein
Quoteldquordquo
ldquordquo
ldquoNot everything that can be counted counts and not everything thatcounts can be countedrdquo
- Albert Einstein
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3739
18 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
takes a long time or people to re-engage And in todayrsquos world this
presents real problems or healthcare organizations aced with short-ages in many proessions Tere is a huge risk o alienating and poten-
tially losing needed staff or in causing long delays We can do better
Not so long ago it wasnrsquot conventional wisdom that clinical application
rollouts are not I projects More frequently than not these were consid-
ered technical projects in which the point of celebration was when con-nection from workstation to central processor was reliable and wireless
access actually worked Te classic I People-Process-echnology trian-
gle never got much past echnology to the real hard work on the People-
Process axis Tat has all changed in the 21st century system implemen-
tations that are both successful and valuable have had people and process
on the front burner
When MemorialCare embarked on a 1047297ve-hospital roll-out of an
EMR in 2002 it had several things in its favor
bull Te technology the organization ultimately acquired was robust and
reliable it worked
bull It had 15 yearsrsquo experience with CPOE (computerized providerorder entry) Terefore although unevenly adopted it was not new
territory
bull It had had the experience of a system-wide roll-out and standard-
ization on a general 1047297nance human resources and materials man-
agement system When all was said and done users had not been
suffi ciently involved standardization fell short because involvement
was low business leadership was diffuse and I ownership was too
high It was judged successful overall but the organization continues
to move slowly forward with an underutilized set of applications
With this experience and the insights of others MemorialCare pri-
oritized engagement of physicians nurses pharmacists and other staffWell before 1047297nancial commitment to a new system was obtained Memo-
rialCare hired a ldquoCare Planning Executiverdquo a person whose full-time
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3839
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 19
activities were devoted to the project 1047297rst to help understand the drivers
of a new system scope out the territory to be covered gain the com-mitment of senior leaders as well as governance and outline the case
for change At my insistence the Care Planning Executive a registered
nurse and former hospital chief operating offi cer joined the organization
reporting to the system-wide CEO as a peer and partner of the CIO not
a staff member and a peer to the CEOs of each medical center campus
Tat dedication alone made clear the commitment intentions and over-
all priority of the company
Among several other critical success factorsmdashand the outcome was
a successmdashwas the overall employee engagement program that the Care
Planning Executive established In summary it was an education mar-
keting and training program dedicated to equipping the affected staffwith the knowledge and tools to embrace unavoidable change Staff com-
munication was clear that it wasnrsquot change for changersquos sake but a major
move forward in the paperless way care would be delivered and work-
1047298ows would be streamlined Of course at the time no one could have
foreseen later moves by government to push everyone in this direction
(with the American Recovery and Reconstruction Act of 2009) Because
of our early efforts wersquore now very well positioned
J Scott Joslyn
CIO
MemorialCareLong Beach California
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3939
About the BookDespite the promise of improving care and other benefits EMR implementations are highly disruptive to the
organization This book prepares you to lead or participate successfully in change managementtechnologyadoption efforts so that meaningful use of EMRs can be achieved The authors provide successful strategies
to plan and implement change The content is based on their decades of combined experience designing
and leading technology adoption programs
Sections of the book deal with establishing a foundation for change building commitment and developing
requisite skill in helping users be successful with technology The book includes numerous lessons learned
tips for success best practices and case studies from organizations that have handled change well
About the AuthorsClaire McCarthy MA is a recognized technology adoption strategist and leader
with 25 years of healthcare industry experience supporting people through softwareimplementations and other large-scale change efforts As Director of Organizational
Effectiveness for Kaiser Permanentersquos enterprise-wide EMR deployment Ms McCarthy
led a national community of practice focused on preparing users to assume new
roles and responsibilities in support of organizational objectives Ms McCarthy
speaks internationally on the topic of technology adoption encouraging healthcare
leaders around the globe to set the stage for benefit realization by investing in the
people side of EMR implementation
Douglas Eastman PhD is an organizational development executive with extensive
experience managing large-scale change initiatives With more than 20 years
of consulting experience Dr Eastmanrsquos focus is to help organizations grow and
manage change by unleashing human potential His specialties are organizationaltransformation technology adoption and optimization process redesign strategic
planning and program and tools development As the Executive Director of Technology
Adoption and Organizational Capability within the Kaiser Permanente IT Care
Delivery Business Information Office Dr Eastman has pioneered several of Kaiserrsquos
implementation readiness toolsmethodologies and post-live optimization strategies
programs adding to the organizationrsquos ability to realize the benefit of its technology
About HIMSS The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) is a comprehensive healthcare-
stakeholder membership organization exclusively focused on providing global leadership for the optimal
use of information technology (IT) and management systems for the betterment of healthcare Founded in
1961 with offices in Chicago Washington DC Brussels Singapore and other locations across the United
States HIMSS represents more than 23000 individual members of which 73 work in patient care delivery
settings HIMSS also includes over 380 corporate members and nearly 30 not-for-profit organizations that
share our mission of transforming healthcare through the effective use of information technology and
management systems HIMSS frames and leads healthcare public policy and industry practices through
its educational professional development and advocacy initiatives designed to promote information and
management systemsrsquo contributions to ensuring quality patient care
ISBN 978-0-9821070-6-5
Order Code 564
230 E Ohio St Suite 500
Chicago IL 60611ndash3270
312-915-9295
www himss org
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 939
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1039
ix
Foreword
By David E Garets FHIMSS
Electronic medical record (EMR) deployments are not about technol-
ogy Tey are about equipping organizations to reach critical business
objectives by providing people with technical capabilities that make
new things possible and by engaging people in changing their behavior
to effectively use the new capabilities to generate resultsTis book will show you how to create an environment or suc-
cess in your organization to not only ensure that your EMR imple-
mentation effort is successul but that your organization builds change
capacity and 1047298exibility in the process Tis new nimbleness will serve
you well in our world o continual change
De1047297ning change management is as important as understand-
ing what change management is not It isnrsquot project management or
solely process improvement Rather it is a set o speci1047297c disciplines
described in detail in this book that when coordinated and integrated
make the difference between tossing money into an EMR pit (simi-
lar to the ones that we boaters throw our money into) or getting thesought-afer changes in your organization
Chapter 2 on Vision is especially important In it Claire and Doug
explain how leadership paints the picture o what is expected rom
the implementation o an EMR I would argue that it is a process that
involves not only representatives o the ront line and their managers
and the senior executive team but also the board An EMR implemen-
tation done rightmdashmeaning the technology works was implemented
on time and within budget and the people modiy their behavior and
processes to achieve commensurate value or the investmentmdashis more
transormative than anything else a healthcare organization could do
It needs to be driven rom the board Tat way the right people iethe CEO and executive management team are held accountable or the
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1139
x Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
success o this crucial business initiative with an inormation technol-
ogy componentDale Sanders then CIO at the Northwestern Medical Faculty Foun-
dation and now CIO at the Cayman Islandsrsquo Health Services Author-
ity pointed out that ldquoyou need to dedicate the time and resources to
constantly iterate re1047297ne and improve the utilization o the EMR over
time ar beyond its installation and go-live Itrsquos a race without a 1047297n-
ish line rain und and plan accordinglymdashdonrsquot short-change the
investmentrdquo In other words recognize that you are not done at go-
live yoursquove just started achieving technology adoption and changing
behavior to get value rom your EMR investment
Tis book should be required reading or every member o the
executive team in every healthcare organization that is planning toimplement an EMR in the next ew years I was happy to be asked
to review the book and to write the orewordmdashand not or the ame
and ortune It was because I would then have to read it and Irsquom glad
I did I learned an incredible amount about a topic that most o us in
the technology world do not understand well and that is dealing with
people issues Claire and Doug nail it here and I guarantee yoursquoll be
thankul or the knowledge they share
Having said that reading this de1047297nitive work on change man-
agement or EMR implementations is not going to provide you with
enough knowledge on the topic to preclude your engaging or hiring
change management expertise In act just the opposite yoursquoll ullyunderstand why you need to get some help Welcome to the epiphany
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1239
xi
Preface
By Claire McCarthy MA and Douglas Eastman PhD
Tere is much discussion today about implementation o EMR sys-
temsmdashdiscussions that usually include excitement anxiety and
downright dread Tere is also a lot o talk about whether EMRs cre-
ate opportunities or healthcare organizations such as transorming
the way care is delivered reducing medical errors increasing internaleffi ciencies or clinical and administrative users improving revenue
capture and providing a host o other critical bene1047297ts Te promise
(some would say antasy) is big
But above all an EMR implementation is disruptive Te process
can realistically be equated to a tornado whipping through an organi-
zation and lie as you once knew it is turned upside down and the new
processes expectations priorities roles and methods overwhelm the
workplace
Our intent in writing this book is to assist others who may be
struggling with many o the same issues we have addressed By sharing
lessons rom our numerous 1047297rsthand sofware implementation expe-riences we will equip you with successul practices and prepare you
to lead or participate effectively in change managementtechnology
adoption efforts so that meaningul use can be achieved
Te primary audience o this book is everyone who leads or is
directly involved in the people-ocused change managementtech-
nology adoption efforts o an EMR implementation Our secondary
audience is everyone else who has a stake in the usersrsquo willingness and
ability to change behavior so the potential o the technology can be
realized So whether you are actively engaged in change management
technology adoption work or your support and advocacy o change
managementtechnology adoption is neededmdashthis book is or youRegardless o your speci1047297c role (executive middle-management
ront-line supervisor physician nurse medical assistant I proes-
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1339
xii Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
sional consultant or other stakeholder in the success o an EMR
implementation) our hope is that you will gain an appreciation orthe importance o users and the effort required to ensure operational
success Tis book emphasizes effective ways to plan and implement
change Te content is based on decades o combined experience man-
aging the people side o sofware implementations in healthcare
It is important to point out however that this book is not meant to
be a course on change managementtechnology adoption Our intent
is not to review existing research or current academic models and the-
ories but rather to share the insights and lessons we have learned in
delivering sustainable results and healthy organizational change over
the years
For technically-oriented project leads the success o an EMRimplementation tends to ocus too heavily on ldquoscrewing in the sys-
temrdquo on time and on budget But as important as it is getting the
EMR technology up and running should not be the primary ocus
Equal emphasis must be placed on how the new technology will be
embraced utilized and leveraged to realize a return on this signi1047297-
cant investment Flipping the switch and turning the technology on is
merely hal o the game
We believe the promise o an EMR implementation is great with
potentially signi1047297cant returns or the patient user organization and
or the industry as a whole When we hear words such as electronic
computerized and automated it sounds as i lie will be made easier andbecome more organized and effi cient However healthcare organiza-
tions do not always think about the critical steps involved in making
these hopes a reality Tis is due in large part because managing the
people side o an implementation and developing and installing major
technology require different skills sets Neither side o the coin is nec-
essarily more important but they both must be seen as equally signi1047297-
cant Te role in managing the people side o an implementation rarely
1047297ts neatly into how technically-ocused projects have historically been
measured and this creates a scenario in which the people side is ofen
misunderstood discounted and worst case ignored altogether Con-
sider the difference between what it takes to install the system (a tech-nology ocus) and what it takes to get the desired outcomes (a ocus on
people doing things differently)
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1439
Preace xiii
Te management o ambiguity resistance and user motivation is
admittedly hard to measure and unortunately involves methods thatare not always easily checked off a list Te process is more 1047298uid and
organic than linear At times it is unpredictable requiring rethink-
ing and course corrections Afer all we are dealing with people Not
everything is clear cut Donrsquot believe anyone who tells you it is
People come with different backgrounds rames o reerence
experience with technology comort with change or ambiguity trust
in leadership and so orth Whatever the mix o scenarios users never
start rom the same placemdashand they move through the change pro-
cess at different speeds meaning they continue to be in different places
throughout the project Te good news is that users do grow and develop
over the course o the project and many eventually accept things theywouldnrsquot agree to at 1047297rst But they require understandingmdashtheir ears
needs hopes and their reactions to the challenges that impact their
ability to perorm A sound comprehensive people strategy that cre-
ates an environment in which they can succeed is essential
I the goal o your EMR implementation is to achieve sustainable
results growth or organizational transormation then a substantial
investment in people must be central to your overall implementation
strategy Afer all it is the user who makes or breaks your EMR imple-
mentation and ultimately determines the amount o return the organi-
zation will realize Te better prepared people are or the change and
the less they see it as threatening the aster they will deliver value
Quoteldquordquo
ldquoMan is still the most extraordinary computer of allrdquo
- John F Kennedy
Quoteldquordquo
ldquordquo
ldquoMan is still the most extraordinary computer of allrdquo
- John F Kennedy
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1539
xiv Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
HOW HE BOOK IS SRUCURED
Preparing an organization or a successul EMR implementationinvolves a big picture approach that takes into account all the actors
that in1047298uence behavior change Te idea is to establish an organiza-
tional contextmdasha culture in which desired behavior is supported and
reinorced through a variety o methodsmdashcreating a learning organiza-
tion that grows to achieve its vision priorities and goals In this book
we present an Implementation Readiness Model and discuss each ac-
tor involved in ensuring the organization and users are ully prepared
to realize the potential o the new technology
Tis book is organized in a simple ashion First we make the busi-
ness argument or change managementtechnology adoption explain-
ing why technology implementations will not deliver bene1047297ts without
a signi1047297cant ocus on users Next we discuss two critical success ac-
tors in any large-scale change management effortmdasha clear vision and
effective leadership
Ten we argue or the development o a cross-unctional team
o representatives rom key areas within the organization the Orga-
nizational Readiness eam (OR) and introduce a pragmatic model
that outlines the scope o complexity and work that the OR man-
ages throughout the project lie cycle Tis establishes a oundation
or subsequent chapters in which each provides urther detail about
the inter-relationship o work involved to effectively drive sustain-
able change Tese chapters dig deeper into lessons learned and best
practices related to stakeholder management communication train-
ing strategy and reinorcement as all must be aligned to successully
satisy the end goal o a meaningul implementation
Finally the Implementation Readiness chapter shows how the
prior chapters serve as building blocks to ormulate a comprehensive
and powerul Implementation Readiness Program aimed at securing
ready users who are engaged and prepared or the transitional changes
ahead in the world o an EMR Te book ends with a discussion o
our key lessons learned and insights regarding the overall journey Pay
particular attention to some o the larger challenges related to an EMR
implementation as these scenarios have proven to have a signi1047297cant
impact on an organizationrsquos speed and ability to position itsel or ben-
e1047297ts realization
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1639
Preace xv
It is important to stress that ocusing on just one actor o imple-
mentation readiness is not suffi cient to drive organizational changeand sustainable results Each chapter describes an individual actor in
detail and provides lessons and useul examples tools and other bits
o inormation intended to help you succeed in preparing your orga-
nization or a successul EMR implementation But the real purpose
o the book is to raise awareness o how all actors work in concert to
in1047298uence desired change associated with an EMR implementation Te
actors work best as an integrated whole overlapping and reinorcing
each other Tey typically have separate leadership but whether or-
mally integrated or not they are pieces o one picture
Like other books you can jump to any chapter o interest at any
point However we strongly encourage you to read the book cover tocover 1047297rst to gain an understanding o the end-to-end process and how
each actor contributes to overall success A strategy that accounts or
all actors is more effective than just one intervention or multiple dis-
connected interventions In this case the sum is de1047297nitely greater than
all o its individual parts
We speak to you in a conversational and straightorward man-
ner to make this rather diffi cult side o an EMR implementation more
approachable We hope you will 1047297nd our insights valuable and will
leverage this book as your implementation reerence guide It will ur-
ther your cause i all stakeholders accountable or a successul launch
in your organization have a common ramework or approaching the
collective end goal We certainly wish wersquod had a book like this years
ago to guide us through the mine1047297eld o sofware implementationsFinally we hope you enjoy the process o supporting people
through the transition to the world o EMRs Tere is something very
Quoteldquordquo
ldquoExperience is a hard teacher because she gives
the test first the lessons afterwardsrdquo
- Vernon Law
Quoteldquordquo
ldquordquo
ldquoExperience is a hard teacher because she gives
the test first the lessons afterwardsrdquo
- Vernon Law
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1739
xvi Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
rewarding about seeing people who were earul and resistant even
in tears and thinking seriously o quitting eel the pride o accom-plishment when they succeed Each person who stays the course and
becomes a contributing member o the electronically enabled organi-
zation represents untold cost avoidance Knowledge and talent stay in
the organization replacement costs are avoided relationships are pre-
served and critical staff shortages are reduced echnology adoption is
truly a contribution to the bottom line
In the words o one o our grandathers ldquoPeople change when
theyrsquore damned good and ready and not beorerdquo Wersquore here to get
them ready
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1839
xvii
Acknowledgments
Te authors would like to thank the ollowing individuals or sharing
their expertise and experiences or this book
Saaa Al-Haddad MD
Internal Medicine
University Hospitals
Cleveland Ohio
Ronnie D Bower Jr MA
Manager Change Management
BayCare Health System
ampa Florida
Nabil Chehade MD MSBS
CPC
Director Medical Inormatics
Regional Chie o Urology
KP HealthConnect RegionalPhysician Lead
Kaiser Permanente Medical
Group
Cleveland Ohio
Kenneth Goodman MD
Associate Director Center
or Continuing Medical
Education
Department o Family Medicine
Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland Ohio
Marie Hamilton RN
Kaiser Permanente
Oregon Federation o Nurses
and Health ProessionalsHealthcare Inormation
echnology Committee
AF Healthcare
Portland Oregon
Lindsey P Jarrell FACHE
Senior Vice President amp CIO
BayCare Health System
ampa Florida
J Scott JoslynCIO
MemorialCare
Long Beach Caliornia
Margaret M Rudoph PhD
Consultant
Vancouver British Columbia
Canada
om Smith
CIO
NorthShore University Health
System
Evanston Illinois
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1939
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2039
1
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 983089
Te Business Case forChange Management
ldquoWersquore not in Kansas anymorehelliprdquo
In the introduction an EMR implementation is compared to a tornado
in that it whips through an organization turning lie upside down and
throwing users into a world 1047297lled with new ways o doing things and
seeking ways to recapture some sense o balance and control EMR
technology disrupts the status quo and along with the many opportu-
nities it promises it also brings a whirlwind o seemingly never-ending
changes which can have an entirely different effect on different people
While an implementation that is effectively managed even brings these
challenges a poor implementation can be disastrous and will cost the
organization much more time energy and money to get things back
on track
Dorothy the character rom the movie Te Wizard of Oz held
her composure pretty well through the tornado that ripped her rom
a calm stable lie on the arm and threw her into a oreign world She
was able to manage through the obstacles and challenges and stay the
course as she ollowed the yellow brick road in search o the wizard
Some say this is similar to the experience users have except or the
part when Dorothy wakes up rom her dream and 1047297nds hersel back
home as she remembers itEMR implementations donrsquot have to be nightmarish or users but
there certainly will be obstacles and challenges along the way Te key is
to help users through the road blocks and enable them to experience a
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2139
2 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
positive journey Tis process is always easier when people know what
they are getting into eel supported and are prepared or what liesahead both good and bad Tis is the role o change management
CHANGE MANAGEMEN DEFINED
Itrsquos important to understand why you should make an investment in
the people side o the projectmdashbringing in the best technology pos-
sible doesnrsquot mean anything unless users are comortable and pro1047297-
cient in its use Te truth is just because you build it doesnrsquot mean they
will come
Letrsquos start by answering the two questions we are most ofen asked
ldquoWhat is change management anyway What is it change managers
dordquoo avoid conusion wersquoll say up ront we are not talking about
change management as it relates to technical issues such as version or
change control We also want to be clear that change management is
not project management What we are talking about is the human side
o electronic medical records implementations the human-ocused
work o engaging and preparing people to succeed in the new world
o EMRs
A word about project management while good project manage-
ment acilitates change management the two disciplines are not the
same Project management is much more linear and task-ocused
whereas change management deals with the complexities o human
behavior But a good project plan creates a structure and a ounda-
tion in which the change management process can occur Tereore
the two disciplines though different complement and support each
other
A word o caution do not conuse the project plan with the end
result Te plan is necessary and it guides you throughout the process
Te plan is proactive itrsquos the order in the chaos But technology adop-
tion is kind o like herding cats itrsquos unpredictable and you need to
maintain 1047298exibility to respond as things evolve Tis is a more reactive
process than what may be expressed in a plan In our experience an
EMR implementation requires both structure and 1047298exibility
Tere is a saying in change management circles When one door
closes another one opens but sometimes itrsquos hell in the hallway Change
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2239
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 3
management deals mostly with the hallway situation acilitating the
human transition rom the present to the uture Tese days change isongoing and requires ocused leadership i it is to be as ast and pain-
less as possible
Te three legs o the project stool represent the critical compo-nents o an implementation (Figure 1-1)mdashPeople Process and ech-
nology Te people are the most important When technology projects
ail it is primarily due to a lack o use and not a ailure o the sof-
ware Te ocus o change management is people and the objective is
to change behavior Tis is good or business because it accelerates the
change process so bene1047297ts are achieved aster Change management
is not about being nice or placing an emphasis on eelings Itrsquos about
perormance improvement and results
I you search the literature you will 1047297nd a variety o de1047297nitions o
human-ocused change management Tey all cover similar concepts
sometimes using different terminology Te simplest explanation ochange management is to say ldquoItrsquos all about the peoplerdquo But or the
purposes o this book we expand on that concept and use the ollow-
ing de1047297nition o change management
bull A structured process designed to deal directly and intentionally
with the human actors involved in not just planning and imple-
menting an EMR but through behavior change achieving the
anticipated bene1047297ts that justi1047297ed the project in the 1047297rst place
bull Desired behavior change is achieved by helping people understand
and internalize change and by preparing them to be successul
contributors in the uture state In the case o EMR implementa-
tions effective change management delivers users who are willingand able to use an EMR in a way that satis1047297es the requirements o
the job the needs o the patient and the health o the organization
Key Tip
Our assumption is that the software you are implementing
works If the software doesnrsquot work you have another kind of
problem one that even the best change management wonrsquot
resolve
Key Tip
Our assumption is that the software you are implementing
works If the software doesnrsquot work you have another kind of
problemmdashone that even the best change management wonrsquot
resolve
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2339
4 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
Well-designed integrated people-ocused work builds logically
over time in a way that makes sense to the user It brings users along
guiding and supporting them so they arrive at where you want them
to be Tis is about willingness and ability hearts and minds You must
have both
Te overarching purpose o change management is to acceleratethe speed at which people move successfully through the change
process so that anticipated bene1047297ts are achieved faster And there
are additional bene1047297ts to change management Trough optimizing
the effi ciency and effi cacy o users an effective EMR change manage-
ment program will also
bull Improve organizational outcomes and perormance (effective use
o the system generates value to patients and the organization)
bull Enhance employee satisaction morale and engagement (when
people learn new skills meet perormance expectations and con-
tribute to a greater good they eel pride in their accomplishments)
bull Improve service quality (users eel valued and supported by anorganization that makes an investment in them this positively
impacts how they treat patients)
Figure 1-1 The Three-legged Stool
Technology
People Process
Technology
People Process
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2439
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 5
bull Help achieve hoped-or bene1047297ts (bene1047297ts that include EMR value
realization reduction o errors return on investment)bull Create higher levels o openness trust involvement and teamwork
(develop an engaged workorce)
bull Build change capability and capacity in the organization resulting
in improved ability to respond quickly and effectively to new situa-
tions (create organizational nimbleness through embedded change
management knowledge structure and process)
In other words it really is all about the people Intentionally man-
aging the cultural behavioral and organizational changes that need
to take place to make the desired EMR uture not only a reality but
a sustainable reality pays off on many levels in that it also acilitates
organizational transormation Building on individual capability andorganizational capacity change management results in a change-
capable culturemdasha huge advantage in todayrsquos competitive and ast-
changing world
Change Management echnology AdoptionmdashWhatrsquos the Difference
Tere are a number o terms that people use to reer to the work
involved in managing the people side o a change effort We think o
change management as the mother ship that is the umbrella term that
embraces all specialties within the 1047297eld Similar to the various special-
ties or domains o service within a healthcare system change man-agement proessionals may choose speci1047297c areas o ocus echnology
adoption speci1047297cally inormation technology (I) is one such area
and it involves the application o change management principles to the
implementation o I Te focus of this book is technology adoption
and we will mostly use this term instead of change management
throughout the rest of the book
Effective technology adoption proessionals align themselves with
the operationalbusiness side o the organization and tailor solutions
that drive behavioral change and tangible outcomes Tey participate in
EMR implementation projects rom the beginning driving the people
side o change throughout and continuing to add value post-live as theEMR becomes part o the central nervous system o the organization
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2539
6 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
HE IMPORANCE OF HE PEOPLE SIDE
OF AN EMR IMPLEMENAIONTere are many reerences in the literature to ailed change efforts and
I implementations Estimates are that only one third o these projects
achieve success which means two thirds ail to meet expectations Te
good news is that ailure is optional as much has been learned about
why some change efforts ail and others succeed
Herersquos the issue while the change that is going to occur is an exter-
nal eventmdashthe EMR implementation a reorganization proposed out-
sourcing a promotion etcmdashthe transition rom old to new that those
who are impacted experience is a psychological and emotional pro-
cess It is this transition that is diffi cultmdasheven when a change is sel-
imposed or considered positive
In the words o William Bridges a key thought leader in manage-
ment o transitions ldquoIt isnrsquot the changes that do you in itrsquos the transi-
tion afer the change that doesrdquo1
For an implementation team part o the problem encountered
during transition is that change is messy people start where they are
not where we want them to be And when considering the personnel
within a typical hospital people can be all over the place in terms o
comort with computers stage in lie commitment to the organiza-
tion ear o change etc Add to this the act that or change to be suc-
cessul three things must occur People
bull Must let go o their current reality have an ending
bull Go through a conused period in-between (hell in the hallway)
bull Only then can have a new beginning 1
o take this a step urther while I consultants want to install the
system and make enhancements the users will ultimately determine
how the system is used Tis use is affected by human not technical
actors
bull Different rames o reerence backgrounds experiences with
technology
bull Organizational history and experience with other large-scale
change projects
bull Levels o resistance ear ability to deal with ambiguity
bull Degree o alignment o ldquoWhatrsquos in it or merdquo or the various stake-
holder groups
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2639
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 7
bull Ineffi ciencies uncovered because the system creates transparency
bull Workarounds that become quickly entrenchedbull Pressure to get through the day can override doing what is right
bull User worklie balance issues coming into play rom the very
beginning
All o these actors create problems or implementation teams that
just want to install technology How do you effectively address the
people issues Or is it easier to just install the technology and assume
that people will learn because they have to use it Some on the imple-
mentation team may alsely assume that users o an EMR system will
snap into place over time and do what is right or the organization
Tis thinking is a oolrsquos paradise
In the oreword to this book Dave Garets made the point that EMRdeployments are not about technology but about equipping organiza-
tions to reach critical business objectives by providing employees with
technical capabilities that make new things possible and by engaging
them in changing their behavior to effectively use the new capabilities
to generate desired results
With all due respect to the technical side o an EMR implemen-
tation installing the technology is only hal the battle Tis is not to
degrade the importance o the technology Te act that we spend a lot
o money researching technology acquiring it con1047297guring it install-
ing it and supporting it speaks to its importance I we werenrsquot imple-
menting EMRs we wouldnrsquot even be having a discussion about EMR-related change management
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2739
8 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
But implementation o the technology is just a 1047297rst and very nec-
essary stepmdashbecause in and o itsel the technology does not generate
value Te technology is necessary but not suffi cient or bene1047297t realiza-
tion to occur o create value requires people and this is why change
management is so important oo much o a ocus on technology even
in the early stages will create issues downstream And even with the
best technology i not used effi ciently hoped-or bene1047297ts will be tough
to achieve
CIO Perspective
ldquoDuring my masters program I took an Organization Development
class that really opened my eyes to peoplesrsquo needs during large-scale
change Since the OD class I have been very interested in what makes
people tick and why people react in different ways to the same
environment No matter how good of an idea a large-scale technology
implementation is we will always have early adopters average adopters
and laggards As leaders within large organizations we have a
responsibility to plan for and respect all types of technology adopters
Ultimately the people who work within in our organizations want a positive
human experience when they are at work
Utilizing a change management methodology enables the implementation
and leadership teams to provide a positive experience during the period of
significant change By utilizing a solid change management methodologythe organization promotes team communication a safer environment for
the patient a work environment that promotes trust and an environment
where people are allowed to talk about the fear of change All of this
promotes a better human experience and a much stronger work force
hellip An effective change management program has meant the difference
between good go-lives and great go-lives at our 10 hospitalsrdquo
Lindsey P Jarrell FACHE
SVP amp CIO
BayCare Health System
Clearwater FL
CIO Perspective
During my masters program I took an Organization Development
class that really opened my eyes to peoplesrsquo needs during large-scale
change Since the OD class I have been very interested in what makes
people tick and why people react in different ways to the same
environment No matter how good of an idea a large-scale technology
implementation is we will always have early adopters average adopters
and laggards As leaders within large organizations we have a
responsibility to plan for and respect all types of technology adopters
Ultimately the people who work within in our organizations want a positive
human experience when they are at work
Utilizing a change management methodology enables the implementation
and leadership teams to provide a positive experience during the period of
significant change By utilizing a solid change management methodologythe organization promotes team communication a safer environment for
the patient a work environment that promotes trust and an environment
where people are allowed to talk about the fear of change All of this
promotes a better human experience and a much stronger work force
hellip An effective change management program has meant the difference
between good go-lives and great go-lives at our 10 hospitals
Lindsey P Jarrell FACHE
SVP amp CIO
BayCare Health System
Clearwater FL
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2839
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 9
Remember that change is a personal experience It is also local and
individual And itrsquos hardmdasheven when itrsquos sel-imposed and positive
Tere are no shortcuts People have to go through the process o change
in much the same way that we move through the stages o grie2 It canrsquot
be avoided or skipped You can measure twice and cut once or you
can cut now and then do costly remediation later Either way you canrsquot
avoid the expense or time required or real change to occur
SYSEMS PERSPECIVE
Experienced technology adoption proessionals embrace a systems
perspective when given the assignment to drive perormance man-
age perceptions and increase the utilization o new and existing tech-
nology A systems approach is the ability to see the big picture and
address the interrelationships among the variables within the abric o
CIO Perspective
ldquoIrsquove been in healthcare IT a long time and I now realize itrsquos
all about change management What was considered soft is
now hard We know so much more about how to install
technologymdashItrsquos the people part we donrsquot know well yet
and so itrsquos hardrdquo
Scott Joslyn
CIO
MemorialCare
Long Beach CA
CIO Perspective
Irsquove been in healthcare IT a long time and I now realize itrsquos
all about change management What was considered soft is
now hard We know so much more about how to install
technologymdashitrsquos the people part we donrsquot know well yet
and so itrsquos hard
J Scott Joslyn
CIO
MemorialCare
Long Beach CA
Quoteldquordquo
ldquoNo man can think clearly when his fists are clenchedrdquo
- George Jean Nathan
Quoteldquordquo
ldquordquo
ldquoNo man can think clearly when his fists are clenchedrdquo
- George Jean Nathan
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2939
10 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
the organization and in1047298uence the combined impact these variables
have on organizational effectiveness As each variable has the powerto in1047298uence the outcome o any intervention behavior change is ofen
not sustainable because variables tend to work against one another
Effective technology adoption strategies account or this interrelation-
shipinterdependency and aim to bring these variables into alignment
as a means or driving sustainable results
Figure 1-2 introduces the Organizational Fabric Model which
highlights the six primary threads (or variables) that are interwoven
in the abric (or culture) o an organization Te model suggests that
all six threads must work in concert to successully shape the organi-
zational abric A well-woven technology adoption plan strategically
manipulates these threads to in1047298uence desired change A poorly wovenplan in which a thread or combination o threads is not accounted
or leads to disaster or by way o analogy will hit a snag down the
road Depending on the 1047298exibility and durability o this abric a snag
can result in a huge hole that detracts rom the overall strength o the
intervention Te intent o the Organizational Fabric Model is to stress
how important it is to understand the uture state recognize how each
variable or combination o variables will come into play and develop a
sound technology adoption program that appropriately in1047298uences this
set o variables to reshape the abric or culture so desired change can
actually take place
Te Organizational Fabric Model will be revisited in subsequent
chapters as each thread or variable is explored in urther detail For
now we reiterate that technology adoption strategies must not rely
on only one or two threads to drive behavior change Sustainable out-
comes result rom an organizationrsquos ability to leverage the combination
o all six threads working in concert to create an environment orsuccess
Key Point
Fundamentally culture is ldquothe way we do things around hererdquo
Key Point
Fundamentally culture is ldquothe way we do things around hererdquo
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3039
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 11
CREAING AN ENVIRONMEN FOR SUCCESS
echnology adoption is about creating a context an environment in
which change can be achieved and sustained over the long term Tis
involves two levelsmdashorganizational and individual
With an EMR implementation the organization must create thesupporting environment provide needed training and resources
articulate a clear direction coupled with clear expectations engage its
people include them in the process and reinorce desired new behav-
iors Tis is not about checking things off a list but rather about 1047297nd-
ing synergy among impacted groups giving them what they need and
coordinating efforts to meet the end goal Itrsquos an ongoing effort
o give you an idea o what we are talking about herersquos an exam-
ple o an individual situation occurring within a social context Tink
about what happens when you want to make a signi1047297cant change in
your personal liemdashquit smoking stop drinking lose weight Itrsquos one
thing to talk with a doctor or another proessional about what needsto happen when yoursquore in their offi ce but once you leave the offi ce
you then return to your social reality I your riends and amily donrsquot
want your behavior to change you will have a tough time All the rein-
Figure 1-2 Organizational Fabric Model
Sponsorship
Stakeholder Mgmt
Training
Vision
Reinforcement
Communications
Sponsorship
Stakeholder Mgmt
Training
Vision
Reinforcement
Communications
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3139
12 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
orcements and temptations will conspire to prevent you rom mak-
ing changes But i you can get some important people in your lieto make the changes with you or at least support you in the process
you have a much greater chance o success Te lesson is donrsquot send a
changed person back into an unchanged environment if you want
to see behavior change
Engaging individuals involves arousing two key aspects mdashwilling-
ness and ability Te organization must in1047298uence both in order to suc-
ceed With the help o the Skill Versus Will Matrix (Figure 1-3) think
about it this way
bull When people want to do something but donrsquot know how they canrsquot
(willingunable)
bull When people know how but donrsquot want to they wonrsquot(ableunwilling)
Can you think o examples in your own lie when you have been in
either o these situations
Consider the circumstance o people who know how to do some-
thing but donrsquot want to do it Tis is a ldquowillrdquo not a ldquoskillrdquo issue and it is
a very common technology adoption dilemma I the amount o work
and effort involved are not perceived by the user as being equal to the
Figure 1-3 The Skill versus Will Matrix
Skill
Will
WONrsquoT
WONrsquoT
DOES
CANrsquoTLow
High
HighLow
Skill
Will
WONrsquoT
WONrsquoT
DOES
CANrsquoTLow
High
HighLow HighLow
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3239
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 13
return or value experienced through the implementation the user will
most likely choose to reduce the effort A goal o an effective people-ocused strategy is to identiy potential areas o disconnect and 1047297nd
ways to increase the perceived value to users Te assumption is that
when the return is perceived to be greater the effort increases When
there are no incentives to try harder it may be diffi cult to drive desired
behavior change
Te point in getting users to actively support the deployment o
an EMR is about a lot more than a communication plan or eature
unction training Managing the people side o an EMR implementa-
tion requires a savvy technology adoption plan that ties sponsorship
training communication work1047298ow harmonization user support and
reinorcement with the business priorities o the organization andeffectively coordinates all o these activities with the user in mindmdashin
an environment that reinorces desired behavior changes
Key Questions
Two key questions to remember throughout the
project arehellip
(1) How will this decision impact the user
(2) How might it impact patients
Key Questions
Two key questions to remember throughout the
project are
(1) How will this decision impact the user
(2) How might it impact patients
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3339
14 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
Consider this example
In this example what are the key elements o this process that
ensure success
bull Te picture of success the desired outcome is clearmdashit is or the
child to become a unctioning adult in the community
bull How this happens is clearly de1047297ned in behavioral terms Tere is a
process that is known and understood by the entire community
including children
bull Leaders at all levels in the community agree on the desired out-
come support the entire process and actively ful1047297ll their roles to ensure success Leaders include village elders and ormal lead-
ers parents o the children inormal opinion leaders and amily
members
bull Te children who are about to become adults take an active role
in their own transormation taking responsibility or their suc-
cess Tey receive guidance and counsel rom elders Tey know
and understand the transormation process and what they must do
to achieve their new status Goals and steps are clear Tey also
understand the consequences o not successully transitioning to
adulthood
bull I there is more than one child slated to go through transormationto adulthood at the same time they are a peer group and as appro-
priate prepare together and support each other
Key Point
In native cultures there tend to be rites of passage that serve
to transition a person from childhood to adult status in the
community The child may actually leave the village for a day or
two of contemplation following a prescribed process When the
child returns he or she is redefined as an adult and assumes
the consequent privileges and responsibilities The entire
community reinforces the personrsquos new status the new adult is
not allowed to return to being a child whenever itrsquos convenient
but is supported to complete the transformation to adulthood
The change to adulthood does not happen in a vacuum but is
part of a carefully designed process that ensures success
Key Point
In native cultures there tend to be rites of passage that serve
to transition a person from childhood to adult status in the
community The child may actually leave the village for a day or
two of contemplation following a prescribed process When the
child returns he or she is redefined as an adult and assumes
the consequent privileges and responsibilities The entire
community reinforces the personrsquos new status the new adult is
not allowed to return to being a child whenever itrsquos convenient
but is supported to complete the transformation to adulthood
The change to adulthood does not happen in a vacuum but is
part of a carefully designed process that ensures success
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3439
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 15
bull Te entire community works together to bring about the
transormationbull Success results in positive reinforcement
Te environmental context is the trump card in any implementerrsquos
hand It takes a lot o work to create a suitable environment but it is an
essential ingredient in being able to drive and sustain change
Willingness and Ability
Earlier we mentioned willingness and ability as key concepts in tech-
nology adoption Willingness and ability can also be thought o as
hearts and minds or will and skill Te point is the same regardless
o the terms used People need to be supported on both an emotional
level to commit and on an intellectual level to be able Te questionto be answered is ldquoWhat are the conditions under which users will
accept and adopt the EMRrdquo
Letrsquos talk about willingness 1047297rst
Willingness or hearts is the commitment to go orward Tis is
impacted by many things including the ollowing elements
bull Leadership Perceived support or lack o support or the change
rom senior executives in the company the cascade o sponsors
down through the organization and just as importantly rom the
employeersquos direct supervisor
bull Communication Quality and requency o verbal and written
messages that describe the desired uture state tell why the changeneeds to happen and what will happen i change isnrsquot made set
clear expectations explain how the company will prepare and sup-
port people to success and describe local details such as timelines
etc
bull Reinforcement Degree o appropriateness and timeliness o
rewards or demonstrating desired new behaviors and conse-
quences or sticking to the old ways
bull Participation Degree to which users are involved every step o
the way either directly as individuals or indirectly by being effec-
tively represented by trusted local opinion leader peers who serve
as liaisons between users and the project teambull Organizational History with Change Previous organizational
experience with changemdashgood and badmdashwill in1047298uence user per-
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3539
16 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
ceptions and expectations o the EMR implementation Under-
standing the past is important in planning or the utureTis all sounds logical but the reaction to it can be emotional Tis
is where people conront their ear o ailure eeling stupid making
mistakes etc Remember that the change may require people to give
up the very things that they believe made them successul in the past
Tis can be a diffi cult sell
Ability or minds is about the actual capability to successully
meet new job expectations Tis is impacted by many things including
the ollowing elements
bull raining and Support In most cases the new EMR abilities must
be learned An effective training program that is role-based and
intentionally ocused on preparing people to perorm new jobexpectations is key Just discussing desired outcomes is not enough
though we have to clearly tell people what we want them to do
Tis requires an intellectual understanding o what and how a
conceptual understanding is necessary but not suffi cient Most
people need to practice something new to develop competence and
con1047297dence Sae opportunities to practice preerably with immedi-
ate eedback are very important to pro1047297ciency development and
sustainability
Getting people to move in the direction you want is the diffi -
cultymdashsome say the hardest part o the whole project And i you agree
that people are the oundation o successmdashthat bene1047297t realization isdependant not on technology but on people agreeing to go through
personal disruption learn new things change established patterns and
conront their earsmdashthen we must be proactive and courageous in
addressing the human issues
Tis is the people side o the project Tis is the organizational read-
iness unction It involves collaboration coordination and sequencing
o activities inormation and events rom all people-ocused areas Te
idea is to have all the people-ocused unctions working together to
reach clearly de1047297ned shared outcomes Te organizational readiness
plan to create individual and organizational readiness is the umbrella
that connects it allmdashthe glue that holds it together and the grease thatmakes it workmdashor the user We will address the structure and process
or doing this in more detail in subsequent chapters
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3639
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 17
Good News on wo Fronts
1 Tere is a social science Tere is a body o work research andsubsequent publications about the human experience with change
Tere are proven change management strategies tools and tech-
niques Tis isnrsquot olklore hooey or black magic Te transition
process is known and predictable Tere is a change curve that
describes the steps (Chapter 5 Stakeholder Management) And
though there is no silver bullet it isnrsquot rocket science Senior
healthcare executives must take the emerging proession o change
managementtechnology adoption seriously Not understanding it
is no excuse or ignoring it Tat is ar too expensive an option
2 All people go through transition when changemdashgood or badmdash
happens in both their personal and proessional lie You canrsquot
avoid it Te wonderul thing is i you learn about change and
transition at work it will improve your personal lie Tis is one
o the times to ldquotry this at homerdquo Wersquore all humanmdashat work and
at home So treat your people as the humans they are and avoid
some predictable expense and diffi culty Lead your organization
to a successul outcome and speed up the process by treating your
staff as customers 1047297rst
Donrsquot make the mistake o glossing over the critical human aspects
o change Hire experts and 1047297nd the emotionally intelligent people in
your organization who want to participate And remember you can
install technology without your people but you canrsquot ully implement
and achieve return on investment without them Consciously choose
to move fear and resistance to trust and adoption Itrsquos a case o pay
now or pay later I you wait until later it will always cost more ech-
nology Adoption is expensive but not as expensive as trying to gloss
it over and then having to undo the damage When ailure happens it
Quoteldquordquo
ldquoNot everything that can be counted counts and not everything thatcounts can be countedrdquo
- Albert Einstein
Quoteldquordquo
ldquordquo
ldquoNot everything that can be counted counts and not everything thatcounts can be countedrdquo
- Albert Einstein
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3739
18 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
takes a long time or people to re-engage And in todayrsquos world this
presents real problems or healthcare organizations aced with short-ages in many proessions Tere is a huge risk o alienating and poten-
tially losing needed staff or in causing long delays We can do better
Not so long ago it wasnrsquot conventional wisdom that clinical application
rollouts are not I projects More frequently than not these were consid-
ered technical projects in which the point of celebration was when con-nection from workstation to central processor was reliable and wireless
access actually worked Te classic I People-Process-echnology trian-
gle never got much past echnology to the real hard work on the People-
Process axis Tat has all changed in the 21st century system implemen-
tations that are both successful and valuable have had people and process
on the front burner
When MemorialCare embarked on a 1047297ve-hospital roll-out of an
EMR in 2002 it had several things in its favor
bull Te technology the organization ultimately acquired was robust and
reliable it worked
bull It had 15 yearsrsquo experience with CPOE (computerized providerorder entry) Terefore although unevenly adopted it was not new
territory
bull It had had the experience of a system-wide roll-out and standard-
ization on a general 1047297nance human resources and materials man-
agement system When all was said and done users had not been
suffi ciently involved standardization fell short because involvement
was low business leadership was diffuse and I ownership was too
high It was judged successful overall but the organization continues
to move slowly forward with an underutilized set of applications
With this experience and the insights of others MemorialCare pri-
oritized engagement of physicians nurses pharmacists and other staffWell before 1047297nancial commitment to a new system was obtained Memo-
rialCare hired a ldquoCare Planning Executiverdquo a person whose full-time
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3839
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 19
activities were devoted to the project 1047297rst to help understand the drivers
of a new system scope out the territory to be covered gain the com-mitment of senior leaders as well as governance and outline the case
for change At my insistence the Care Planning Executive a registered
nurse and former hospital chief operating offi cer joined the organization
reporting to the system-wide CEO as a peer and partner of the CIO not
a staff member and a peer to the CEOs of each medical center campus
Tat dedication alone made clear the commitment intentions and over-
all priority of the company
Among several other critical success factorsmdashand the outcome was
a successmdashwas the overall employee engagement program that the Care
Planning Executive established In summary it was an education mar-
keting and training program dedicated to equipping the affected staffwith the knowledge and tools to embrace unavoidable change Staff com-
munication was clear that it wasnrsquot change for changersquos sake but a major
move forward in the paperless way care would be delivered and work-
1047298ows would be streamlined Of course at the time no one could have
foreseen later moves by government to push everyone in this direction
(with the American Recovery and Reconstruction Act of 2009) Because
of our early efforts wersquore now very well positioned
J Scott Joslyn
CIO
MemorialCareLong Beach California
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3939
About the BookDespite the promise of improving care and other benefits EMR implementations are highly disruptive to the
organization This book prepares you to lead or participate successfully in change managementtechnologyadoption efforts so that meaningful use of EMRs can be achieved The authors provide successful strategies
to plan and implement change The content is based on their decades of combined experience designing
and leading technology adoption programs
Sections of the book deal with establishing a foundation for change building commitment and developing
requisite skill in helping users be successful with technology The book includes numerous lessons learned
tips for success best practices and case studies from organizations that have handled change well
About the AuthorsClaire McCarthy MA is a recognized technology adoption strategist and leader
with 25 years of healthcare industry experience supporting people through softwareimplementations and other large-scale change efforts As Director of Organizational
Effectiveness for Kaiser Permanentersquos enterprise-wide EMR deployment Ms McCarthy
led a national community of practice focused on preparing users to assume new
roles and responsibilities in support of organizational objectives Ms McCarthy
speaks internationally on the topic of technology adoption encouraging healthcare
leaders around the globe to set the stage for benefit realization by investing in the
people side of EMR implementation
Douglas Eastman PhD is an organizational development executive with extensive
experience managing large-scale change initiatives With more than 20 years
of consulting experience Dr Eastmanrsquos focus is to help organizations grow and
manage change by unleashing human potential His specialties are organizationaltransformation technology adoption and optimization process redesign strategic
planning and program and tools development As the Executive Director of Technology
Adoption and Organizational Capability within the Kaiser Permanente IT Care
Delivery Business Information Office Dr Eastman has pioneered several of Kaiserrsquos
implementation readiness toolsmethodologies and post-live optimization strategies
programs adding to the organizationrsquos ability to realize the benefit of its technology
About HIMSS The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) is a comprehensive healthcare-
stakeholder membership organization exclusively focused on providing global leadership for the optimal
use of information technology (IT) and management systems for the betterment of healthcare Founded in
1961 with offices in Chicago Washington DC Brussels Singapore and other locations across the United
States HIMSS represents more than 23000 individual members of which 73 work in patient care delivery
settings HIMSS also includes over 380 corporate members and nearly 30 not-for-profit organizations that
share our mission of transforming healthcare through the effective use of information technology and
management systems HIMSS frames and leads healthcare public policy and industry practices through
its educational professional development and advocacy initiatives designed to promote information and
management systemsrsquo contributions to ensuring quality patient care
ISBN 978-0-9821070-6-5
Order Code 564
230 E Ohio St Suite 500
Chicago IL 60611ndash3270
312-915-9295
www himss org
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1039
ix
Foreword
By David E Garets FHIMSS
Electronic medical record (EMR) deployments are not about technol-
ogy Tey are about equipping organizations to reach critical business
objectives by providing people with technical capabilities that make
new things possible and by engaging people in changing their behavior
to effectively use the new capabilities to generate resultsTis book will show you how to create an environment or suc-
cess in your organization to not only ensure that your EMR imple-
mentation effort is successul but that your organization builds change
capacity and 1047298exibility in the process Tis new nimbleness will serve
you well in our world o continual change
De1047297ning change management is as important as understand-
ing what change management is not It isnrsquot project management or
solely process improvement Rather it is a set o speci1047297c disciplines
described in detail in this book that when coordinated and integrated
make the difference between tossing money into an EMR pit (simi-
lar to the ones that we boaters throw our money into) or getting thesought-afer changes in your organization
Chapter 2 on Vision is especially important In it Claire and Doug
explain how leadership paints the picture o what is expected rom
the implementation o an EMR I would argue that it is a process that
involves not only representatives o the ront line and their managers
and the senior executive team but also the board An EMR implemen-
tation done rightmdashmeaning the technology works was implemented
on time and within budget and the people modiy their behavior and
processes to achieve commensurate value or the investmentmdashis more
transormative than anything else a healthcare organization could do
It needs to be driven rom the board Tat way the right people iethe CEO and executive management team are held accountable or the
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1139
x Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
success o this crucial business initiative with an inormation technol-
ogy componentDale Sanders then CIO at the Northwestern Medical Faculty Foun-
dation and now CIO at the Cayman Islandsrsquo Health Services Author-
ity pointed out that ldquoyou need to dedicate the time and resources to
constantly iterate re1047297ne and improve the utilization o the EMR over
time ar beyond its installation and go-live Itrsquos a race without a 1047297n-
ish line rain und and plan accordinglymdashdonrsquot short-change the
investmentrdquo In other words recognize that you are not done at go-
live yoursquove just started achieving technology adoption and changing
behavior to get value rom your EMR investment
Tis book should be required reading or every member o the
executive team in every healthcare organization that is planning toimplement an EMR in the next ew years I was happy to be asked
to review the book and to write the orewordmdashand not or the ame
and ortune It was because I would then have to read it and Irsquom glad
I did I learned an incredible amount about a topic that most o us in
the technology world do not understand well and that is dealing with
people issues Claire and Doug nail it here and I guarantee yoursquoll be
thankul or the knowledge they share
Having said that reading this de1047297nitive work on change man-
agement or EMR implementations is not going to provide you with
enough knowledge on the topic to preclude your engaging or hiring
change management expertise In act just the opposite yoursquoll ullyunderstand why you need to get some help Welcome to the epiphany
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1239
xi
Preface
By Claire McCarthy MA and Douglas Eastman PhD
Tere is much discussion today about implementation o EMR sys-
temsmdashdiscussions that usually include excitement anxiety and
downright dread Tere is also a lot o talk about whether EMRs cre-
ate opportunities or healthcare organizations such as transorming
the way care is delivered reducing medical errors increasing internaleffi ciencies or clinical and administrative users improving revenue
capture and providing a host o other critical bene1047297ts Te promise
(some would say antasy) is big
But above all an EMR implementation is disruptive Te process
can realistically be equated to a tornado whipping through an organi-
zation and lie as you once knew it is turned upside down and the new
processes expectations priorities roles and methods overwhelm the
workplace
Our intent in writing this book is to assist others who may be
struggling with many o the same issues we have addressed By sharing
lessons rom our numerous 1047297rsthand sofware implementation expe-riences we will equip you with successul practices and prepare you
to lead or participate effectively in change managementtechnology
adoption efforts so that meaningul use can be achieved
Te primary audience o this book is everyone who leads or is
directly involved in the people-ocused change managementtech-
nology adoption efforts o an EMR implementation Our secondary
audience is everyone else who has a stake in the usersrsquo willingness and
ability to change behavior so the potential o the technology can be
realized So whether you are actively engaged in change management
technology adoption work or your support and advocacy o change
managementtechnology adoption is neededmdashthis book is or youRegardless o your speci1047297c role (executive middle-management
ront-line supervisor physician nurse medical assistant I proes-
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1339
xii Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
sional consultant or other stakeholder in the success o an EMR
implementation) our hope is that you will gain an appreciation orthe importance o users and the effort required to ensure operational
success Tis book emphasizes effective ways to plan and implement
change Te content is based on decades o combined experience man-
aging the people side o sofware implementations in healthcare
It is important to point out however that this book is not meant to
be a course on change managementtechnology adoption Our intent
is not to review existing research or current academic models and the-
ories but rather to share the insights and lessons we have learned in
delivering sustainable results and healthy organizational change over
the years
For technically-oriented project leads the success o an EMRimplementation tends to ocus too heavily on ldquoscrewing in the sys-
temrdquo on time and on budget But as important as it is getting the
EMR technology up and running should not be the primary ocus
Equal emphasis must be placed on how the new technology will be
embraced utilized and leveraged to realize a return on this signi1047297-
cant investment Flipping the switch and turning the technology on is
merely hal o the game
We believe the promise o an EMR implementation is great with
potentially signi1047297cant returns or the patient user organization and
or the industry as a whole When we hear words such as electronic
computerized and automated it sounds as i lie will be made easier andbecome more organized and effi cient However healthcare organiza-
tions do not always think about the critical steps involved in making
these hopes a reality Tis is due in large part because managing the
people side o an implementation and developing and installing major
technology require different skills sets Neither side o the coin is nec-
essarily more important but they both must be seen as equally signi1047297-
cant Te role in managing the people side o an implementation rarely
1047297ts neatly into how technically-ocused projects have historically been
measured and this creates a scenario in which the people side is ofen
misunderstood discounted and worst case ignored altogether Con-
sider the difference between what it takes to install the system (a tech-nology ocus) and what it takes to get the desired outcomes (a ocus on
people doing things differently)
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1439
Preace xiii
Te management o ambiguity resistance and user motivation is
admittedly hard to measure and unortunately involves methods thatare not always easily checked off a list Te process is more 1047298uid and
organic than linear At times it is unpredictable requiring rethink-
ing and course corrections Afer all we are dealing with people Not
everything is clear cut Donrsquot believe anyone who tells you it is
People come with different backgrounds rames o reerence
experience with technology comort with change or ambiguity trust
in leadership and so orth Whatever the mix o scenarios users never
start rom the same placemdashand they move through the change pro-
cess at different speeds meaning they continue to be in different places
throughout the project Te good news is that users do grow and develop
over the course o the project and many eventually accept things theywouldnrsquot agree to at 1047297rst But they require understandingmdashtheir ears
needs hopes and their reactions to the challenges that impact their
ability to perorm A sound comprehensive people strategy that cre-
ates an environment in which they can succeed is essential
I the goal o your EMR implementation is to achieve sustainable
results growth or organizational transormation then a substantial
investment in people must be central to your overall implementation
strategy Afer all it is the user who makes or breaks your EMR imple-
mentation and ultimately determines the amount o return the organi-
zation will realize Te better prepared people are or the change and
the less they see it as threatening the aster they will deliver value
Quoteldquordquo
ldquoMan is still the most extraordinary computer of allrdquo
- John F Kennedy
Quoteldquordquo
ldquordquo
ldquoMan is still the most extraordinary computer of allrdquo
- John F Kennedy
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1539
xiv Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
HOW HE BOOK IS SRUCURED
Preparing an organization or a successul EMR implementationinvolves a big picture approach that takes into account all the actors
that in1047298uence behavior change Te idea is to establish an organiza-
tional contextmdasha culture in which desired behavior is supported and
reinorced through a variety o methodsmdashcreating a learning organiza-
tion that grows to achieve its vision priorities and goals In this book
we present an Implementation Readiness Model and discuss each ac-
tor involved in ensuring the organization and users are ully prepared
to realize the potential o the new technology
Tis book is organized in a simple ashion First we make the busi-
ness argument or change managementtechnology adoption explain-
ing why technology implementations will not deliver bene1047297ts without
a signi1047297cant ocus on users Next we discuss two critical success ac-
tors in any large-scale change management effortmdasha clear vision and
effective leadership
Ten we argue or the development o a cross-unctional team
o representatives rom key areas within the organization the Orga-
nizational Readiness eam (OR) and introduce a pragmatic model
that outlines the scope o complexity and work that the OR man-
ages throughout the project lie cycle Tis establishes a oundation
or subsequent chapters in which each provides urther detail about
the inter-relationship o work involved to effectively drive sustain-
able change Tese chapters dig deeper into lessons learned and best
practices related to stakeholder management communication train-
ing strategy and reinorcement as all must be aligned to successully
satisy the end goal o a meaningul implementation
Finally the Implementation Readiness chapter shows how the
prior chapters serve as building blocks to ormulate a comprehensive
and powerul Implementation Readiness Program aimed at securing
ready users who are engaged and prepared or the transitional changes
ahead in the world o an EMR Te book ends with a discussion o
our key lessons learned and insights regarding the overall journey Pay
particular attention to some o the larger challenges related to an EMR
implementation as these scenarios have proven to have a signi1047297cant
impact on an organizationrsquos speed and ability to position itsel or ben-
e1047297ts realization
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1639
Preace xv
It is important to stress that ocusing on just one actor o imple-
mentation readiness is not suffi cient to drive organizational changeand sustainable results Each chapter describes an individual actor in
detail and provides lessons and useul examples tools and other bits
o inormation intended to help you succeed in preparing your orga-
nization or a successul EMR implementation But the real purpose
o the book is to raise awareness o how all actors work in concert to
in1047298uence desired change associated with an EMR implementation Te
actors work best as an integrated whole overlapping and reinorcing
each other Tey typically have separate leadership but whether or-
mally integrated or not they are pieces o one picture
Like other books you can jump to any chapter o interest at any
point However we strongly encourage you to read the book cover tocover 1047297rst to gain an understanding o the end-to-end process and how
each actor contributes to overall success A strategy that accounts or
all actors is more effective than just one intervention or multiple dis-
connected interventions In this case the sum is de1047297nitely greater than
all o its individual parts
We speak to you in a conversational and straightorward man-
ner to make this rather diffi cult side o an EMR implementation more
approachable We hope you will 1047297nd our insights valuable and will
leverage this book as your implementation reerence guide It will ur-
ther your cause i all stakeholders accountable or a successul launch
in your organization have a common ramework or approaching the
collective end goal We certainly wish wersquod had a book like this years
ago to guide us through the mine1047297eld o sofware implementationsFinally we hope you enjoy the process o supporting people
through the transition to the world o EMRs Tere is something very
Quoteldquordquo
ldquoExperience is a hard teacher because she gives
the test first the lessons afterwardsrdquo
- Vernon Law
Quoteldquordquo
ldquordquo
ldquoExperience is a hard teacher because she gives
the test first the lessons afterwardsrdquo
- Vernon Law
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1739
xvi Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
rewarding about seeing people who were earul and resistant even
in tears and thinking seriously o quitting eel the pride o accom-plishment when they succeed Each person who stays the course and
becomes a contributing member o the electronically enabled organi-
zation represents untold cost avoidance Knowledge and talent stay in
the organization replacement costs are avoided relationships are pre-
served and critical staff shortages are reduced echnology adoption is
truly a contribution to the bottom line
In the words o one o our grandathers ldquoPeople change when
theyrsquore damned good and ready and not beorerdquo Wersquore here to get
them ready
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1839
xvii
Acknowledgments
Te authors would like to thank the ollowing individuals or sharing
their expertise and experiences or this book
Saaa Al-Haddad MD
Internal Medicine
University Hospitals
Cleveland Ohio
Ronnie D Bower Jr MA
Manager Change Management
BayCare Health System
ampa Florida
Nabil Chehade MD MSBS
CPC
Director Medical Inormatics
Regional Chie o Urology
KP HealthConnect RegionalPhysician Lead
Kaiser Permanente Medical
Group
Cleveland Ohio
Kenneth Goodman MD
Associate Director Center
or Continuing Medical
Education
Department o Family Medicine
Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland Ohio
Marie Hamilton RN
Kaiser Permanente
Oregon Federation o Nurses
and Health ProessionalsHealthcare Inormation
echnology Committee
AF Healthcare
Portland Oregon
Lindsey P Jarrell FACHE
Senior Vice President amp CIO
BayCare Health System
ampa Florida
J Scott JoslynCIO
MemorialCare
Long Beach Caliornia
Margaret M Rudoph PhD
Consultant
Vancouver British Columbia
Canada
om Smith
CIO
NorthShore University Health
System
Evanston Illinois
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1939
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2039
1
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 983089
Te Business Case forChange Management
ldquoWersquore not in Kansas anymorehelliprdquo
In the introduction an EMR implementation is compared to a tornado
in that it whips through an organization turning lie upside down and
throwing users into a world 1047297lled with new ways o doing things and
seeking ways to recapture some sense o balance and control EMR
technology disrupts the status quo and along with the many opportu-
nities it promises it also brings a whirlwind o seemingly never-ending
changes which can have an entirely different effect on different people
While an implementation that is effectively managed even brings these
challenges a poor implementation can be disastrous and will cost the
organization much more time energy and money to get things back
on track
Dorothy the character rom the movie Te Wizard of Oz held
her composure pretty well through the tornado that ripped her rom
a calm stable lie on the arm and threw her into a oreign world She
was able to manage through the obstacles and challenges and stay the
course as she ollowed the yellow brick road in search o the wizard
Some say this is similar to the experience users have except or the
part when Dorothy wakes up rom her dream and 1047297nds hersel back
home as she remembers itEMR implementations donrsquot have to be nightmarish or users but
there certainly will be obstacles and challenges along the way Te key is
to help users through the road blocks and enable them to experience a
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2139
2 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
positive journey Tis process is always easier when people know what
they are getting into eel supported and are prepared or what liesahead both good and bad Tis is the role o change management
CHANGE MANAGEMEN DEFINED
Itrsquos important to understand why you should make an investment in
the people side o the projectmdashbringing in the best technology pos-
sible doesnrsquot mean anything unless users are comortable and pro1047297-
cient in its use Te truth is just because you build it doesnrsquot mean they
will come
Letrsquos start by answering the two questions we are most ofen asked
ldquoWhat is change management anyway What is it change managers
dordquoo avoid conusion wersquoll say up ront we are not talking about
change management as it relates to technical issues such as version or
change control We also want to be clear that change management is
not project management What we are talking about is the human side
o electronic medical records implementations the human-ocused
work o engaging and preparing people to succeed in the new world
o EMRs
A word about project management while good project manage-
ment acilitates change management the two disciplines are not the
same Project management is much more linear and task-ocused
whereas change management deals with the complexities o human
behavior But a good project plan creates a structure and a ounda-
tion in which the change management process can occur Tereore
the two disciplines though different complement and support each
other
A word o caution do not conuse the project plan with the end
result Te plan is necessary and it guides you throughout the process
Te plan is proactive itrsquos the order in the chaos But technology adop-
tion is kind o like herding cats itrsquos unpredictable and you need to
maintain 1047298exibility to respond as things evolve Tis is a more reactive
process than what may be expressed in a plan In our experience an
EMR implementation requires both structure and 1047298exibility
Tere is a saying in change management circles When one door
closes another one opens but sometimes itrsquos hell in the hallway Change
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2239
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 3
management deals mostly with the hallway situation acilitating the
human transition rom the present to the uture Tese days change isongoing and requires ocused leadership i it is to be as ast and pain-
less as possible
Te three legs o the project stool represent the critical compo-nents o an implementation (Figure 1-1)mdashPeople Process and ech-
nology Te people are the most important When technology projects
ail it is primarily due to a lack o use and not a ailure o the sof-
ware Te ocus o change management is people and the objective is
to change behavior Tis is good or business because it accelerates the
change process so bene1047297ts are achieved aster Change management
is not about being nice or placing an emphasis on eelings Itrsquos about
perormance improvement and results
I you search the literature you will 1047297nd a variety o de1047297nitions o
human-ocused change management Tey all cover similar concepts
sometimes using different terminology Te simplest explanation ochange management is to say ldquoItrsquos all about the peoplerdquo But or the
purposes o this book we expand on that concept and use the ollow-
ing de1047297nition o change management
bull A structured process designed to deal directly and intentionally
with the human actors involved in not just planning and imple-
menting an EMR but through behavior change achieving the
anticipated bene1047297ts that justi1047297ed the project in the 1047297rst place
bull Desired behavior change is achieved by helping people understand
and internalize change and by preparing them to be successul
contributors in the uture state In the case o EMR implementa-
tions effective change management delivers users who are willingand able to use an EMR in a way that satis1047297es the requirements o
the job the needs o the patient and the health o the organization
Key Tip
Our assumption is that the software you are implementing
works If the software doesnrsquot work you have another kind of
problem one that even the best change management wonrsquot
resolve
Key Tip
Our assumption is that the software you are implementing
works If the software doesnrsquot work you have another kind of
problemmdashone that even the best change management wonrsquot
resolve
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2339
4 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
Well-designed integrated people-ocused work builds logically
over time in a way that makes sense to the user It brings users along
guiding and supporting them so they arrive at where you want them
to be Tis is about willingness and ability hearts and minds You must
have both
Te overarching purpose o change management is to acceleratethe speed at which people move successfully through the change
process so that anticipated bene1047297ts are achieved faster And there
are additional bene1047297ts to change management Trough optimizing
the effi ciency and effi cacy o users an effective EMR change manage-
ment program will also
bull Improve organizational outcomes and perormance (effective use
o the system generates value to patients and the organization)
bull Enhance employee satisaction morale and engagement (when
people learn new skills meet perormance expectations and con-
tribute to a greater good they eel pride in their accomplishments)
bull Improve service quality (users eel valued and supported by anorganization that makes an investment in them this positively
impacts how they treat patients)
Figure 1-1 The Three-legged Stool
Technology
People Process
Technology
People Process
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2439
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 5
bull Help achieve hoped-or bene1047297ts (bene1047297ts that include EMR value
realization reduction o errors return on investment)bull Create higher levels o openness trust involvement and teamwork
(develop an engaged workorce)
bull Build change capability and capacity in the organization resulting
in improved ability to respond quickly and effectively to new situa-
tions (create organizational nimbleness through embedded change
management knowledge structure and process)
In other words it really is all about the people Intentionally man-
aging the cultural behavioral and organizational changes that need
to take place to make the desired EMR uture not only a reality but
a sustainable reality pays off on many levels in that it also acilitates
organizational transormation Building on individual capability andorganizational capacity change management results in a change-
capable culturemdasha huge advantage in todayrsquos competitive and ast-
changing world
Change Management echnology AdoptionmdashWhatrsquos the Difference
Tere are a number o terms that people use to reer to the work
involved in managing the people side o a change effort We think o
change management as the mother ship that is the umbrella term that
embraces all specialties within the 1047297eld Similar to the various special-
ties or domains o service within a healthcare system change man-agement proessionals may choose speci1047297c areas o ocus echnology
adoption speci1047297cally inormation technology (I) is one such area
and it involves the application o change management principles to the
implementation o I Te focus of this book is technology adoption
and we will mostly use this term instead of change management
throughout the rest of the book
Effective technology adoption proessionals align themselves with
the operationalbusiness side o the organization and tailor solutions
that drive behavioral change and tangible outcomes Tey participate in
EMR implementation projects rom the beginning driving the people
side o change throughout and continuing to add value post-live as theEMR becomes part o the central nervous system o the organization
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2539
6 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
HE IMPORANCE OF HE PEOPLE SIDE
OF AN EMR IMPLEMENAIONTere are many reerences in the literature to ailed change efforts and
I implementations Estimates are that only one third o these projects
achieve success which means two thirds ail to meet expectations Te
good news is that ailure is optional as much has been learned about
why some change efforts ail and others succeed
Herersquos the issue while the change that is going to occur is an exter-
nal eventmdashthe EMR implementation a reorganization proposed out-
sourcing a promotion etcmdashthe transition rom old to new that those
who are impacted experience is a psychological and emotional pro-
cess It is this transition that is diffi cultmdasheven when a change is sel-
imposed or considered positive
In the words o William Bridges a key thought leader in manage-
ment o transitions ldquoIt isnrsquot the changes that do you in itrsquos the transi-
tion afer the change that doesrdquo1
For an implementation team part o the problem encountered
during transition is that change is messy people start where they are
not where we want them to be And when considering the personnel
within a typical hospital people can be all over the place in terms o
comort with computers stage in lie commitment to the organiza-
tion ear o change etc Add to this the act that or change to be suc-
cessul three things must occur People
bull Must let go o their current reality have an ending
bull Go through a conused period in-between (hell in the hallway)
bull Only then can have a new beginning 1
o take this a step urther while I consultants want to install the
system and make enhancements the users will ultimately determine
how the system is used Tis use is affected by human not technical
actors
bull Different rames o reerence backgrounds experiences with
technology
bull Organizational history and experience with other large-scale
change projects
bull Levels o resistance ear ability to deal with ambiguity
bull Degree o alignment o ldquoWhatrsquos in it or merdquo or the various stake-
holder groups
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2639
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 7
bull Ineffi ciencies uncovered because the system creates transparency
bull Workarounds that become quickly entrenchedbull Pressure to get through the day can override doing what is right
bull User worklie balance issues coming into play rom the very
beginning
All o these actors create problems or implementation teams that
just want to install technology How do you effectively address the
people issues Or is it easier to just install the technology and assume
that people will learn because they have to use it Some on the imple-
mentation team may alsely assume that users o an EMR system will
snap into place over time and do what is right or the organization
Tis thinking is a oolrsquos paradise
In the oreword to this book Dave Garets made the point that EMRdeployments are not about technology but about equipping organiza-
tions to reach critical business objectives by providing employees with
technical capabilities that make new things possible and by engaging
them in changing their behavior to effectively use the new capabilities
to generate desired results
With all due respect to the technical side o an EMR implemen-
tation installing the technology is only hal the battle Tis is not to
degrade the importance o the technology Te act that we spend a lot
o money researching technology acquiring it con1047297guring it install-
ing it and supporting it speaks to its importance I we werenrsquot imple-
menting EMRs we wouldnrsquot even be having a discussion about EMR-related change management
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2739
8 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
But implementation o the technology is just a 1047297rst and very nec-
essary stepmdashbecause in and o itsel the technology does not generate
value Te technology is necessary but not suffi cient or bene1047297t realiza-
tion to occur o create value requires people and this is why change
management is so important oo much o a ocus on technology even
in the early stages will create issues downstream And even with the
best technology i not used effi ciently hoped-or bene1047297ts will be tough
to achieve
CIO Perspective
ldquoDuring my masters program I took an Organization Development
class that really opened my eyes to peoplesrsquo needs during large-scale
change Since the OD class I have been very interested in what makes
people tick and why people react in different ways to the same
environment No matter how good of an idea a large-scale technology
implementation is we will always have early adopters average adopters
and laggards As leaders within large organizations we have a
responsibility to plan for and respect all types of technology adopters
Ultimately the people who work within in our organizations want a positive
human experience when they are at work
Utilizing a change management methodology enables the implementation
and leadership teams to provide a positive experience during the period of
significant change By utilizing a solid change management methodologythe organization promotes team communication a safer environment for
the patient a work environment that promotes trust and an environment
where people are allowed to talk about the fear of change All of this
promotes a better human experience and a much stronger work force
hellip An effective change management program has meant the difference
between good go-lives and great go-lives at our 10 hospitalsrdquo
Lindsey P Jarrell FACHE
SVP amp CIO
BayCare Health System
Clearwater FL
CIO Perspective
During my masters program I took an Organization Development
class that really opened my eyes to peoplesrsquo needs during large-scale
change Since the OD class I have been very interested in what makes
people tick and why people react in different ways to the same
environment No matter how good of an idea a large-scale technology
implementation is we will always have early adopters average adopters
and laggards As leaders within large organizations we have a
responsibility to plan for and respect all types of technology adopters
Ultimately the people who work within in our organizations want a positive
human experience when they are at work
Utilizing a change management methodology enables the implementation
and leadership teams to provide a positive experience during the period of
significant change By utilizing a solid change management methodologythe organization promotes team communication a safer environment for
the patient a work environment that promotes trust and an environment
where people are allowed to talk about the fear of change All of this
promotes a better human experience and a much stronger work force
hellip An effective change management program has meant the difference
between good go-lives and great go-lives at our 10 hospitals
Lindsey P Jarrell FACHE
SVP amp CIO
BayCare Health System
Clearwater FL
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2839
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 9
Remember that change is a personal experience It is also local and
individual And itrsquos hardmdasheven when itrsquos sel-imposed and positive
Tere are no shortcuts People have to go through the process o change
in much the same way that we move through the stages o grie2 It canrsquot
be avoided or skipped You can measure twice and cut once or you
can cut now and then do costly remediation later Either way you canrsquot
avoid the expense or time required or real change to occur
SYSEMS PERSPECIVE
Experienced technology adoption proessionals embrace a systems
perspective when given the assignment to drive perormance man-
age perceptions and increase the utilization o new and existing tech-
nology A systems approach is the ability to see the big picture and
address the interrelationships among the variables within the abric o
CIO Perspective
ldquoIrsquove been in healthcare IT a long time and I now realize itrsquos
all about change management What was considered soft is
now hard We know so much more about how to install
technologymdashItrsquos the people part we donrsquot know well yet
and so itrsquos hardrdquo
Scott Joslyn
CIO
MemorialCare
Long Beach CA
CIO Perspective
Irsquove been in healthcare IT a long time and I now realize itrsquos
all about change management What was considered soft is
now hard We know so much more about how to install
technologymdashitrsquos the people part we donrsquot know well yet
and so itrsquos hard
J Scott Joslyn
CIO
MemorialCare
Long Beach CA
Quoteldquordquo
ldquoNo man can think clearly when his fists are clenchedrdquo
- George Jean Nathan
Quoteldquordquo
ldquordquo
ldquoNo man can think clearly when his fists are clenchedrdquo
- George Jean Nathan
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2939
10 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
the organization and in1047298uence the combined impact these variables
have on organizational effectiveness As each variable has the powerto in1047298uence the outcome o any intervention behavior change is ofen
not sustainable because variables tend to work against one another
Effective technology adoption strategies account or this interrelation-
shipinterdependency and aim to bring these variables into alignment
as a means or driving sustainable results
Figure 1-2 introduces the Organizational Fabric Model which
highlights the six primary threads (or variables) that are interwoven
in the abric (or culture) o an organization Te model suggests that
all six threads must work in concert to successully shape the organi-
zational abric A well-woven technology adoption plan strategically
manipulates these threads to in1047298uence desired change A poorly wovenplan in which a thread or combination o threads is not accounted
or leads to disaster or by way o analogy will hit a snag down the
road Depending on the 1047298exibility and durability o this abric a snag
can result in a huge hole that detracts rom the overall strength o the
intervention Te intent o the Organizational Fabric Model is to stress
how important it is to understand the uture state recognize how each
variable or combination o variables will come into play and develop a
sound technology adoption program that appropriately in1047298uences this
set o variables to reshape the abric or culture so desired change can
actually take place
Te Organizational Fabric Model will be revisited in subsequent
chapters as each thread or variable is explored in urther detail For
now we reiterate that technology adoption strategies must not rely
on only one or two threads to drive behavior change Sustainable out-
comes result rom an organizationrsquos ability to leverage the combination
o all six threads working in concert to create an environment orsuccess
Key Point
Fundamentally culture is ldquothe way we do things around hererdquo
Key Point
Fundamentally culture is ldquothe way we do things around hererdquo
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3039
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 11
CREAING AN ENVIRONMEN FOR SUCCESS
echnology adoption is about creating a context an environment in
which change can be achieved and sustained over the long term Tis
involves two levelsmdashorganizational and individual
With an EMR implementation the organization must create thesupporting environment provide needed training and resources
articulate a clear direction coupled with clear expectations engage its
people include them in the process and reinorce desired new behav-
iors Tis is not about checking things off a list but rather about 1047297nd-
ing synergy among impacted groups giving them what they need and
coordinating efforts to meet the end goal Itrsquos an ongoing effort
o give you an idea o what we are talking about herersquos an exam-
ple o an individual situation occurring within a social context Tink
about what happens when you want to make a signi1047297cant change in
your personal liemdashquit smoking stop drinking lose weight Itrsquos one
thing to talk with a doctor or another proessional about what needsto happen when yoursquore in their offi ce but once you leave the offi ce
you then return to your social reality I your riends and amily donrsquot
want your behavior to change you will have a tough time All the rein-
Figure 1-2 Organizational Fabric Model
Sponsorship
Stakeholder Mgmt
Training
Vision
Reinforcement
Communications
Sponsorship
Stakeholder Mgmt
Training
Vision
Reinforcement
Communications
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3139
12 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
orcements and temptations will conspire to prevent you rom mak-
ing changes But i you can get some important people in your lieto make the changes with you or at least support you in the process
you have a much greater chance o success Te lesson is donrsquot send a
changed person back into an unchanged environment if you want
to see behavior change
Engaging individuals involves arousing two key aspects mdashwilling-
ness and ability Te organization must in1047298uence both in order to suc-
ceed With the help o the Skill Versus Will Matrix (Figure 1-3) think
about it this way
bull When people want to do something but donrsquot know how they canrsquot
(willingunable)
bull When people know how but donrsquot want to they wonrsquot(ableunwilling)
Can you think o examples in your own lie when you have been in
either o these situations
Consider the circumstance o people who know how to do some-
thing but donrsquot want to do it Tis is a ldquowillrdquo not a ldquoskillrdquo issue and it is
a very common technology adoption dilemma I the amount o work
and effort involved are not perceived by the user as being equal to the
Figure 1-3 The Skill versus Will Matrix
Skill
Will
WONrsquoT
WONrsquoT
DOES
CANrsquoTLow
High
HighLow
Skill
Will
WONrsquoT
WONrsquoT
DOES
CANrsquoTLow
High
HighLow HighLow
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3239
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 13
return or value experienced through the implementation the user will
most likely choose to reduce the effort A goal o an effective people-ocused strategy is to identiy potential areas o disconnect and 1047297nd
ways to increase the perceived value to users Te assumption is that
when the return is perceived to be greater the effort increases When
there are no incentives to try harder it may be diffi cult to drive desired
behavior change
Te point in getting users to actively support the deployment o
an EMR is about a lot more than a communication plan or eature
unction training Managing the people side o an EMR implementa-
tion requires a savvy technology adoption plan that ties sponsorship
training communication work1047298ow harmonization user support and
reinorcement with the business priorities o the organization andeffectively coordinates all o these activities with the user in mindmdashin
an environment that reinorces desired behavior changes
Key Questions
Two key questions to remember throughout the
project arehellip
(1) How will this decision impact the user
(2) How might it impact patients
Key Questions
Two key questions to remember throughout the
project are
(1) How will this decision impact the user
(2) How might it impact patients
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3339
14 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
Consider this example
In this example what are the key elements o this process that
ensure success
bull Te picture of success the desired outcome is clearmdashit is or the
child to become a unctioning adult in the community
bull How this happens is clearly de1047297ned in behavioral terms Tere is a
process that is known and understood by the entire community
including children
bull Leaders at all levels in the community agree on the desired out-
come support the entire process and actively ful1047297ll their roles to ensure success Leaders include village elders and ormal lead-
ers parents o the children inormal opinion leaders and amily
members
bull Te children who are about to become adults take an active role
in their own transormation taking responsibility or their suc-
cess Tey receive guidance and counsel rom elders Tey know
and understand the transormation process and what they must do
to achieve their new status Goals and steps are clear Tey also
understand the consequences o not successully transitioning to
adulthood
bull I there is more than one child slated to go through transormationto adulthood at the same time they are a peer group and as appro-
priate prepare together and support each other
Key Point
In native cultures there tend to be rites of passage that serve
to transition a person from childhood to adult status in the
community The child may actually leave the village for a day or
two of contemplation following a prescribed process When the
child returns he or she is redefined as an adult and assumes
the consequent privileges and responsibilities The entire
community reinforces the personrsquos new status the new adult is
not allowed to return to being a child whenever itrsquos convenient
but is supported to complete the transformation to adulthood
The change to adulthood does not happen in a vacuum but is
part of a carefully designed process that ensures success
Key Point
In native cultures there tend to be rites of passage that serve
to transition a person from childhood to adult status in the
community The child may actually leave the village for a day or
two of contemplation following a prescribed process When the
child returns he or she is redefined as an adult and assumes
the consequent privileges and responsibilities The entire
community reinforces the personrsquos new status the new adult is
not allowed to return to being a child whenever itrsquos convenient
but is supported to complete the transformation to adulthood
The change to adulthood does not happen in a vacuum but is
part of a carefully designed process that ensures success
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3439
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 15
bull Te entire community works together to bring about the
transormationbull Success results in positive reinforcement
Te environmental context is the trump card in any implementerrsquos
hand It takes a lot o work to create a suitable environment but it is an
essential ingredient in being able to drive and sustain change
Willingness and Ability
Earlier we mentioned willingness and ability as key concepts in tech-
nology adoption Willingness and ability can also be thought o as
hearts and minds or will and skill Te point is the same regardless
o the terms used People need to be supported on both an emotional
level to commit and on an intellectual level to be able Te questionto be answered is ldquoWhat are the conditions under which users will
accept and adopt the EMRrdquo
Letrsquos talk about willingness 1047297rst
Willingness or hearts is the commitment to go orward Tis is
impacted by many things including the ollowing elements
bull Leadership Perceived support or lack o support or the change
rom senior executives in the company the cascade o sponsors
down through the organization and just as importantly rom the
employeersquos direct supervisor
bull Communication Quality and requency o verbal and written
messages that describe the desired uture state tell why the changeneeds to happen and what will happen i change isnrsquot made set
clear expectations explain how the company will prepare and sup-
port people to success and describe local details such as timelines
etc
bull Reinforcement Degree o appropriateness and timeliness o
rewards or demonstrating desired new behaviors and conse-
quences or sticking to the old ways
bull Participation Degree to which users are involved every step o
the way either directly as individuals or indirectly by being effec-
tively represented by trusted local opinion leader peers who serve
as liaisons between users and the project teambull Organizational History with Change Previous organizational
experience with changemdashgood and badmdashwill in1047298uence user per-
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3539
16 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
ceptions and expectations o the EMR implementation Under-
standing the past is important in planning or the utureTis all sounds logical but the reaction to it can be emotional Tis
is where people conront their ear o ailure eeling stupid making
mistakes etc Remember that the change may require people to give
up the very things that they believe made them successul in the past
Tis can be a diffi cult sell
Ability or minds is about the actual capability to successully
meet new job expectations Tis is impacted by many things including
the ollowing elements
bull raining and Support In most cases the new EMR abilities must
be learned An effective training program that is role-based and
intentionally ocused on preparing people to perorm new jobexpectations is key Just discussing desired outcomes is not enough
though we have to clearly tell people what we want them to do
Tis requires an intellectual understanding o what and how a
conceptual understanding is necessary but not suffi cient Most
people need to practice something new to develop competence and
con1047297dence Sae opportunities to practice preerably with immedi-
ate eedback are very important to pro1047297ciency development and
sustainability
Getting people to move in the direction you want is the diffi -
cultymdashsome say the hardest part o the whole project And i you agree
that people are the oundation o successmdashthat bene1047297t realization isdependant not on technology but on people agreeing to go through
personal disruption learn new things change established patterns and
conront their earsmdashthen we must be proactive and courageous in
addressing the human issues
Tis is the people side o the project Tis is the organizational read-
iness unction It involves collaboration coordination and sequencing
o activities inormation and events rom all people-ocused areas Te
idea is to have all the people-ocused unctions working together to
reach clearly de1047297ned shared outcomes Te organizational readiness
plan to create individual and organizational readiness is the umbrella
that connects it allmdashthe glue that holds it together and the grease thatmakes it workmdashor the user We will address the structure and process
or doing this in more detail in subsequent chapters
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3639
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 17
Good News on wo Fronts
1 Tere is a social science Tere is a body o work research andsubsequent publications about the human experience with change
Tere are proven change management strategies tools and tech-
niques Tis isnrsquot olklore hooey or black magic Te transition
process is known and predictable Tere is a change curve that
describes the steps (Chapter 5 Stakeholder Management) And
though there is no silver bullet it isnrsquot rocket science Senior
healthcare executives must take the emerging proession o change
managementtechnology adoption seriously Not understanding it
is no excuse or ignoring it Tat is ar too expensive an option
2 All people go through transition when changemdashgood or badmdash
happens in both their personal and proessional lie You canrsquot
avoid it Te wonderul thing is i you learn about change and
transition at work it will improve your personal lie Tis is one
o the times to ldquotry this at homerdquo Wersquore all humanmdashat work and
at home So treat your people as the humans they are and avoid
some predictable expense and diffi culty Lead your organization
to a successul outcome and speed up the process by treating your
staff as customers 1047297rst
Donrsquot make the mistake o glossing over the critical human aspects
o change Hire experts and 1047297nd the emotionally intelligent people in
your organization who want to participate And remember you can
install technology without your people but you canrsquot ully implement
and achieve return on investment without them Consciously choose
to move fear and resistance to trust and adoption Itrsquos a case o pay
now or pay later I you wait until later it will always cost more ech-
nology Adoption is expensive but not as expensive as trying to gloss
it over and then having to undo the damage When ailure happens it
Quoteldquordquo
ldquoNot everything that can be counted counts and not everything thatcounts can be countedrdquo
- Albert Einstein
Quoteldquordquo
ldquordquo
ldquoNot everything that can be counted counts and not everything thatcounts can be countedrdquo
- Albert Einstein
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3739
18 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
takes a long time or people to re-engage And in todayrsquos world this
presents real problems or healthcare organizations aced with short-ages in many proessions Tere is a huge risk o alienating and poten-
tially losing needed staff or in causing long delays We can do better
Not so long ago it wasnrsquot conventional wisdom that clinical application
rollouts are not I projects More frequently than not these were consid-
ered technical projects in which the point of celebration was when con-nection from workstation to central processor was reliable and wireless
access actually worked Te classic I People-Process-echnology trian-
gle never got much past echnology to the real hard work on the People-
Process axis Tat has all changed in the 21st century system implemen-
tations that are both successful and valuable have had people and process
on the front burner
When MemorialCare embarked on a 1047297ve-hospital roll-out of an
EMR in 2002 it had several things in its favor
bull Te technology the organization ultimately acquired was robust and
reliable it worked
bull It had 15 yearsrsquo experience with CPOE (computerized providerorder entry) Terefore although unevenly adopted it was not new
territory
bull It had had the experience of a system-wide roll-out and standard-
ization on a general 1047297nance human resources and materials man-
agement system When all was said and done users had not been
suffi ciently involved standardization fell short because involvement
was low business leadership was diffuse and I ownership was too
high It was judged successful overall but the organization continues
to move slowly forward with an underutilized set of applications
With this experience and the insights of others MemorialCare pri-
oritized engagement of physicians nurses pharmacists and other staffWell before 1047297nancial commitment to a new system was obtained Memo-
rialCare hired a ldquoCare Planning Executiverdquo a person whose full-time
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3839
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 19
activities were devoted to the project 1047297rst to help understand the drivers
of a new system scope out the territory to be covered gain the com-mitment of senior leaders as well as governance and outline the case
for change At my insistence the Care Planning Executive a registered
nurse and former hospital chief operating offi cer joined the organization
reporting to the system-wide CEO as a peer and partner of the CIO not
a staff member and a peer to the CEOs of each medical center campus
Tat dedication alone made clear the commitment intentions and over-
all priority of the company
Among several other critical success factorsmdashand the outcome was
a successmdashwas the overall employee engagement program that the Care
Planning Executive established In summary it was an education mar-
keting and training program dedicated to equipping the affected staffwith the knowledge and tools to embrace unavoidable change Staff com-
munication was clear that it wasnrsquot change for changersquos sake but a major
move forward in the paperless way care would be delivered and work-
1047298ows would be streamlined Of course at the time no one could have
foreseen later moves by government to push everyone in this direction
(with the American Recovery and Reconstruction Act of 2009) Because
of our early efforts wersquore now very well positioned
J Scott Joslyn
CIO
MemorialCareLong Beach California
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3939
About the BookDespite the promise of improving care and other benefits EMR implementations are highly disruptive to the
organization This book prepares you to lead or participate successfully in change managementtechnologyadoption efforts so that meaningful use of EMRs can be achieved The authors provide successful strategies
to plan and implement change The content is based on their decades of combined experience designing
and leading technology adoption programs
Sections of the book deal with establishing a foundation for change building commitment and developing
requisite skill in helping users be successful with technology The book includes numerous lessons learned
tips for success best practices and case studies from organizations that have handled change well
About the AuthorsClaire McCarthy MA is a recognized technology adoption strategist and leader
with 25 years of healthcare industry experience supporting people through softwareimplementations and other large-scale change efforts As Director of Organizational
Effectiveness for Kaiser Permanentersquos enterprise-wide EMR deployment Ms McCarthy
led a national community of practice focused on preparing users to assume new
roles and responsibilities in support of organizational objectives Ms McCarthy
speaks internationally on the topic of technology adoption encouraging healthcare
leaders around the globe to set the stage for benefit realization by investing in the
people side of EMR implementation
Douglas Eastman PhD is an organizational development executive with extensive
experience managing large-scale change initiatives With more than 20 years
of consulting experience Dr Eastmanrsquos focus is to help organizations grow and
manage change by unleashing human potential His specialties are organizationaltransformation technology adoption and optimization process redesign strategic
planning and program and tools development As the Executive Director of Technology
Adoption and Organizational Capability within the Kaiser Permanente IT Care
Delivery Business Information Office Dr Eastman has pioneered several of Kaiserrsquos
implementation readiness toolsmethodologies and post-live optimization strategies
programs adding to the organizationrsquos ability to realize the benefit of its technology
About HIMSS The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) is a comprehensive healthcare-
stakeholder membership organization exclusively focused on providing global leadership for the optimal
use of information technology (IT) and management systems for the betterment of healthcare Founded in
1961 with offices in Chicago Washington DC Brussels Singapore and other locations across the United
States HIMSS represents more than 23000 individual members of which 73 work in patient care delivery
settings HIMSS also includes over 380 corporate members and nearly 30 not-for-profit organizations that
share our mission of transforming healthcare through the effective use of information technology and
management systems HIMSS frames and leads healthcare public policy and industry practices through
its educational professional development and advocacy initiatives designed to promote information and
management systemsrsquo contributions to ensuring quality patient care
ISBN 978-0-9821070-6-5
Order Code 564
230 E Ohio St Suite 500
Chicago IL 60611ndash3270
312-915-9295
www himss org
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1139
x Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
success o this crucial business initiative with an inormation technol-
ogy componentDale Sanders then CIO at the Northwestern Medical Faculty Foun-
dation and now CIO at the Cayman Islandsrsquo Health Services Author-
ity pointed out that ldquoyou need to dedicate the time and resources to
constantly iterate re1047297ne and improve the utilization o the EMR over
time ar beyond its installation and go-live Itrsquos a race without a 1047297n-
ish line rain und and plan accordinglymdashdonrsquot short-change the
investmentrdquo In other words recognize that you are not done at go-
live yoursquove just started achieving technology adoption and changing
behavior to get value rom your EMR investment
Tis book should be required reading or every member o the
executive team in every healthcare organization that is planning toimplement an EMR in the next ew years I was happy to be asked
to review the book and to write the orewordmdashand not or the ame
and ortune It was because I would then have to read it and Irsquom glad
I did I learned an incredible amount about a topic that most o us in
the technology world do not understand well and that is dealing with
people issues Claire and Doug nail it here and I guarantee yoursquoll be
thankul or the knowledge they share
Having said that reading this de1047297nitive work on change man-
agement or EMR implementations is not going to provide you with
enough knowledge on the topic to preclude your engaging or hiring
change management expertise In act just the opposite yoursquoll ullyunderstand why you need to get some help Welcome to the epiphany
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1239
xi
Preface
By Claire McCarthy MA and Douglas Eastman PhD
Tere is much discussion today about implementation o EMR sys-
temsmdashdiscussions that usually include excitement anxiety and
downright dread Tere is also a lot o talk about whether EMRs cre-
ate opportunities or healthcare organizations such as transorming
the way care is delivered reducing medical errors increasing internaleffi ciencies or clinical and administrative users improving revenue
capture and providing a host o other critical bene1047297ts Te promise
(some would say antasy) is big
But above all an EMR implementation is disruptive Te process
can realistically be equated to a tornado whipping through an organi-
zation and lie as you once knew it is turned upside down and the new
processes expectations priorities roles and methods overwhelm the
workplace
Our intent in writing this book is to assist others who may be
struggling with many o the same issues we have addressed By sharing
lessons rom our numerous 1047297rsthand sofware implementation expe-riences we will equip you with successul practices and prepare you
to lead or participate effectively in change managementtechnology
adoption efforts so that meaningul use can be achieved
Te primary audience o this book is everyone who leads or is
directly involved in the people-ocused change managementtech-
nology adoption efforts o an EMR implementation Our secondary
audience is everyone else who has a stake in the usersrsquo willingness and
ability to change behavior so the potential o the technology can be
realized So whether you are actively engaged in change management
technology adoption work or your support and advocacy o change
managementtechnology adoption is neededmdashthis book is or youRegardless o your speci1047297c role (executive middle-management
ront-line supervisor physician nurse medical assistant I proes-
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1339
xii Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
sional consultant or other stakeholder in the success o an EMR
implementation) our hope is that you will gain an appreciation orthe importance o users and the effort required to ensure operational
success Tis book emphasizes effective ways to plan and implement
change Te content is based on decades o combined experience man-
aging the people side o sofware implementations in healthcare
It is important to point out however that this book is not meant to
be a course on change managementtechnology adoption Our intent
is not to review existing research or current academic models and the-
ories but rather to share the insights and lessons we have learned in
delivering sustainable results and healthy organizational change over
the years
For technically-oriented project leads the success o an EMRimplementation tends to ocus too heavily on ldquoscrewing in the sys-
temrdquo on time and on budget But as important as it is getting the
EMR technology up and running should not be the primary ocus
Equal emphasis must be placed on how the new technology will be
embraced utilized and leveraged to realize a return on this signi1047297-
cant investment Flipping the switch and turning the technology on is
merely hal o the game
We believe the promise o an EMR implementation is great with
potentially signi1047297cant returns or the patient user organization and
or the industry as a whole When we hear words such as electronic
computerized and automated it sounds as i lie will be made easier andbecome more organized and effi cient However healthcare organiza-
tions do not always think about the critical steps involved in making
these hopes a reality Tis is due in large part because managing the
people side o an implementation and developing and installing major
technology require different skills sets Neither side o the coin is nec-
essarily more important but they both must be seen as equally signi1047297-
cant Te role in managing the people side o an implementation rarely
1047297ts neatly into how technically-ocused projects have historically been
measured and this creates a scenario in which the people side is ofen
misunderstood discounted and worst case ignored altogether Con-
sider the difference between what it takes to install the system (a tech-nology ocus) and what it takes to get the desired outcomes (a ocus on
people doing things differently)
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1439
Preace xiii
Te management o ambiguity resistance and user motivation is
admittedly hard to measure and unortunately involves methods thatare not always easily checked off a list Te process is more 1047298uid and
organic than linear At times it is unpredictable requiring rethink-
ing and course corrections Afer all we are dealing with people Not
everything is clear cut Donrsquot believe anyone who tells you it is
People come with different backgrounds rames o reerence
experience with technology comort with change or ambiguity trust
in leadership and so orth Whatever the mix o scenarios users never
start rom the same placemdashand they move through the change pro-
cess at different speeds meaning they continue to be in different places
throughout the project Te good news is that users do grow and develop
over the course o the project and many eventually accept things theywouldnrsquot agree to at 1047297rst But they require understandingmdashtheir ears
needs hopes and their reactions to the challenges that impact their
ability to perorm A sound comprehensive people strategy that cre-
ates an environment in which they can succeed is essential
I the goal o your EMR implementation is to achieve sustainable
results growth or organizational transormation then a substantial
investment in people must be central to your overall implementation
strategy Afer all it is the user who makes or breaks your EMR imple-
mentation and ultimately determines the amount o return the organi-
zation will realize Te better prepared people are or the change and
the less they see it as threatening the aster they will deliver value
Quoteldquordquo
ldquoMan is still the most extraordinary computer of allrdquo
- John F Kennedy
Quoteldquordquo
ldquordquo
ldquoMan is still the most extraordinary computer of allrdquo
- John F Kennedy
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1539
xiv Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
HOW HE BOOK IS SRUCURED
Preparing an organization or a successul EMR implementationinvolves a big picture approach that takes into account all the actors
that in1047298uence behavior change Te idea is to establish an organiza-
tional contextmdasha culture in which desired behavior is supported and
reinorced through a variety o methodsmdashcreating a learning organiza-
tion that grows to achieve its vision priorities and goals In this book
we present an Implementation Readiness Model and discuss each ac-
tor involved in ensuring the organization and users are ully prepared
to realize the potential o the new technology
Tis book is organized in a simple ashion First we make the busi-
ness argument or change managementtechnology adoption explain-
ing why technology implementations will not deliver bene1047297ts without
a signi1047297cant ocus on users Next we discuss two critical success ac-
tors in any large-scale change management effortmdasha clear vision and
effective leadership
Ten we argue or the development o a cross-unctional team
o representatives rom key areas within the organization the Orga-
nizational Readiness eam (OR) and introduce a pragmatic model
that outlines the scope o complexity and work that the OR man-
ages throughout the project lie cycle Tis establishes a oundation
or subsequent chapters in which each provides urther detail about
the inter-relationship o work involved to effectively drive sustain-
able change Tese chapters dig deeper into lessons learned and best
practices related to stakeholder management communication train-
ing strategy and reinorcement as all must be aligned to successully
satisy the end goal o a meaningul implementation
Finally the Implementation Readiness chapter shows how the
prior chapters serve as building blocks to ormulate a comprehensive
and powerul Implementation Readiness Program aimed at securing
ready users who are engaged and prepared or the transitional changes
ahead in the world o an EMR Te book ends with a discussion o
our key lessons learned and insights regarding the overall journey Pay
particular attention to some o the larger challenges related to an EMR
implementation as these scenarios have proven to have a signi1047297cant
impact on an organizationrsquos speed and ability to position itsel or ben-
e1047297ts realization
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1639
Preace xv
It is important to stress that ocusing on just one actor o imple-
mentation readiness is not suffi cient to drive organizational changeand sustainable results Each chapter describes an individual actor in
detail and provides lessons and useul examples tools and other bits
o inormation intended to help you succeed in preparing your orga-
nization or a successul EMR implementation But the real purpose
o the book is to raise awareness o how all actors work in concert to
in1047298uence desired change associated with an EMR implementation Te
actors work best as an integrated whole overlapping and reinorcing
each other Tey typically have separate leadership but whether or-
mally integrated or not they are pieces o one picture
Like other books you can jump to any chapter o interest at any
point However we strongly encourage you to read the book cover tocover 1047297rst to gain an understanding o the end-to-end process and how
each actor contributes to overall success A strategy that accounts or
all actors is more effective than just one intervention or multiple dis-
connected interventions In this case the sum is de1047297nitely greater than
all o its individual parts
We speak to you in a conversational and straightorward man-
ner to make this rather diffi cult side o an EMR implementation more
approachable We hope you will 1047297nd our insights valuable and will
leverage this book as your implementation reerence guide It will ur-
ther your cause i all stakeholders accountable or a successul launch
in your organization have a common ramework or approaching the
collective end goal We certainly wish wersquod had a book like this years
ago to guide us through the mine1047297eld o sofware implementationsFinally we hope you enjoy the process o supporting people
through the transition to the world o EMRs Tere is something very
Quoteldquordquo
ldquoExperience is a hard teacher because she gives
the test first the lessons afterwardsrdquo
- Vernon Law
Quoteldquordquo
ldquordquo
ldquoExperience is a hard teacher because she gives
the test first the lessons afterwardsrdquo
- Vernon Law
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1739
xvi Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
rewarding about seeing people who were earul and resistant even
in tears and thinking seriously o quitting eel the pride o accom-plishment when they succeed Each person who stays the course and
becomes a contributing member o the electronically enabled organi-
zation represents untold cost avoidance Knowledge and talent stay in
the organization replacement costs are avoided relationships are pre-
served and critical staff shortages are reduced echnology adoption is
truly a contribution to the bottom line
In the words o one o our grandathers ldquoPeople change when
theyrsquore damned good and ready and not beorerdquo Wersquore here to get
them ready
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1839
xvii
Acknowledgments
Te authors would like to thank the ollowing individuals or sharing
their expertise and experiences or this book
Saaa Al-Haddad MD
Internal Medicine
University Hospitals
Cleveland Ohio
Ronnie D Bower Jr MA
Manager Change Management
BayCare Health System
ampa Florida
Nabil Chehade MD MSBS
CPC
Director Medical Inormatics
Regional Chie o Urology
KP HealthConnect RegionalPhysician Lead
Kaiser Permanente Medical
Group
Cleveland Ohio
Kenneth Goodman MD
Associate Director Center
or Continuing Medical
Education
Department o Family Medicine
Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland Ohio
Marie Hamilton RN
Kaiser Permanente
Oregon Federation o Nurses
and Health ProessionalsHealthcare Inormation
echnology Committee
AF Healthcare
Portland Oregon
Lindsey P Jarrell FACHE
Senior Vice President amp CIO
BayCare Health System
ampa Florida
J Scott JoslynCIO
MemorialCare
Long Beach Caliornia
Margaret M Rudoph PhD
Consultant
Vancouver British Columbia
Canada
om Smith
CIO
NorthShore University Health
System
Evanston Illinois
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1939
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2039
1
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 983089
Te Business Case forChange Management
ldquoWersquore not in Kansas anymorehelliprdquo
In the introduction an EMR implementation is compared to a tornado
in that it whips through an organization turning lie upside down and
throwing users into a world 1047297lled with new ways o doing things and
seeking ways to recapture some sense o balance and control EMR
technology disrupts the status quo and along with the many opportu-
nities it promises it also brings a whirlwind o seemingly never-ending
changes which can have an entirely different effect on different people
While an implementation that is effectively managed even brings these
challenges a poor implementation can be disastrous and will cost the
organization much more time energy and money to get things back
on track
Dorothy the character rom the movie Te Wizard of Oz held
her composure pretty well through the tornado that ripped her rom
a calm stable lie on the arm and threw her into a oreign world She
was able to manage through the obstacles and challenges and stay the
course as she ollowed the yellow brick road in search o the wizard
Some say this is similar to the experience users have except or the
part when Dorothy wakes up rom her dream and 1047297nds hersel back
home as she remembers itEMR implementations donrsquot have to be nightmarish or users but
there certainly will be obstacles and challenges along the way Te key is
to help users through the road blocks and enable them to experience a
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2139
2 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
positive journey Tis process is always easier when people know what
they are getting into eel supported and are prepared or what liesahead both good and bad Tis is the role o change management
CHANGE MANAGEMEN DEFINED
Itrsquos important to understand why you should make an investment in
the people side o the projectmdashbringing in the best technology pos-
sible doesnrsquot mean anything unless users are comortable and pro1047297-
cient in its use Te truth is just because you build it doesnrsquot mean they
will come
Letrsquos start by answering the two questions we are most ofen asked
ldquoWhat is change management anyway What is it change managers
dordquoo avoid conusion wersquoll say up ront we are not talking about
change management as it relates to technical issues such as version or
change control We also want to be clear that change management is
not project management What we are talking about is the human side
o electronic medical records implementations the human-ocused
work o engaging and preparing people to succeed in the new world
o EMRs
A word about project management while good project manage-
ment acilitates change management the two disciplines are not the
same Project management is much more linear and task-ocused
whereas change management deals with the complexities o human
behavior But a good project plan creates a structure and a ounda-
tion in which the change management process can occur Tereore
the two disciplines though different complement and support each
other
A word o caution do not conuse the project plan with the end
result Te plan is necessary and it guides you throughout the process
Te plan is proactive itrsquos the order in the chaos But technology adop-
tion is kind o like herding cats itrsquos unpredictable and you need to
maintain 1047298exibility to respond as things evolve Tis is a more reactive
process than what may be expressed in a plan In our experience an
EMR implementation requires both structure and 1047298exibility
Tere is a saying in change management circles When one door
closes another one opens but sometimes itrsquos hell in the hallway Change
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2239
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 3
management deals mostly with the hallway situation acilitating the
human transition rom the present to the uture Tese days change isongoing and requires ocused leadership i it is to be as ast and pain-
less as possible
Te three legs o the project stool represent the critical compo-nents o an implementation (Figure 1-1)mdashPeople Process and ech-
nology Te people are the most important When technology projects
ail it is primarily due to a lack o use and not a ailure o the sof-
ware Te ocus o change management is people and the objective is
to change behavior Tis is good or business because it accelerates the
change process so bene1047297ts are achieved aster Change management
is not about being nice or placing an emphasis on eelings Itrsquos about
perormance improvement and results
I you search the literature you will 1047297nd a variety o de1047297nitions o
human-ocused change management Tey all cover similar concepts
sometimes using different terminology Te simplest explanation ochange management is to say ldquoItrsquos all about the peoplerdquo But or the
purposes o this book we expand on that concept and use the ollow-
ing de1047297nition o change management
bull A structured process designed to deal directly and intentionally
with the human actors involved in not just planning and imple-
menting an EMR but through behavior change achieving the
anticipated bene1047297ts that justi1047297ed the project in the 1047297rst place
bull Desired behavior change is achieved by helping people understand
and internalize change and by preparing them to be successul
contributors in the uture state In the case o EMR implementa-
tions effective change management delivers users who are willingand able to use an EMR in a way that satis1047297es the requirements o
the job the needs o the patient and the health o the organization
Key Tip
Our assumption is that the software you are implementing
works If the software doesnrsquot work you have another kind of
problem one that even the best change management wonrsquot
resolve
Key Tip
Our assumption is that the software you are implementing
works If the software doesnrsquot work you have another kind of
problemmdashone that even the best change management wonrsquot
resolve
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2339
4 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
Well-designed integrated people-ocused work builds logically
over time in a way that makes sense to the user It brings users along
guiding and supporting them so they arrive at where you want them
to be Tis is about willingness and ability hearts and minds You must
have both
Te overarching purpose o change management is to acceleratethe speed at which people move successfully through the change
process so that anticipated bene1047297ts are achieved faster And there
are additional bene1047297ts to change management Trough optimizing
the effi ciency and effi cacy o users an effective EMR change manage-
ment program will also
bull Improve organizational outcomes and perormance (effective use
o the system generates value to patients and the organization)
bull Enhance employee satisaction morale and engagement (when
people learn new skills meet perormance expectations and con-
tribute to a greater good they eel pride in their accomplishments)
bull Improve service quality (users eel valued and supported by anorganization that makes an investment in them this positively
impacts how they treat patients)
Figure 1-1 The Three-legged Stool
Technology
People Process
Technology
People Process
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2439
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 5
bull Help achieve hoped-or bene1047297ts (bene1047297ts that include EMR value
realization reduction o errors return on investment)bull Create higher levels o openness trust involvement and teamwork
(develop an engaged workorce)
bull Build change capability and capacity in the organization resulting
in improved ability to respond quickly and effectively to new situa-
tions (create organizational nimbleness through embedded change
management knowledge structure and process)
In other words it really is all about the people Intentionally man-
aging the cultural behavioral and organizational changes that need
to take place to make the desired EMR uture not only a reality but
a sustainable reality pays off on many levels in that it also acilitates
organizational transormation Building on individual capability andorganizational capacity change management results in a change-
capable culturemdasha huge advantage in todayrsquos competitive and ast-
changing world
Change Management echnology AdoptionmdashWhatrsquos the Difference
Tere are a number o terms that people use to reer to the work
involved in managing the people side o a change effort We think o
change management as the mother ship that is the umbrella term that
embraces all specialties within the 1047297eld Similar to the various special-
ties or domains o service within a healthcare system change man-agement proessionals may choose speci1047297c areas o ocus echnology
adoption speci1047297cally inormation technology (I) is one such area
and it involves the application o change management principles to the
implementation o I Te focus of this book is technology adoption
and we will mostly use this term instead of change management
throughout the rest of the book
Effective technology adoption proessionals align themselves with
the operationalbusiness side o the organization and tailor solutions
that drive behavioral change and tangible outcomes Tey participate in
EMR implementation projects rom the beginning driving the people
side o change throughout and continuing to add value post-live as theEMR becomes part o the central nervous system o the organization
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2539
6 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
HE IMPORANCE OF HE PEOPLE SIDE
OF AN EMR IMPLEMENAIONTere are many reerences in the literature to ailed change efforts and
I implementations Estimates are that only one third o these projects
achieve success which means two thirds ail to meet expectations Te
good news is that ailure is optional as much has been learned about
why some change efforts ail and others succeed
Herersquos the issue while the change that is going to occur is an exter-
nal eventmdashthe EMR implementation a reorganization proposed out-
sourcing a promotion etcmdashthe transition rom old to new that those
who are impacted experience is a psychological and emotional pro-
cess It is this transition that is diffi cultmdasheven when a change is sel-
imposed or considered positive
In the words o William Bridges a key thought leader in manage-
ment o transitions ldquoIt isnrsquot the changes that do you in itrsquos the transi-
tion afer the change that doesrdquo1
For an implementation team part o the problem encountered
during transition is that change is messy people start where they are
not where we want them to be And when considering the personnel
within a typical hospital people can be all over the place in terms o
comort with computers stage in lie commitment to the organiza-
tion ear o change etc Add to this the act that or change to be suc-
cessul three things must occur People
bull Must let go o their current reality have an ending
bull Go through a conused period in-between (hell in the hallway)
bull Only then can have a new beginning 1
o take this a step urther while I consultants want to install the
system and make enhancements the users will ultimately determine
how the system is used Tis use is affected by human not technical
actors
bull Different rames o reerence backgrounds experiences with
technology
bull Organizational history and experience with other large-scale
change projects
bull Levels o resistance ear ability to deal with ambiguity
bull Degree o alignment o ldquoWhatrsquos in it or merdquo or the various stake-
holder groups
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2639
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 7
bull Ineffi ciencies uncovered because the system creates transparency
bull Workarounds that become quickly entrenchedbull Pressure to get through the day can override doing what is right
bull User worklie balance issues coming into play rom the very
beginning
All o these actors create problems or implementation teams that
just want to install technology How do you effectively address the
people issues Or is it easier to just install the technology and assume
that people will learn because they have to use it Some on the imple-
mentation team may alsely assume that users o an EMR system will
snap into place over time and do what is right or the organization
Tis thinking is a oolrsquos paradise
In the oreword to this book Dave Garets made the point that EMRdeployments are not about technology but about equipping organiza-
tions to reach critical business objectives by providing employees with
technical capabilities that make new things possible and by engaging
them in changing their behavior to effectively use the new capabilities
to generate desired results
With all due respect to the technical side o an EMR implemen-
tation installing the technology is only hal the battle Tis is not to
degrade the importance o the technology Te act that we spend a lot
o money researching technology acquiring it con1047297guring it install-
ing it and supporting it speaks to its importance I we werenrsquot imple-
menting EMRs we wouldnrsquot even be having a discussion about EMR-related change management
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2739
8 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
But implementation o the technology is just a 1047297rst and very nec-
essary stepmdashbecause in and o itsel the technology does not generate
value Te technology is necessary but not suffi cient or bene1047297t realiza-
tion to occur o create value requires people and this is why change
management is so important oo much o a ocus on technology even
in the early stages will create issues downstream And even with the
best technology i not used effi ciently hoped-or bene1047297ts will be tough
to achieve
CIO Perspective
ldquoDuring my masters program I took an Organization Development
class that really opened my eyes to peoplesrsquo needs during large-scale
change Since the OD class I have been very interested in what makes
people tick and why people react in different ways to the same
environment No matter how good of an idea a large-scale technology
implementation is we will always have early adopters average adopters
and laggards As leaders within large organizations we have a
responsibility to plan for and respect all types of technology adopters
Ultimately the people who work within in our organizations want a positive
human experience when they are at work
Utilizing a change management methodology enables the implementation
and leadership teams to provide a positive experience during the period of
significant change By utilizing a solid change management methodologythe organization promotes team communication a safer environment for
the patient a work environment that promotes trust and an environment
where people are allowed to talk about the fear of change All of this
promotes a better human experience and a much stronger work force
hellip An effective change management program has meant the difference
between good go-lives and great go-lives at our 10 hospitalsrdquo
Lindsey P Jarrell FACHE
SVP amp CIO
BayCare Health System
Clearwater FL
CIO Perspective
During my masters program I took an Organization Development
class that really opened my eyes to peoplesrsquo needs during large-scale
change Since the OD class I have been very interested in what makes
people tick and why people react in different ways to the same
environment No matter how good of an idea a large-scale technology
implementation is we will always have early adopters average adopters
and laggards As leaders within large organizations we have a
responsibility to plan for and respect all types of technology adopters
Ultimately the people who work within in our organizations want a positive
human experience when they are at work
Utilizing a change management methodology enables the implementation
and leadership teams to provide a positive experience during the period of
significant change By utilizing a solid change management methodologythe organization promotes team communication a safer environment for
the patient a work environment that promotes trust and an environment
where people are allowed to talk about the fear of change All of this
promotes a better human experience and a much stronger work force
hellip An effective change management program has meant the difference
between good go-lives and great go-lives at our 10 hospitals
Lindsey P Jarrell FACHE
SVP amp CIO
BayCare Health System
Clearwater FL
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2839
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 9
Remember that change is a personal experience It is also local and
individual And itrsquos hardmdasheven when itrsquos sel-imposed and positive
Tere are no shortcuts People have to go through the process o change
in much the same way that we move through the stages o grie2 It canrsquot
be avoided or skipped You can measure twice and cut once or you
can cut now and then do costly remediation later Either way you canrsquot
avoid the expense or time required or real change to occur
SYSEMS PERSPECIVE
Experienced technology adoption proessionals embrace a systems
perspective when given the assignment to drive perormance man-
age perceptions and increase the utilization o new and existing tech-
nology A systems approach is the ability to see the big picture and
address the interrelationships among the variables within the abric o
CIO Perspective
ldquoIrsquove been in healthcare IT a long time and I now realize itrsquos
all about change management What was considered soft is
now hard We know so much more about how to install
technologymdashItrsquos the people part we donrsquot know well yet
and so itrsquos hardrdquo
Scott Joslyn
CIO
MemorialCare
Long Beach CA
CIO Perspective
Irsquove been in healthcare IT a long time and I now realize itrsquos
all about change management What was considered soft is
now hard We know so much more about how to install
technologymdashitrsquos the people part we donrsquot know well yet
and so itrsquos hard
J Scott Joslyn
CIO
MemorialCare
Long Beach CA
Quoteldquordquo
ldquoNo man can think clearly when his fists are clenchedrdquo
- George Jean Nathan
Quoteldquordquo
ldquordquo
ldquoNo man can think clearly when his fists are clenchedrdquo
- George Jean Nathan
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2939
10 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
the organization and in1047298uence the combined impact these variables
have on organizational effectiveness As each variable has the powerto in1047298uence the outcome o any intervention behavior change is ofen
not sustainable because variables tend to work against one another
Effective technology adoption strategies account or this interrelation-
shipinterdependency and aim to bring these variables into alignment
as a means or driving sustainable results
Figure 1-2 introduces the Organizational Fabric Model which
highlights the six primary threads (or variables) that are interwoven
in the abric (or culture) o an organization Te model suggests that
all six threads must work in concert to successully shape the organi-
zational abric A well-woven technology adoption plan strategically
manipulates these threads to in1047298uence desired change A poorly wovenplan in which a thread or combination o threads is not accounted
or leads to disaster or by way o analogy will hit a snag down the
road Depending on the 1047298exibility and durability o this abric a snag
can result in a huge hole that detracts rom the overall strength o the
intervention Te intent o the Organizational Fabric Model is to stress
how important it is to understand the uture state recognize how each
variable or combination o variables will come into play and develop a
sound technology adoption program that appropriately in1047298uences this
set o variables to reshape the abric or culture so desired change can
actually take place
Te Organizational Fabric Model will be revisited in subsequent
chapters as each thread or variable is explored in urther detail For
now we reiterate that technology adoption strategies must not rely
on only one or two threads to drive behavior change Sustainable out-
comes result rom an organizationrsquos ability to leverage the combination
o all six threads working in concert to create an environment orsuccess
Key Point
Fundamentally culture is ldquothe way we do things around hererdquo
Key Point
Fundamentally culture is ldquothe way we do things around hererdquo
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3039
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 11
CREAING AN ENVIRONMEN FOR SUCCESS
echnology adoption is about creating a context an environment in
which change can be achieved and sustained over the long term Tis
involves two levelsmdashorganizational and individual
With an EMR implementation the organization must create thesupporting environment provide needed training and resources
articulate a clear direction coupled with clear expectations engage its
people include them in the process and reinorce desired new behav-
iors Tis is not about checking things off a list but rather about 1047297nd-
ing synergy among impacted groups giving them what they need and
coordinating efforts to meet the end goal Itrsquos an ongoing effort
o give you an idea o what we are talking about herersquos an exam-
ple o an individual situation occurring within a social context Tink
about what happens when you want to make a signi1047297cant change in
your personal liemdashquit smoking stop drinking lose weight Itrsquos one
thing to talk with a doctor or another proessional about what needsto happen when yoursquore in their offi ce but once you leave the offi ce
you then return to your social reality I your riends and amily donrsquot
want your behavior to change you will have a tough time All the rein-
Figure 1-2 Organizational Fabric Model
Sponsorship
Stakeholder Mgmt
Training
Vision
Reinforcement
Communications
Sponsorship
Stakeholder Mgmt
Training
Vision
Reinforcement
Communications
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3139
12 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
orcements and temptations will conspire to prevent you rom mak-
ing changes But i you can get some important people in your lieto make the changes with you or at least support you in the process
you have a much greater chance o success Te lesson is donrsquot send a
changed person back into an unchanged environment if you want
to see behavior change
Engaging individuals involves arousing two key aspects mdashwilling-
ness and ability Te organization must in1047298uence both in order to suc-
ceed With the help o the Skill Versus Will Matrix (Figure 1-3) think
about it this way
bull When people want to do something but donrsquot know how they canrsquot
(willingunable)
bull When people know how but donrsquot want to they wonrsquot(ableunwilling)
Can you think o examples in your own lie when you have been in
either o these situations
Consider the circumstance o people who know how to do some-
thing but donrsquot want to do it Tis is a ldquowillrdquo not a ldquoskillrdquo issue and it is
a very common technology adoption dilemma I the amount o work
and effort involved are not perceived by the user as being equal to the
Figure 1-3 The Skill versus Will Matrix
Skill
Will
WONrsquoT
WONrsquoT
DOES
CANrsquoTLow
High
HighLow
Skill
Will
WONrsquoT
WONrsquoT
DOES
CANrsquoTLow
High
HighLow HighLow
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3239
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 13
return or value experienced through the implementation the user will
most likely choose to reduce the effort A goal o an effective people-ocused strategy is to identiy potential areas o disconnect and 1047297nd
ways to increase the perceived value to users Te assumption is that
when the return is perceived to be greater the effort increases When
there are no incentives to try harder it may be diffi cult to drive desired
behavior change
Te point in getting users to actively support the deployment o
an EMR is about a lot more than a communication plan or eature
unction training Managing the people side o an EMR implementa-
tion requires a savvy technology adoption plan that ties sponsorship
training communication work1047298ow harmonization user support and
reinorcement with the business priorities o the organization andeffectively coordinates all o these activities with the user in mindmdashin
an environment that reinorces desired behavior changes
Key Questions
Two key questions to remember throughout the
project arehellip
(1) How will this decision impact the user
(2) How might it impact patients
Key Questions
Two key questions to remember throughout the
project are
(1) How will this decision impact the user
(2) How might it impact patients
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3339
14 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
Consider this example
In this example what are the key elements o this process that
ensure success
bull Te picture of success the desired outcome is clearmdashit is or the
child to become a unctioning adult in the community
bull How this happens is clearly de1047297ned in behavioral terms Tere is a
process that is known and understood by the entire community
including children
bull Leaders at all levels in the community agree on the desired out-
come support the entire process and actively ful1047297ll their roles to ensure success Leaders include village elders and ormal lead-
ers parents o the children inormal opinion leaders and amily
members
bull Te children who are about to become adults take an active role
in their own transormation taking responsibility or their suc-
cess Tey receive guidance and counsel rom elders Tey know
and understand the transormation process and what they must do
to achieve their new status Goals and steps are clear Tey also
understand the consequences o not successully transitioning to
adulthood
bull I there is more than one child slated to go through transormationto adulthood at the same time they are a peer group and as appro-
priate prepare together and support each other
Key Point
In native cultures there tend to be rites of passage that serve
to transition a person from childhood to adult status in the
community The child may actually leave the village for a day or
two of contemplation following a prescribed process When the
child returns he or she is redefined as an adult and assumes
the consequent privileges and responsibilities The entire
community reinforces the personrsquos new status the new adult is
not allowed to return to being a child whenever itrsquos convenient
but is supported to complete the transformation to adulthood
The change to adulthood does not happen in a vacuum but is
part of a carefully designed process that ensures success
Key Point
In native cultures there tend to be rites of passage that serve
to transition a person from childhood to adult status in the
community The child may actually leave the village for a day or
two of contemplation following a prescribed process When the
child returns he or she is redefined as an adult and assumes
the consequent privileges and responsibilities The entire
community reinforces the personrsquos new status the new adult is
not allowed to return to being a child whenever itrsquos convenient
but is supported to complete the transformation to adulthood
The change to adulthood does not happen in a vacuum but is
part of a carefully designed process that ensures success
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3439
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 15
bull Te entire community works together to bring about the
transormationbull Success results in positive reinforcement
Te environmental context is the trump card in any implementerrsquos
hand It takes a lot o work to create a suitable environment but it is an
essential ingredient in being able to drive and sustain change
Willingness and Ability
Earlier we mentioned willingness and ability as key concepts in tech-
nology adoption Willingness and ability can also be thought o as
hearts and minds or will and skill Te point is the same regardless
o the terms used People need to be supported on both an emotional
level to commit and on an intellectual level to be able Te questionto be answered is ldquoWhat are the conditions under which users will
accept and adopt the EMRrdquo
Letrsquos talk about willingness 1047297rst
Willingness or hearts is the commitment to go orward Tis is
impacted by many things including the ollowing elements
bull Leadership Perceived support or lack o support or the change
rom senior executives in the company the cascade o sponsors
down through the organization and just as importantly rom the
employeersquos direct supervisor
bull Communication Quality and requency o verbal and written
messages that describe the desired uture state tell why the changeneeds to happen and what will happen i change isnrsquot made set
clear expectations explain how the company will prepare and sup-
port people to success and describe local details such as timelines
etc
bull Reinforcement Degree o appropriateness and timeliness o
rewards or demonstrating desired new behaviors and conse-
quences or sticking to the old ways
bull Participation Degree to which users are involved every step o
the way either directly as individuals or indirectly by being effec-
tively represented by trusted local opinion leader peers who serve
as liaisons between users and the project teambull Organizational History with Change Previous organizational
experience with changemdashgood and badmdashwill in1047298uence user per-
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3539
16 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
ceptions and expectations o the EMR implementation Under-
standing the past is important in planning or the utureTis all sounds logical but the reaction to it can be emotional Tis
is where people conront their ear o ailure eeling stupid making
mistakes etc Remember that the change may require people to give
up the very things that they believe made them successul in the past
Tis can be a diffi cult sell
Ability or minds is about the actual capability to successully
meet new job expectations Tis is impacted by many things including
the ollowing elements
bull raining and Support In most cases the new EMR abilities must
be learned An effective training program that is role-based and
intentionally ocused on preparing people to perorm new jobexpectations is key Just discussing desired outcomes is not enough
though we have to clearly tell people what we want them to do
Tis requires an intellectual understanding o what and how a
conceptual understanding is necessary but not suffi cient Most
people need to practice something new to develop competence and
con1047297dence Sae opportunities to practice preerably with immedi-
ate eedback are very important to pro1047297ciency development and
sustainability
Getting people to move in the direction you want is the diffi -
cultymdashsome say the hardest part o the whole project And i you agree
that people are the oundation o successmdashthat bene1047297t realization isdependant not on technology but on people agreeing to go through
personal disruption learn new things change established patterns and
conront their earsmdashthen we must be proactive and courageous in
addressing the human issues
Tis is the people side o the project Tis is the organizational read-
iness unction It involves collaboration coordination and sequencing
o activities inormation and events rom all people-ocused areas Te
idea is to have all the people-ocused unctions working together to
reach clearly de1047297ned shared outcomes Te organizational readiness
plan to create individual and organizational readiness is the umbrella
that connects it allmdashthe glue that holds it together and the grease thatmakes it workmdashor the user We will address the structure and process
or doing this in more detail in subsequent chapters
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3639
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 17
Good News on wo Fronts
1 Tere is a social science Tere is a body o work research andsubsequent publications about the human experience with change
Tere are proven change management strategies tools and tech-
niques Tis isnrsquot olklore hooey or black magic Te transition
process is known and predictable Tere is a change curve that
describes the steps (Chapter 5 Stakeholder Management) And
though there is no silver bullet it isnrsquot rocket science Senior
healthcare executives must take the emerging proession o change
managementtechnology adoption seriously Not understanding it
is no excuse or ignoring it Tat is ar too expensive an option
2 All people go through transition when changemdashgood or badmdash
happens in both their personal and proessional lie You canrsquot
avoid it Te wonderul thing is i you learn about change and
transition at work it will improve your personal lie Tis is one
o the times to ldquotry this at homerdquo Wersquore all humanmdashat work and
at home So treat your people as the humans they are and avoid
some predictable expense and diffi culty Lead your organization
to a successul outcome and speed up the process by treating your
staff as customers 1047297rst
Donrsquot make the mistake o glossing over the critical human aspects
o change Hire experts and 1047297nd the emotionally intelligent people in
your organization who want to participate And remember you can
install technology without your people but you canrsquot ully implement
and achieve return on investment without them Consciously choose
to move fear and resistance to trust and adoption Itrsquos a case o pay
now or pay later I you wait until later it will always cost more ech-
nology Adoption is expensive but not as expensive as trying to gloss
it over and then having to undo the damage When ailure happens it
Quoteldquordquo
ldquoNot everything that can be counted counts and not everything thatcounts can be countedrdquo
- Albert Einstein
Quoteldquordquo
ldquordquo
ldquoNot everything that can be counted counts and not everything thatcounts can be countedrdquo
- Albert Einstein
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3739
18 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
takes a long time or people to re-engage And in todayrsquos world this
presents real problems or healthcare organizations aced with short-ages in many proessions Tere is a huge risk o alienating and poten-
tially losing needed staff or in causing long delays We can do better
Not so long ago it wasnrsquot conventional wisdom that clinical application
rollouts are not I projects More frequently than not these were consid-
ered technical projects in which the point of celebration was when con-nection from workstation to central processor was reliable and wireless
access actually worked Te classic I People-Process-echnology trian-
gle never got much past echnology to the real hard work on the People-
Process axis Tat has all changed in the 21st century system implemen-
tations that are both successful and valuable have had people and process
on the front burner
When MemorialCare embarked on a 1047297ve-hospital roll-out of an
EMR in 2002 it had several things in its favor
bull Te technology the organization ultimately acquired was robust and
reliable it worked
bull It had 15 yearsrsquo experience with CPOE (computerized providerorder entry) Terefore although unevenly adopted it was not new
territory
bull It had had the experience of a system-wide roll-out and standard-
ization on a general 1047297nance human resources and materials man-
agement system When all was said and done users had not been
suffi ciently involved standardization fell short because involvement
was low business leadership was diffuse and I ownership was too
high It was judged successful overall but the organization continues
to move slowly forward with an underutilized set of applications
With this experience and the insights of others MemorialCare pri-
oritized engagement of physicians nurses pharmacists and other staffWell before 1047297nancial commitment to a new system was obtained Memo-
rialCare hired a ldquoCare Planning Executiverdquo a person whose full-time
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3839
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 19
activities were devoted to the project 1047297rst to help understand the drivers
of a new system scope out the territory to be covered gain the com-mitment of senior leaders as well as governance and outline the case
for change At my insistence the Care Planning Executive a registered
nurse and former hospital chief operating offi cer joined the organization
reporting to the system-wide CEO as a peer and partner of the CIO not
a staff member and a peer to the CEOs of each medical center campus
Tat dedication alone made clear the commitment intentions and over-
all priority of the company
Among several other critical success factorsmdashand the outcome was
a successmdashwas the overall employee engagement program that the Care
Planning Executive established In summary it was an education mar-
keting and training program dedicated to equipping the affected staffwith the knowledge and tools to embrace unavoidable change Staff com-
munication was clear that it wasnrsquot change for changersquos sake but a major
move forward in the paperless way care would be delivered and work-
1047298ows would be streamlined Of course at the time no one could have
foreseen later moves by government to push everyone in this direction
(with the American Recovery and Reconstruction Act of 2009) Because
of our early efforts wersquore now very well positioned
J Scott Joslyn
CIO
MemorialCareLong Beach California
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3939
About the BookDespite the promise of improving care and other benefits EMR implementations are highly disruptive to the
organization This book prepares you to lead or participate successfully in change managementtechnologyadoption efforts so that meaningful use of EMRs can be achieved The authors provide successful strategies
to plan and implement change The content is based on their decades of combined experience designing
and leading technology adoption programs
Sections of the book deal with establishing a foundation for change building commitment and developing
requisite skill in helping users be successful with technology The book includes numerous lessons learned
tips for success best practices and case studies from organizations that have handled change well
About the AuthorsClaire McCarthy MA is a recognized technology adoption strategist and leader
with 25 years of healthcare industry experience supporting people through softwareimplementations and other large-scale change efforts As Director of Organizational
Effectiveness for Kaiser Permanentersquos enterprise-wide EMR deployment Ms McCarthy
led a national community of practice focused on preparing users to assume new
roles and responsibilities in support of organizational objectives Ms McCarthy
speaks internationally on the topic of technology adoption encouraging healthcare
leaders around the globe to set the stage for benefit realization by investing in the
people side of EMR implementation
Douglas Eastman PhD is an organizational development executive with extensive
experience managing large-scale change initiatives With more than 20 years
of consulting experience Dr Eastmanrsquos focus is to help organizations grow and
manage change by unleashing human potential His specialties are organizationaltransformation technology adoption and optimization process redesign strategic
planning and program and tools development As the Executive Director of Technology
Adoption and Organizational Capability within the Kaiser Permanente IT Care
Delivery Business Information Office Dr Eastman has pioneered several of Kaiserrsquos
implementation readiness toolsmethodologies and post-live optimization strategies
programs adding to the organizationrsquos ability to realize the benefit of its technology
About HIMSS The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) is a comprehensive healthcare-
stakeholder membership organization exclusively focused on providing global leadership for the optimal
use of information technology (IT) and management systems for the betterment of healthcare Founded in
1961 with offices in Chicago Washington DC Brussels Singapore and other locations across the United
States HIMSS represents more than 23000 individual members of which 73 work in patient care delivery
settings HIMSS also includes over 380 corporate members and nearly 30 not-for-profit organizations that
share our mission of transforming healthcare through the effective use of information technology and
management systems HIMSS frames and leads healthcare public policy and industry practices through
its educational professional development and advocacy initiatives designed to promote information and
management systemsrsquo contributions to ensuring quality patient care
ISBN 978-0-9821070-6-5
Order Code 564
230 E Ohio St Suite 500
Chicago IL 60611ndash3270
312-915-9295
www himss org
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1239
xi
Preface
By Claire McCarthy MA and Douglas Eastman PhD
Tere is much discussion today about implementation o EMR sys-
temsmdashdiscussions that usually include excitement anxiety and
downright dread Tere is also a lot o talk about whether EMRs cre-
ate opportunities or healthcare organizations such as transorming
the way care is delivered reducing medical errors increasing internaleffi ciencies or clinical and administrative users improving revenue
capture and providing a host o other critical bene1047297ts Te promise
(some would say antasy) is big
But above all an EMR implementation is disruptive Te process
can realistically be equated to a tornado whipping through an organi-
zation and lie as you once knew it is turned upside down and the new
processes expectations priorities roles and methods overwhelm the
workplace
Our intent in writing this book is to assist others who may be
struggling with many o the same issues we have addressed By sharing
lessons rom our numerous 1047297rsthand sofware implementation expe-riences we will equip you with successul practices and prepare you
to lead or participate effectively in change managementtechnology
adoption efforts so that meaningul use can be achieved
Te primary audience o this book is everyone who leads or is
directly involved in the people-ocused change managementtech-
nology adoption efforts o an EMR implementation Our secondary
audience is everyone else who has a stake in the usersrsquo willingness and
ability to change behavior so the potential o the technology can be
realized So whether you are actively engaged in change management
technology adoption work or your support and advocacy o change
managementtechnology adoption is neededmdashthis book is or youRegardless o your speci1047297c role (executive middle-management
ront-line supervisor physician nurse medical assistant I proes-
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1339
xii Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
sional consultant or other stakeholder in the success o an EMR
implementation) our hope is that you will gain an appreciation orthe importance o users and the effort required to ensure operational
success Tis book emphasizes effective ways to plan and implement
change Te content is based on decades o combined experience man-
aging the people side o sofware implementations in healthcare
It is important to point out however that this book is not meant to
be a course on change managementtechnology adoption Our intent
is not to review existing research or current academic models and the-
ories but rather to share the insights and lessons we have learned in
delivering sustainable results and healthy organizational change over
the years
For technically-oriented project leads the success o an EMRimplementation tends to ocus too heavily on ldquoscrewing in the sys-
temrdquo on time and on budget But as important as it is getting the
EMR technology up and running should not be the primary ocus
Equal emphasis must be placed on how the new technology will be
embraced utilized and leveraged to realize a return on this signi1047297-
cant investment Flipping the switch and turning the technology on is
merely hal o the game
We believe the promise o an EMR implementation is great with
potentially signi1047297cant returns or the patient user organization and
or the industry as a whole When we hear words such as electronic
computerized and automated it sounds as i lie will be made easier andbecome more organized and effi cient However healthcare organiza-
tions do not always think about the critical steps involved in making
these hopes a reality Tis is due in large part because managing the
people side o an implementation and developing and installing major
technology require different skills sets Neither side o the coin is nec-
essarily more important but they both must be seen as equally signi1047297-
cant Te role in managing the people side o an implementation rarely
1047297ts neatly into how technically-ocused projects have historically been
measured and this creates a scenario in which the people side is ofen
misunderstood discounted and worst case ignored altogether Con-
sider the difference between what it takes to install the system (a tech-nology ocus) and what it takes to get the desired outcomes (a ocus on
people doing things differently)
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1439
Preace xiii
Te management o ambiguity resistance and user motivation is
admittedly hard to measure and unortunately involves methods thatare not always easily checked off a list Te process is more 1047298uid and
organic than linear At times it is unpredictable requiring rethink-
ing and course corrections Afer all we are dealing with people Not
everything is clear cut Donrsquot believe anyone who tells you it is
People come with different backgrounds rames o reerence
experience with technology comort with change or ambiguity trust
in leadership and so orth Whatever the mix o scenarios users never
start rom the same placemdashand they move through the change pro-
cess at different speeds meaning they continue to be in different places
throughout the project Te good news is that users do grow and develop
over the course o the project and many eventually accept things theywouldnrsquot agree to at 1047297rst But they require understandingmdashtheir ears
needs hopes and their reactions to the challenges that impact their
ability to perorm A sound comprehensive people strategy that cre-
ates an environment in which they can succeed is essential
I the goal o your EMR implementation is to achieve sustainable
results growth or organizational transormation then a substantial
investment in people must be central to your overall implementation
strategy Afer all it is the user who makes or breaks your EMR imple-
mentation and ultimately determines the amount o return the organi-
zation will realize Te better prepared people are or the change and
the less they see it as threatening the aster they will deliver value
Quoteldquordquo
ldquoMan is still the most extraordinary computer of allrdquo
- John F Kennedy
Quoteldquordquo
ldquordquo
ldquoMan is still the most extraordinary computer of allrdquo
- John F Kennedy
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1539
xiv Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
HOW HE BOOK IS SRUCURED
Preparing an organization or a successul EMR implementationinvolves a big picture approach that takes into account all the actors
that in1047298uence behavior change Te idea is to establish an organiza-
tional contextmdasha culture in which desired behavior is supported and
reinorced through a variety o methodsmdashcreating a learning organiza-
tion that grows to achieve its vision priorities and goals In this book
we present an Implementation Readiness Model and discuss each ac-
tor involved in ensuring the organization and users are ully prepared
to realize the potential o the new technology
Tis book is organized in a simple ashion First we make the busi-
ness argument or change managementtechnology adoption explain-
ing why technology implementations will not deliver bene1047297ts without
a signi1047297cant ocus on users Next we discuss two critical success ac-
tors in any large-scale change management effortmdasha clear vision and
effective leadership
Ten we argue or the development o a cross-unctional team
o representatives rom key areas within the organization the Orga-
nizational Readiness eam (OR) and introduce a pragmatic model
that outlines the scope o complexity and work that the OR man-
ages throughout the project lie cycle Tis establishes a oundation
or subsequent chapters in which each provides urther detail about
the inter-relationship o work involved to effectively drive sustain-
able change Tese chapters dig deeper into lessons learned and best
practices related to stakeholder management communication train-
ing strategy and reinorcement as all must be aligned to successully
satisy the end goal o a meaningul implementation
Finally the Implementation Readiness chapter shows how the
prior chapters serve as building blocks to ormulate a comprehensive
and powerul Implementation Readiness Program aimed at securing
ready users who are engaged and prepared or the transitional changes
ahead in the world o an EMR Te book ends with a discussion o
our key lessons learned and insights regarding the overall journey Pay
particular attention to some o the larger challenges related to an EMR
implementation as these scenarios have proven to have a signi1047297cant
impact on an organizationrsquos speed and ability to position itsel or ben-
e1047297ts realization
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1639
Preace xv
It is important to stress that ocusing on just one actor o imple-
mentation readiness is not suffi cient to drive organizational changeand sustainable results Each chapter describes an individual actor in
detail and provides lessons and useul examples tools and other bits
o inormation intended to help you succeed in preparing your orga-
nization or a successul EMR implementation But the real purpose
o the book is to raise awareness o how all actors work in concert to
in1047298uence desired change associated with an EMR implementation Te
actors work best as an integrated whole overlapping and reinorcing
each other Tey typically have separate leadership but whether or-
mally integrated or not they are pieces o one picture
Like other books you can jump to any chapter o interest at any
point However we strongly encourage you to read the book cover tocover 1047297rst to gain an understanding o the end-to-end process and how
each actor contributes to overall success A strategy that accounts or
all actors is more effective than just one intervention or multiple dis-
connected interventions In this case the sum is de1047297nitely greater than
all o its individual parts
We speak to you in a conversational and straightorward man-
ner to make this rather diffi cult side o an EMR implementation more
approachable We hope you will 1047297nd our insights valuable and will
leverage this book as your implementation reerence guide It will ur-
ther your cause i all stakeholders accountable or a successul launch
in your organization have a common ramework or approaching the
collective end goal We certainly wish wersquod had a book like this years
ago to guide us through the mine1047297eld o sofware implementationsFinally we hope you enjoy the process o supporting people
through the transition to the world o EMRs Tere is something very
Quoteldquordquo
ldquoExperience is a hard teacher because she gives
the test first the lessons afterwardsrdquo
- Vernon Law
Quoteldquordquo
ldquordquo
ldquoExperience is a hard teacher because she gives
the test first the lessons afterwardsrdquo
- Vernon Law
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1739
xvi Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
rewarding about seeing people who were earul and resistant even
in tears and thinking seriously o quitting eel the pride o accom-plishment when they succeed Each person who stays the course and
becomes a contributing member o the electronically enabled organi-
zation represents untold cost avoidance Knowledge and talent stay in
the organization replacement costs are avoided relationships are pre-
served and critical staff shortages are reduced echnology adoption is
truly a contribution to the bottom line
In the words o one o our grandathers ldquoPeople change when
theyrsquore damned good and ready and not beorerdquo Wersquore here to get
them ready
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1839
xvii
Acknowledgments
Te authors would like to thank the ollowing individuals or sharing
their expertise and experiences or this book
Saaa Al-Haddad MD
Internal Medicine
University Hospitals
Cleveland Ohio
Ronnie D Bower Jr MA
Manager Change Management
BayCare Health System
ampa Florida
Nabil Chehade MD MSBS
CPC
Director Medical Inormatics
Regional Chie o Urology
KP HealthConnect RegionalPhysician Lead
Kaiser Permanente Medical
Group
Cleveland Ohio
Kenneth Goodman MD
Associate Director Center
or Continuing Medical
Education
Department o Family Medicine
Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland Ohio
Marie Hamilton RN
Kaiser Permanente
Oregon Federation o Nurses
and Health ProessionalsHealthcare Inormation
echnology Committee
AF Healthcare
Portland Oregon
Lindsey P Jarrell FACHE
Senior Vice President amp CIO
BayCare Health System
ampa Florida
J Scott JoslynCIO
MemorialCare
Long Beach Caliornia
Margaret M Rudoph PhD
Consultant
Vancouver British Columbia
Canada
om Smith
CIO
NorthShore University Health
System
Evanston Illinois
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1939
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2039
1
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 983089
Te Business Case forChange Management
ldquoWersquore not in Kansas anymorehelliprdquo
In the introduction an EMR implementation is compared to a tornado
in that it whips through an organization turning lie upside down and
throwing users into a world 1047297lled with new ways o doing things and
seeking ways to recapture some sense o balance and control EMR
technology disrupts the status quo and along with the many opportu-
nities it promises it also brings a whirlwind o seemingly never-ending
changes which can have an entirely different effect on different people
While an implementation that is effectively managed even brings these
challenges a poor implementation can be disastrous and will cost the
organization much more time energy and money to get things back
on track
Dorothy the character rom the movie Te Wizard of Oz held
her composure pretty well through the tornado that ripped her rom
a calm stable lie on the arm and threw her into a oreign world She
was able to manage through the obstacles and challenges and stay the
course as she ollowed the yellow brick road in search o the wizard
Some say this is similar to the experience users have except or the
part when Dorothy wakes up rom her dream and 1047297nds hersel back
home as she remembers itEMR implementations donrsquot have to be nightmarish or users but
there certainly will be obstacles and challenges along the way Te key is
to help users through the road blocks and enable them to experience a
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2139
2 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
positive journey Tis process is always easier when people know what
they are getting into eel supported and are prepared or what liesahead both good and bad Tis is the role o change management
CHANGE MANAGEMEN DEFINED
Itrsquos important to understand why you should make an investment in
the people side o the projectmdashbringing in the best technology pos-
sible doesnrsquot mean anything unless users are comortable and pro1047297-
cient in its use Te truth is just because you build it doesnrsquot mean they
will come
Letrsquos start by answering the two questions we are most ofen asked
ldquoWhat is change management anyway What is it change managers
dordquoo avoid conusion wersquoll say up ront we are not talking about
change management as it relates to technical issues such as version or
change control We also want to be clear that change management is
not project management What we are talking about is the human side
o electronic medical records implementations the human-ocused
work o engaging and preparing people to succeed in the new world
o EMRs
A word about project management while good project manage-
ment acilitates change management the two disciplines are not the
same Project management is much more linear and task-ocused
whereas change management deals with the complexities o human
behavior But a good project plan creates a structure and a ounda-
tion in which the change management process can occur Tereore
the two disciplines though different complement and support each
other
A word o caution do not conuse the project plan with the end
result Te plan is necessary and it guides you throughout the process
Te plan is proactive itrsquos the order in the chaos But technology adop-
tion is kind o like herding cats itrsquos unpredictable and you need to
maintain 1047298exibility to respond as things evolve Tis is a more reactive
process than what may be expressed in a plan In our experience an
EMR implementation requires both structure and 1047298exibility
Tere is a saying in change management circles When one door
closes another one opens but sometimes itrsquos hell in the hallway Change
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2239
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 3
management deals mostly with the hallway situation acilitating the
human transition rom the present to the uture Tese days change isongoing and requires ocused leadership i it is to be as ast and pain-
less as possible
Te three legs o the project stool represent the critical compo-nents o an implementation (Figure 1-1)mdashPeople Process and ech-
nology Te people are the most important When technology projects
ail it is primarily due to a lack o use and not a ailure o the sof-
ware Te ocus o change management is people and the objective is
to change behavior Tis is good or business because it accelerates the
change process so bene1047297ts are achieved aster Change management
is not about being nice or placing an emphasis on eelings Itrsquos about
perormance improvement and results
I you search the literature you will 1047297nd a variety o de1047297nitions o
human-ocused change management Tey all cover similar concepts
sometimes using different terminology Te simplest explanation ochange management is to say ldquoItrsquos all about the peoplerdquo But or the
purposes o this book we expand on that concept and use the ollow-
ing de1047297nition o change management
bull A structured process designed to deal directly and intentionally
with the human actors involved in not just planning and imple-
menting an EMR but through behavior change achieving the
anticipated bene1047297ts that justi1047297ed the project in the 1047297rst place
bull Desired behavior change is achieved by helping people understand
and internalize change and by preparing them to be successul
contributors in the uture state In the case o EMR implementa-
tions effective change management delivers users who are willingand able to use an EMR in a way that satis1047297es the requirements o
the job the needs o the patient and the health o the organization
Key Tip
Our assumption is that the software you are implementing
works If the software doesnrsquot work you have another kind of
problem one that even the best change management wonrsquot
resolve
Key Tip
Our assumption is that the software you are implementing
works If the software doesnrsquot work you have another kind of
problemmdashone that even the best change management wonrsquot
resolve
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2339
4 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
Well-designed integrated people-ocused work builds logically
over time in a way that makes sense to the user It brings users along
guiding and supporting them so they arrive at where you want them
to be Tis is about willingness and ability hearts and minds You must
have both
Te overarching purpose o change management is to acceleratethe speed at which people move successfully through the change
process so that anticipated bene1047297ts are achieved faster And there
are additional bene1047297ts to change management Trough optimizing
the effi ciency and effi cacy o users an effective EMR change manage-
ment program will also
bull Improve organizational outcomes and perormance (effective use
o the system generates value to patients and the organization)
bull Enhance employee satisaction morale and engagement (when
people learn new skills meet perormance expectations and con-
tribute to a greater good they eel pride in their accomplishments)
bull Improve service quality (users eel valued and supported by anorganization that makes an investment in them this positively
impacts how they treat patients)
Figure 1-1 The Three-legged Stool
Technology
People Process
Technology
People Process
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2439
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 5
bull Help achieve hoped-or bene1047297ts (bene1047297ts that include EMR value
realization reduction o errors return on investment)bull Create higher levels o openness trust involvement and teamwork
(develop an engaged workorce)
bull Build change capability and capacity in the organization resulting
in improved ability to respond quickly and effectively to new situa-
tions (create organizational nimbleness through embedded change
management knowledge structure and process)
In other words it really is all about the people Intentionally man-
aging the cultural behavioral and organizational changes that need
to take place to make the desired EMR uture not only a reality but
a sustainable reality pays off on many levels in that it also acilitates
organizational transormation Building on individual capability andorganizational capacity change management results in a change-
capable culturemdasha huge advantage in todayrsquos competitive and ast-
changing world
Change Management echnology AdoptionmdashWhatrsquos the Difference
Tere are a number o terms that people use to reer to the work
involved in managing the people side o a change effort We think o
change management as the mother ship that is the umbrella term that
embraces all specialties within the 1047297eld Similar to the various special-
ties or domains o service within a healthcare system change man-agement proessionals may choose speci1047297c areas o ocus echnology
adoption speci1047297cally inormation technology (I) is one such area
and it involves the application o change management principles to the
implementation o I Te focus of this book is technology adoption
and we will mostly use this term instead of change management
throughout the rest of the book
Effective technology adoption proessionals align themselves with
the operationalbusiness side o the organization and tailor solutions
that drive behavioral change and tangible outcomes Tey participate in
EMR implementation projects rom the beginning driving the people
side o change throughout and continuing to add value post-live as theEMR becomes part o the central nervous system o the organization
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2539
6 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
HE IMPORANCE OF HE PEOPLE SIDE
OF AN EMR IMPLEMENAIONTere are many reerences in the literature to ailed change efforts and
I implementations Estimates are that only one third o these projects
achieve success which means two thirds ail to meet expectations Te
good news is that ailure is optional as much has been learned about
why some change efforts ail and others succeed
Herersquos the issue while the change that is going to occur is an exter-
nal eventmdashthe EMR implementation a reorganization proposed out-
sourcing a promotion etcmdashthe transition rom old to new that those
who are impacted experience is a psychological and emotional pro-
cess It is this transition that is diffi cultmdasheven when a change is sel-
imposed or considered positive
In the words o William Bridges a key thought leader in manage-
ment o transitions ldquoIt isnrsquot the changes that do you in itrsquos the transi-
tion afer the change that doesrdquo1
For an implementation team part o the problem encountered
during transition is that change is messy people start where they are
not where we want them to be And when considering the personnel
within a typical hospital people can be all over the place in terms o
comort with computers stage in lie commitment to the organiza-
tion ear o change etc Add to this the act that or change to be suc-
cessul three things must occur People
bull Must let go o their current reality have an ending
bull Go through a conused period in-between (hell in the hallway)
bull Only then can have a new beginning 1
o take this a step urther while I consultants want to install the
system and make enhancements the users will ultimately determine
how the system is used Tis use is affected by human not technical
actors
bull Different rames o reerence backgrounds experiences with
technology
bull Organizational history and experience with other large-scale
change projects
bull Levels o resistance ear ability to deal with ambiguity
bull Degree o alignment o ldquoWhatrsquos in it or merdquo or the various stake-
holder groups
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2639
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 7
bull Ineffi ciencies uncovered because the system creates transparency
bull Workarounds that become quickly entrenchedbull Pressure to get through the day can override doing what is right
bull User worklie balance issues coming into play rom the very
beginning
All o these actors create problems or implementation teams that
just want to install technology How do you effectively address the
people issues Or is it easier to just install the technology and assume
that people will learn because they have to use it Some on the imple-
mentation team may alsely assume that users o an EMR system will
snap into place over time and do what is right or the organization
Tis thinking is a oolrsquos paradise
In the oreword to this book Dave Garets made the point that EMRdeployments are not about technology but about equipping organiza-
tions to reach critical business objectives by providing employees with
technical capabilities that make new things possible and by engaging
them in changing their behavior to effectively use the new capabilities
to generate desired results
With all due respect to the technical side o an EMR implemen-
tation installing the technology is only hal the battle Tis is not to
degrade the importance o the technology Te act that we spend a lot
o money researching technology acquiring it con1047297guring it install-
ing it and supporting it speaks to its importance I we werenrsquot imple-
menting EMRs we wouldnrsquot even be having a discussion about EMR-related change management
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2739
8 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
But implementation o the technology is just a 1047297rst and very nec-
essary stepmdashbecause in and o itsel the technology does not generate
value Te technology is necessary but not suffi cient or bene1047297t realiza-
tion to occur o create value requires people and this is why change
management is so important oo much o a ocus on technology even
in the early stages will create issues downstream And even with the
best technology i not used effi ciently hoped-or bene1047297ts will be tough
to achieve
CIO Perspective
ldquoDuring my masters program I took an Organization Development
class that really opened my eyes to peoplesrsquo needs during large-scale
change Since the OD class I have been very interested in what makes
people tick and why people react in different ways to the same
environment No matter how good of an idea a large-scale technology
implementation is we will always have early adopters average adopters
and laggards As leaders within large organizations we have a
responsibility to plan for and respect all types of technology adopters
Ultimately the people who work within in our organizations want a positive
human experience when they are at work
Utilizing a change management methodology enables the implementation
and leadership teams to provide a positive experience during the period of
significant change By utilizing a solid change management methodologythe organization promotes team communication a safer environment for
the patient a work environment that promotes trust and an environment
where people are allowed to talk about the fear of change All of this
promotes a better human experience and a much stronger work force
hellip An effective change management program has meant the difference
between good go-lives and great go-lives at our 10 hospitalsrdquo
Lindsey P Jarrell FACHE
SVP amp CIO
BayCare Health System
Clearwater FL
CIO Perspective
During my masters program I took an Organization Development
class that really opened my eyes to peoplesrsquo needs during large-scale
change Since the OD class I have been very interested in what makes
people tick and why people react in different ways to the same
environment No matter how good of an idea a large-scale technology
implementation is we will always have early adopters average adopters
and laggards As leaders within large organizations we have a
responsibility to plan for and respect all types of technology adopters
Ultimately the people who work within in our organizations want a positive
human experience when they are at work
Utilizing a change management methodology enables the implementation
and leadership teams to provide a positive experience during the period of
significant change By utilizing a solid change management methodologythe organization promotes team communication a safer environment for
the patient a work environment that promotes trust and an environment
where people are allowed to talk about the fear of change All of this
promotes a better human experience and a much stronger work force
hellip An effective change management program has meant the difference
between good go-lives and great go-lives at our 10 hospitals
Lindsey P Jarrell FACHE
SVP amp CIO
BayCare Health System
Clearwater FL
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2839
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 9
Remember that change is a personal experience It is also local and
individual And itrsquos hardmdasheven when itrsquos sel-imposed and positive
Tere are no shortcuts People have to go through the process o change
in much the same way that we move through the stages o grie2 It canrsquot
be avoided or skipped You can measure twice and cut once or you
can cut now and then do costly remediation later Either way you canrsquot
avoid the expense or time required or real change to occur
SYSEMS PERSPECIVE
Experienced technology adoption proessionals embrace a systems
perspective when given the assignment to drive perormance man-
age perceptions and increase the utilization o new and existing tech-
nology A systems approach is the ability to see the big picture and
address the interrelationships among the variables within the abric o
CIO Perspective
ldquoIrsquove been in healthcare IT a long time and I now realize itrsquos
all about change management What was considered soft is
now hard We know so much more about how to install
technologymdashItrsquos the people part we donrsquot know well yet
and so itrsquos hardrdquo
Scott Joslyn
CIO
MemorialCare
Long Beach CA
CIO Perspective
Irsquove been in healthcare IT a long time and I now realize itrsquos
all about change management What was considered soft is
now hard We know so much more about how to install
technologymdashitrsquos the people part we donrsquot know well yet
and so itrsquos hard
J Scott Joslyn
CIO
MemorialCare
Long Beach CA
Quoteldquordquo
ldquoNo man can think clearly when his fists are clenchedrdquo
- George Jean Nathan
Quoteldquordquo
ldquordquo
ldquoNo man can think clearly when his fists are clenchedrdquo
- George Jean Nathan
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2939
10 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
the organization and in1047298uence the combined impact these variables
have on organizational effectiveness As each variable has the powerto in1047298uence the outcome o any intervention behavior change is ofen
not sustainable because variables tend to work against one another
Effective technology adoption strategies account or this interrelation-
shipinterdependency and aim to bring these variables into alignment
as a means or driving sustainable results
Figure 1-2 introduces the Organizational Fabric Model which
highlights the six primary threads (or variables) that are interwoven
in the abric (or culture) o an organization Te model suggests that
all six threads must work in concert to successully shape the organi-
zational abric A well-woven technology adoption plan strategically
manipulates these threads to in1047298uence desired change A poorly wovenplan in which a thread or combination o threads is not accounted
or leads to disaster or by way o analogy will hit a snag down the
road Depending on the 1047298exibility and durability o this abric a snag
can result in a huge hole that detracts rom the overall strength o the
intervention Te intent o the Organizational Fabric Model is to stress
how important it is to understand the uture state recognize how each
variable or combination o variables will come into play and develop a
sound technology adoption program that appropriately in1047298uences this
set o variables to reshape the abric or culture so desired change can
actually take place
Te Organizational Fabric Model will be revisited in subsequent
chapters as each thread or variable is explored in urther detail For
now we reiterate that technology adoption strategies must not rely
on only one or two threads to drive behavior change Sustainable out-
comes result rom an organizationrsquos ability to leverage the combination
o all six threads working in concert to create an environment orsuccess
Key Point
Fundamentally culture is ldquothe way we do things around hererdquo
Key Point
Fundamentally culture is ldquothe way we do things around hererdquo
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3039
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 11
CREAING AN ENVIRONMEN FOR SUCCESS
echnology adoption is about creating a context an environment in
which change can be achieved and sustained over the long term Tis
involves two levelsmdashorganizational and individual
With an EMR implementation the organization must create thesupporting environment provide needed training and resources
articulate a clear direction coupled with clear expectations engage its
people include them in the process and reinorce desired new behav-
iors Tis is not about checking things off a list but rather about 1047297nd-
ing synergy among impacted groups giving them what they need and
coordinating efforts to meet the end goal Itrsquos an ongoing effort
o give you an idea o what we are talking about herersquos an exam-
ple o an individual situation occurring within a social context Tink
about what happens when you want to make a signi1047297cant change in
your personal liemdashquit smoking stop drinking lose weight Itrsquos one
thing to talk with a doctor or another proessional about what needsto happen when yoursquore in their offi ce but once you leave the offi ce
you then return to your social reality I your riends and amily donrsquot
want your behavior to change you will have a tough time All the rein-
Figure 1-2 Organizational Fabric Model
Sponsorship
Stakeholder Mgmt
Training
Vision
Reinforcement
Communications
Sponsorship
Stakeholder Mgmt
Training
Vision
Reinforcement
Communications
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3139
12 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
orcements and temptations will conspire to prevent you rom mak-
ing changes But i you can get some important people in your lieto make the changes with you or at least support you in the process
you have a much greater chance o success Te lesson is donrsquot send a
changed person back into an unchanged environment if you want
to see behavior change
Engaging individuals involves arousing two key aspects mdashwilling-
ness and ability Te organization must in1047298uence both in order to suc-
ceed With the help o the Skill Versus Will Matrix (Figure 1-3) think
about it this way
bull When people want to do something but donrsquot know how they canrsquot
(willingunable)
bull When people know how but donrsquot want to they wonrsquot(ableunwilling)
Can you think o examples in your own lie when you have been in
either o these situations
Consider the circumstance o people who know how to do some-
thing but donrsquot want to do it Tis is a ldquowillrdquo not a ldquoskillrdquo issue and it is
a very common technology adoption dilemma I the amount o work
and effort involved are not perceived by the user as being equal to the
Figure 1-3 The Skill versus Will Matrix
Skill
Will
WONrsquoT
WONrsquoT
DOES
CANrsquoTLow
High
HighLow
Skill
Will
WONrsquoT
WONrsquoT
DOES
CANrsquoTLow
High
HighLow HighLow
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3239
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 13
return or value experienced through the implementation the user will
most likely choose to reduce the effort A goal o an effective people-ocused strategy is to identiy potential areas o disconnect and 1047297nd
ways to increase the perceived value to users Te assumption is that
when the return is perceived to be greater the effort increases When
there are no incentives to try harder it may be diffi cult to drive desired
behavior change
Te point in getting users to actively support the deployment o
an EMR is about a lot more than a communication plan or eature
unction training Managing the people side o an EMR implementa-
tion requires a savvy technology adoption plan that ties sponsorship
training communication work1047298ow harmonization user support and
reinorcement with the business priorities o the organization andeffectively coordinates all o these activities with the user in mindmdashin
an environment that reinorces desired behavior changes
Key Questions
Two key questions to remember throughout the
project arehellip
(1) How will this decision impact the user
(2) How might it impact patients
Key Questions
Two key questions to remember throughout the
project are
(1) How will this decision impact the user
(2) How might it impact patients
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3339
14 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
Consider this example
In this example what are the key elements o this process that
ensure success
bull Te picture of success the desired outcome is clearmdashit is or the
child to become a unctioning adult in the community
bull How this happens is clearly de1047297ned in behavioral terms Tere is a
process that is known and understood by the entire community
including children
bull Leaders at all levels in the community agree on the desired out-
come support the entire process and actively ful1047297ll their roles to ensure success Leaders include village elders and ormal lead-
ers parents o the children inormal opinion leaders and amily
members
bull Te children who are about to become adults take an active role
in their own transormation taking responsibility or their suc-
cess Tey receive guidance and counsel rom elders Tey know
and understand the transormation process and what they must do
to achieve their new status Goals and steps are clear Tey also
understand the consequences o not successully transitioning to
adulthood
bull I there is more than one child slated to go through transormationto adulthood at the same time they are a peer group and as appro-
priate prepare together and support each other
Key Point
In native cultures there tend to be rites of passage that serve
to transition a person from childhood to adult status in the
community The child may actually leave the village for a day or
two of contemplation following a prescribed process When the
child returns he or she is redefined as an adult and assumes
the consequent privileges and responsibilities The entire
community reinforces the personrsquos new status the new adult is
not allowed to return to being a child whenever itrsquos convenient
but is supported to complete the transformation to adulthood
The change to adulthood does not happen in a vacuum but is
part of a carefully designed process that ensures success
Key Point
In native cultures there tend to be rites of passage that serve
to transition a person from childhood to adult status in the
community The child may actually leave the village for a day or
two of contemplation following a prescribed process When the
child returns he or she is redefined as an adult and assumes
the consequent privileges and responsibilities The entire
community reinforces the personrsquos new status the new adult is
not allowed to return to being a child whenever itrsquos convenient
but is supported to complete the transformation to adulthood
The change to adulthood does not happen in a vacuum but is
part of a carefully designed process that ensures success
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3439
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 15
bull Te entire community works together to bring about the
transormationbull Success results in positive reinforcement
Te environmental context is the trump card in any implementerrsquos
hand It takes a lot o work to create a suitable environment but it is an
essential ingredient in being able to drive and sustain change
Willingness and Ability
Earlier we mentioned willingness and ability as key concepts in tech-
nology adoption Willingness and ability can also be thought o as
hearts and minds or will and skill Te point is the same regardless
o the terms used People need to be supported on both an emotional
level to commit and on an intellectual level to be able Te questionto be answered is ldquoWhat are the conditions under which users will
accept and adopt the EMRrdquo
Letrsquos talk about willingness 1047297rst
Willingness or hearts is the commitment to go orward Tis is
impacted by many things including the ollowing elements
bull Leadership Perceived support or lack o support or the change
rom senior executives in the company the cascade o sponsors
down through the organization and just as importantly rom the
employeersquos direct supervisor
bull Communication Quality and requency o verbal and written
messages that describe the desired uture state tell why the changeneeds to happen and what will happen i change isnrsquot made set
clear expectations explain how the company will prepare and sup-
port people to success and describe local details such as timelines
etc
bull Reinforcement Degree o appropriateness and timeliness o
rewards or demonstrating desired new behaviors and conse-
quences or sticking to the old ways
bull Participation Degree to which users are involved every step o
the way either directly as individuals or indirectly by being effec-
tively represented by trusted local opinion leader peers who serve
as liaisons between users and the project teambull Organizational History with Change Previous organizational
experience with changemdashgood and badmdashwill in1047298uence user per-
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3539
16 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
ceptions and expectations o the EMR implementation Under-
standing the past is important in planning or the utureTis all sounds logical but the reaction to it can be emotional Tis
is where people conront their ear o ailure eeling stupid making
mistakes etc Remember that the change may require people to give
up the very things that they believe made them successul in the past
Tis can be a diffi cult sell
Ability or minds is about the actual capability to successully
meet new job expectations Tis is impacted by many things including
the ollowing elements
bull raining and Support In most cases the new EMR abilities must
be learned An effective training program that is role-based and
intentionally ocused on preparing people to perorm new jobexpectations is key Just discussing desired outcomes is not enough
though we have to clearly tell people what we want them to do
Tis requires an intellectual understanding o what and how a
conceptual understanding is necessary but not suffi cient Most
people need to practice something new to develop competence and
con1047297dence Sae opportunities to practice preerably with immedi-
ate eedback are very important to pro1047297ciency development and
sustainability
Getting people to move in the direction you want is the diffi -
cultymdashsome say the hardest part o the whole project And i you agree
that people are the oundation o successmdashthat bene1047297t realization isdependant not on technology but on people agreeing to go through
personal disruption learn new things change established patterns and
conront their earsmdashthen we must be proactive and courageous in
addressing the human issues
Tis is the people side o the project Tis is the organizational read-
iness unction It involves collaboration coordination and sequencing
o activities inormation and events rom all people-ocused areas Te
idea is to have all the people-ocused unctions working together to
reach clearly de1047297ned shared outcomes Te organizational readiness
plan to create individual and organizational readiness is the umbrella
that connects it allmdashthe glue that holds it together and the grease thatmakes it workmdashor the user We will address the structure and process
or doing this in more detail in subsequent chapters
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3639
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 17
Good News on wo Fronts
1 Tere is a social science Tere is a body o work research andsubsequent publications about the human experience with change
Tere are proven change management strategies tools and tech-
niques Tis isnrsquot olklore hooey or black magic Te transition
process is known and predictable Tere is a change curve that
describes the steps (Chapter 5 Stakeholder Management) And
though there is no silver bullet it isnrsquot rocket science Senior
healthcare executives must take the emerging proession o change
managementtechnology adoption seriously Not understanding it
is no excuse or ignoring it Tat is ar too expensive an option
2 All people go through transition when changemdashgood or badmdash
happens in both their personal and proessional lie You canrsquot
avoid it Te wonderul thing is i you learn about change and
transition at work it will improve your personal lie Tis is one
o the times to ldquotry this at homerdquo Wersquore all humanmdashat work and
at home So treat your people as the humans they are and avoid
some predictable expense and diffi culty Lead your organization
to a successul outcome and speed up the process by treating your
staff as customers 1047297rst
Donrsquot make the mistake o glossing over the critical human aspects
o change Hire experts and 1047297nd the emotionally intelligent people in
your organization who want to participate And remember you can
install technology without your people but you canrsquot ully implement
and achieve return on investment without them Consciously choose
to move fear and resistance to trust and adoption Itrsquos a case o pay
now or pay later I you wait until later it will always cost more ech-
nology Adoption is expensive but not as expensive as trying to gloss
it over and then having to undo the damage When ailure happens it
Quoteldquordquo
ldquoNot everything that can be counted counts and not everything thatcounts can be countedrdquo
- Albert Einstein
Quoteldquordquo
ldquordquo
ldquoNot everything that can be counted counts and not everything thatcounts can be countedrdquo
- Albert Einstein
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3739
18 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
takes a long time or people to re-engage And in todayrsquos world this
presents real problems or healthcare organizations aced with short-ages in many proessions Tere is a huge risk o alienating and poten-
tially losing needed staff or in causing long delays We can do better
Not so long ago it wasnrsquot conventional wisdom that clinical application
rollouts are not I projects More frequently than not these were consid-
ered technical projects in which the point of celebration was when con-nection from workstation to central processor was reliable and wireless
access actually worked Te classic I People-Process-echnology trian-
gle never got much past echnology to the real hard work on the People-
Process axis Tat has all changed in the 21st century system implemen-
tations that are both successful and valuable have had people and process
on the front burner
When MemorialCare embarked on a 1047297ve-hospital roll-out of an
EMR in 2002 it had several things in its favor
bull Te technology the organization ultimately acquired was robust and
reliable it worked
bull It had 15 yearsrsquo experience with CPOE (computerized providerorder entry) Terefore although unevenly adopted it was not new
territory
bull It had had the experience of a system-wide roll-out and standard-
ization on a general 1047297nance human resources and materials man-
agement system When all was said and done users had not been
suffi ciently involved standardization fell short because involvement
was low business leadership was diffuse and I ownership was too
high It was judged successful overall but the organization continues
to move slowly forward with an underutilized set of applications
With this experience and the insights of others MemorialCare pri-
oritized engagement of physicians nurses pharmacists and other staffWell before 1047297nancial commitment to a new system was obtained Memo-
rialCare hired a ldquoCare Planning Executiverdquo a person whose full-time
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3839
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 19
activities were devoted to the project 1047297rst to help understand the drivers
of a new system scope out the territory to be covered gain the com-mitment of senior leaders as well as governance and outline the case
for change At my insistence the Care Planning Executive a registered
nurse and former hospital chief operating offi cer joined the organization
reporting to the system-wide CEO as a peer and partner of the CIO not
a staff member and a peer to the CEOs of each medical center campus
Tat dedication alone made clear the commitment intentions and over-
all priority of the company
Among several other critical success factorsmdashand the outcome was
a successmdashwas the overall employee engagement program that the Care
Planning Executive established In summary it was an education mar-
keting and training program dedicated to equipping the affected staffwith the knowledge and tools to embrace unavoidable change Staff com-
munication was clear that it wasnrsquot change for changersquos sake but a major
move forward in the paperless way care would be delivered and work-
1047298ows would be streamlined Of course at the time no one could have
foreseen later moves by government to push everyone in this direction
(with the American Recovery and Reconstruction Act of 2009) Because
of our early efforts wersquore now very well positioned
J Scott Joslyn
CIO
MemorialCareLong Beach California
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3939
About the BookDespite the promise of improving care and other benefits EMR implementations are highly disruptive to the
organization This book prepares you to lead or participate successfully in change managementtechnologyadoption efforts so that meaningful use of EMRs can be achieved The authors provide successful strategies
to plan and implement change The content is based on their decades of combined experience designing
and leading technology adoption programs
Sections of the book deal with establishing a foundation for change building commitment and developing
requisite skill in helping users be successful with technology The book includes numerous lessons learned
tips for success best practices and case studies from organizations that have handled change well
About the AuthorsClaire McCarthy MA is a recognized technology adoption strategist and leader
with 25 years of healthcare industry experience supporting people through softwareimplementations and other large-scale change efforts As Director of Organizational
Effectiveness for Kaiser Permanentersquos enterprise-wide EMR deployment Ms McCarthy
led a national community of practice focused on preparing users to assume new
roles and responsibilities in support of organizational objectives Ms McCarthy
speaks internationally on the topic of technology adoption encouraging healthcare
leaders around the globe to set the stage for benefit realization by investing in the
people side of EMR implementation
Douglas Eastman PhD is an organizational development executive with extensive
experience managing large-scale change initiatives With more than 20 years
of consulting experience Dr Eastmanrsquos focus is to help organizations grow and
manage change by unleashing human potential His specialties are organizationaltransformation technology adoption and optimization process redesign strategic
planning and program and tools development As the Executive Director of Technology
Adoption and Organizational Capability within the Kaiser Permanente IT Care
Delivery Business Information Office Dr Eastman has pioneered several of Kaiserrsquos
implementation readiness toolsmethodologies and post-live optimization strategies
programs adding to the organizationrsquos ability to realize the benefit of its technology
About HIMSS The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) is a comprehensive healthcare-
stakeholder membership organization exclusively focused on providing global leadership for the optimal
use of information technology (IT) and management systems for the betterment of healthcare Founded in
1961 with offices in Chicago Washington DC Brussels Singapore and other locations across the United
States HIMSS represents more than 23000 individual members of which 73 work in patient care delivery
settings HIMSS also includes over 380 corporate members and nearly 30 not-for-profit organizations that
share our mission of transforming healthcare through the effective use of information technology and
management systems HIMSS frames and leads healthcare public policy and industry practices through
its educational professional development and advocacy initiatives designed to promote information and
management systemsrsquo contributions to ensuring quality patient care
ISBN 978-0-9821070-6-5
Order Code 564
230 E Ohio St Suite 500
Chicago IL 60611ndash3270
312-915-9295
www himss org
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1339
xii Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
sional consultant or other stakeholder in the success o an EMR
implementation) our hope is that you will gain an appreciation orthe importance o users and the effort required to ensure operational
success Tis book emphasizes effective ways to plan and implement
change Te content is based on decades o combined experience man-
aging the people side o sofware implementations in healthcare
It is important to point out however that this book is not meant to
be a course on change managementtechnology adoption Our intent
is not to review existing research or current academic models and the-
ories but rather to share the insights and lessons we have learned in
delivering sustainable results and healthy organizational change over
the years
For technically-oriented project leads the success o an EMRimplementation tends to ocus too heavily on ldquoscrewing in the sys-
temrdquo on time and on budget But as important as it is getting the
EMR technology up and running should not be the primary ocus
Equal emphasis must be placed on how the new technology will be
embraced utilized and leveraged to realize a return on this signi1047297-
cant investment Flipping the switch and turning the technology on is
merely hal o the game
We believe the promise o an EMR implementation is great with
potentially signi1047297cant returns or the patient user organization and
or the industry as a whole When we hear words such as electronic
computerized and automated it sounds as i lie will be made easier andbecome more organized and effi cient However healthcare organiza-
tions do not always think about the critical steps involved in making
these hopes a reality Tis is due in large part because managing the
people side o an implementation and developing and installing major
technology require different skills sets Neither side o the coin is nec-
essarily more important but they both must be seen as equally signi1047297-
cant Te role in managing the people side o an implementation rarely
1047297ts neatly into how technically-ocused projects have historically been
measured and this creates a scenario in which the people side is ofen
misunderstood discounted and worst case ignored altogether Con-
sider the difference between what it takes to install the system (a tech-nology ocus) and what it takes to get the desired outcomes (a ocus on
people doing things differently)
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1439
Preace xiii
Te management o ambiguity resistance and user motivation is
admittedly hard to measure and unortunately involves methods thatare not always easily checked off a list Te process is more 1047298uid and
organic than linear At times it is unpredictable requiring rethink-
ing and course corrections Afer all we are dealing with people Not
everything is clear cut Donrsquot believe anyone who tells you it is
People come with different backgrounds rames o reerence
experience with technology comort with change or ambiguity trust
in leadership and so orth Whatever the mix o scenarios users never
start rom the same placemdashand they move through the change pro-
cess at different speeds meaning they continue to be in different places
throughout the project Te good news is that users do grow and develop
over the course o the project and many eventually accept things theywouldnrsquot agree to at 1047297rst But they require understandingmdashtheir ears
needs hopes and their reactions to the challenges that impact their
ability to perorm A sound comprehensive people strategy that cre-
ates an environment in which they can succeed is essential
I the goal o your EMR implementation is to achieve sustainable
results growth or organizational transormation then a substantial
investment in people must be central to your overall implementation
strategy Afer all it is the user who makes or breaks your EMR imple-
mentation and ultimately determines the amount o return the organi-
zation will realize Te better prepared people are or the change and
the less they see it as threatening the aster they will deliver value
Quoteldquordquo
ldquoMan is still the most extraordinary computer of allrdquo
- John F Kennedy
Quoteldquordquo
ldquordquo
ldquoMan is still the most extraordinary computer of allrdquo
- John F Kennedy
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1539
xiv Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
HOW HE BOOK IS SRUCURED
Preparing an organization or a successul EMR implementationinvolves a big picture approach that takes into account all the actors
that in1047298uence behavior change Te idea is to establish an organiza-
tional contextmdasha culture in which desired behavior is supported and
reinorced through a variety o methodsmdashcreating a learning organiza-
tion that grows to achieve its vision priorities and goals In this book
we present an Implementation Readiness Model and discuss each ac-
tor involved in ensuring the organization and users are ully prepared
to realize the potential o the new technology
Tis book is organized in a simple ashion First we make the busi-
ness argument or change managementtechnology adoption explain-
ing why technology implementations will not deliver bene1047297ts without
a signi1047297cant ocus on users Next we discuss two critical success ac-
tors in any large-scale change management effortmdasha clear vision and
effective leadership
Ten we argue or the development o a cross-unctional team
o representatives rom key areas within the organization the Orga-
nizational Readiness eam (OR) and introduce a pragmatic model
that outlines the scope o complexity and work that the OR man-
ages throughout the project lie cycle Tis establishes a oundation
or subsequent chapters in which each provides urther detail about
the inter-relationship o work involved to effectively drive sustain-
able change Tese chapters dig deeper into lessons learned and best
practices related to stakeholder management communication train-
ing strategy and reinorcement as all must be aligned to successully
satisy the end goal o a meaningul implementation
Finally the Implementation Readiness chapter shows how the
prior chapters serve as building blocks to ormulate a comprehensive
and powerul Implementation Readiness Program aimed at securing
ready users who are engaged and prepared or the transitional changes
ahead in the world o an EMR Te book ends with a discussion o
our key lessons learned and insights regarding the overall journey Pay
particular attention to some o the larger challenges related to an EMR
implementation as these scenarios have proven to have a signi1047297cant
impact on an organizationrsquos speed and ability to position itsel or ben-
e1047297ts realization
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1639
Preace xv
It is important to stress that ocusing on just one actor o imple-
mentation readiness is not suffi cient to drive organizational changeand sustainable results Each chapter describes an individual actor in
detail and provides lessons and useul examples tools and other bits
o inormation intended to help you succeed in preparing your orga-
nization or a successul EMR implementation But the real purpose
o the book is to raise awareness o how all actors work in concert to
in1047298uence desired change associated with an EMR implementation Te
actors work best as an integrated whole overlapping and reinorcing
each other Tey typically have separate leadership but whether or-
mally integrated or not they are pieces o one picture
Like other books you can jump to any chapter o interest at any
point However we strongly encourage you to read the book cover tocover 1047297rst to gain an understanding o the end-to-end process and how
each actor contributes to overall success A strategy that accounts or
all actors is more effective than just one intervention or multiple dis-
connected interventions In this case the sum is de1047297nitely greater than
all o its individual parts
We speak to you in a conversational and straightorward man-
ner to make this rather diffi cult side o an EMR implementation more
approachable We hope you will 1047297nd our insights valuable and will
leverage this book as your implementation reerence guide It will ur-
ther your cause i all stakeholders accountable or a successul launch
in your organization have a common ramework or approaching the
collective end goal We certainly wish wersquod had a book like this years
ago to guide us through the mine1047297eld o sofware implementationsFinally we hope you enjoy the process o supporting people
through the transition to the world o EMRs Tere is something very
Quoteldquordquo
ldquoExperience is a hard teacher because she gives
the test first the lessons afterwardsrdquo
- Vernon Law
Quoteldquordquo
ldquordquo
ldquoExperience is a hard teacher because she gives
the test first the lessons afterwardsrdquo
- Vernon Law
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1739
xvi Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
rewarding about seeing people who were earul and resistant even
in tears and thinking seriously o quitting eel the pride o accom-plishment when they succeed Each person who stays the course and
becomes a contributing member o the electronically enabled organi-
zation represents untold cost avoidance Knowledge and talent stay in
the organization replacement costs are avoided relationships are pre-
served and critical staff shortages are reduced echnology adoption is
truly a contribution to the bottom line
In the words o one o our grandathers ldquoPeople change when
theyrsquore damned good and ready and not beorerdquo Wersquore here to get
them ready
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1839
xvii
Acknowledgments
Te authors would like to thank the ollowing individuals or sharing
their expertise and experiences or this book
Saaa Al-Haddad MD
Internal Medicine
University Hospitals
Cleveland Ohio
Ronnie D Bower Jr MA
Manager Change Management
BayCare Health System
ampa Florida
Nabil Chehade MD MSBS
CPC
Director Medical Inormatics
Regional Chie o Urology
KP HealthConnect RegionalPhysician Lead
Kaiser Permanente Medical
Group
Cleveland Ohio
Kenneth Goodman MD
Associate Director Center
or Continuing Medical
Education
Department o Family Medicine
Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland Ohio
Marie Hamilton RN
Kaiser Permanente
Oregon Federation o Nurses
and Health ProessionalsHealthcare Inormation
echnology Committee
AF Healthcare
Portland Oregon
Lindsey P Jarrell FACHE
Senior Vice President amp CIO
BayCare Health System
ampa Florida
J Scott JoslynCIO
MemorialCare
Long Beach Caliornia
Margaret M Rudoph PhD
Consultant
Vancouver British Columbia
Canada
om Smith
CIO
NorthShore University Health
System
Evanston Illinois
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1939
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2039
1
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 983089
Te Business Case forChange Management
ldquoWersquore not in Kansas anymorehelliprdquo
In the introduction an EMR implementation is compared to a tornado
in that it whips through an organization turning lie upside down and
throwing users into a world 1047297lled with new ways o doing things and
seeking ways to recapture some sense o balance and control EMR
technology disrupts the status quo and along with the many opportu-
nities it promises it also brings a whirlwind o seemingly never-ending
changes which can have an entirely different effect on different people
While an implementation that is effectively managed even brings these
challenges a poor implementation can be disastrous and will cost the
organization much more time energy and money to get things back
on track
Dorothy the character rom the movie Te Wizard of Oz held
her composure pretty well through the tornado that ripped her rom
a calm stable lie on the arm and threw her into a oreign world She
was able to manage through the obstacles and challenges and stay the
course as she ollowed the yellow brick road in search o the wizard
Some say this is similar to the experience users have except or the
part when Dorothy wakes up rom her dream and 1047297nds hersel back
home as she remembers itEMR implementations donrsquot have to be nightmarish or users but
there certainly will be obstacles and challenges along the way Te key is
to help users through the road blocks and enable them to experience a
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2139
2 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
positive journey Tis process is always easier when people know what
they are getting into eel supported and are prepared or what liesahead both good and bad Tis is the role o change management
CHANGE MANAGEMEN DEFINED
Itrsquos important to understand why you should make an investment in
the people side o the projectmdashbringing in the best technology pos-
sible doesnrsquot mean anything unless users are comortable and pro1047297-
cient in its use Te truth is just because you build it doesnrsquot mean they
will come
Letrsquos start by answering the two questions we are most ofen asked
ldquoWhat is change management anyway What is it change managers
dordquoo avoid conusion wersquoll say up ront we are not talking about
change management as it relates to technical issues such as version or
change control We also want to be clear that change management is
not project management What we are talking about is the human side
o electronic medical records implementations the human-ocused
work o engaging and preparing people to succeed in the new world
o EMRs
A word about project management while good project manage-
ment acilitates change management the two disciplines are not the
same Project management is much more linear and task-ocused
whereas change management deals with the complexities o human
behavior But a good project plan creates a structure and a ounda-
tion in which the change management process can occur Tereore
the two disciplines though different complement and support each
other
A word o caution do not conuse the project plan with the end
result Te plan is necessary and it guides you throughout the process
Te plan is proactive itrsquos the order in the chaos But technology adop-
tion is kind o like herding cats itrsquos unpredictable and you need to
maintain 1047298exibility to respond as things evolve Tis is a more reactive
process than what may be expressed in a plan In our experience an
EMR implementation requires both structure and 1047298exibility
Tere is a saying in change management circles When one door
closes another one opens but sometimes itrsquos hell in the hallway Change
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2239
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 3
management deals mostly with the hallway situation acilitating the
human transition rom the present to the uture Tese days change isongoing and requires ocused leadership i it is to be as ast and pain-
less as possible
Te three legs o the project stool represent the critical compo-nents o an implementation (Figure 1-1)mdashPeople Process and ech-
nology Te people are the most important When technology projects
ail it is primarily due to a lack o use and not a ailure o the sof-
ware Te ocus o change management is people and the objective is
to change behavior Tis is good or business because it accelerates the
change process so bene1047297ts are achieved aster Change management
is not about being nice or placing an emphasis on eelings Itrsquos about
perormance improvement and results
I you search the literature you will 1047297nd a variety o de1047297nitions o
human-ocused change management Tey all cover similar concepts
sometimes using different terminology Te simplest explanation ochange management is to say ldquoItrsquos all about the peoplerdquo But or the
purposes o this book we expand on that concept and use the ollow-
ing de1047297nition o change management
bull A structured process designed to deal directly and intentionally
with the human actors involved in not just planning and imple-
menting an EMR but through behavior change achieving the
anticipated bene1047297ts that justi1047297ed the project in the 1047297rst place
bull Desired behavior change is achieved by helping people understand
and internalize change and by preparing them to be successul
contributors in the uture state In the case o EMR implementa-
tions effective change management delivers users who are willingand able to use an EMR in a way that satis1047297es the requirements o
the job the needs o the patient and the health o the organization
Key Tip
Our assumption is that the software you are implementing
works If the software doesnrsquot work you have another kind of
problem one that even the best change management wonrsquot
resolve
Key Tip
Our assumption is that the software you are implementing
works If the software doesnrsquot work you have another kind of
problemmdashone that even the best change management wonrsquot
resolve
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2339
4 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
Well-designed integrated people-ocused work builds logically
over time in a way that makes sense to the user It brings users along
guiding and supporting them so they arrive at where you want them
to be Tis is about willingness and ability hearts and minds You must
have both
Te overarching purpose o change management is to acceleratethe speed at which people move successfully through the change
process so that anticipated bene1047297ts are achieved faster And there
are additional bene1047297ts to change management Trough optimizing
the effi ciency and effi cacy o users an effective EMR change manage-
ment program will also
bull Improve organizational outcomes and perormance (effective use
o the system generates value to patients and the organization)
bull Enhance employee satisaction morale and engagement (when
people learn new skills meet perormance expectations and con-
tribute to a greater good they eel pride in their accomplishments)
bull Improve service quality (users eel valued and supported by anorganization that makes an investment in them this positively
impacts how they treat patients)
Figure 1-1 The Three-legged Stool
Technology
People Process
Technology
People Process
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2439
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 5
bull Help achieve hoped-or bene1047297ts (bene1047297ts that include EMR value
realization reduction o errors return on investment)bull Create higher levels o openness trust involvement and teamwork
(develop an engaged workorce)
bull Build change capability and capacity in the organization resulting
in improved ability to respond quickly and effectively to new situa-
tions (create organizational nimbleness through embedded change
management knowledge structure and process)
In other words it really is all about the people Intentionally man-
aging the cultural behavioral and organizational changes that need
to take place to make the desired EMR uture not only a reality but
a sustainable reality pays off on many levels in that it also acilitates
organizational transormation Building on individual capability andorganizational capacity change management results in a change-
capable culturemdasha huge advantage in todayrsquos competitive and ast-
changing world
Change Management echnology AdoptionmdashWhatrsquos the Difference
Tere are a number o terms that people use to reer to the work
involved in managing the people side o a change effort We think o
change management as the mother ship that is the umbrella term that
embraces all specialties within the 1047297eld Similar to the various special-
ties or domains o service within a healthcare system change man-agement proessionals may choose speci1047297c areas o ocus echnology
adoption speci1047297cally inormation technology (I) is one such area
and it involves the application o change management principles to the
implementation o I Te focus of this book is technology adoption
and we will mostly use this term instead of change management
throughout the rest of the book
Effective technology adoption proessionals align themselves with
the operationalbusiness side o the organization and tailor solutions
that drive behavioral change and tangible outcomes Tey participate in
EMR implementation projects rom the beginning driving the people
side o change throughout and continuing to add value post-live as theEMR becomes part o the central nervous system o the organization
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2539
6 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
HE IMPORANCE OF HE PEOPLE SIDE
OF AN EMR IMPLEMENAIONTere are many reerences in the literature to ailed change efforts and
I implementations Estimates are that only one third o these projects
achieve success which means two thirds ail to meet expectations Te
good news is that ailure is optional as much has been learned about
why some change efforts ail and others succeed
Herersquos the issue while the change that is going to occur is an exter-
nal eventmdashthe EMR implementation a reorganization proposed out-
sourcing a promotion etcmdashthe transition rom old to new that those
who are impacted experience is a psychological and emotional pro-
cess It is this transition that is diffi cultmdasheven when a change is sel-
imposed or considered positive
In the words o William Bridges a key thought leader in manage-
ment o transitions ldquoIt isnrsquot the changes that do you in itrsquos the transi-
tion afer the change that doesrdquo1
For an implementation team part o the problem encountered
during transition is that change is messy people start where they are
not where we want them to be And when considering the personnel
within a typical hospital people can be all over the place in terms o
comort with computers stage in lie commitment to the organiza-
tion ear o change etc Add to this the act that or change to be suc-
cessul three things must occur People
bull Must let go o their current reality have an ending
bull Go through a conused period in-between (hell in the hallway)
bull Only then can have a new beginning 1
o take this a step urther while I consultants want to install the
system and make enhancements the users will ultimately determine
how the system is used Tis use is affected by human not technical
actors
bull Different rames o reerence backgrounds experiences with
technology
bull Organizational history and experience with other large-scale
change projects
bull Levels o resistance ear ability to deal with ambiguity
bull Degree o alignment o ldquoWhatrsquos in it or merdquo or the various stake-
holder groups
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2639
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 7
bull Ineffi ciencies uncovered because the system creates transparency
bull Workarounds that become quickly entrenchedbull Pressure to get through the day can override doing what is right
bull User worklie balance issues coming into play rom the very
beginning
All o these actors create problems or implementation teams that
just want to install technology How do you effectively address the
people issues Or is it easier to just install the technology and assume
that people will learn because they have to use it Some on the imple-
mentation team may alsely assume that users o an EMR system will
snap into place over time and do what is right or the organization
Tis thinking is a oolrsquos paradise
In the oreword to this book Dave Garets made the point that EMRdeployments are not about technology but about equipping organiza-
tions to reach critical business objectives by providing employees with
technical capabilities that make new things possible and by engaging
them in changing their behavior to effectively use the new capabilities
to generate desired results
With all due respect to the technical side o an EMR implemen-
tation installing the technology is only hal the battle Tis is not to
degrade the importance o the technology Te act that we spend a lot
o money researching technology acquiring it con1047297guring it install-
ing it and supporting it speaks to its importance I we werenrsquot imple-
menting EMRs we wouldnrsquot even be having a discussion about EMR-related change management
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2739
8 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
But implementation o the technology is just a 1047297rst and very nec-
essary stepmdashbecause in and o itsel the technology does not generate
value Te technology is necessary but not suffi cient or bene1047297t realiza-
tion to occur o create value requires people and this is why change
management is so important oo much o a ocus on technology even
in the early stages will create issues downstream And even with the
best technology i not used effi ciently hoped-or bene1047297ts will be tough
to achieve
CIO Perspective
ldquoDuring my masters program I took an Organization Development
class that really opened my eyes to peoplesrsquo needs during large-scale
change Since the OD class I have been very interested in what makes
people tick and why people react in different ways to the same
environment No matter how good of an idea a large-scale technology
implementation is we will always have early adopters average adopters
and laggards As leaders within large organizations we have a
responsibility to plan for and respect all types of technology adopters
Ultimately the people who work within in our organizations want a positive
human experience when they are at work
Utilizing a change management methodology enables the implementation
and leadership teams to provide a positive experience during the period of
significant change By utilizing a solid change management methodologythe organization promotes team communication a safer environment for
the patient a work environment that promotes trust and an environment
where people are allowed to talk about the fear of change All of this
promotes a better human experience and a much stronger work force
hellip An effective change management program has meant the difference
between good go-lives and great go-lives at our 10 hospitalsrdquo
Lindsey P Jarrell FACHE
SVP amp CIO
BayCare Health System
Clearwater FL
CIO Perspective
During my masters program I took an Organization Development
class that really opened my eyes to peoplesrsquo needs during large-scale
change Since the OD class I have been very interested in what makes
people tick and why people react in different ways to the same
environment No matter how good of an idea a large-scale technology
implementation is we will always have early adopters average adopters
and laggards As leaders within large organizations we have a
responsibility to plan for and respect all types of technology adopters
Ultimately the people who work within in our organizations want a positive
human experience when they are at work
Utilizing a change management methodology enables the implementation
and leadership teams to provide a positive experience during the period of
significant change By utilizing a solid change management methodologythe organization promotes team communication a safer environment for
the patient a work environment that promotes trust and an environment
where people are allowed to talk about the fear of change All of this
promotes a better human experience and a much stronger work force
hellip An effective change management program has meant the difference
between good go-lives and great go-lives at our 10 hospitals
Lindsey P Jarrell FACHE
SVP amp CIO
BayCare Health System
Clearwater FL
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2839
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 9
Remember that change is a personal experience It is also local and
individual And itrsquos hardmdasheven when itrsquos sel-imposed and positive
Tere are no shortcuts People have to go through the process o change
in much the same way that we move through the stages o grie2 It canrsquot
be avoided or skipped You can measure twice and cut once or you
can cut now and then do costly remediation later Either way you canrsquot
avoid the expense or time required or real change to occur
SYSEMS PERSPECIVE
Experienced technology adoption proessionals embrace a systems
perspective when given the assignment to drive perormance man-
age perceptions and increase the utilization o new and existing tech-
nology A systems approach is the ability to see the big picture and
address the interrelationships among the variables within the abric o
CIO Perspective
ldquoIrsquove been in healthcare IT a long time and I now realize itrsquos
all about change management What was considered soft is
now hard We know so much more about how to install
technologymdashItrsquos the people part we donrsquot know well yet
and so itrsquos hardrdquo
Scott Joslyn
CIO
MemorialCare
Long Beach CA
CIO Perspective
Irsquove been in healthcare IT a long time and I now realize itrsquos
all about change management What was considered soft is
now hard We know so much more about how to install
technologymdashitrsquos the people part we donrsquot know well yet
and so itrsquos hard
J Scott Joslyn
CIO
MemorialCare
Long Beach CA
Quoteldquordquo
ldquoNo man can think clearly when his fists are clenchedrdquo
- George Jean Nathan
Quoteldquordquo
ldquordquo
ldquoNo man can think clearly when his fists are clenchedrdquo
- George Jean Nathan
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2939
10 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
the organization and in1047298uence the combined impact these variables
have on organizational effectiveness As each variable has the powerto in1047298uence the outcome o any intervention behavior change is ofen
not sustainable because variables tend to work against one another
Effective technology adoption strategies account or this interrelation-
shipinterdependency and aim to bring these variables into alignment
as a means or driving sustainable results
Figure 1-2 introduces the Organizational Fabric Model which
highlights the six primary threads (or variables) that are interwoven
in the abric (or culture) o an organization Te model suggests that
all six threads must work in concert to successully shape the organi-
zational abric A well-woven technology adoption plan strategically
manipulates these threads to in1047298uence desired change A poorly wovenplan in which a thread or combination o threads is not accounted
or leads to disaster or by way o analogy will hit a snag down the
road Depending on the 1047298exibility and durability o this abric a snag
can result in a huge hole that detracts rom the overall strength o the
intervention Te intent o the Organizational Fabric Model is to stress
how important it is to understand the uture state recognize how each
variable or combination o variables will come into play and develop a
sound technology adoption program that appropriately in1047298uences this
set o variables to reshape the abric or culture so desired change can
actually take place
Te Organizational Fabric Model will be revisited in subsequent
chapters as each thread or variable is explored in urther detail For
now we reiterate that technology adoption strategies must not rely
on only one or two threads to drive behavior change Sustainable out-
comes result rom an organizationrsquos ability to leverage the combination
o all six threads working in concert to create an environment orsuccess
Key Point
Fundamentally culture is ldquothe way we do things around hererdquo
Key Point
Fundamentally culture is ldquothe way we do things around hererdquo
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3039
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 11
CREAING AN ENVIRONMEN FOR SUCCESS
echnology adoption is about creating a context an environment in
which change can be achieved and sustained over the long term Tis
involves two levelsmdashorganizational and individual
With an EMR implementation the organization must create thesupporting environment provide needed training and resources
articulate a clear direction coupled with clear expectations engage its
people include them in the process and reinorce desired new behav-
iors Tis is not about checking things off a list but rather about 1047297nd-
ing synergy among impacted groups giving them what they need and
coordinating efforts to meet the end goal Itrsquos an ongoing effort
o give you an idea o what we are talking about herersquos an exam-
ple o an individual situation occurring within a social context Tink
about what happens when you want to make a signi1047297cant change in
your personal liemdashquit smoking stop drinking lose weight Itrsquos one
thing to talk with a doctor or another proessional about what needsto happen when yoursquore in their offi ce but once you leave the offi ce
you then return to your social reality I your riends and amily donrsquot
want your behavior to change you will have a tough time All the rein-
Figure 1-2 Organizational Fabric Model
Sponsorship
Stakeholder Mgmt
Training
Vision
Reinforcement
Communications
Sponsorship
Stakeholder Mgmt
Training
Vision
Reinforcement
Communications
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3139
12 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
orcements and temptations will conspire to prevent you rom mak-
ing changes But i you can get some important people in your lieto make the changes with you or at least support you in the process
you have a much greater chance o success Te lesson is donrsquot send a
changed person back into an unchanged environment if you want
to see behavior change
Engaging individuals involves arousing two key aspects mdashwilling-
ness and ability Te organization must in1047298uence both in order to suc-
ceed With the help o the Skill Versus Will Matrix (Figure 1-3) think
about it this way
bull When people want to do something but donrsquot know how they canrsquot
(willingunable)
bull When people know how but donrsquot want to they wonrsquot(ableunwilling)
Can you think o examples in your own lie when you have been in
either o these situations
Consider the circumstance o people who know how to do some-
thing but donrsquot want to do it Tis is a ldquowillrdquo not a ldquoskillrdquo issue and it is
a very common technology adoption dilemma I the amount o work
and effort involved are not perceived by the user as being equal to the
Figure 1-3 The Skill versus Will Matrix
Skill
Will
WONrsquoT
WONrsquoT
DOES
CANrsquoTLow
High
HighLow
Skill
Will
WONrsquoT
WONrsquoT
DOES
CANrsquoTLow
High
HighLow HighLow
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3239
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 13
return or value experienced through the implementation the user will
most likely choose to reduce the effort A goal o an effective people-ocused strategy is to identiy potential areas o disconnect and 1047297nd
ways to increase the perceived value to users Te assumption is that
when the return is perceived to be greater the effort increases When
there are no incentives to try harder it may be diffi cult to drive desired
behavior change
Te point in getting users to actively support the deployment o
an EMR is about a lot more than a communication plan or eature
unction training Managing the people side o an EMR implementa-
tion requires a savvy technology adoption plan that ties sponsorship
training communication work1047298ow harmonization user support and
reinorcement with the business priorities o the organization andeffectively coordinates all o these activities with the user in mindmdashin
an environment that reinorces desired behavior changes
Key Questions
Two key questions to remember throughout the
project arehellip
(1) How will this decision impact the user
(2) How might it impact patients
Key Questions
Two key questions to remember throughout the
project are
(1) How will this decision impact the user
(2) How might it impact patients
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3339
14 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
Consider this example
In this example what are the key elements o this process that
ensure success
bull Te picture of success the desired outcome is clearmdashit is or the
child to become a unctioning adult in the community
bull How this happens is clearly de1047297ned in behavioral terms Tere is a
process that is known and understood by the entire community
including children
bull Leaders at all levels in the community agree on the desired out-
come support the entire process and actively ful1047297ll their roles to ensure success Leaders include village elders and ormal lead-
ers parents o the children inormal opinion leaders and amily
members
bull Te children who are about to become adults take an active role
in their own transormation taking responsibility or their suc-
cess Tey receive guidance and counsel rom elders Tey know
and understand the transormation process and what they must do
to achieve their new status Goals and steps are clear Tey also
understand the consequences o not successully transitioning to
adulthood
bull I there is more than one child slated to go through transormationto adulthood at the same time they are a peer group and as appro-
priate prepare together and support each other
Key Point
In native cultures there tend to be rites of passage that serve
to transition a person from childhood to adult status in the
community The child may actually leave the village for a day or
two of contemplation following a prescribed process When the
child returns he or she is redefined as an adult and assumes
the consequent privileges and responsibilities The entire
community reinforces the personrsquos new status the new adult is
not allowed to return to being a child whenever itrsquos convenient
but is supported to complete the transformation to adulthood
The change to adulthood does not happen in a vacuum but is
part of a carefully designed process that ensures success
Key Point
In native cultures there tend to be rites of passage that serve
to transition a person from childhood to adult status in the
community The child may actually leave the village for a day or
two of contemplation following a prescribed process When the
child returns he or she is redefined as an adult and assumes
the consequent privileges and responsibilities The entire
community reinforces the personrsquos new status the new adult is
not allowed to return to being a child whenever itrsquos convenient
but is supported to complete the transformation to adulthood
The change to adulthood does not happen in a vacuum but is
part of a carefully designed process that ensures success
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3439
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 15
bull Te entire community works together to bring about the
transormationbull Success results in positive reinforcement
Te environmental context is the trump card in any implementerrsquos
hand It takes a lot o work to create a suitable environment but it is an
essential ingredient in being able to drive and sustain change
Willingness and Ability
Earlier we mentioned willingness and ability as key concepts in tech-
nology adoption Willingness and ability can also be thought o as
hearts and minds or will and skill Te point is the same regardless
o the terms used People need to be supported on both an emotional
level to commit and on an intellectual level to be able Te questionto be answered is ldquoWhat are the conditions under which users will
accept and adopt the EMRrdquo
Letrsquos talk about willingness 1047297rst
Willingness or hearts is the commitment to go orward Tis is
impacted by many things including the ollowing elements
bull Leadership Perceived support or lack o support or the change
rom senior executives in the company the cascade o sponsors
down through the organization and just as importantly rom the
employeersquos direct supervisor
bull Communication Quality and requency o verbal and written
messages that describe the desired uture state tell why the changeneeds to happen and what will happen i change isnrsquot made set
clear expectations explain how the company will prepare and sup-
port people to success and describe local details such as timelines
etc
bull Reinforcement Degree o appropriateness and timeliness o
rewards or demonstrating desired new behaviors and conse-
quences or sticking to the old ways
bull Participation Degree to which users are involved every step o
the way either directly as individuals or indirectly by being effec-
tively represented by trusted local opinion leader peers who serve
as liaisons between users and the project teambull Organizational History with Change Previous organizational
experience with changemdashgood and badmdashwill in1047298uence user per-
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3539
16 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
ceptions and expectations o the EMR implementation Under-
standing the past is important in planning or the utureTis all sounds logical but the reaction to it can be emotional Tis
is where people conront their ear o ailure eeling stupid making
mistakes etc Remember that the change may require people to give
up the very things that they believe made them successul in the past
Tis can be a diffi cult sell
Ability or minds is about the actual capability to successully
meet new job expectations Tis is impacted by many things including
the ollowing elements
bull raining and Support In most cases the new EMR abilities must
be learned An effective training program that is role-based and
intentionally ocused on preparing people to perorm new jobexpectations is key Just discussing desired outcomes is not enough
though we have to clearly tell people what we want them to do
Tis requires an intellectual understanding o what and how a
conceptual understanding is necessary but not suffi cient Most
people need to practice something new to develop competence and
con1047297dence Sae opportunities to practice preerably with immedi-
ate eedback are very important to pro1047297ciency development and
sustainability
Getting people to move in the direction you want is the diffi -
cultymdashsome say the hardest part o the whole project And i you agree
that people are the oundation o successmdashthat bene1047297t realization isdependant not on technology but on people agreeing to go through
personal disruption learn new things change established patterns and
conront their earsmdashthen we must be proactive and courageous in
addressing the human issues
Tis is the people side o the project Tis is the organizational read-
iness unction It involves collaboration coordination and sequencing
o activities inormation and events rom all people-ocused areas Te
idea is to have all the people-ocused unctions working together to
reach clearly de1047297ned shared outcomes Te organizational readiness
plan to create individual and organizational readiness is the umbrella
that connects it allmdashthe glue that holds it together and the grease thatmakes it workmdashor the user We will address the structure and process
or doing this in more detail in subsequent chapters
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3639
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 17
Good News on wo Fronts
1 Tere is a social science Tere is a body o work research andsubsequent publications about the human experience with change
Tere are proven change management strategies tools and tech-
niques Tis isnrsquot olklore hooey or black magic Te transition
process is known and predictable Tere is a change curve that
describes the steps (Chapter 5 Stakeholder Management) And
though there is no silver bullet it isnrsquot rocket science Senior
healthcare executives must take the emerging proession o change
managementtechnology adoption seriously Not understanding it
is no excuse or ignoring it Tat is ar too expensive an option
2 All people go through transition when changemdashgood or badmdash
happens in both their personal and proessional lie You canrsquot
avoid it Te wonderul thing is i you learn about change and
transition at work it will improve your personal lie Tis is one
o the times to ldquotry this at homerdquo Wersquore all humanmdashat work and
at home So treat your people as the humans they are and avoid
some predictable expense and diffi culty Lead your organization
to a successul outcome and speed up the process by treating your
staff as customers 1047297rst
Donrsquot make the mistake o glossing over the critical human aspects
o change Hire experts and 1047297nd the emotionally intelligent people in
your organization who want to participate And remember you can
install technology without your people but you canrsquot ully implement
and achieve return on investment without them Consciously choose
to move fear and resistance to trust and adoption Itrsquos a case o pay
now or pay later I you wait until later it will always cost more ech-
nology Adoption is expensive but not as expensive as trying to gloss
it over and then having to undo the damage When ailure happens it
Quoteldquordquo
ldquoNot everything that can be counted counts and not everything thatcounts can be countedrdquo
- Albert Einstein
Quoteldquordquo
ldquordquo
ldquoNot everything that can be counted counts and not everything thatcounts can be countedrdquo
- Albert Einstein
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3739
18 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
takes a long time or people to re-engage And in todayrsquos world this
presents real problems or healthcare organizations aced with short-ages in many proessions Tere is a huge risk o alienating and poten-
tially losing needed staff or in causing long delays We can do better
Not so long ago it wasnrsquot conventional wisdom that clinical application
rollouts are not I projects More frequently than not these were consid-
ered technical projects in which the point of celebration was when con-nection from workstation to central processor was reliable and wireless
access actually worked Te classic I People-Process-echnology trian-
gle never got much past echnology to the real hard work on the People-
Process axis Tat has all changed in the 21st century system implemen-
tations that are both successful and valuable have had people and process
on the front burner
When MemorialCare embarked on a 1047297ve-hospital roll-out of an
EMR in 2002 it had several things in its favor
bull Te technology the organization ultimately acquired was robust and
reliable it worked
bull It had 15 yearsrsquo experience with CPOE (computerized providerorder entry) Terefore although unevenly adopted it was not new
territory
bull It had had the experience of a system-wide roll-out and standard-
ization on a general 1047297nance human resources and materials man-
agement system When all was said and done users had not been
suffi ciently involved standardization fell short because involvement
was low business leadership was diffuse and I ownership was too
high It was judged successful overall but the organization continues
to move slowly forward with an underutilized set of applications
With this experience and the insights of others MemorialCare pri-
oritized engagement of physicians nurses pharmacists and other staffWell before 1047297nancial commitment to a new system was obtained Memo-
rialCare hired a ldquoCare Planning Executiverdquo a person whose full-time
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3839
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 19
activities were devoted to the project 1047297rst to help understand the drivers
of a new system scope out the territory to be covered gain the com-mitment of senior leaders as well as governance and outline the case
for change At my insistence the Care Planning Executive a registered
nurse and former hospital chief operating offi cer joined the organization
reporting to the system-wide CEO as a peer and partner of the CIO not
a staff member and a peer to the CEOs of each medical center campus
Tat dedication alone made clear the commitment intentions and over-
all priority of the company
Among several other critical success factorsmdashand the outcome was
a successmdashwas the overall employee engagement program that the Care
Planning Executive established In summary it was an education mar-
keting and training program dedicated to equipping the affected staffwith the knowledge and tools to embrace unavoidable change Staff com-
munication was clear that it wasnrsquot change for changersquos sake but a major
move forward in the paperless way care would be delivered and work-
1047298ows would be streamlined Of course at the time no one could have
foreseen later moves by government to push everyone in this direction
(with the American Recovery and Reconstruction Act of 2009) Because
of our early efforts wersquore now very well positioned
J Scott Joslyn
CIO
MemorialCareLong Beach California
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3939
About the BookDespite the promise of improving care and other benefits EMR implementations are highly disruptive to the
organization This book prepares you to lead or participate successfully in change managementtechnologyadoption efforts so that meaningful use of EMRs can be achieved The authors provide successful strategies
to plan and implement change The content is based on their decades of combined experience designing
and leading technology adoption programs
Sections of the book deal with establishing a foundation for change building commitment and developing
requisite skill in helping users be successful with technology The book includes numerous lessons learned
tips for success best practices and case studies from organizations that have handled change well
About the AuthorsClaire McCarthy MA is a recognized technology adoption strategist and leader
with 25 years of healthcare industry experience supporting people through softwareimplementations and other large-scale change efforts As Director of Organizational
Effectiveness for Kaiser Permanentersquos enterprise-wide EMR deployment Ms McCarthy
led a national community of practice focused on preparing users to assume new
roles and responsibilities in support of organizational objectives Ms McCarthy
speaks internationally on the topic of technology adoption encouraging healthcare
leaders around the globe to set the stage for benefit realization by investing in the
people side of EMR implementation
Douglas Eastman PhD is an organizational development executive with extensive
experience managing large-scale change initiatives With more than 20 years
of consulting experience Dr Eastmanrsquos focus is to help organizations grow and
manage change by unleashing human potential His specialties are organizationaltransformation technology adoption and optimization process redesign strategic
planning and program and tools development As the Executive Director of Technology
Adoption and Organizational Capability within the Kaiser Permanente IT Care
Delivery Business Information Office Dr Eastman has pioneered several of Kaiserrsquos
implementation readiness toolsmethodologies and post-live optimization strategies
programs adding to the organizationrsquos ability to realize the benefit of its technology
About HIMSS The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) is a comprehensive healthcare-
stakeholder membership organization exclusively focused on providing global leadership for the optimal
use of information technology (IT) and management systems for the betterment of healthcare Founded in
1961 with offices in Chicago Washington DC Brussels Singapore and other locations across the United
States HIMSS represents more than 23000 individual members of which 73 work in patient care delivery
settings HIMSS also includes over 380 corporate members and nearly 30 not-for-profit organizations that
share our mission of transforming healthcare through the effective use of information technology and
management systems HIMSS frames and leads healthcare public policy and industry practices through
its educational professional development and advocacy initiatives designed to promote information and
management systemsrsquo contributions to ensuring quality patient care
ISBN 978-0-9821070-6-5
Order Code 564
230 E Ohio St Suite 500
Chicago IL 60611ndash3270
312-915-9295
www himss org
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1439
Preace xiii
Te management o ambiguity resistance and user motivation is
admittedly hard to measure and unortunately involves methods thatare not always easily checked off a list Te process is more 1047298uid and
organic than linear At times it is unpredictable requiring rethink-
ing and course corrections Afer all we are dealing with people Not
everything is clear cut Donrsquot believe anyone who tells you it is
People come with different backgrounds rames o reerence
experience with technology comort with change or ambiguity trust
in leadership and so orth Whatever the mix o scenarios users never
start rom the same placemdashand they move through the change pro-
cess at different speeds meaning they continue to be in different places
throughout the project Te good news is that users do grow and develop
over the course o the project and many eventually accept things theywouldnrsquot agree to at 1047297rst But they require understandingmdashtheir ears
needs hopes and their reactions to the challenges that impact their
ability to perorm A sound comprehensive people strategy that cre-
ates an environment in which they can succeed is essential
I the goal o your EMR implementation is to achieve sustainable
results growth or organizational transormation then a substantial
investment in people must be central to your overall implementation
strategy Afer all it is the user who makes or breaks your EMR imple-
mentation and ultimately determines the amount o return the organi-
zation will realize Te better prepared people are or the change and
the less they see it as threatening the aster they will deliver value
Quoteldquordquo
ldquoMan is still the most extraordinary computer of allrdquo
- John F Kennedy
Quoteldquordquo
ldquordquo
ldquoMan is still the most extraordinary computer of allrdquo
- John F Kennedy
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1539
xiv Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
HOW HE BOOK IS SRUCURED
Preparing an organization or a successul EMR implementationinvolves a big picture approach that takes into account all the actors
that in1047298uence behavior change Te idea is to establish an organiza-
tional contextmdasha culture in which desired behavior is supported and
reinorced through a variety o methodsmdashcreating a learning organiza-
tion that grows to achieve its vision priorities and goals In this book
we present an Implementation Readiness Model and discuss each ac-
tor involved in ensuring the organization and users are ully prepared
to realize the potential o the new technology
Tis book is organized in a simple ashion First we make the busi-
ness argument or change managementtechnology adoption explain-
ing why technology implementations will not deliver bene1047297ts without
a signi1047297cant ocus on users Next we discuss two critical success ac-
tors in any large-scale change management effortmdasha clear vision and
effective leadership
Ten we argue or the development o a cross-unctional team
o representatives rom key areas within the organization the Orga-
nizational Readiness eam (OR) and introduce a pragmatic model
that outlines the scope o complexity and work that the OR man-
ages throughout the project lie cycle Tis establishes a oundation
or subsequent chapters in which each provides urther detail about
the inter-relationship o work involved to effectively drive sustain-
able change Tese chapters dig deeper into lessons learned and best
practices related to stakeholder management communication train-
ing strategy and reinorcement as all must be aligned to successully
satisy the end goal o a meaningul implementation
Finally the Implementation Readiness chapter shows how the
prior chapters serve as building blocks to ormulate a comprehensive
and powerul Implementation Readiness Program aimed at securing
ready users who are engaged and prepared or the transitional changes
ahead in the world o an EMR Te book ends with a discussion o
our key lessons learned and insights regarding the overall journey Pay
particular attention to some o the larger challenges related to an EMR
implementation as these scenarios have proven to have a signi1047297cant
impact on an organizationrsquos speed and ability to position itsel or ben-
e1047297ts realization
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1639
Preace xv
It is important to stress that ocusing on just one actor o imple-
mentation readiness is not suffi cient to drive organizational changeand sustainable results Each chapter describes an individual actor in
detail and provides lessons and useul examples tools and other bits
o inormation intended to help you succeed in preparing your orga-
nization or a successul EMR implementation But the real purpose
o the book is to raise awareness o how all actors work in concert to
in1047298uence desired change associated with an EMR implementation Te
actors work best as an integrated whole overlapping and reinorcing
each other Tey typically have separate leadership but whether or-
mally integrated or not they are pieces o one picture
Like other books you can jump to any chapter o interest at any
point However we strongly encourage you to read the book cover tocover 1047297rst to gain an understanding o the end-to-end process and how
each actor contributes to overall success A strategy that accounts or
all actors is more effective than just one intervention or multiple dis-
connected interventions In this case the sum is de1047297nitely greater than
all o its individual parts
We speak to you in a conversational and straightorward man-
ner to make this rather diffi cult side o an EMR implementation more
approachable We hope you will 1047297nd our insights valuable and will
leverage this book as your implementation reerence guide It will ur-
ther your cause i all stakeholders accountable or a successul launch
in your organization have a common ramework or approaching the
collective end goal We certainly wish wersquod had a book like this years
ago to guide us through the mine1047297eld o sofware implementationsFinally we hope you enjoy the process o supporting people
through the transition to the world o EMRs Tere is something very
Quoteldquordquo
ldquoExperience is a hard teacher because she gives
the test first the lessons afterwardsrdquo
- Vernon Law
Quoteldquordquo
ldquordquo
ldquoExperience is a hard teacher because she gives
the test first the lessons afterwardsrdquo
- Vernon Law
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1739
xvi Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
rewarding about seeing people who were earul and resistant even
in tears and thinking seriously o quitting eel the pride o accom-plishment when they succeed Each person who stays the course and
becomes a contributing member o the electronically enabled organi-
zation represents untold cost avoidance Knowledge and talent stay in
the organization replacement costs are avoided relationships are pre-
served and critical staff shortages are reduced echnology adoption is
truly a contribution to the bottom line
In the words o one o our grandathers ldquoPeople change when
theyrsquore damned good and ready and not beorerdquo Wersquore here to get
them ready
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1839
xvii
Acknowledgments
Te authors would like to thank the ollowing individuals or sharing
their expertise and experiences or this book
Saaa Al-Haddad MD
Internal Medicine
University Hospitals
Cleveland Ohio
Ronnie D Bower Jr MA
Manager Change Management
BayCare Health System
ampa Florida
Nabil Chehade MD MSBS
CPC
Director Medical Inormatics
Regional Chie o Urology
KP HealthConnect RegionalPhysician Lead
Kaiser Permanente Medical
Group
Cleveland Ohio
Kenneth Goodman MD
Associate Director Center
or Continuing Medical
Education
Department o Family Medicine
Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland Ohio
Marie Hamilton RN
Kaiser Permanente
Oregon Federation o Nurses
and Health ProessionalsHealthcare Inormation
echnology Committee
AF Healthcare
Portland Oregon
Lindsey P Jarrell FACHE
Senior Vice President amp CIO
BayCare Health System
ampa Florida
J Scott JoslynCIO
MemorialCare
Long Beach Caliornia
Margaret M Rudoph PhD
Consultant
Vancouver British Columbia
Canada
om Smith
CIO
NorthShore University Health
System
Evanston Illinois
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1939
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2039
1
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 983089
Te Business Case forChange Management
ldquoWersquore not in Kansas anymorehelliprdquo
In the introduction an EMR implementation is compared to a tornado
in that it whips through an organization turning lie upside down and
throwing users into a world 1047297lled with new ways o doing things and
seeking ways to recapture some sense o balance and control EMR
technology disrupts the status quo and along with the many opportu-
nities it promises it also brings a whirlwind o seemingly never-ending
changes which can have an entirely different effect on different people
While an implementation that is effectively managed even brings these
challenges a poor implementation can be disastrous and will cost the
organization much more time energy and money to get things back
on track
Dorothy the character rom the movie Te Wizard of Oz held
her composure pretty well through the tornado that ripped her rom
a calm stable lie on the arm and threw her into a oreign world She
was able to manage through the obstacles and challenges and stay the
course as she ollowed the yellow brick road in search o the wizard
Some say this is similar to the experience users have except or the
part when Dorothy wakes up rom her dream and 1047297nds hersel back
home as she remembers itEMR implementations donrsquot have to be nightmarish or users but
there certainly will be obstacles and challenges along the way Te key is
to help users through the road blocks and enable them to experience a
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2139
2 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
positive journey Tis process is always easier when people know what
they are getting into eel supported and are prepared or what liesahead both good and bad Tis is the role o change management
CHANGE MANAGEMEN DEFINED
Itrsquos important to understand why you should make an investment in
the people side o the projectmdashbringing in the best technology pos-
sible doesnrsquot mean anything unless users are comortable and pro1047297-
cient in its use Te truth is just because you build it doesnrsquot mean they
will come
Letrsquos start by answering the two questions we are most ofen asked
ldquoWhat is change management anyway What is it change managers
dordquoo avoid conusion wersquoll say up ront we are not talking about
change management as it relates to technical issues such as version or
change control We also want to be clear that change management is
not project management What we are talking about is the human side
o electronic medical records implementations the human-ocused
work o engaging and preparing people to succeed in the new world
o EMRs
A word about project management while good project manage-
ment acilitates change management the two disciplines are not the
same Project management is much more linear and task-ocused
whereas change management deals with the complexities o human
behavior But a good project plan creates a structure and a ounda-
tion in which the change management process can occur Tereore
the two disciplines though different complement and support each
other
A word o caution do not conuse the project plan with the end
result Te plan is necessary and it guides you throughout the process
Te plan is proactive itrsquos the order in the chaos But technology adop-
tion is kind o like herding cats itrsquos unpredictable and you need to
maintain 1047298exibility to respond as things evolve Tis is a more reactive
process than what may be expressed in a plan In our experience an
EMR implementation requires both structure and 1047298exibility
Tere is a saying in change management circles When one door
closes another one opens but sometimes itrsquos hell in the hallway Change
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2239
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 3
management deals mostly with the hallway situation acilitating the
human transition rom the present to the uture Tese days change isongoing and requires ocused leadership i it is to be as ast and pain-
less as possible
Te three legs o the project stool represent the critical compo-nents o an implementation (Figure 1-1)mdashPeople Process and ech-
nology Te people are the most important When technology projects
ail it is primarily due to a lack o use and not a ailure o the sof-
ware Te ocus o change management is people and the objective is
to change behavior Tis is good or business because it accelerates the
change process so bene1047297ts are achieved aster Change management
is not about being nice or placing an emphasis on eelings Itrsquos about
perormance improvement and results
I you search the literature you will 1047297nd a variety o de1047297nitions o
human-ocused change management Tey all cover similar concepts
sometimes using different terminology Te simplest explanation ochange management is to say ldquoItrsquos all about the peoplerdquo But or the
purposes o this book we expand on that concept and use the ollow-
ing de1047297nition o change management
bull A structured process designed to deal directly and intentionally
with the human actors involved in not just planning and imple-
menting an EMR but through behavior change achieving the
anticipated bene1047297ts that justi1047297ed the project in the 1047297rst place
bull Desired behavior change is achieved by helping people understand
and internalize change and by preparing them to be successul
contributors in the uture state In the case o EMR implementa-
tions effective change management delivers users who are willingand able to use an EMR in a way that satis1047297es the requirements o
the job the needs o the patient and the health o the organization
Key Tip
Our assumption is that the software you are implementing
works If the software doesnrsquot work you have another kind of
problem one that even the best change management wonrsquot
resolve
Key Tip
Our assumption is that the software you are implementing
works If the software doesnrsquot work you have another kind of
problemmdashone that even the best change management wonrsquot
resolve
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2339
4 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
Well-designed integrated people-ocused work builds logically
over time in a way that makes sense to the user It brings users along
guiding and supporting them so they arrive at where you want them
to be Tis is about willingness and ability hearts and minds You must
have both
Te overarching purpose o change management is to acceleratethe speed at which people move successfully through the change
process so that anticipated bene1047297ts are achieved faster And there
are additional bene1047297ts to change management Trough optimizing
the effi ciency and effi cacy o users an effective EMR change manage-
ment program will also
bull Improve organizational outcomes and perormance (effective use
o the system generates value to patients and the organization)
bull Enhance employee satisaction morale and engagement (when
people learn new skills meet perormance expectations and con-
tribute to a greater good they eel pride in their accomplishments)
bull Improve service quality (users eel valued and supported by anorganization that makes an investment in them this positively
impacts how they treat patients)
Figure 1-1 The Three-legged Stool
Technology
People Process
Technology
People Process
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2439
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 5
bull Help achieve hoped-or bene1047297ts (bene1047297ts that include EMR value
realization reduction o errors return on investment)bull Create higher levels o openness trust involvement and teamwork
(develop an engaged workorce)
bull Build change capability and capacity in the organization resulting
in improved ability to respond quickly and effectively to new situa-
tions (create organizational nimbleness through embedded change
management knowledge structure and process)
In other words it really is all about the people Intentionally man-
aging the cultural behavioral and organizational changes that need
to take place to make the desired EMR uture not only a reality but
a sustainable reality pays off on many levels in that it also acilitates
organizational transormation Building on individual capability andorganizational capacity change management results in a change-
capable culturemdasha huge advantage in todayrsquos competitive and ast-
changing world
Change Management echnology AdoptionmdashWhatrsquos the Difference
Tere are a number o terms that people use to reer to the work
involved in managing the people side o a change effort We think o
change management as the mother ship that is the umbrella term that
embraces all specialties within the 1047297eld Similar to the various special-
ties or domains o service within a healthcare system change man-agement proessionals may choose speci1047297c areas o ocus echnology
adoption speci1047297cally inormation technology (I) is one such area
and it involves the application o change management principles to the
implementation o I Te focus of this book is technology adoption
and we will mostly use this term instead of change management
throughout the rest of the book
Effective technology adoption proessionals align themselves with
the operationalbusiness side o the organization and tailor solutions
that drive behavioral change and tangible outcomes Tey participate in
EMR implementation projects rom the beginning driving the people
side o change throughout and continuing to add value post-live as theEMR becomes part o the central nervous system o the organization
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2539
6 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
HE IMPORANCE OF HE PEOPLE SIDE
OF AN EMR IMPLEMENAIONTere are many reerences in the literature to ailed change efforts and
I implementations Estimates are that only one third o these projects
achieve success which means two thirds ail to meet expectations Te
good news is that ailure is optional as much has been learned about
why some change efforts ail and others succeed
Herersquos the issue while the change that is going to occur is an exter-
nal eventmdashthe EMR implementation a reorganization proposed out-
sourcing a promotion etcmdashthe transition rom old to new that those
who are impacted experience is a psychological and emotional pro-
cess It is this transition that is diffi cultmdasheven when a change is sel-
imposed or considered positive
In the words o William Bridges a key thought leader in manage-
ment o transitions ldquoIt isnrsquot the changes that do you in itrsquos the transi-
tion afer the change that doesrdquo1
For an implementation team part o the problem encountered
during transition is that change is messy people start where they are
not where we want them to be And when considering the personnel
within a typical hospital people can be all over the place in terms o
comort with computers stage in lie commitment to the organiza-
tion ear o change etc Add to this the act that or change to be suc-
cessul three things must occur People
bull Must let go o their current reality have an ending
bull Go through a conused period in-between (hell in the hallway)
bull Only then can have a new beginning 1
o take this a step urther while I consultants want to install the
system and make enhancements the users will ultimately determine
how the system is used Tis use is affected by human not technical
actors
bull Different rames o reerence backgrounds experiences with
technology
bull Organizational history and experience with other large-scale
change projects
bull Levels o resistance ear ability to deal with ambiguity
bull Degree o alignment o ldquoWhatrsquos in it or merdquo or the various stake-
holder groups
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2639
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 7
bull Ineffi ciencies uncovered because the system creates transparency
bull Workarounds that become quickly entrenchedbull Pressure to get through the day can override doing what is right
bull User worklie balance issues coming into play rom the very
beginning
All o these actors create problems or implementation teams that
just want to install technology How do you effectively address the
people issues Or is it easier to just install the technology and assume
that people will learn because they have to use it Some on the imple-
mentation team may alsely assume that users o an EMR system will
snap into place over time and do what is right or the organization
Tis thinking is a oolrsquos paradise
In the oreword to this book Dave Garets made the point that EMRdeployments are not about technology but about equipping organiza-
tions to reach critical business objectives by providing employees with
technical capabilities that make new things possible and by engaging
them in changing their behavior to effectively use the new capabilities
to generate desired results
With all due respect to the technical side o an EMR implemen-
tation installing the technology is only hal the battle Tis is not to
degrade the importance o the technology Te act that we spend a lot
o money researching technology acquiring it con1047297guring it install-
ing it and supporting it speaks to its importance I we werenrsquot imple-
menting EMRs we wouldnrsquot even be having a discussion about EMR-related change management
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2739
8 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
But implementation o the technology is just a 1047297rst and very nec-
essary stepmdashbecause in and o itsel the technology does not generate
value Te technology is necessary but not suffi cient or bene1047297t realiza-
tion to occur o create value requires people and this is why change
management is so important oo much o a ocus on technology even
in the early stages will create issues downstream And even with the
best technology i not used effi ciently hoped-or bene1047297ts will be tough
to achieve
CIO Perspective
ldquoDuring my masters program I took an Organization Development
class that really opened my eyes to peoplesrsquo needs during large-scale
change Since the OD class I have been very interested in what makes
people tick and why people react in different ways to the same
environment No matter how good of an idea a large-scale technology
implementation is we will always have early adopters average adopters
and laggards As leaders within large organizations we have a
responsibility to plan for and respect all types of technology adopters
Ultimately the people who work within in our organizations want a positive
human experience when they are at work
Utilizing a change management methodology enables the implementation
and leadership teams to provide a positive experience during the period of
significant change By utilizing a solid change management methodologythe organization promotes team communication a safer environment for
the patient a work environment that promotes trust and an environment
where people are allowed to talk about the fear of change All of this
promotes a better human experience and a much stronger work force
hellip An effective change management program has meant the difference
between good go-lives and great go-lives at our 10 hospitalsrdquo
Lindsey P Jarrell FACHE
SVP amp CIO
BayCare Health System
Clearwater FL
CIO Perspective
During my masters program I took an Organization Development
class that really opened my eyes to peoplesrsquo needs during large-scale
change Since the OD class I have been very interested in what makes
people tick and why people react in different ways to the same
environment No matter how good of an idea a large-scale technology
implementation is we will always have early adopters average adopters
and laggards As leaders within large organizations we have a
responsibility to plan for and respect all types of technology adopters
Ultimately the people who work within in our organizations want a positive
human experience when they are at work
Utilizing a change management methodology enables the implementation
and leadership teams to provide a positive experience during the period of
significant change By utilizing a solid change management methodologythe organization promotes team communication a safer environment for
the patient a work environment that promotes trust and an environment
where people are allowed to talk about the fear of change All of this
promotes a better human experience and a much stronger work force
hellip An effective change management program has meant the difference
between good go-lives and great go-lives at our 10 hospitals
Lindsey P Jarrell FACHE
SVP amp CIO
BayCare Health System
Clearwater FL
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2839
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 9
Remember that change is a personal experience It is also local and
individual And itrsquos hardmdasheven when itrsquos sel-imposed and positive
Tere are no shortcuts People have to go through the process o change
in much the same way that we move through the stages o grie2 It canrsquot
be avoided or skipped You can measure twice and cut once or you
can cut now and then do costly remediation later Either way you canrsquot
avoid the expense or time required or real change to occur
SYSEMS PERSPECIVE
Experienced technology adoption proessionals embrace a systems
perspective when given the assignment to drive perormance man-
age perceptions and increase the utilization o new and existing tech-
nology A systems approach is the ability to see the big picture and
address the interrelationships among the variables within the abric o
CIO Perspective
ldquoIrsquove been in healthcare IT a long time and I now realize itrsquos
all about change management What was considered soft is
now hard We know so much more about how to install
technologymdashItrsquos the people part we donrsquot know well yet
and so itrsquos hardrdquo
Scott Joslyn
CIO
MemorialCare
Long Beach CA
CIO Perspective
Irsquove been in healthcare IT a long time and I now realize itrsquos
all about change management What was considered soft is
now hard We know so much more about how to install
technologymdashitrsquos the people part we donrsquot know well yet
and so itrsquos hard
J Scott Joslyn
CIO
MemorialCare
Long Beach CA
Quoteldquordquo
ldquoNo man can think clearly when his fists are clenchedrdquo
- George Jean Nathan
Quoteldquordquo
ldquordquo
ldquoNo man can think clearly when his fists are clenchedrdquo
- George Jean Nathan
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2939
10 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
the organization and in1047298uence the combined impact these variables
have on organizational effectiveness As each variable has the powerto in1047298uence the outcome o any intervention behavior change is ofen
not sustainable because variables tend to work against one another
Effective technology adoption strategies account or this interrelation-
shipinterdependency and aim to bring these variables into alignment
as a means or driving sustainable results
Figure 1-2 introduces the Organizational Fabric Model which
highlights the six primary threads (or variables) that are interwoven
in the abric (or culture) o an organization Te model suggests that
all six threads must work in concert to successully shape the organi-
zational abric A well-woven technology adoption plan strategically
manipulates these threads to in1047298uence desired change A poorly wovenplan in which a thread or combination o threads is not accounted
or leads to disaster or by way o analogy will hit a snag down the
road Depending on the 1047298exibility and durability o this abric a snag
can result in a huge hole that detracts rom the overall strength o the
intervention Te intent o the Organizational Fabric Model is to stress
how important it is to understand the uture state recognize how each
variable or combination o variables will come into play and develop a
sound technology adoption program that appropriately in1047298uences this
set o variables to reshape the abric or culture so desired change can
actually take place
Te Organizational Fabric Model will be revisited in subsequent
chapters as each thread or variable is explored in urther detail For
now we reiterate that technology adoption strategies must not rely
on only one or two threads to drive behavior change Sustainable out-
comes result rom an organizationrsquos ability to leverage the combination
o all six threads working in concert to create an environment orsuccess
Key Point
Fundamentally culture is ldquothe way we do things around hererdquo
Key Point
Fundamentally culture is ldquothe way we do things around hererdquo
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3039
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 11
CREAING AN ENVIRONMEN FOR SUCCESS
echnology adoption is about creating a context an environment in
which change can be achieved and sustained over the long term Tis
involves two levelsmdashorganizational and individual
With an EMR implementation the organization must create thesupporting environment provide needed training and resources
articulate a clear direction coupled with clear expectations engage its
people include them in the process and reinorce desired new behav-
iors Tis is not about checking things off a list but rather about 1047297nd-
ing synergy among impacted groups giving them what they need and
coordinating efforts to meet the end goal Itrsquos an ongoing effort
o give you an idea o what we are talking about herersquos an exam-
ple o an individual situation occurring within a social context Tink
about what happens when you want to make a signi1047297cant change in
your personal liemdashquit smoking stop drinking lose weight Itrsquos one
thing to talk with a doctor or another proessional about what needsto happen when yoursquore in their offi ce but once you leave the offi ce
you then return to your social reality I your riends and amily donrsquot
want your behavior to change you will have a tough time All the rein-
Figure 1-2 Organizational Fabric Model
Sponsorship
Stakeholder Mgmt
Training
Vision
Reinforcement
Communications
Sponsorship
Stakeholder Mgmt
Training
Vision
Reinforcement
Communications
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3139
12 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
orcements and temptations will conspire to prevent you rom mak-
ing changes But i you can get some important people in your lieto make the changes with you or at least support you in the process
you have a much greater chance o success Te lesson is donrsquot send a
changed person back into an unchanged environment if you want
to see behavior change
Engaging individuals involves arousing two key aspects mdashwilling-
ness and ability Te organization must in1047298uence both in order to suc-
ceed With the help o the Skill Versus Will Matrix (Figure 1-3) think
about it this way
bull When people want to do something but donrsquot know how they canrsquot
(willingunable)
bull When people know how but donrsquot want to they wonrsquot(ableunwilling)
Can you think o examples in your own lie when you have been in
either o these situations
Consider the circumstance o people who know how to do some-
thing but donrsquot want to do it Tis is a ldquowillrdquo not a ldquoskillrdquo issue and it is
a very common technology adoption dilemma I the amount o work
and effort involved are not perceived by the user as being equal to the
Figure 1-3 The Skill versus Will Matrix
Skill
Will
WONrsquoT
WONrsquoT
DOES
CANrsquoTLow
High
HighLow
Skill
Will
WONrsquoT
WONrsquoT
DOES
CANrsquoTLow
High
HighLow HighLow
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3239
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 13
return or value experienced through the implementation the user will
most likely choose to reduce the effort A goal o an effective people-ocused strategy is to identiy potential areas o disconnect and 1047297nd
ways to increase the perceived value to users Te assumption is that
when the return is perceived to be greater the effort increases When
there are no incentives to try harder it may be diffi cult to drive desired
behavior change
Te point in getting users to actively support the deployment o
an EMR is about a lot more than a communication plan or eature
unction training Managing the people side o an EMR implementa-
tion requires a savvy technology adoption plan that ties sponsorship
training communication work1047298ow harmonization user support and
reinorcement with the business priorities o the organization andeffectively coordinates all o these activities with the user in mindmdashin
an environment that reinorces desired behavior changes
Key Questions
Two key questions to remember throughout the
project arehellip
(1) How will this decision impact the user
(2) How might it impact patients
Key Questions
Two key questions to remember throughout the
project are
(1) How will this decision impact the user
(2) How might it impact patients
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3339
14 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
Consider this example
In this example what are the key elements o this process that
ensure success
bull Te picture of success the desired outcome is clearmdashit is or the
child to become a unctioning adult in the community
bull How this happens is clearly de1047297ned in behavioral terms Tere is a
process that is known and understood by the entire community
including children
bull Leaders at all levels in the community agree on the desired out-
come support the entire process and actively ful1047297ll their roles to ensure success Leaders include village elders and ormal lead-
ers parents o the children inormal opinion leaders and amily
members
bull Te children who are about to become adults take an active role
in their own transormation taking responsibility or their suc-
cess Tey receive guidance and counsel rom elders Tey know
and understand the transormation process and what they must do
to achieve their new status Goals and steps are clear Tey also
understand the consequences o not successully transitioning to
adulthood
bull I there is more than one child slated to go through transormationto adulthood at the same time they are a peer group and as appro-
priate prepare together and support each other
Key Point
In native cultures there tend to be rites of passage that serve
to transition a person from childhood to adult status in the
community The child may actually leave the village for a day or
two of contemplation following a prescribed process When the
child returns he or she is redefined as an adult and assumes
the consequent privileges and responsibilities The entire
community reinforces the personrsquos new status the new adult is
not allowed to return to being a child whenever itrsquos convenient
but is supported to complete the transformation to adulthood
The change to adulthood does not happen in a vacuum but is
part of a carefully designed process that ensures success
Key Point
In native cultures there tend to be rites of passage that serve
to transition a person from childhood to adult status in the
community The child may actually leave the village for a day or
two of contemplation following a prescribed process When the
child returns he or she is redefined as an adult and assumes
the consequent privileges and responsibilities The entire
community reinforces the personrsquos new status the new adult is
not allowed to return to being a child whenever itrsquos convenient
but is supported to complete the transformation to adulthood
The change to adulthood does not happen in a vacuum but is
part of a carefully designed process that ensures success
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3439
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 15
bull Te entire community works together to bring about the
transormationbull Success results in positive reinforcement
Te environmental context is the trump card in any implementerrsquos
hand It takes a lot o work to create a suitable environment but it is an
essential ingredient in being able to drive and sustain change
Willingness and Ability
Earlier we mentioned willingness and ability as key concepts in tech-
nology adoption Willingness and ability can also be thought o as
hearts and minds or will and skill Te point is the same regardless
o the terms used People need to be supported on both an emotional
level to commit and on an intellectual level to be able Te questionto be answered is ldquoWhat are the conditions under which users will
accept and adopt the EMRrdquo
Letrsquos talk about willingness 1047297rst
Willingness or hearts is the commitment to go orward Tis is
impacted by many things including the ollowing elements
bull Leadership Perceived support or lack o support or the change
rom senior executives in the company the cascade o sponsors
down through the organization and just as importantly rom the
employeersquos direct supervisor
bull Communication Quality and requency o verbal and written
messages that describe the desired uture state tell why the changeneeds to happen and what will happen i change isnrsquot made set
clear expectations explain how the company will prepare and sup-
port people to success and describe local details such as timelines
etc
bull Reinforcement Degree o appropriateness and timeliness o
rewards or demonstrating desired new behaviors and conse-
quences or sticking to the old ways
bull Participation Degree to which users are involved every step o
the way either directly as individuals or indirectly by being effec-
tively represented by trusted local opinion leader peers who serve
as liaisons between users and the project teambull Organizational History with Change Previous organizational
experience with changemdashgood and badmdashwill in1047298uence user per-
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3539
16 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
ceptions and expectations o the EMR implementation Under-
standing the past is important in planning or the utureTis all sounds logical but the reaction to it can be emotional Tis
is where people conront their ear o ailure eeling stupid making
mistakes etc Remember that the change may require people to give
up the very things that they believe made them successul in the past
Tis can be a diffi cult sell
Ability or minds is about the actual capability to successully
meet new job expectations Tis is impacted by many things including
the ollowing elements
bull raining and Support In most cases the new EMR abilities must
be learned An effective training program that is role-based and
intentionally ocused on preparing people to perorm new jobexpectations is key Just discussing desired outcomes is not enough
though we have to clearly tell people what we want them to do
Tis requires an intellectual understanding o what and how a
conceptual understanding is necessary but not suffi cient Most
people need to practice something new to develop competence and
con1047297dence Sae opportunities to practice preerably with immedi-
ate eedback are very important to pro1047297ciency development and
sustainability
Getting people to move in the direction you want is the diffi -
cultymdashsome say the hardest part o the whole project And i you agree
that people are the oundation o successmdashthat bene1047297t realization isdependant not on technology but on people agreeing to go through
personal disruption learn new things change established patterns and
conront their earsmdashthen we must be proactive and courageous in
addressing the human issues
Tis is the people side o the project Tis is the organizational read-
iness unction It involves collaboration coordination and sequencing
o activities inormation and events rom all people-ocused areas Te
idea is to have all the people-ocused unctions working together to
reach clearly de1047297ned shared outcomes Te organizational readiness
plan to create individual and organizational readiness is the umbrella
that connects it allmdashthe glue that holds it together and the grease thatmakes it workmdashor the user We will address the structure and process
or doing this in more detail in subsequent chapters
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3639
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 17
Good News on wo Fronts
1 Tere is a social science Tere is a body o work research andsubsequent publications about the human experience with change
Tere are proven change management strategies tools and tech-
niques Tis isnrsquot olklore hooey or black magic Te transition
process is known and predictable Tere is a change curve that
describes the steps (Chapter 5 Stakeholder Management) And
though there is no silver bullet it isnrsquot rocket science Senior
healthcare executives must take the emerging proession o change
managementtechnology adoption seriously Not understanding it
is no excuse or ignoring it Tat is ar too expensive an option
2 All people go through transition when changemdashgood or badmdash
happens in both their personal and proessional lie You canrsquot
avoid it Te wonderul thing is i you learn about change and
transition at work it will improve your personal lie Tis is one
o the times to ldquotry this at homerdquo Wersquore all humanmdashat work and
at home So treat your people as the humans they are and avoid
some predictable expense and diffi culty Lead your organization
to a successul outcome and speed up the process by treating your
staff as customers 1047297rst
Donrsquot make the mistake o glossing over the critical human aspects
o change Hire experts and 1047297nd the emotionally intelligent people in
your organization who want to participate And remember you can
install technology without your people but you canrsquot ully implement
and achieve return on investment without them Consciously choose
to move fear and resistance to trust and adoption Itrsquos a case o pay
now or pay later I you wait until later it will always cost more ech-
nology Adoption is expensive but not as expensive as trying to gloss
it over and then having to undo the damage When ailure happens it
Quoteldquordquo
ldquoNot everything that can be counted counts and not everything thatcounts can be countedrdquo
- Albert Einstein
Quoteldquordquo
ldquordquo
ldquoNot everything that can be counted counts and not everything thatcounts can be countedrdquo
- Albert Einstein
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3739
18 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
takes a long time or people to re-engage And in todayrsquos world this
presents real problems or healthcare organizations aced with short-ages in many proessions Tere is a huge risk o alienating and poten-
tially losing needed staff or in causing long delays We can do better
Not so long ago it wasnrsquot conventional wisdom that clinical application
rollouts are not I projects More frequently than not these were consid-
ered technical projects in which the point of celebration was when con-nection from workstation to central processor was reliable and wireless
access actually worked Te classic I People-Process-echnology trian-
gle never got much past echnology to the real hard work on the People-
Process axis Tat has all changed in the 21st century system implemen-
tations that are both successful and valuable have had people and process
on the front burner
When MemorialCare embarked on a 1047297ve-hospital roll-out of an
EMR in 2002 it had several things in its favor
bull Te technology the organization ultimately acquired was robust and
reliable it worked
bull It had 15 yearsrsquo experience with CPOE (computerized providerorder entry) Terefore although unevenly adopted it was not new
territory
bull It had had the experience of a system-wide roll-out and standard-
ization on a general 1047297nance human resources and materials man-
agement system When all was said and done users had not been
suffi ciently involved standardization fell short because involvement
was low business leadership was diffuse and I ownership was too
high It was judged successful overall but the organization continues
to move slowly forward with an underutilized set of applications
With this experience and the insights of others MemorialCare pri-
oritized engagement of physicians nurses pharmacists and other staffWell before 1047297nancial commitment to a new system was obtained Memo-
rialCare hired a ldquoCare Planning Executiverdquo a person whose full-time
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3839
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 19
activities were devoted to the project 1047297rst to help understand the drivers
of a new system scope out the territory to be covered gain the com-mitment of senior leaders as well as governance and outline the case
for change At my insistence the Care Planning Executive a registered
nurse and former hospital chief operating offi cer joined the organization
reporting to the system-wide CEO as a peer and partner of the CIO not
a staff member and a peer to the CEOs of each medical center campus
Tat dedication alone made clear the commitment intentions and over-
all priority of the company
Among several other critical success factorsmdashand the outcome was
a successmdashwas the overall employee engagement program that the Care
Planning Executive established In summary it was an education mar-
keting and training program dedicated to equipping the affected staffwith the knowledge and tools to embrace unavoidable change Staff com-
munication was clear that it wasnrsquot change for changersquos sake but a major
move forward in the paperless way care would be delivered and work-
1047298ows would be streamlined Of course at the time no one could have
foreseen later moves by government to push everyone in this direction
(with the American Recovery and Reconstruction Act of 2009) Because
of our early efforts wersquore now very well positioned
J Scott Joslyn
CIO
MemorialCareLong Beach California
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3939
About the BookDespite the promise of improving care and other benefits EMR implementations are highly disruptive to the
organization This book prepares you to lead or participate successfully in change managementtechnologyadoption efforts so that meaningful use of EMRs can be achieved The authors provide successful strategies
to plan and implement change The content is based on their decades of combined experience designing
and leading technology adoption programs
Sections of the book deal with establishing a foundation for change building commitment and developing
requisite skill in helping users be successful with technology The book includes numerous lessons learned
tips for success best practices and case studies from organizations that have handled change well
About the AuthorsClaire McCarthy MA is a recognized technology adoption strategist and leader
with 25 years of healthcare industry experience supporting people through softwareimplementations and other large-scale change efforts As Director of Organizational
Effectiveness for Kaiser Permanentersquos enterprise-wide EMR deployment Ms McCarthy
led a national community of practice focused on preparing users to assume new
roles and responsibilities in support of organizational objectives Ms McCarthy
speaks internationally on the topic of technology adoption encouraging healthcare
leaders around the globe to set the stage for benefit realization by investing in the
people side of EMR implementation
Douglas Eastman PhD is an organizational development executive with extensive
experience managing large-scale change initiatives With more than 20 years
of consulting experience Dr Eastmanrsquos focus is to help organizations grow and
manage change by unleashing human potential His specialties are organizationaltransformation technology adoption and optimization process redesign strategic
planning and program and tools development As the Executive Director of Technology
Adoption and Organizational Capability within the Kaiser Permanente IT Care
Delivery Business Information Office Dr Eastman has pioneered several of Kaiserrsquos
implementation readiness toolsmethodologies and post-live optimization strategies
programs adding to the organizationrsquos ability to realize the benefit of its technology
About HIMSS The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) is a comprehensive healthcare-
stakeholder membership organization exclusively focused on providing global leadership for the optimal
use of information technology (IT) and management systems for the betterment of healthcare Founded in
1961 with offices in Chicago Washington DC Brussels Singapore and other locations across the United
States HIMSS represents more than 23000 individual members of which 73 work in patient care delivery
settings HIMSS also includes over 380 corporate members and nearly 30 not-for-profit organizations that
share our mission of transforming healthcare through the effective use of information technology and
management systems HIMSS frames and leads healthcare public policy and industry practices through
its educational professional development and advocacy initiatives designed to promote information and
management systemsrsquo contributions to ensuring quality patient care
ISBN 978-0-9821070-6-5
Order Code 564
230 E Ohio St Suite 500
Chicago IL 60611ndash3270
312-915-9295
www himss org
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1539
xiv Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
HOW HE BOOK IS SRUCURED
Preparing an organization or a successul EMR implementationinvolves a big picture approach that takes into account all the actors
that in1047298uence behavior change Te idea is to establish an organiza-
tional contextmdasha culture in which desired behavior is supported and
reinorced through a variety o methodsmdashcreating a learning organiza-
tion that grows to achieve its vision priorities and goals In this book
we present an Implementation Readiness Model and discuss each ac-
tor involved in ensuring the organization and users are ully prepared
to realize the potential o the new technology
Tis book is organized in a simple ashion First we make the busi-
ness argument or change managementtechnology adoption explain-
ing why technology implementations will not deliver bene1047297ts without
a signi1047297cant ocus on users Next we discuss two critical success ac-
tors in any large-scale change management effortmdasha clear vision and
effective leadership
Ten we argue or the development o a cross-unctional team
o representatives rom key areas within the organization the Orga-
nizational Readiness eam (OR) and introduce a pragmatic model
that outlines the scope o complexity and work that the OR man-
ages throughout the project lie cycle Tis establishes a oundation
or subsequent chapters in which each provides urther detail about
the inter-relationship o work involved to effectively drive sustain-
able change Tese chapters dig deeper into lessons learned and best
practices related to stakeholder management communication train-
ing strategy and reinorcement as all must be aligned to successully
satisy the end goal o a meaningul implementation
Finally the Implementation Readiness chapter shows how the
prior chapters serve as building blocks to ormulate a comprehensive
and powerul Implementation Readiness Program aimed at securing
ready users who are engaged and prepared or the transitional changes
ahead in the world o an EMR Te book ends with a discussion o
our key lessons learned and insights regarding the overall journey Pay
particular attention to some o the larger challenges related to an EMR
implementation as these scenarios have proven to have a signi1047297cant
impact on an organizationrsquos speed and ability to position itsel or ben-
e1047297ts realization
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1639
Preace xv
It is important to stress that ocusing on just one actor o imple-
mentation readiness is not suffi cient to drive organizational changeand sustainable results Each chapter describes an individual actor in
detail and provides lessons and useul examples tools and other bits
o inormation intended to help you succeed in preparing your orga-
nization or a successul EMR implementation But the real purpose
o the book is to raise awareness o how all actors work in concert to
in1047298uence desired change associated with an EMR implementation Te
actors work best as an integrated whole overlapping and reinorcing
each other Tey typically have separate leadership but whether or-
mally integrated or not they are pieces o one picture
Like other books you can jump to any chapter o interest at any
point However we strongly encourage you to read the book cover tocover 1047297rst to gain an understanding o the end-to-end process and how
each actor contributes to overall success A strategy that accounts or
all actors is more effective than just one intervention or multiple dis-
connected interventions In this case the sum is de1047297nitely greater than
all o its individual parts
We speak to you in a conversational and straightorward man-
ner to make this rather diffi cult side o an EMR implementation more
approachable We hope you will 1047297nd our insights valuable and will
leverage this book as your implementation reerence guide It will ur-
ther your cause i all stakeholders accountable or a successul launch
in your organization have a common ramework or approaching the
collective end goal We certainly wish wersquod had a book like this years
ago to guide us through the mine1047297eld o sofware implementationsFinally we hope you enjoy the process o supporting people
through the transition to the world o EMRs Tere is something very
Quoteldquordquo
ldquoExperience is a hard teacher because she gives
the test first the lessons afterwardsrdquo
- Vernon Law
Quoteldquordquo
ldquordquo
ldquoExperience is a hard teacher because she gives
the test first the lessons afterwardsrdquo
- Vernon Law
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1739
xvi Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
rewarding about seeing people who were earul and resistant even
in tears and thinking seriously o quitting eel the pride o accom-plishment when they succeed Each person who stays the course and
becomes a contributing member o the electronically enabled organi-
zation represents untold cost avoidance Knowledge and talent stay in
the organization replacement costs are avoided relationships are pre-
served and critical staff shortages are reduced echnology adoption is
truly a contribution to the bottom line
In the words o one o our grandathers ldquoPeople change when
theyrsquore damned good and ready and not beorerdquo Wersquore here to get
them ready
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1839
xvii
Acknowledgments
Te authors would like to thank the ollowing individuals or sharing
their expertise and experiences or this book
Saaa Al-Haddad MD
Internal Medicine
University Hospitals
Cleveland Ohio
Ronnie D Bower Jr MA
Manager Change Management
BayCare Health System
ampa Florida
Nabil Chehade MD MSBS
CPC
Director Medical Inormatics
Regional Chie o Urology
KP HealthConnect RegionalPhysician Lead
Kaiser Permanente Medical
Group
Cleveland Ohio
Kenneth Goodman MD
Associate Director Center
or Continuing Medical
Education
Department o Family Medicine
Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland Ohio
Marie Hamilton RN
Kaiser Permanente
Oregon Federation o Nurses
and Health ProessionalsHealthcare Inormation
echnology Committee
AF Healthcare
Portland Oregon
Lindsey P Jarrell FACHE
Senior Vice President amp CIO
BayCare Health System
ampa Florida
J Scott JoslynCIO
MemorialCare
Long Beach Caliornia
Margaret M Rudoph PhD
Consultant
Vancouver British Columbia
Canada
om Smith
CIO
NorthShore University Health
System
Evanston Illinois
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1939
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2039
1
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 983089
Te Business Case forChange Management
ldquoWersquore not in Kansas anymorehelliprdquo
In the introduction an EMR implementation is compared to a tornado
in that it whips through an organization turning lie upside down and
throwing users into a world 1047297lled with new ways o doing things and
seeking ways to recapture some sense o balance and control EMR
technology disrupts the status quo and along with the many opportu-
nities it promises it also brings a whirlwind o seemingly never-ending
changes which can have an entirely different effect on different people
While an implementation that is effectively managed even brings these
challenges a poor implementation can be disastrous and will cost the
organization much more time energy and money to get things back
on track
Dorothy the character rom the movie Te Wizard of Oz held
her composure pretty well through the tornado that ripped her rom
a calm stable lie on the arm and threw her into a oreign world She
was able to manage through the obstacles and challenges and stay the
course as she ollowed the yellow brick road in search o the wizard
Some say this is similar to the experience users have except or the
part when Dorothy wakes up rom her dream and 1047297nds hersel back
home as she remembers itEMR implementations donrsquot have to be nightmarish or users but
there certainly will be obstacles and challenges along the way Te key is
to help users through the road blocks and enable them to experience a
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2139
2 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
positive journey Tis process is always easier when people know what
they are getting into eel supported and are prepared or what liesahead both good and bad Tis is the role o change management
CHANGE MANAGEMEN DEFINED
Itrsquos important to understand why you should make an investment in
the people side o the projectmdashbringing in the best technology pos-
sible doesnrsquot mean anything unless users are comortable and pro1047297-
cient in its use Te truth is just because you build it doesnrsquot mean they
will come
Letrsquos start by answering the two questions we are most ofen asked
ldquoWhat is change management anyway What is it change managers
dordquoo avoid conusion wersquoll say up ront we are not talking about
change management as it relates to technical issues such as version or
change control We also want to be clear that change management is
not project management What we are talking about is the human side
o electronic medical records implementations the human-ocused
work o engaging and preparing people to succeed in the new world
o EMRs
A word about project management while good project manage-
ment acilitates change management the two disciplines are not the
same Project management is much more linear and task-ocused
whereas change management deals with the complexities o human
behavior But a good project plan creates a structure and a ounda-
tion in which the change management process can occur Tereore
the two disciplines though different complement and support each
other
A word o caution do not conuse the project plan with the end
result Te plan is necessary and it guides you throughout the process
Te plan is proactive itrsquos the order in the chaos But technology adop-
tion is kind o like herding cats itrsquos unpredictable and you need to
maintain 1047298exibility to respond as things evolve Tis is a more reactive
process than what may be expressed in a plan In our experience an
EMR implementation requires both structure and 1047298exibility
Tere is a saying in change management circles When one door
closes another one opens but sometimes itrsquos hell in the hallway Change
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2239
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 3
management deals mostly with the hallway situation acilitating the
human transition rom the present to the uture Tese days change isongoing and requires ocused leadership i it is to be as ast and pain-
less as possible
Te three legs o the project stool represent the critical compo-nents o an implementation (Figure 1-1)mdashPeople Process and ech-
nology Te people are the most important When technology projects
ail it is primarily due to a lack o use and not a ailure o the sof-
ware Te ocus o change management is people and the objective is
to change behavior Tis is good or business because it accelerates the
change process so bene1047297ts are achieved aster Change management
is not about being nice or placing an emphasis on eelings Itrsquos about
perormance improvement and results
I you search the literature you will 1047297nd a variety o de1047297nitions o
human-ocused change management Tey all cover similar concepts
sometimes using different terminology Te simplest explanation ochange management is to say ldquoItrsquos all about the peoplerdquo But or the
purposes o this book we expand on that concept and use the ollow-
ing de1047297nition o change management
bull A structured process designed to deal directly and intentionally
with the human actors involved in not just planning and imple-
menting an EMR but through behavior change achieving the
anticipated bene1047297ts that justi1047297ed the project in the 1047297rst place
bull Desired behavior change is achieved by helping people understand
and internalize change and by preparing them to be successul
contributors in the uture state In the case o EMR implementa-
tions effective change management delivers users who are willingand able to use an EMR in a way that satis1047297es the requirements o
the job the needs o the patient and the health o the organization
Key Tip
Our assumption is that the software you are implementing
works If the software doesnrsquot work you have another kind of
problem one that even the best change management wonrsquot
resolve
Key Tip
Our assumption is that the software you are implementing
works If the software doesnrsquot work you have another kind of
problemmdashone that even the best change management wonrsquot
resolve
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2339
4 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
Well-designed integrated people-ocused work builds logically
over time in a way that makes sense to the user It brings users along
guiding and supporting them so they arrive at where you want them
to be Tis is about willingness and ability hearts and minds You must
have both
Te overarching purpose o change management is to acceleratethe speed at which people move successfully through the change
process so that anticipated bene1047297ts are achieved faster And there
are additional bene1047297ts to change management Trough optimizing
the effi ciency and effi cacy o users an effective EMR change manage-
ment program will also
bull Improve organizational outcomes and perormance (effective use
o the system generates value to patients and the organization)
bull Enhance employee satisaction morale and engagement (when
people learn new skills meet perormance expectations and con-
tribute to a greater good they eel pride in their accomplishments)
bull Improve service quality (users eel valued and supported by anorganization that makes an investment in them this positively
impacts how they treat patients)
Figure 1-1 The Three-legged Stool
Technology
People Process
Technology
People Process
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2439
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 5
bull Help achieve hoped-or bene1047297ts (bene1047297ts that include EMR value
realization reduction o errors return on investment)bull Create higher levels o openness trust involvement and teamwork
(develop an engaged workorce)
bull Build change capability and capacity in the organization resulting
in improved ability to respond quickly and effectively to new situa-
tions (create organizational nimbleness through embedded change
management knowledge structure and process)
In other words it really is all about the people Intentionally man-
aging the cultural behavioral and organizational changes that need
to take place to make the desired EMR uture not only a reality but
a sustainable reality pays off on many levels in that it also acilitates
organizational transormation Building on individual capability andorganizational capacity change management results in a change-
capable culturemdasha huge advantage in todayrsquos competitive and ast-
changing world
Change Management echnology AdoptionmdashWhatrsquos the Difference
Tere are a number o terms that people use to reer to the work
involved in managing the people side o a change effort We think o
change management as the mother ship that is the umbrella term that
embraces all specialties within the 1047297eld Similar to the various special-
ties or domains o service within a healthcare system change man-agement proessionals may choose speci1047297c areas o ocus echnology
adoption speci1047297cally inormation technology (I) is one such area
and it involves the application o change management principles to the
implementation o I Te focus of this book is technology adoption
and we will mostly use this term instead of change management
throughout the rest of the book
Effective technology adoption proessionals align themselves with
the operationalbusiness side o the organization and tailor solutions
that drive behavioral change and tangible outcomes Tey participate in
EMR implementation projects rom the beginning driving the people
side o change throughout and continuing to add value post-live as theEMR becomes part o the central nervous system o the organization
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2539
6 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
HE IMPORANCE OF HE PEOPLE SIDE
OF AN EMR IMPLEMENAIONTere are many reerences in the literature to ailed change efforts and
I implementations Estimates are that only one third o these projects
achieve success which means two thirds ail to meet expectations Te
good news is that ailure is optional as much has been learned about
why some change efforts ail and others succeed
Herersquos the issue while the change that is going to occur is an exter-
nal eventmdashthe EMR implementation a reorganization proposed out-
sourcing a promotion etcmdashthe transition rom old to new that those
who are impacted experience is a psychological and emotional pro-
cess It is this transition that is diffi cultmdasheven when a change is sel-
imposed or considered positive
In the words o William Bridges a key thought leader in manage-
ment o transitions ldquoIt isnrsquot the changes that do you in itrsquos the transi-
tion afer the change that doesrdquo1
For an implementation team part o the problem encountered
during transition is that change is messy people start where they are
not where we want them to be And when considering the personnel
within a typical hospital people can be all over the place in terms o
comort with computers stage in lie commitment to the organiza-
tion ear o change etc Add to this the act that or change to be suc-
cessul three things must occur People
bull Must let go o their current reality have an ending
bull Go through a conused period in-between (hell in the hallway)
bull Only then can have a new beginning 1
o take this a step urther while I consultants want to install the
system and make enhancements the users will ultimately determine
how the system is used Tis use is affected by human not technical
actors
bull Different rames o reerence backgrounds experiences with
technology
bull Organizational history and experience with other large-scale
change projects
bull Levels o resistance ear ability to deal with ambiguity
bull Degree o alignment o ldquoWhatrsquos in it or merdquo or the various stake-
holder groups
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2639
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 7
bull Ineffi ciencies uncovered because the system creates transparency
bull Workarounds that become quickly entrenchedbull Pressure to get through the day can override doing what is right
bull User worklie balance issues coming into play rom the very
beginning
All o these actors create problems or implementation teams that
just want to install technology How do you effectively address the
people issues Or is it easier to just install the technology and assume
that people will learn because they have to use it Some on the imple-
mentation team may alsely assume that users o an EMR system will
snap into place over time and do what is right or the organization
Tis thinking is a oolrsquos paradise
In the oreword to this book Dave Garets made the point that EMRdeployments are not about technology but about equipping organiza-
tions to reach critical business objectives by providing employees with
technical capabilities that make new things possible and by engaging
them in changing their behavior to effectively use the new capabilities
to generate desired results
With all due respect to the technical side o an EMR implemen-
tation installing the technology is only hal the battle Tis is not to
degrade the importance o the technology Te act that we spend a lot
o money researching technology acquiring it con1047297guring it install-
ing it and supporting it speaks to its importance I we werenrsquot imple-
menting EMRs we wouldnrsquot even be having a discussion about EMR-related change management
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2739
8 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
But implementation o the technology is just a 1047297rst and very nec-
essary stepmdashbecause in and o itsel the technology does not generate
value Te technology is necessary but not suffi cient or bene1047297t realiza-
tion to occur o create value requires people and this is why change
management is so important oo much o a ocus on technology even
in the early stages will create issues downstream And even with the
best technology i not used effi ciently hoped-or bene1047297ts will be tough
to achieve
CIO Perspective
ldquoDuring my masters program I took an Organization Development
class that really opened my eyes to peoplesrsquo needs during large-scale
change Since the OD class I have been very interested in what makes
people tick and why people react in different ways to the same
environment No matter how good of an idea a large-scale technology
implementation is we will always have early adopters average adopters
and laggards As leaders within large organizations we have a
responsibility to plan for and respect all types of technology adopters
Ultimately the people who work within in our organizations want a positive
human experience when they are at work
Utilizing a change management methodology enables the implementation
and leadership teams to provide a positive experience during the period of
significant change By utilizing a solid change management methodologythe organization promotes team communication a safer environment for
the patient a work environment that promotes trust and an environment
where people are allowed to talk about the fear of change All of this
promotes a better human experience and a much stronger work force
hellip An effective change management program has meant the difference
between good go-lives and great go-lives at our 10 hospitalsrdquo
Lindsey P Jarrell FACHE
SVP amp CIO
BayCare Health System
Clearwater FL
CIO Perspective
During my masters program I took an Organization Development
class that really opened my eyes to peoplesrsquo needs during large-scale
change Since the OD class I have been very interested in what makes
people tick and why people react in different ways to the same
environment No matter how good of an idea a large-scale technology
implementation is we will always have early adopters average adopters
and laggards As leaders within large organizations we have a
responsibility to plan for and respect all types of technology adopters
Ultimately the people who work within in our organizations want a positive
human experience when they are at work
Utilizing a change management methodology enables the implementation
and leadership teams to provide a positive experience during the period of
significant change By utilizing a solid change management methodologythe organization promotes team communication a safer environment for
the patient a work environment that promotes trust and an environment
where people are allowed to talk about the fear of change All of this
promotes a better human experience and a much stronger work force
hellip An effective change management program has meant the difference
between good go-lives and great go-lives at our 10 hospitals
Lindsey P Jarrell FACHE
SVP amp CIO
BayCare Health System
Clearwater FL
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2839
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 9
Remember that change is a personal experience It is also local and
individual And itrsquos hardmdasheven when itrsquos sel-imposed and positive
Tere are no shortcuts People have to go through the process o change
in much the same way that we move through the stages o grie2 It canrsquot
be avoided or skipped You can measure twice and cut once or you
can cut now and then do costly remediation later Either way you canrsquot
avoid the expense or time required or real change to occur
SYSEMS PERSPECIVE
Experienced technology adoption proessionals embrace a systems
perspective when given the assignment to drive perormance man-
age perceptions and increase the utilization o new and existing tech-
nology A systems approach is the ability to see the big picture and
address the interrelationships among the variables within the abric o
CIO Perspective
ldquoIrsquove been in healthcare IT a long time and I now realize itrsquos
all about change management What was considered soft is
now hard We know so much more about how to install
technologymdashItrsquos the people part we donrsquot know well yet
and so itrsquos hardrdquo
Scott Joslyn
CIO
MemorialCare
Long Beach CA
CIO Perspective
Irsquove been in healthcare IT a long time and I now realize itrsquos
all about change management What was considered soft is
now hard We know so much more about how to install
technologymdashitrsquos the people part we donrsquot know well yet
and so itrsquos hard
J Scott Joslyn
CIO
MemorialCare
Long Beach CA
Quoteldquordquo
ldquoNo man can think clearly when his fists are clenchedrdquo
- George Jean Nathan
Quoteldquordquo
ldquordquo
ldquoNo man can think clearly when his fists are clenchedrdquo
- George Jean Nathan
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2939
10 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
the organization and in1047298uence the combined impact these variables
have on organizational effectiveness As each variable has the powerto in1047298uence the outcome o any intervention behavior change is ofen
not sustainable because variables tend to work against one another
Effective technology adoption strategies account or this interrelation-
shipinterdependency and aim to bring these variables into alignment
as a means or driving sustainable results
Figure 1-2 introduces the Organizational Fabric Model which
highlights the six primary threads (or variables) that are interwoven
in the abric (or culture) o an organization Te model suggests that
all six threads must work in concert to successully shape the organi-
zational abric A well-woven technology adoption plan strategically
manipulates these threads to in1047298uence desired change A poorly wovenplan in which a thread or combination o threads is not accounted
or leads to disaster or by way o analogy will hit a snag down the
road Depending on the 1047298exibility and durability o this abric a snag
can result in a huge hole that detracts rom the overall strength o the
intervention Te intent o the Organizational Fabric Model is to stress
how important it is to understand the uture state recognize how each
variable or combination o variables will come into play and develop a
sound technology adoption program that appropriately in1047298uences this
set o variables to reshape the abric or culture so desired change can
actually take place
Te Organizational Fabric Model will be revisited in subsequent
chapters as each thread or variable is explored in urther detail For
now we reiterate that technology adoption strategies must not rely
on only one or two threads to drive behavior change Sustainable out-
comes result rom an organizationrsquos ability to leverage the combination
o all six threads working in concert to create an environment orsuccess
Key Point
Fundamentally culture is ldquothe way we do things around hererdquo
Key Point
Fundamentally culture is ldquothe way we do things around hererdquo
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3039
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 11
CREAING AN ENVIRONMEN FOR SUCCESS
echnology adoption is about creating a context an environment in
which change can be achieved and sustained over the long term Tis
involves two levelsmdashorganizational and individual
With an EMR implementation the organization must create thesupporting environment provide needed training and resources
articulate a clear direction coupled with clear expectations engage its
people include them in the process and reinorce desired new behav-
iors Tis is not about checking things off a list but rather about 1047297nd-
ing synergy among impacted groups giving them what they need and
coordinating efforts to meet the end goal Itrsquos an ongoing effort
o give you an idea o what we are talking about herersquos an exam-
ple o an individual situation occurring within a social context Tink
about what happens when you want to make a signi1047297cant change in
your personal liemdashquit smoking stop drinking lose weight Itrsquos one
thing to talk with a doctor or another proessional about what needsto happen when yoursquore in their offi ce but once you leave the offi ce
you then return to your social reality I your riends and amily donrsquot
want your behavior to change you will have a tough time All the rein-
Figure 1-2 Organizational Fabric Model
Sponsorship
Stakeholder Mgmt
Training
Vision
Reinforcement
Communications
Sponsorship
Stakeholder Mgmt
Training
Vision
Reinforcement
Communications
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3139
12 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
orcements and temptations will conspire to prevent you rom mak-
ing changes But i you can get some important people in your lieto make the changes with you or at least support you in the process
you have a much greater chance o success Te lesson is donrsquot send a
changed person back into an unchanged environment if you want
to see behavior change
Engaging individuals involves arousing two key aspects mdashwilling-
ness and ability Te organization must in1047298uence both in order to suc-
ceed With the help o the Skill Versus Will Matrix (Figure 1-3) think
about it this way
bull When people want to do something but donrsquot know how they canrsquot
(willingunable)
bull When people know how but donrsquot want to they wonrsquot(ableunwilling)
Can you think o examples in your own lie when you have been in
either o these situations
Consider the circumstance o people who know how to do some-
thing but donrsquot want to do it Tis is a ldquowillrdquo not a ldquoskillrdquo issue and it is
a very common technology adoption dilemma I the amount o work
and effort involved are not perceived by the user as being equal to the
Figure 1-3 The Skill versus Will Matrix
Skill
Will
WONrsquoT
WONrsquoT
DOES
CANrsquoTLow
High
HighLow
Skill
Will
WONrsquoT
WONrsquoT
DOES
CANrsquoTLow
High
HighLow HighLow
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3239
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 13
return or value experienced through the implementation the user will
most likely choose to reduce the effort A goal o an effective people-ocused strategy is to identiy potential areas o disconnect and 1047297nd
ways to increase the perceived value to users Te assumption is that
when the return is perceived to be greater the effort increases When
there are no incentives to try harder it may be diffi cult to drive desired
behavior change
Te point in getting users to actively support the deployment o
an EMR is about a lot more than a communication plan or eature
unction training Managing the people side o an EMR implementa-
tion requires a savvy technology adoption plan that ties sponsorship
training communication work1047298ow harmonization user support and
reinorcement with the business priorities o the organization andeffectively coordinates all o these activities with the user in mindmdashin
an environment that reinorces desired behavior changes
Key Questions
Two key questions to remember throughout the
project arehellip
(1) How will this decision impact the user
(2) How might it impact patients
Key Questions
Two key questions to remember throughout the
project are
(1) How will this decision impact the user
(2) How might it impact patients
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3339
14 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
Consider this example
In this example what are the key elements o this process that
ensure success
bull Te picture of success the desired outcome is clearmdashit is or the
child to become a unctioning adult in the community
bull How this happens is clearly de1047297ned in behavioral terms Tere is a
process that is known and understood by the entire community
including children
bull Leaders at all levels in the community agree on the desired out-
come support the entire process and actively ful1047297ll their roles to ensure success Leaders include village elders and ormal lead-
ers parents o the children inormal opinion leaders and amily
members
bull Te children who are about to become adults take an active role
in their own transormation taking responsibility or their suc-
cess Tey receive guidance and counsel rom elders Tey know
and understand the transormation process and what they must do
to achieve their new status Goals and steps are clear Tey also
understand the consequences o not successully transitioning to
adulthood
bull I there is more than one child slated to go through transormationto adulthood at the same time they are a peer group and as appro-
priate prepare together and support each other
Key Point
In native cultures there tend to be rites of passage that serve
to transition a person from childhood to adult status in the
community The child may actually leave the village for a day or
two of contemplation following a prescribed process When the
child returns he or she is redefined as an adult and assumes
the consequent privileges and responsibilities The entire
community reinforces the personrsquos new status the new adult is
not allowed to return to being a child whenever itrsquos convenient
but is supported to complete the transformation to adulthood
The change to adulthood does not happen in a vacuum but is
part of a carefully designed process that ensures success
Key Point
In native cultures there tend to be rites of passage that serve
to transition a person from childhood to adult status in the
community The child may actually leave the village for a day or
two of contemplation following a prescribed process When the
child returns he or she is redefined as an adult and assumes
the consequent privileges and responsibilities The entire
community reinforces the personrsquos new status the new adult is
not allowed to return to being a child whenever itrsquos convenient
but is supported to complete the transformation to adulthood
The change to adulthood does not happen in a vacuum but is
part of a carefully designed process that ensures success
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3439
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 15
bull Te entire community works together to bring about the
transormationbull Success results in positive reinforcement
Te environmental context is the trump card in any implementerrsquos
hand It takes a lot o work to create a suitable environment but it is an
essential ingredient in being able to drive and sustain change
Willingness and Ability
Earlier we mentioned willingness and ability as key concepts in tech-
nology adoption Willingness and ability can also be thought o as
hearts and minds or will and skill Te point is the same regardless
o the terms used People need to be supported on both an emotional
level to commit and on an intellectual level to be able Te questionto be answered is ldquoWhat are the conditions under which users will
accept and adopt the EMRrdquo
Letrsquos talk about willingness 1047297rst
Willingness or hearts is the commitment to go orward Tis is
impacted by many things including the ollowing elements
bull Leadership Perceived support or lack o support or the change
rom senior executives in the company the cascade o sponsors
down through the organization and just as importantly rom the
employeersquos direct supervisor
bull Communication Quality and requency o verbal and written
messages that describe the desired uture state tell why the changeneeds to happen and what will happen i change isnrsquot made set
clear expectations explain how the company will prepare and sup-
port people to success and describe local details such as timelines
etc
bull Reinforcement Degree o appropriateness and timeliness o
rewards or demonstrating desired new behaviors and conse-
quences or sticking to the old ways
bull Participation Degree to which users are involved every step o
the way either directly as individuals or indirectly by being effec-
tively represented by trusted local opinion leader peers who serve
as liaisons between users and the project teambull Organizational History with Change Previous organizational
experience with changemdashgood and badmdashwill in1047298uence user per-
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3539
16 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
ceptions and expectations o the EMR implementation Under-
standing the past is important in planning or the utureTis all sounds logical but the reaction to it can be emotional Tis
is where people conront their ear o ailure eeling stupid making
mistakes etc Remember that the change may require people to give
up the very things that they believe made them successul in the past
Tis can be a diffi cult sell
Ability or minds is about the actual capability to successully
meet new job expectations Tis is impacted by many things including
the ollowing elements
bull raining and Support In most cases the new EMR abilities must
be learned An effective training program that is role-based and
intentionally ocused on preparing people to perorm new jobexpectations is key Just discussing desired outcomes is not enough
though we have to clearly tell people what we want them to do
Tis requires an intellectual understanding o what and how a
conceptual understanding is necessary but not suffi cient Most
people need to practice something new to develop competence and
con1047297dence Sae opportunities to practice preerably with immedi-
ate eedback are very important to pro1047297ciency development and
sustainability
Getting people to move in the direction you want is the diffi -
cultymdashsome say the hardest part o the whole project And i you agree
that people are the oundation o successmdashthat bene1047297t realization isdependant not on technology but on people agreeing to go through
personal disruption learn new things change established patterns and
conront their earsmdashthen we must be proactive and courageous in
addressing the human issues
Tis is the people side o the project Tis is the organizational read-
iness unction It involves collaboration coordination and sequencing
o activities inormation and events rom all people-ocused areas Te
idea is to have all the people-ocused unctions working together to
reach clearly de1047297ned shared outcomes Te organizational readiness
plan to create individual and organizational readiness is the umbrella
that connects it allmdashthe glue that holds it together and the grease thatmakes it workmdashor the user We will address the structure and process
or doing this in more detail in subsequent chapters
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3639
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 17
Good News on wo Fronts
1 Tere is a social science Tere is a body o work research andsubsequent publications about the human experience with change
Tere are proven change management strategies tools and tech-
niques Tis isnrsquot olklore hooey or black magic Te transition
process is known and predictable Tere is a change curve that
describes the steps (Chapter 5 Stakeholder Management) And
though there is no silver bullet it isnrsquot rocket science Senior
healthcare executives must take the emerging proession o change
managementtechnology adoption seriously Not understanding it
is no excuse or ignoring it Tat is ar too expensive an option
2 All people go through transition when changemdashgood or badmdash
happens in both their personal and proessional lie You canrsquot
avoid it Te wonderul thing is i you learn about change and
transition at work it will improve your personal lie Tis is one
o the times to ldquotry this at homerdquo Wersquore all humanmdashat work and
at home So treat your people as the humans they are and avoid
some predictable expense and diffi culty Lead your organization
to a successul outcome and speed up the process by treating your
staff as customers 1047297rst
Donrsquot make the mistake o glossing over the critical human aspects
o change Hire experts and 1047297nd the emotionally intelligent people in
your organization who want to participate And remember you can
install technology without your people but you canrsquot ully implement
and achieve return on investment without them Consciously choose
to move fear and resistance to trust and adoption Itrsquos a case o pay
now or pay later I you wait until later it will always cost more ech-
nology Adoption is expensive but not as expensive as trying to gloss
it over and then having to undo the damage When ailure happens it
Quoteldquordquo
ldquoNot everything that can be counted counts and not everything thatcounts can be countedrdquo
- Albert Einstein
Quoteldquordquo
ldquordquo
ldquoNot everything that can be counted counts and not everything thatcounts can be countedrdquo
- Albert Einstein
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3739
18 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
takes a long time or people to re-engage And in todayrsquos world this
presents real problems or healthcare organizations aced with short-ages in many proessions Tere is a huge risk o alienating and poten-
tially losing needed staff or in causing long delays We can do better
Not so long ago it wasnrsquot conventional wisdom that clinical application
rollouts are not I projects More frequently than not these were consid-
ered technical projects in which the point of celebration was when con-nection from workstation to central processor was reliable and wireless
access actually worked Te classic I People-Process-echnology trian-
gle never got much past echnology to the real hard work on the People-
Process axis Tat has all changed in the 21st century system implemen-
tations that are both successful and valuable have had people and process
on the front burner
When MemorialCare embarked on a 1047297ve-hospital roll-out of an
EMR in 2002 it had several things in its favor
bull Te technology the organization ultimately acquired was robust and
reliable it worked
bull It had 15 yearsrsquo experience with CPOE (computerized providerorder entry) Terefore although unevenly adopted it was not new
territory
bull It had had the experience of a system-wide roll-out and standard-
ization on a general 1047297nance human resources and materials man-
agement system When all was said and done users had not been
suffi ciently involved standardization fell short because involvement
was low business leadership was diffuse and I ownership was too
high It was judged successful overall but the organization continues
to move slowly forward with an underutilized set of applications
With this experience and the insights of others MemorialCare pri-
oritized engagement of physicians nurses pharmacists and other staffWell before 1047297nancial commitment to a new system was obtained Memo-
rialCare hired a ldquoCare Planning Executiverdquo a person whose full-time
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3839
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 19
activities were devoted to the project 1047297rst to help understand the drivers
of a new system scope out the territory to be covered gain the com-mitment of senior leaders as well as governance and outline the case
for change At my insistence the Care Planning Executive a registered
nurse and former hospital chief operating offi cer joined the organization
reporting to the system-wide CEO as a peer and partner of the CIO not
a staff member and a peer to the CEOs of each medical center campus
Tat dedication alone made clear the commitment intentions and over-
all priority of the company
Among several other critical success factorsmdashand the outcome was
a successmdashwas the overall employee engagement program that the Care
Planning Executive established In summary it was an education mar-
keting and training program dedicated to equipping the affected staffwith the knowledge and tools to embrace unavoidable change Staff com-
munication was clear that it wasnrsquot change for changersquos sake but a major
move forward in the paperless way care would be delivered and work-
1047298ows would be streamlined Of course at the time no one could have
foreseen later moves by government to push everyone in this direction
(with the American Recovery and Reconstruction Act of 2009) Because
of our early efforts wersquore now very well positioned
J Scott Joslyn
CIO
MemorialCareLong Beach California
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3939
About the BookDespite the promise of improving care and other benefits EMR implementations are highly disruptive to the
organization This book prepares you to lead or participate successfully in change managementtechnologyadoption efforts so that meaningful use of EMRs can be achieved The authors provide successful strategies
to plan and implement change The content is based on their decades of combined experience designing
and leading technology adoption programs
Sections of the book deal with establishing a foundation for change building commitment and developing
requisite skill in helping users be successful with technology The book includes numerous lessons learned
tips for success best practices and case studies from organizations that have handled change well
About the AuthorsClaire McCarthy MA is a recognized technology adoption strategist and leader
with 25 years of healthcare industry experience supporting people through softwareimplementations and other large-scale change efforts As Director of Organizational
Effectiveness for Kaiser Permanentersquos enterprise-wide EMR deployment Ms McCarthy
led a national community of practice focused on preparing users to assume new
roles and responsibilities in support of organizational objectives Ms McCarthy
speaks internationally on the topic of technology adoption encouraging healthcare
leaders around the globe to set the stage for benefit realization by investing in the
people side of EMR implementation
Douglas Eastman PhD is an organizational development executive with extensive
experience managing large-scale change initiatives With more than 20 years
of consulting experience Dr Eastmanrsquos focus is to help organizations grow and
manage change by unleashing human potential His specialties are organizationaltransformation technology adoption and optimization process redesign strategic
planning and program and tools development As the Executive Director of Technology
Adoption and Organizational Capability within the Kaiser Permanente IT Care
Delivery Business Information Office Dr Eastman has pioneered several of Kaiserrsquos
implementation readiness toolsmethodologies and post-live optimization strategies
programs adding to the organizationrsquos ability to realize the benefit of its technology
About HIMSS The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) is a comprehensive healthcare-
stakeholder membership organization exclusively focused on providing global leadership for the optimal
use of information technology (IT) and management systems for the betterment of healthcare Founded in
1961 with offices in Chicago Washington DC Brussels Singapore and other locations across the United
States HIMSS represents more than 23000 individual members of which 73 work in patient care delivery
settings HIMSS also includes over 380 corporate members and nearly 30 not-for-profit organizations that
share our mission of transforming healthcare through the effective use of information technology and
management systems HIMSS frames and leads healthcare public policy and industry practices through
its educational professional development and advocacy initiatives designed to promote information and
management systemsrsquo contributions to ensuring quality patient care
ISBN 978-0-9821070-6-5
Order Code 564
230 E Ohio St Suite 500
Chicago IL 60611ndash3270
312-915-9295
www himss org
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1639
Preace xv
It is important to stress that ocusing on just one actor o imple-
mentation readiness is not suffi cient to drive organizational changeand sustainable results Each chapter describes an individual actor in
detail and provides lessons and useul examples tools and other bits
o inormation intended to help you succeed in preparing your orga-
nization or a successul EMR implementation But the real purpose
o the book is to raise awareness o how all actors work in concert to
in1047298uence desired change associated with an EMR implementation Te
actors work best as an integrated whole overlapping and reinorcing
each other Tey typically have separate leadership but whether or-
mally integrated or not they are pieces o one picture
Like other books you can jump to any chapter o interest at any
point However we strongly encourage you to read the book cover tocover 1047297rst to gain an understanding o the end-to-end process and how
each actor contributes to overall success A strategy that accounts or
all actors is more effective than just one intervention or multiple dis-
connected interventions In this case the sum is de1047297nitely greater than
all o its individual parts
We speak to you in a conversational and straightorward man-
ner to make this rather diffi cult side o an EMR implementation more
approachable We hope you will 1047297nd our insights valuable and will
leverage this book as your implementation reerence guide It will ur-
ther your cause i all stakeholders accountable or a successul launch
in your organization have a common ramework or approaching the
collective end goal We certainly wish wersquod had a book like this years
ago to guide us through the mine1047297eld o sofware implementationsFinally we hope you enjoy the process o supporting people
through the transition to the world o EMRs Tere is something very
Quoteldquordquo
ldquoExperience is a hard teacher because she gives
the test first the lessons afterwardsrdquo
- Vernon Law
Quoteldquordquo
ldquordquo
ldquoExperience is a hard teacher because she gives
the test first the lessons afterwardsrdquo
- Vernon Law
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1739
xvi Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
rewarding about seeing people who were earul and resistant even
in tears and thinking seriously o quitting eel the pride o accom-plishment when they succeed Each person who stays the course and
becomes a contributing member o the electronically enabled organi-
zation represents untold cost avoidance Knowledge and talent stay in
the organization replacement costs are avoided relationships are pre-
served and critical staff shortages are reduced echnology adoption is
truly a contribution to the bottom line
In the words o one o our grandathers ldquoPeople change when
theyrsquore damned good and ready and not beorerdquo Wersquore here to get
them ready
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1839
xvii
Acknowledgments
Te authors would like to thank the ollowing individuals or sharing
their expertise and experiences or this book
Saaa Al-Haddad MD
Internal Medicine
University Hospitals
Cleveland Ohio
Ronnie D Bower Jr MA
Manager Change Management
BayCare Health System
ampa Florida
Nabil Chehade MD MSBS
CPC
Director Medical Inormatics
Regional Chie o Urology
KP HealthConnect RegionalPhysician Lead
Kaiser Permanente Medical
Group
Cleveland Ohio
Kenneth Goodman MD
Associate Director Center
or Continuing Medical
Education
Department o Family Medicine
Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland Ohio
Marie Hamilton RN
Kaiser Permanente
Oregon Federation o Nurses
and Health ProessionalsHealthcare Inormation
echnology Committee
AF Healthcare
Portland Oregon
Lindsey P Jarrell FACHE
Senior Vice President amp CIO
BayCare Health System
ampa Florida
J Scott JoslynCIO
MemorialCare
Long Beach Caliornia
Margaret M Rudoph PhD
Consultant
Vancouver British Columbia
Canada
om Smith
CIO
NorthShore University Health
System
Evanston Illinois
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1939
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2039
1
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 983089
Te Business Case forChange Management
ldquoWersquore not in Kansas anymorehelliprdquo
In the introduction an EMR implementation is compared to a tornado
in that it whips through an organization turning lie upside down and
throwing users into a world 1047297lled with new ways o doing things and
seeking ways to recapture some sense o balance and control EMR
technology disrupts the status quo and along with the many opportu-
nities it promises it also brings a whirlwind o seemingly never-ending
changes which can have an entirely different effect on different people
While an implementation that is effectively managed even brings these
challenges a poor implementation can be disastrous and will cost the
organization much more time energy and money to get things back
on track
Dorothy the character rom the movie Te Wizard of Oz held
her composure pretty well through the tornado that ripped her rom
a calm stable lie on the arm and threw her into a oreign world She
was able to manage through the obstacles and challenges and stay the
course as she ollowed the yellow brick road in search o the wizard
Some say this is similar to the experience users have except or the
part when Dorothy wakes up rom her dream and 1047297nds hersel back
home as she remembers itEMR implementations donrsquot have to be nightmarish or users but
there certainly will be obstacles and challenges along the way Te key is
to help users through the road blocks and enable them to experience a
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2139
2 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
positive journey Tis process is always easier when people know what
they are getting into eel supported and are prepared or what liesahead both good and bad Tis is the role o change management
CHANGE MANAGEMEN DEFINED
Itrsquos important to understand why you should make an investment in
the people side o the projectmdashbringing in the best technology pos-
sible doesnrsquot mean anything unless users are comortable and pro1047297-
cient in its use Te truth is just because you build it doesnrsquot mean they
will come
Letrsquos start by answering the two questions we are most ofen asked
ldquoWhat is change management anyway What is it change managers
dordquoo avoid conusion wersquoll say up ront we are not talking about
change management as it relates to technical issues such as version or
change control We also want to be clear that change management is
not project management What we are talking about is the human side
o electronic medical records implementations the human-ocused
work o engaging and preparing people to succeed in the new world
o EMRs
A word about project management while good project manage-
ment acilitates change management the two disciplines are not the
same Project management is much more linear and task-ocused
whereas change management deals with the complexities o human
behavior But a good project plan creates a structure and a ounda-
tion in which the change management process can occur Tereore
the two disciplines though different complement and support each
other
A word o caution do not conuse the project plan with the end
result Te plan is necessary and it guides you throughout the process
Te plan is proactive itrsquos the order in the chaos But technology adop-
tion is kind o like herding cats itrsquos unpredictable and you need to
maintain 1047298exibility to respond as things evolve Tis is a more reactive
process than what may be expressed in a plan In our experience an
EMR implementation requires both structure and 1047298exibility
Tere is a saying in change management circles When one door
closes another one opens but sometimes itrsquos hell in the hallway Change
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2239
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 3
management deals mostly with the hallway situation acilitating the
human transition rom the present to the uture Tese days change isongoing and requires ocused leadership i it is to be as ast and pain-
less as possible
Te three legs o the project stool represent the critical compo-nents o an implementation (Figure 1-1)mdashPeople Process and ech-
nology Te people are the most important When technology projects
ail it is primarily due to a lack o use and not a ailure o the sof-
ware Te ocus o change management is people and the objective is
to change behavior Tis is good or business because it accelerates the
change process so bene1047297ts are achieved aster Change management
is not about being nice or placing an emphasis on eelings Itrsquos about
perormance improvement and results
I you search the literature you will 1047297nd a variety o de1047297nitions o
human-ocused change management Tey all cover similar concepts
sometimes using different terminology Te simplest explanation ochange management is to say ldquoItrsquos all about the peoplerdquo But or the
purposes o this book we expand on that concept and use the ollow-
ing de1047297nition o change management
bull A structured process designed to deal directly and intentionally
with the human actors involved in not just planning and imple-
menting an EMR but through behavior change achieving the
anticipated bene1047297ts that justi1047297ed the project in the 1047297rst place
bull Desired behavior change is achieved by helping people understand
and internalize change and by preparing them to be successul
contributors in the uture state In the case o EMR implementa-
tions effective change management delivers users who are willingand able to use an EMR in a way that satis1047297es the requirements o
the job the needs o the patient and the health o the organization
Key Tip
Our assumption is that the software you are implementing
works If the software doesnrsquot work you have another kind of
problem one that even the best change management wonrsquot
resolve
Key Tip
Our assumption is that the software you are implementing
works If the software doesnrsquot work you have another kind of
problemmdashone that even the best change management wonrsquot
resolve
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2339
4 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
Well-designed integrated people-ocused work builds logically
over time in a way that makes sense to the user It brings users along
guiding and supporting them so they arrive at where you want them
to be Tis is about willingness and ability hearts and minds You must
have both
Te overarching purpose o change management is to acceleratethe speed at which people move successfully through the change
process so that anticipated bene1047297ts are achieved faster And there
are additional bene1047297ts to change management Trough optimizing
the effi ciency and effi cacy o users an effective EMR change manage-
ment program will also
bull Improve organizational outcomes and perormance (effective use
o the system generates value to patients and the organization)
bull Enhance employee satisaction morale and engagement (when
people learn new skills meet perormance expectations and con-
tribute to a greater good they eel pride in their accomplishments)
bull Improve service quality (users eel valued and supported by anorganization that makes an investment in them this positively
impacts how they treat patients)
Figure 1-1 The Three-legged Stool
Technology
People Process
Technology
People Process
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2439
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 5
bull Help achieve hoped-or bene1047297ts (bene1047297ts that include EMR value
realization reduction o errors return on investment)bull Create higher levels o openness trust involvement and teamwork
(develop an engaged workorce)
bull Build change capability and capacity in the organization resulting
in improved ability to respond quickly and effectively to new situa-
tions (create organizational nimbleness through embedded change
management knowledge structure and process)
In other words it really is all about the people Intentionally man-
aging the cultural behavioral and organizational changes that need
to take place to make the desired EMR uture not only a reality but
a sustainable reality pays off on many levels in that it also acilitates
organizational transormation Building on individual capability andorganizational capacity change management results in a change-
capable culturemdasha huge advantage in todayrsquos competitive and ast-
changing world
Change Management echnology AdoptionmdashWhatrsquos the Difference
Tere are a number o terms that people use to reer to the work
involved in managing the people side o a change effort We think o
change management as the mother ship that is the umbrella term that
embraces all specialties within the 1047297eld Similar to the various special-
ties or domains o service within a healthcare system change man-agement proessionals may choose speci1047297c areas o ocus echnology
adoption speci1047297cally inormation technology (I) is one such area
and it involves the application o change management principles to the
implementation o I Te focus of this book is technology adoption
and we will mostly use this term instead of change management
throughout the rest of the book
Effective technology adoption proessionals align themselves with
the operationalbusiness side o the organization and tailor solutions
that drive behavioral change and tangible outcomes Tey participate in
EMR implementation projects rom the beginning driving the people
side o change throughout and continuing to add value post-live as theEMR becomes part o the central nervous system o the organization
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2539
6 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
HE IMPORANCE OF HE PEOPLE SIDE
OF AN EMR IMPLEMENAIONTere are many reerences in the literature to ailed change efforts and
I implementations Estimates are that only one third o these projects
achieve success which means two thirds ail to meet expectations Te
good news is that ailure is optional as much has been learned about
why some change efforts ail and others succeed
Herersquos the issue while the change that is going to occur is an exter-
nal eventmdashthe EMR implementation a reorganization proposed out-
sourcing a promotion etcmdashthe transition rom old to new that those
who are impacted experience is a psychological and emotional pro-
cess It is this transition that is diffi cultmdasheven when a change is sel-
imposed or considered positive
In the words o William Bridges a key thought leader in manage-
ment o transitions ldquoIt isnrsquot the changes that do you in itrsquos the transi-
tion afer the change that doesrdquo1
For an implementation team part o the problem encountered
during transition is that change is messy people start where they are
not where we want them to be And when considering the personnel
within a typical hospital people can be all over the place in terms o
comort with computers stage in lie commitment to the organiza-
tion ear o change etc Add to this the act that or change to be suc-
cessul three things must occur People
bull Must let go o their current reality have an ending
bull Go through a conused period in-between (hell in the hallway)
bull Only then can have a new beginning 1
o take this a step urther while I consultants want to install the
system and make enhancements the users will ultimately determine
how the system is used Tis use is affected by human not technical
actors
bull Different rames o reerence backgrounds experiences with
technology
bull Organizational history and experience with other large-scale
change projects
bull Levels o resistance ear ability to deal with ambiguity
bull Degree o alignment o ldquoWhatrsquos in it or merdquo or the various stake-
holder groups
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2639
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 7
bull Ineffi ciencies uncovered because the system creates transparency
bull Workarounds that become quickly entrenchedbull Pressure to get through the day can override doing what is right
bull User worklie balance issues coming into play rom the very
beginning
All o these actors create problems or implementation teams that
just want to install technology How do you effectively address the
people issues Or is it easier to just install the technology and assume
that people will learn because they have to use it Some on the imple-
mentation team may alsely assume that users o an EMR system will
snap into place over time and do what is right or the organization
Tis thinking is a oolrsquos paradise
In the oreword to this book Dave Garets made the point that EMRdeployments are not about technology but about equipping organiza-
tions to reach critical business objectives by providing employees with
technical capabilities that make new things possible and by engaging
them in changing their behavior to effectively use the new capabilities
to generate desired results
With all due respect to the technical side o an EMR implemen-
tation installing the technology is only hal the battle Tis is not to
degrade the importance o the technology Te act that we spend a lot
o money researching technology acquiring it con1047297guring it install-
ing it and supporting it speaks to its importance I we werenrsquot imple-
menting EMRs we wouldnrsquot even be having a discussion about EMR-related change management
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2739
8 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
But implementation o the technology is just a 1047297rst and very nec-
essary stepmdashbecause in and o itsel the technology does not generate
value Te technology is necessary but not suffi cient or bene1047297t realiza-
tion to occur o create value requires people and this is why change
management is so important oo much o a ocus on technology even
in the early stages will create issues downstream And even with the
best technology i not used effi ciently hoped-or bene1047297ts will be tough
to achieve
CIO Perspective
ldquoDuring my masters program I took an Organization Development
class that really opened my eyes to peoplesrsquo needs during large-scale
change Since the OD class I have been very interested in what makes
people tick and why people react in different ways to the same
environment No matter how good of an idea a large-scale technology
implementation is we will always have early adopters average adopters
and laggards As leaders within large organizations we have a
responsibility to plan for and respect all types of technology adopters
Ultimately the people who work within in our organizations want a positive
human experience when they are at work
Utilizing a change management methodology enables the implementation
and leadership teams to provide a positive experience during the period of
significant change By utilizing a solid change management methodologythe organization promotes team communication a safer environment for
the patient a work environment that promotes trust and an environment
where people are allowed to talk about the fear of change All of this
promotes a better human experience and a much stronger work force
hellip An effective change management program has meant the difference
between good go-lives and great go-lives at our 10 hospitalsrdquo
Lindsey P Jarrell FACHE
SVP amp CIO
BayCare Health System
Clearwater FL
CIO Perspective
During my masters program I took an Organization Development
class that really opened my eyes to peoplesrsquo needs during large-scale
change Since the OD class I have been very interested in what makes
people tick and why people react in different ways to the same
environment No matter how good of an idea a large-scale technology
implementation is we will always have early adopters average adopters
and laggards As leaders within large organizations we have a
responsibility to plan for and respect all types of technology adopters
Ultimately the people who work within in our organizations want a positive
human experience when they are at work
Utilizing a change management methodology enables the implementation
and leadership teams to provide a positive experience during the period of
significant change By utilizing a solid change management methodologythe organization promotes team communication a safer environment for
the patient a work environment that promotes trust and an environment
where people are allowed to talk about the fear of change All of this
promotes a better human experience and a much stronger work force
hellip An effective change management program has meant the difference
between good go-lives and great go-lives at our 10 hospitals
Lindsey P Jarrell FACHE
SVP amp CIO
BayCare Health System
Clearwater FL
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2839
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 9
Remember that change is a personal experience It is also local and
individual And itrsquos hardmdasheven when itrsquos sel-imposed and positive
Tere are no shortcuts People have to go through the process o change
in much the same way that we move through the stages o grie2 It canrsquot
be avoided or skipped You can measure twice and cut once or you
can cut now and then do costly remediation later Either way you canrsquot
avoid the expense or time required or real change to occur
SYSEMS PERSPECIVE
Experienced technology adoption proessionals embrace a systems
perspective when given the assignment to drive perormance man-
age perceptions and increase the utilization o new and existing tech-
nology A systems approach is the ability to see the big picture and
address the interrelationships among the variables within the abric o
CIO Perspective
ldquoIrsquove been in healthcare IT a long time and I now realize itrsquos
all about change management What was considered soft is
now hard We know so much more about how to install
technologymdashItrsquos the people part we donrsquot know well yet
and so itrsquos hardrdquo
Scott Joslyn
CIO
MemorialCare
Long Beach CA
CIO Perspective
Irsquove been in healthcare IT a long time and I now realize itrsquos
all about change management What was considered soft is
now hard We know so much more about how to install
technologymdashitrsquos the people part we donrsquot know well yet
and so itrsquos hard
J Scott Joslyn
CIO
MemorialCare
Long Beach CA
Quoteldquordquo
ldquoNo man can think clearly when his fists are clenchedrdquo
- George Jean Nathan
Quoteldquordquo
ldquordquo
ldquoNo man can think clearly when his fists are clenchedrdquo
- George Jean Nathan
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2939
10 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
the organization and in1047298uence the combined impact these variables
have on organizational effectiveness As each variable has the powerto in1047298uence the outcome o any intervention behavior change is ofen
not sustainable because variables tend to work against one another
Effective technology adoption strategies account or this interrelation-
shipinterdependency and aim to bring these variables into alignment
as a means or driving sustainable results
Figure 1-2 introduces the Organizational Fabric Model which
highlights the six primary threads (or variables) that are interwoven
in the abric (or culture) o an organization Te model suggests that
all six threads must work in concert to successully shape the organi-
zational abric A well-woven technology adoption plan strategically
manipulates these threads to in1047298uence desired change A poorly wovenplan in which a thread or combination o threads is not accounted
or leads to disaster or by way o analogy will hit a snag down the
road Depending on the 1047298exibility and durability o this abric a snag
can result in a huge hole that detracts rom the overall strength o the
intervention Te intent o the Organizational Fabric Model is to stress
how important it is to understand the uture state recognize how each
variable or combination o variables will come into play and develop a
sound technology adoption program that appropriately in1047298uences this
set o variables to reshape the abric or culture so desired change can
actually take place
Te Organizational Fabric Model will be revisited in subsequent
chapters as each thread or variable is explored in urther detail For
now we reiterate that technology adoption strategies must not rely
on only one or two threads to drive behavior change Sustainable out-
comes result rom an organizationrsquos ability to leverage the combination
o all six threads working in concert to create an environment orsuccess
Key Point
Fundamentally culture is ldquothe way we do things around hererdquo
Key Point
Fundamentally culture is ldquothe way we do things around hererdquo
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3039
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 11
CREAING AN ENVIRONMEN FOR SUCCESS
echnology adoption is about creating a context an environment in
which change can be achieved and sustained over the long term Tis
involves two levelsmdashorganizational and individual
With an EMR implementation the organization must create thesupporting environment provide needed training and resources
articulate a clear direction coupled with clear expectations engage its
people include them in the process and reinorce desired new behav-
iors Tis is not about checking things off a list but rather about 1047297nd-
ing synergy among impacted groups giving them what they need and
coordinating efforts to meet the end goal Itrsquos an ongoing effort
o give you an idea o what we are talking about herersquos an exam-
ple o an individual situation occurring within a social context Tink
about what happens when you want to make a signi1047297cant change in
your personal liemdashquit smoking stop drinking lose weight Itrsquos one
thing to talk with a doctor or another proessional about what needsto happen when yoursquore in their offi ce but once you leave the offi ce
you then return to your social reality I your riends and amily donrsquot
want your behavior to change you will have a tough time All the rein-
Figure 1-2 Organizational Fabric Model
Sponsorship
Stakeholder Mgmt
Training
Vision
Reinforcement
Communications
Sponsorship
Stakeholder Mgmt
Training
Vision
Reinforcement
Communications
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3139
12 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
orcements and temptations will conspire to prevent you rom mak-
ing changes But i you can get some important people in your lieto make the changes with you or at least support you in the process
you have a much greater chance o success Te lesson is donrsquot send a
changed person back into an unchanged environment if you want
to see behavior change
Engaging individuals involves arousing two key aspects mdashwilling-
ness and ability Te organization must in1047298uence both in order to suc-
ceed With the help o the Skill Versus Will Matrix (Figure 1-3) think
about it this way
bull When people want to do something but donrsquot know how they canrsquot
(willingunable)
bull When people know how but donrsquot want to they wonrsquot(ableunwilling)
Can you think o examples in your own lie when you have been in
either o these situations
Consider the circumstance o people who know how to do some-
thing but donrsquot want to do it Tis is a ldquowillrdquo not a ldquoskillrdquo issue and it is
a very common technology adoption dilemma I the amount o work
and effort involved are not perceived by the user as being equal to the
Figure 1-3 The Skill versus Will Matrix
Skill
Will
WONrsquoT
WONrsquoT
DOES
CANrsquoTLow
High
HighLow
Skill
Will
WONrsquoT
WONrsquoT
DOES
CANrsquoTLow
High
HighLow HighLow
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3239
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 13
return or value experienced through the implementation the user will
most likely choose to reduce the effort A goal o an effective people-ocused strategy is to identiy potential areas o disconnect and 1047297nd
ways to increase the perceived value to users Te assumption is that
when the return is perceived to be greater the effort increases When
there are no incentives to try harder it may be diffi cult to drive desired
behavior change
Te point in getting users to actively support the deployment o
an EMR is about a lot more than a communication plan or eature
unction training Managing the people side o an EMR implementa-
tion requires a savvy technology adoption plan that ties sponsorship
training communication work1047298ow harmonization user support and
reinorcement with the business priorities o the organization andeffectively coordinates all o these activities with the user in mindmdashin
an environment that reinorces desired behavior changes
Key Questions
Two key questions to remember throughout the
project arehellip
(1) How will this decision impact the user
(2) How might it impact patients
Key Questions
Two key questions to remember throughout the
project are
(1) How will this decision impact the user
(2) How might it impact patients
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3339
14 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
Consider this example
In this example what are the key elements o this process that
ensure success
bull Te picture of success the desired outcome is clearmdashit is or the
child to become a unctioning adult in the community
bull How this happens is clearly de1047297ned in behavioral terms Tere is a
process that is known and understood by the entire community
including children
bull Leaders at all levels in the community agree on the desired out-
come support the entire process and actively ful1047297ll their roles to ensure success Leaders include village elders and ormal lead-
ers parents o the children inormal opinion leaders and amily
members
bull Te children who are about to become adults take an active role
in their own transormation taking responsibility or their suc-
cess Tey receive guidance and counsel rom elders Tey know
and understand the transormation process and what they must do
to achieve their new status Goals and steps are clear Tey also
understand the consequences o not successully transitioning to
adulthood
bull I there is more than one child slated to go through transormationto adulthood at the same time they are a peer group and as appro-
priate prepare together and support each other
Key Point
In native cultures there tend to be rites of passage that serve
to transition a person from childhood to adult status in the
community The child may actually leave the village for a day or
two of contemplation following a prescribed process When the
child returns he or she is redefined as an adult and assumes
the consequent privileges and responsibilities The entire
community reinforces the personrsquos new status the new adult is
not allowed to return to being a child whenever itrsquos convenient
but is supported to complete the transformation to adulthood
The change to adulthood does not happen in a vacuum but is
part of a carefully designed process that ensures success
Key Point
In native cultures there tend to be rites of passage that serve
to transition a person from childhood to adult status in the
community The child may actually leave the village for a day or
two of contemplation following a prescribed process When the
child returns he or she is redefined as an adult and assumes
the consequent privileges and responsibilities The entire
community reinforces the personrsquos new status the new adult is
not allowed to return to being a child whenever itrsquos convenient
but is supported to complete the transformation to adulthood
The change to adulthood does not happen in a vacuum but is
part of a carefully designed process that ensures success
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3439
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 15
bull Te entire community works together to bring about the
transormationbull Success results in positive reinforcement
Te environmental context is the trump card in any implementerrsquos
hand It takes a lot o work to create a suitable environment but it is an
essential ingredient in being able to drive and sustain change
Willingness and Ability
Earlier we mentioned willingness and ability as key concepts in tech-
nology adoption Willingness and ability can also be thought o as
hearts and minds or will and skill Te point is the same regardless
o the terms used People need to be supported on both an emotional
level to commit and on an intellectual level to be able Te questionto be answered is ldquoWhat are the conditions under which users will
accept and adopt the EMRrdquo
Letrsquos talk about willingness 1047297rst
Willingness or hearts is the commitment to go orward Tis is
impacted by many things including the ollowing elements
bull Leadership Perceived support or lack o support or the change
rom senior executives in the company the cascade o sponsors
down through the organization and just as importantly rom the
employeersquos direct supervisor
bull Communication Quality and requency o verbal and written
messages that describe the desired uture state tell why the changeneeds to happen and what will happen i change isnrsquot made set
clear expectations explain how the company will prepare and sup-
port people to success and describe local details such as timelines
etc
bull Reinforcement Degree o appropriateness and timeliness o
rewards or demonstrating desired new behaviors and conse-
quences or sticking to the old ways
bull Participation Degree to which users are involved every step o
the way either directly as individuals or indirectly by being effec-
tively represented by trusted local opinion leader peers who serve
as liaisons between users and the project teambull Organizational History with Change Previous organizational
experience with changemdashgood and badmdashwill in1047298uence user per-
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3539
16 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
ceptions and expectations o the EMR implementation Under-
standing the past is important in planning or the utureTis all sounds logical but the reaction to it can be emotional Tis
is where people conront their ear o ailure eeling stupid making
mistakes etc Remember that the change may require people to give
up the very things that they believe made them successul in the past
Tis can be a diffi cult sell
Ability or minds is about the actual capability to successully
meet new job expectations Tis is impacted by many things including
the ollowing elements
bull raining and Support In most cases the new EMR abilities must
be learned An effective training program that is role-based and
intentionally ocused on preparing people to perorm new jobexpectations is key Just discussing desired outcomes is not enough
though we have to clearly tell people what we want them to do
Tis requires an intellectual understanding o what and how a
conceptual understanding is necessary but not suffi cient Most
people need to practice something new to develop competence and
con1047297dence Sae opportunities to practice preerably with immedi-
ate eedback are very important to pro1047297ciency development and
sustainability
Getting people to move in the direction you want is the diffi -
cultymdashsome say the hardest part o the whole project And i you agree
that people are the oundation o successmdashthat bene1047297t realization isdependant not on technology but on people agreeing to go through
personal disruption learn new things change established patterns and
conront their earsmdashthen we must be proactive and courageous in
addressing the human issues
Tis is the people side o the project Tis is the organizational read-
iness unction It involves collaboration coordination and sequencing
o activities inormation and events rom all people-ocused areas Te
idea is to have all the people-ocused unctions working together to
reach clearly de1047297ned shared outcomes Te organizational readiness
plan to create individual and organizational readiness is the umbrella
that connects it allmdashthe glue that holds it together and the grease thatmakes it workmdashor the user We will address the structure and process
or doing this in more detail in subsequent chapters
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3639
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 17
Good News on wo Fronts
1 Tere is a social science Tere is a body o work research andsubsequent publications about the human experience with change
Tere are proven change management strategies tools and tech-
niques Tis isnrsquot olklore hooey or black magic Te transition
process is known and predictable Tere is a change curve that
describes the steps (Chapter 5 Stakeholder Management) And
though there is no silver bullet it isnrsquot rocket science Senior
healthcare executives must take the emerging proession o change
managementtechnology adoption seriously Not understanding it
is no excuse or ignoring it Tat is ar too expensive an option
2 All people go through transition when changemdashgood or badmdash
happens in both their personal and proessional lie You canrsquot
avoid it Te wonderul thing is i you learn about change and
transition at work it will improve your personal lie Tis is one
o the times to ldquotry this at homerdquo Wersquore all humanmdashat work and
at home So treat your people as the humans they are and avoid
some predictable expense and diffi culty Lead your organization
to a successul outcome and speed up the process by treating your
staff as customers 1047297rst
Donrsquot make the mistake o glossing over the critical human aspects
o change Hire experts and 1047297nd the emotionally intelligent people in
your organization who want to participate And remember you can
install technology without your people but you canrsquot ully implement
and achieve return on investment without them Consciously choose
to move fear and resistance to trust and adoption Itrsquos a case o pay
now or pay later I you wait until later it will always cost more ech-
nology Adoption is expensive but not as expensive as trying to gloss
it over and then having to undo the damage When ailure happens it
Quoteldquordquo
ldquoNot everything that can be counted counts and not everything thatcounts can be countedrdquo
- Albert Einstein
Quoteldquordquo
ldquordquo
ldquoNot everything that can be counted counts and not everything thatcounts can be countedrdquo
- Albert Einstein
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3739
18 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
takes a long time or people to re-engage And in todayrsquos world this
presents real problems or healthcare organizations aced with short-ages in many proessions Tere is a huge risk o alienating and poten-
tially losing needed staff or in causing long delays We can do better
Not so long ago it wasnrsquot conventional wisdom that clinical application
rollouts are not I projects More frequently than not these were consid-
ered technical projects in which the point of celebration was when con-nection from workstation to central processor was reliable and wireless
access actually worked Te classic I People-Process-echnology trian-
gle never got much past echnology to the real hard work on the People-
Process axis Tat has all changed in the 21st century system implemen-
tations that are both successful and valuable have had people and process
on the front burner
When MemorialCare embarked on a 1047297ve-hospital roll-out of an
EMR in 2002 it had several things in its favor
bull Te technology the organization ultimately acquired was robust and
reliable it worked
bull It had 15 yearsrsquo experience with CPOE (computerized providerorder entry) Terefore although unevenly adopted it was not new
territory
bull It had had the experience of a system-wide roll-out and standard-
ization on a general 1047297nance human resources and materials man-
agement system When all was said and done users had not been
suffi ciently involved standardization fell short because involvement
was low business leadership was diffuse and I ownership was too
high It was judged successful overall but the organization continues
to move slowly forward with an underutilized set of applications
With this experience and the insights of others MemorialCare pri-
oritized engagement of physicians nurses pharmacists and other staffWell before 1047297nancial commitment to a new system was obtained Memo-
rialCare hired a ldquoCare Planning Executiverdquo a person whose full-time
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3839
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 19
activities were devoted to the project 1047297rst to help understand the drivers
of a new system scope out the territory to be covered gain the com-mitment of senior leaders as well as governance and outline the case
for change At my insistence the Care Planning Executive a registered
nurse and former hospital chief operating offi cer joined the organization
reporting to the system-wide CEO as a peer and partner of the CIO not
a staff member and a peer to the CEOs of each medical center campus
Tat dedication alone made clear the commitment intentions and over-
all priority of the company
Among several other critical success factorsmdashand the outcome was
a successmdashwas the overall employee engagement program that the Care
Planning Executive established In summary it was an education mar-
keting and training program dedicated to equipping the affected staffwith the knowledge and tools to embrace unavoidable change Staff com-
munication was clear that it wasnrsquot change for changersquos sake but a major
move forward in the paperless way care would be delivered and work-
1047298ows would be streamlined Of course at the time no one could have
foreseen later moves by government to push everyone in this direction
(with the American Recovery and Reconstruction Act of 2009) Because
of our early efforts wersquore now very well positioned
J Scott Joslyn
CIO
MemorialCareLong Beach California
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3939
About the BookDespite the promise of improving care and other benefits EMR implementations are highly disruptive to the
organization This book prepares you to lead or participate successfully in change managementtechnologyadoption efforts so that meaningful use of EMRs can be achieved The authors provide successful strategies
to plan and implement change The content is based on their decades of combined experience designing
and leading technology adoption programs
Sections of the book deal with establishing a foundation for change building commitment and developing
requisite skill in helping users be successful with technology The book includes numerous lessons learned
tips for success best practices and case studies from organizations that have handled change well
About the AuthorsClaire McCarthy MA is a recognized technology adoption strategist and leader
with 25 years of healthcare industry experience supporting people through softwareimplementations and other large-scale change efforts As Director of Organizational
Effectiveness for Kaiser Permanentersquos enterprise-wide EMR deployment Ms McCarthy
led a national community of practice focused on preparing users to assume new
roles and responsibilities in support of organizational objectives Ms McCarthy
speaks internationally on the topic of technology adoption encouraging healthcare
leaders around the globe to set the stage for benefit realization by investing in the
people side of EMR implementation
Douglas Eastman PhD is an organizational development executive with extensive
experience managing large-scale change initiatives With more than 20 years
of consulting experience Dr Eastmanrsquos focus is to help organizations grow and
manage change by unleashing human potential His specialties are organizationaltransformation technology adoption and optimization process redesign strategic
planning and program and tools development As the Executive Director of Technology
Adoption and Organizational Capability within the Kaiser Permanente IT Care
Delivery Business Information Office Dr Eastman has pioneered several of Kaiserrsquos
implementation readiness toolsmethodologies and post-live optimization strategies
programs adding to the organizationrsquos ability to realize the benefit of its technology
About HIMSS The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) is a comprehensive healthcare-
stakeholder membership organization exclusively focused on providing global leadership for the optimal
use of information technology (IT) and management systems for the betterment of healthcare Founded in
1961 with offices in Chicago Washington DC Brussels Singapore and other locations across the United
States HIMSS represents more than 23000 individual members of which 73 work in patient care delivery
settings HIMSS also includes over 380 corporate members and nearly 30 not-for-profit organizations that
share our mission of transforming healthcare through the effective use of information technology and
management systems HIMSS frames and leads healthcare public policy and industry practices through
its educational professional development and advocacy initiatives designed to promote information and
management systemsrsquo contributions to ensuring quality patient care
ISBN 978-0-9821070-6-5
Order Code 564
230 E Ohio St Suite 500
Chicago IL 60611ndash3270
312-915-9295
www himss org
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1739
xvi Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
rewarding about seeing people who were earul and resistant even
in tears and thinking seriously o quitting eel the pride o accom-plishment when they succeed Each person who stays the course and
becomes a contributing member o the electronically enabled organi-
zation represents untold cost avoidance Knowledge and talent stay in
the organization replacement costs are avoided relationships are pre-
served and critical staff shortages are reduced echnology adoption is
truly a contribution to the bottom line
In the words o one o our grandathers ldquoPeople change when
theyrsquore damned good and ready and not beorerdquo Wersquore here to get
them ready
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1839
xvii
Acknowledgments
Te authors would like to thank the ollowing individuals or sharing
their expertise and experiences or this book
Saaa Al-Haddad MD
Internal Medicine
University Hospitals
Cleveland Ohio
Ronnie D Bower Jr MA
Manager Change Management
BayCare Health System
ampa Florida
Nabil Chehade MD MSBS
CPC
Director Medical Inormatics
Regional Chie o Urology
KP HealthConnect RegionalPhysician Lead
Kaiser Permanente Medical
Group
Cleveland Ohio
Kenneth Goodman MD
Associate Director Center
or Continuing Medical
Education
Department o Family Medicine
Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland Ohio
Marie Hamilton RN
Kaiser Permanente
Oregon Federation o Nurses
and Health ProessionalsHealthcare Inormation
echnology Committee
AF Healthcare
Portland Oregon
Lindsey P Jarrell FACHE
Senior Vice President amp CIO
BayCare Health System
ampa Florida
J Scott JoslynCIO
MemorialCare
Long Beach Caliornia
Margaret M Rudoph PhD
Consultant
Vancouver British Columbia
Canada
om Smith
CIO
NorthShore University Health
System
Evanston Illinois
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1939
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2039
1
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 983089
Te Business Case forChange Management
ldquoWersquore not in Kansas anymorehelliprdquo
In the introduction an EMR implementation is compared to a tornado
in that it whips through an organization turning lie upside down and
throwing users into a world 1047297lled with new ways o doing things and
seeking ways to recapture some sense o balance and control EMR
technology disrupts the status quo and along with the many opportu-
nities it promises it also brings a whirlwind o seemingly never-ending
changes which can have an entirely different effect on different people
While an implementation that is effectively managed even brings these
challenges a poor implementation can be disastrous and will cost the
organization much more time energy and money to get things back
on track
Dorothy the character rom the movie Te Wizard of Oz held
her composure pretty well through the tornado that ripped her rom
a calm stable lie on the arm and threw her into a oreign world She
was able to manage through the obstacles and challenges and stay the
course as she ollowed the yellow brick road in search o the wizard
Some say this is similar to the experience users have except or the
part when Dorothy wakes up rom her dream and 1047297nds hersel back
home as she remembers itEMR implementations donrsquot have to be nightmarish or users but
there certainly will be obstacles and challenges along the way Te key is
to help users through the road blocks and enable them to experience a
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2139
2 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
positive journey Tis process is always easier when people know what
they are getting into eel supported and are prepared or what liesahead both good and bad Tis is the role o change management
CHANGE MANAGEMEN DEFINED
Itrsquos important to understand why you should make an investment in
the people side o the projectmdashbringing in the best technology pos-
sible doesnrsquot mean anything unless users are comortable and pro1047297-
cient in its use Te truth is just because you build it doesnrsquot mean they
will come
Letrsquos start by answering the two questions we are most ofen asked
ldquoWhat is change management anyway What is it change managers
dordquoo avoid conusion wersquoll say up ront we are not talking about
change management as it relates to technical issues such as version or
change control We also want to be clear that change management is
not project management What we are talking about is the human side
o electronic medical records implementations the human-ocused
work o engaging and preparing people to succeed in the new world
o EMRs
A word about project management while good project manage-
ment acilitates change management the two disciplines are not the
same Project management is much more linear and task-ocused
whereas change management deals with the complexities o human
behavior But a good project plan creates a structure and a ounda-
tion in which the change management process can occur Tereore
the two disciplines though different complement and support each
other
A word o caution do not conuse the project plan with the end
result Te plan is necessary and it guides you throughout the process
Te plan is proactive itrsquos the order in the chaos But technology adop-
tion is kind o like herding cats itrsquos unpredictable and you need to
maintain 1047298exibility to respond as things evolve Tis is a more reactive
process than what may be expressed in a plan In our experience an
EMR implementation requires both structure and 1047298exibility
Tere is a saying in change management circles When one door
closes another one opens but sometimes itrsquos hell in the hallway Change
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2239
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 3
management deals mostly with the hallway situation acilitating the
human transition rom the present to the uture Tese days change isongoing and requires ocused leadership i it is to be as ast and pain-
less as possible
Te three legs o the project stool represent the critical compo-nents o an implementation (Figure 1-1)mdashPeople Process and ech-
nology Te people are the most important When technology projects
ail it is primarily due to a lack o use and not a ailure o the sof-
ware Te ocus o change management is people and the objective is
to change behavior Tis is good or business because it accelerates the
change process so bene1047297ts are achieved aster Change management
is not about being nice or placing an emphasis on eelings Itrsquos about
perormance improvement and results
I you search the literature you will 1047297nd a variety o de1047297nitions o
human-ocused change management Tey all cover similar concepts
sometimes using different terminology Te simplest explanation ochange management is to say ldquoItrsquos all about the peoplerdquo But or the
purposes o this book we expand on that concept and use the ollow-
ing de1047297nition o change management
bull A structured process designed to deal directly and intentionally
with the human actors involved in not just planning and imple-
menting an EMR but through behavior change achieving the
anticipated bene1047297ts that justi1047297ed the project in the 1047297rst place
bull Desired behavior change is achieved by helping people understand
and internalize change and by preparing them to be successul
contributors in the uture state In the case o EMR implementa-
tions effective change management delivers users who are willingand able to use an EMR in a way that satis1047297es the requirements o
the job the needs o the patient and the health o the organization
Key Tip
Our assumption is that the software you are implementing
works If the software doesnrsquot work you have another kind of
problem one that even the best change management wonrsquot
resolve
Key Tip
Our assumption is that the software you are implementing
works If the software doesnrsquot work you have another kind of
problemmdashone that even the best change management wonrsquot
resolve
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2339
4 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
Well-designed integrated people-ocused work builds logically
over time in a way that makes sense to the user It brings users along
guiding and supporting them so they arrive at where you want them
to be Tis is about willingness and ability hearts and minds You must
have both
Te overarching purpose o change management is to acceleratethe speed at which people move successfully through the change
process so that anticipated bene1047297ts are achieved faster And there
are additional bene1047297ts to change management Trough optimizing
the effi ciency and effi cacy o users an effective EMR change manage-
ment program will also
bull Improve organizational outcomes and perormance (effective use
o the system generates value to patients and the organization)
bull Enhance employee satisaction morale and engagement (when
people learn new skills meet perormance expectations and con-
tribute to a greater good they eel pride in their accomplishments)
bull Improve service quality (users eel valued and supported by anorganization that makes an investment in them this positively
impacts how they treat patients)
Figure 1-1 The Three-legged Stool
Technology
People Process
Technology
People Process
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2439
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 5
bull Help achieve hoped-or bene1047297ts (bene1047297ts that include EMR value
realization reduction o errors return on investment)bull Create higher levels o openness trust involvement and teamwork
(develop an engaged workorce)
bull Build change capability and capacity in the organization resulting
in improved ability to respond quickly and effectively to new situa-
tions (create organizational nimbleness through embedded change
management knowledge structure and process)
In other words it really is all about the people Intentionally man-
aging the cultural behavioral and organizational changes that need
to take place to make the desired EMR uture not only a reality but
a sustainable reality pays off on many levels in that it also acilitates
organizational transormation Building on individual capability andorganizational capacity change management results in a change-
capable culturemdasha huge advantage in todayrsquos competitive and ast-
changing world
Change Management echnology AdoptionmdashWhatrsquos the Difference
Tere are a number o terms that people use to reer to the work
involved in managing the people side o a change effort We think o
change management as the mother ship that is the umbrella term that
embraces all specialties within the 1047297eld Similar to the various special-
ties or domains o service within a healthcare system change man-agement proessionals may choose speci1047297c areas o ocus echnology
adoption speci1047297cally inormation technology (I) is one such area
and it involves the application o change management principles to the
implementation o I Te focus of this book is technology adoption
and we will mostly use this term instead of change management
throughout the rest of the book
Effective technology adoption proessionals align themselves with
the operationalbusiness side o the organization and tailor solutions
that drive behavioral change and tangible outcomes Tey participate in
EMR implementation projects rom the beginning driving the people
side o change throughout and continuing to add value post-live as theEMR becomes part o the central nervous system o the organization
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2539
6 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
HE IMPORANCE OF HE PEOPLE SIDE
OF AN EMR IMPLEMENAIONTere are many reerences in the literature to ailed change efforts and
I implementations Estimates are that only one third o these projects
achieve success which means two thirds ail to meet expectations Te
good news is that ailure is optional as much has been learned about
why some change efforts ail and others succeed
Herersquos the issue while the change that is going to occur is an exter-
nal eventmdashthe EMR implementation a reorganization proposed out-
sourcing a promotion etcmdashthe transition rom old to new that those
who are impacted experience is a psychological and emotional pro-
cess It is this transition that is diffi cultmdasheven when a change is sel-
imposed or considered positive
In the words o William Bridges a key thought leader in manage-
ment o transitions ldquoIt isnrsquot the changes that do you in itrsquos the transi-
tion afer the change that doesrdquo1
For an implementation team part o the problem encountered
during transition is that change is messy people start where they are
not where we want them to be And when considering the personnel
within a typical hospital people can be all over the place in terms o
comort with computers stage in lie commitment to the organiza-
tion ear o change etc Add to this the act that or change to be suc-
cessul three things must occur People
bull Must let go o their current reality have an ending
bull Go through a conused period in-between (hell in the hallway)
bull Only then can have a new beginning 1
o take this a step urther while I consultants want to install the
system and make enhancements the users will ultimately determine
how the system is used Tis use is affected by human not technical
actors
bull Different rames o reerence backgrounds experiences with
technology
bull Organizational history and experience with other large-scale
change projects
bull Levels o resistance ear ability to deal with ambiguity
bull Degree o alignment o ldquoWhatrsquos in it or merdquo or the various stake-
holder groups
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2639
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 7
bull Ineffi ciencies uncovered because the system creates transparency
bull Workarounds that become quickly entrenchedbull Pressure to get through the day can override doing what is right
bull User worklie balance issues coming into play rom the very
beginning
All o these actors create problems or implementation teams that
just want to install technology How do you effectively address the
people issues Or is it easier to just install the technology and assume
that people will learn because they have to use it Some on the imple-
mentation team may alsely assume that users o an EMR system will
snap into place over time and do what is right or the organization
Tis thinking is a oolrsquos paradise
In the oreword to this book Dave Garets made the point that EMRdeployments are not about technology but about equipping organiza-
tions to reach critical business objectives by providing employees with
technical capabilities that make new things possible and by engaging
them in changing their behavior to effectively use the new capabilities
to generate desired results
With all due respect to the technical side o an EMR implemen-
tation installing the technology is only hal the battle Tis is not to
degrade the importance o the technology Te act that we spend a lot
o money researching technology acquiring it con1047297guring it install-
ing it and supporting it speaks to its importance I we werenrsquot imple-
menting EMRs we wouldnrsquot even be having a discussion about EMR-related change management
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2739
8 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
But implementation o the technology is just a 1047297rst and very nec-
essary stepmdashbecause in and o itsel the technology does not generate
value Te technology is necessary but not suffi cient or bene1047297t realiza-
tion to occur o create value requires people and this is why change
management is so important oo much o a ocus on technology even
in the early stages will create issues downstream And even with the
best technology i not used effi ciently hoped-or bene1047297ts will be tough
to achieve
CIO Perspective
ldquoDuring my masters program I took an Organization Development
class that really opened my eyes to peoplesrsquo needs during large-scale
change Since the OD class I have been very interested in what makes
people tick and why people react in different ways to the same
environment No matter how good of an idea a large-scale technology
implementation is we will always have early adopters average adopters
and laggards As leaders within large organizations we have a
responsibility to plan for and respect all types of technology adopters
Ultimately the people who work within in our organizations want a positive
human experience when they are at work
Utilizing a change management methodology enables the implementation
and leadership teams to provide a positive experience during the period of
significant change By utilizing a solid change management methodologythe organization promotes team communication a safer environment for
the patient a work environment that promotes trust and an environment
where people are allowed to talk about the fear of change All of this
promotes a better human experience and a much stronger work force
hellip An effective change management program has meant the difference
between good go-lives and great go-lives at our 10 hospitalsrdquo
Lindsey P Jarrell FACHE
SVP amp CIO
BayCare Health System
Clearwater FL
CIO Perspective
During my masters program I took an Organization Development
class that really opened my eyes to peoplesrsquo needs during large-scale
change Since the OD class I have been very interested in what makes
people tick and why people react in different ways to the same
environment No matter how good of an idea a large-scale technology
implementation is we will always have early adopters average adopters
and laggards As leaders within large organizations we have a
responsibility to plan for and respect all types of technology adopters
Ultimately the people who work within in our organizations want a positive
human experience when they are at work
Utilizing a change management methodology enables the implementation
and leadership teams to provide a positive experience during the period of
significant change By utilizing a solid change management methodologythe organization promotes team communication a safer environment for
the patient a work environment that promotes trust and an environment
where people are allowed to talk about the fear of change All of this
promotes a better human experience and a much stronger work force
hellip An effective change management program has meant the difference
between good go-lives and great go-lives at our 10 hospitals
Lindsey P Jarrell FACHE
SVP amp CIO
BayCare Health System
Clearwater FL
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2839
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 9
Remember that change is a personal experience It is also local and
individual And itrsquos hardmdasheven when itrsquos sel-imposed and positive
Tere are no shortcuts People have to go through the process o change
in much the same way that we move through the stages o grie2 It canrsquot
be avoided or skipped You can measure twice and cut once or you
can cut now and then do costly remediation later Either way you canrsquot
avoid the expense or time required or real change to occur
SYSEMS PERSPECIVE
Experienced technology adoption proessionals embrace a systems
perspective when given the assignment to drive perormance man-
age perceptions and increase the utilization o new and existing tech-
nology A systems approach is the ability to see the big picture and
address the interrelationships among the variables within the abric o
CIO Perspective
ldquoIrsquove been in healthcare IT a long time and I now realize itrsquos
all about change management What was considered soft is
now hard We know so much more about how to install
technologymdashItrsquos the people part we donrsquot know well yet
and so itrsquos hardrdquo
Scott Joslyn
CIO
MemorialCare
Long Beach CA
CIO Perspective
Irsquove been in healthcare IT a long time and I now realize itrsquos
all about change management What was considered soft is
now hard We know so much more about how to install
technologymdashitrsquos the people part we donrsquot know well yet
and so itrsquos hard
J Scott Joslyn
CIO
MemorialCare
Long Beach CA
Quoteldquordquo
ldquoNo man can think clearly when his fists are clenchedrdquo
- George Jean Nathan
Quoteldquordquo
ldquordquo
ldquoNo man can think clearly when his fists are clenchedrdquo
- George Jean Nathan
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2939
10 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
the organization and in1047298uence the combined impact these variables
have on organizational effectiveness As each variable has the powerto in1047298uence the outcome o any intervention behavior change is ofen
not sustainable because variables tend to work against one another
Effective technology adoption strategies account or this interrelation-
shipinterdependency and aim to bring these variables into alignment
as a means or driving sustainable results
Figure 1-2 introduces the Organizational Fabric Model which
highlights the six primary threads (or variables) that are interwoven
in the abric (or culture) o an organization Te model suggests that
all six threads must work in concert to successully shape the organi-
zational abric A well-woven technology adoption plan strategically
manipulates these threads to in1047298uence desired change A poorly wovenplan in which a thread or combination o threads is not accounted
or leads to disaster or by way o analogy will hit a snag down the
road Depending on the 1047298exibility and durability o this abric a snag
can result in a huge hole that detracts rom the overall strength o the
intervention Te intent o the Organizational Fabric Model is to stress
how important it is to understand the uture state recognize how each
variable or combination o variables will come into play and develop a
sound technology adoption program that appropriately in1047298uences this
set o variables to reshape the abric or culture so desired change can
actually take place
Te Organizational Fabric Model will be revisited in subsequent
chapters as each thread or variable is explored in urther detail For
now we reiterate that technology adoption strategies must not rely
on only one or two threads to drive behavior change Sustainable out-
comes result rom an organizationrsquos ability to leverage the combination
o all six threads working in concert to create an environment orsuccess
Key Point
Fundamentally culture is ldquothe way we do things around hererdquo
Key Point
Fundamentally culture is ldquothe way we do things around hererdquo
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3039
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 11
CREAING AN ENVIRONMEN FOR SUCCESS
echnology adoption is about creating a context an environment in
which change can be achieved and sustained over the long term Tis
involves two levelsmdashorganizational and individual
With an EMR implementation the organization must create thesupporting environment provide needed training and resources
articulate a clear direction coupled with clear expectations engage its
people include them in the process and reinorce desired new behav-
iors Tis is not about checking things off a list but rather about 1047297nd-
ing synergy among impacted groups giving them what they need and
coordinating efforts to meet the end goal Itrsquos an ongoing effort
o give you an idea o what we are talking about herersquos an exam-
ple o an individual situation occurring within a social context Tink
about what happens when you want to make a signi1047297cant change in
your personal liemdashquit smoking stop drinking lose weight Itrsquos one
thing to talk with a doctor or another proessional about what needsto happen when yoursquore in their offi ce but once you leave the offi ce
you then return to your social reality I your riends and amily donrsquot
want your behavior to change you will have a tough time All the rein-
Figure 1-2 Organizational Fabric Model
Sponsorship
Stakeholder Mgmt
Training
Vision
Reinforcement
Communications
Sponsorship
Stakeholder Mgmt
Training
Vision
Reinforcement
Communications
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3139
12 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
orcements and temptations will conspire to prevent you rom mak-
ing changes But i you can get some important people in your lieto make the changes with you or at least support you in the process
you have a much greater chance o success Te lesson is donrsquot send a
changed person back into an unchanged environment if you want
to see behavior change
Engaging individuals involves arousing two key aspects mdashwilling-
ness and ability Te organization must in1047298uence both in order to suc-
ceed With the help o the Skill Versus Will Matrix (Figure 1-3) think
about it this way
bull When people want to do something but donrsquot know how they canrsquot
(willingunable)
bull When people know how but donrsquot want to they wonrsquot(ableunwilling)
Can you think o examples in your own lie when you have been in
either o these situations
Consider the circumstance o people who know how to do some-
thing but donrsquot want to do it Tis is a ldquowillrdquo not a ldquoskillrdquo issue and it is
a very common technology adoption dilemma I the amount o work
and effort involved are not perceived by the user as being equal to the
Figure 1-3 The Skill versus Will Matrix
Skill
Will
WONrsquoT
WONrsquoT
DOES
CANrsquoTLow
High
HighLow
Skill
Will
WONrsquoT
WONrsquoT
DOES
CANrsquoTLow
High
HighLow HighLow
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3239
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 13
return or value experienced through the implementation the user will
most likely choose to reduce the effort A goal o an effective people-ocused strategy is to identiy potential areas o disconnect and 1047297nd
ways to increase the perceived value to users Te assumption is that
when the return is perceived to be greater the effort increases When
there are no incentives to try harder it may be diffi cult to drive desired
behavior change
Te point in getting users to actively support the deployment o
an EMR is about a lot more than a communication plan or eature
unction training Managing the people side o an EMR implementa-
tion requires a savvy technology adoption plan that ties sponsorship
training communication work1047298ow harmonization user support and
reinorcement with the business priorities o the organization andeffectively coordinates all o these activities with the user in mindmdashin
an environment that reinorces desired behavior changes
Key Questions
Two key questions to remember throughout the
project arehellip
(1) How will this decision impact the user
(2) How might it impact patients
Key Questions
Two key questions to remember throughout the
project are
(1) How will this decision impact the user
(2) How might it impact patients
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3339
14 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
Consider this example
In this example what are the key elements o this process that
ensure success
bull Te picture of success the desired outcome is clearmdashit is or the
child to become a unctioning adult in the community
bull How this happens is clearly de1047297ned in behavioral terms Tere is a
process that is known and understood by the entire community
including children
bull Leaders at all levels in the community agree on the desired out-
come support the entire process and actively ful1047297ll their roles to ensure success Leaders include village elders and ormal lead-
ers parents o the children inormal opinion leaders and amily
members
bull Te children who are about to become adults take an active role
in their own transormation taking responsibility or their suc-
cess Tey receive guidance and counsel rom elders Tey know
and understand the transormation process and what they must do
to achieve their new status Goals and steps are clear Tey also
understand the consequences o not successully transitioning to
adulthood
bull I there is more than one child slated to go through transormationto adulthood at the same time they are a peer group and as appro-
priate prepare together and support each other
Key Point
In native cultures there tend to be rites of passage that serve
to transition a person from childhood to adult status in the
community The child may actually leave the village for a day or
two of contemplation following a prescribed process When the
child returns he or she is redefined as an adult and assumes
the consequent privileges and responsibilities The entire
community reinforces the personrsquos new status the new adult is
not allowed to return to being a child whenever itrsquos convenient
but is supported to complete the transformation to adulthood
The change to adulthood does not happen in a vacuum but is
part of a carefully designed process that ensures success
Key Point
In native cultures there tend to be rites of passage that serve
to transition a person from childhood to adult status in the
community The child may actually leave the village for a day or
two of contemplation following a prescribed process When the
child returns he or she is redefined as an adult and assumes
the consequent privileges and responsibilities The entire
community reinforces the personrsquos new status the new adult is
not allowed to return to being a child whenever itrsquos convenient
but is supported to complete the transformation to adulthood
The change to adulthood does not happen in a vacuum but is
part of a carefully designed process that ensures success
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3439
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 15
bull Te entire community works together to bring about the
transormationbull Success results in positive reinforcement
Te environmental context is the trump card in any implementerrsquos
hand It takes a lot o work to create a suitable environment but it is an
essential ingredient in being able to drive and sustain change
Willingness and Ability
Earlier we mentioned willingness and ability as key concepts in tech-
nology adoption Willingness and ability can also be thought o as
hearts and minds or will and skill Te point is the same regardless
o the terms used People need to be supported on both an emotional
level to commit and on an intellectual level to be able Te questionto be answered is ldquoWhat are the conditions under which users will
accept and adopt the EMRrdquo
Letrsquos talk about willingness 1047297rst
Willingness or hearts is the commitment to go orward Tis is
impacted by many things including the ollowing elements
bull Leadership Perceived support or lack o support or the change
rom senior executives in the company the cascade o sponsors
down through the organization and just as importantly rom the
employeersquos direct supervisor
bull Communication Quality and requency o verbal and written
messages that describe the desired uture state tell why the changeneeds to happen and what will happen i change isnrsquot made set
clear expectations explain how the company will prepare and sup-
port people to success and describe local details such as timelines
etc
bull Reinforcement Degree o appropriateness and timeliness o
rewards or demonstrating desired new behaviors and conse-
quences or sticking to the old ways
bull Participation Degree to which users are involved every step o
the way either directly as individuals or indirectly by being effec-
tively represented by trusted local opinion leader peers who serve
as liaisons between users and the project teambull Organizational History with Change Previous organizational
experience with changemdashgood and badmdashwill in1047298uence user per-
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3539
16 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
ceptions and expectations o the EMR implementation Under-
standing the past is important in planning or the utureTis all sounds logical but the reaction to it can be emotional Tis
is where people conront their ear o ailure eeling stupid making
mistakes etc Remember that the change may require people to give
up the very things that they believe made them successul in the past
Tis can be a diffi cult sell
Ability or minds is about the actual capability to successully
meet new job expectations Tis is impacted by many things including
the ollowing elements
bull raining and Support In most cases the new EMR abilities must
be learned An effective training program that is role-based and
intentionally ocused on preparing people to perorm new jobexpectations is key Just discussing desired outcomes is not enough
though we have to clearly tell people what we want them to do
Tis requires an intellectual understanding o what and how a
conceptual understanding is necessary but not suffi cient Most
people need to practice something new to develop competence and
con1047297dence Sae opportunities to practice preerably with immedi-
ate eedback are very important to pro1047297ciency development and
sustainability
Getting people to move in the direction you want is the diffi -
cultymdashsome say the hardest part o the whole project And i you agree
that people are the oundation o successmdashthat bene1047297t realization isdependant not on technology but on people agreeing to go through
personal disruption learn new things change established patterns and
conront their earsmdashthen we must be proactive and courageous in
addressing the human issues
Tis is the people side o the project Tis is the organizational read-
iness unction It involves collaboration coordination and sequencing
o activities inormation and events rom all people-ocused areas Te
idea is to have all the people-ocused unctions working together to
reach clearly de1047297ned shared outcomes Te organizational readiness
plan to create individual and organizational readiness is the umbrella
that connects it allmdashthe glue that holds it together and the grease thatmakes it workmdashor the user We will address the structure and process
or doing this in more detail in subsequent chapters
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3639
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 17
Good News on wo Fronts
1 Tere is a social science Tere is a body o work research andsubsequent publications about the human experience with change
Tere are proven change management strategies tools and tech-
niques Tis isnrsquot olklore hooey or black magic Te transition
process is known and predictable Tere is a change curve that
describes the steps (Chapter 5 Stakeholder Management) And
though there is no silver bullet it isnrsquot rocket science Senior
healthcare executives must take the emerging proession o change
managementtechnology adoption seriously Not understanding it
is no excuse or ignoring it Tat is ar too expensive an option
2 All people go through transition when changemdashgood or badmdash
happens in both their personal and proessional lie You canrsquot
avoid it Te wonderul thing is i you learn about change and
transition at work it will improve your personal lie Tis is one
o the times to ldquotry this at homerdquo Wersquore all humanmdashat work and
at home So treat your people as the humans they are and avoid
some predictable expense and diffi culty Lead your organization
to a successul outcome and speed up the process by treating your
staff as customers 1047297rst
Donrsquot make the mistake o glossing over the critical human aspects
o change Hire experts and 1047297nd the emotionally intelligent people in
your organization who want to participate And remember you can
install technology without your people but you canrsquot ully implement
and achieve return on investment without them Consciously choose
to move fear and resistance to trust and adoption Itrsquos a case o pay
now or pay later I you wait until later it will always cost more ech-
nology Adoption is expensive but not as expensive as trying to gloss
it over and then having to undo the damage When ailure happens it
Quoteldquordquo
ldquoNot everything that can be counted counts and not everything thatcounts can be countedrdquo
- Albert Einstein
Quoteldquordquo
ldquordquo
ldquoNot everything that can be counted counts and not everything thatcounts can be countedrdquo
- Albert Einstein
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3739
18 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
takes a long time or people to re-engage And in todayrsquos world this
presents real problems or healthcare organizations aced with short-ages in many proessions Tere is a huge risk o alienating and poten-
tially losing needed staff or in causing long delays We can do better
Not so long ago it wasnrsquot conventional wisdom that clinical application
rollouts are not I projects More frequently than not these were consid-
ered technical projects in which the point of celebration was when con-nection from workstation to central processor was reliable and wireless
access actually worked Te classic I People-Process-echnology trian-
gle never got much past echnology to the real hard work on the People-
Process axis Tat has all changed in the 21st century system implemen-
tations that are both successful and valuable have had people and process
on the front burner
When MemorialCare embarked on a 1047297ve-hospital roll-out of an
EMR in 2002 it had several things in its favor
bull Te technology the organization ultimately acquired was robust and
reliable it worked
bull It had 15 yearsrsquo experience with CPOE (computerized providerorder entry) Terefore although unevenly adopted it was not new
territory
bull It had had the experience of a system-wide roll-out and standard-
ization on a general 1047297nance human resources and materials man-
agement system When all was said and done users had not been
suffi ciently involved standardization fell short because involvement
was low business leadership was diffuse and I ownership was too
high It was judged successful overall but the organization continues
to move slowly forward with an underutilized set of applications
With this experience and the insights of others MemorialCare pri-
oritized engagement of physicians nurses pharmacists and other staffWell before 1047297nancial commitment to a new system was obtained Memo-
rialCare hired a ldquoCare Planning Executiverdquo a person whose full-time
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3839
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 19
activities were devoted to the project 1047297rst to help understand the drivers
of a new system scope out the territory to be covered gain the com-mitment of senior leaders as well as governance and outline the case
for change At my insistence the Care Planning Executive a registered
nurse and former hospital chief operating offi cer joined the organization
reporting to the system-wide CEO as a peer and partner of the CIO not
a staff member and a peer to the CEOs of each medical center campus
Tat dedication alone made clear the commitment intentions and over-
all priority of the company
Among several other critical success factorsmdashand the outcome was
a successmdashwas the overall employee engagement program that the Care
Planning Executive established In summary it was an education mar-
keting and training program dedicated to equipping the affected staffwith the knowledge and tools to embrace unavoidable change Staff com-
munication was clear that it wasnrsquot change for changersquos sake but a major
move forward in the paperless way care would be delivered and work-
1047298ows would be streamlined Of course at the time no one could have
foreseen later moves by government to push everyone in this direction
(with the American Recovery and Reconstruction Act of 2009) Because
of our early efforts wersquore now very well positioned
J Scott Joslyn
CIO
MemorialCareLong Beach California
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3939
About the BookDespite the promise of improving care and other benefits EMR implementations are highly disruptive to the
organization This book prepares you to lead or participate successfully in change managementtechnologyadoption efforts so that meaningful use of EMRs can be achieved The authors provide successful strategies
to plan and implement change The content is based on their decades of combined experience designing
and leading technology adoption programs
Sections of the book deal with establishing a foundation for change building commitment and developing
requisite skill in helping users be successful with technology The book includes numerous lessons learned
tips for success best practices and case studies from organizations that have handled change well
About the AuthorsClaire McCarthy MA is a recognized technology adoption strategist and leader
with 25 years of healthcare industry experience supporting people through softwareimplementations and other large-scale change efforts As Director of Organizational
Effectiveness for Kaiser Permanentersquos enterprise-wide EMR deployment Ms McCarthy
led a national community of practice focused on preparing users to assume new
roles and responsibilities in support of organizational objectives Ms McCarthy
speaks internationally on the topic of technology adoption encouraging healthcare
leaders around the globe to set the stage for benefit realization by investing in the
people side of EMR implementation
Douglas Eastman PhD is an organizational development executive with extensive
experience managing large-scale change initiatives With more than 20 years
of consulting experience Dr Eastmanrsquos focus is to help organizations grow and
manage change by unleashing human potential His specialties are organizationaltransformation technology adoption and optimization process redesign strategic
planning and program and tools development As the Executive Director of Technology
Adoption and Organizational Capability within the Kaiser Permanente IT Care
Delivery Business Information Office Dr Eastman has pioneered several of Kaiserrsquos
implementation readiness toolsmethodologies and post-live optimization strategies
programs adding to the organizationrsquos ability to realize the benefit of its technology
About HIMSS The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) is a comprehensive healthcare-
stakeholder membership organization exclusively focused on providing global leadership for the optimal
use of information technology (IT) and management systems for the betterment of healthcare Founded in
1961 with offices in Chicago Washington DC Brussels Singapore and other locations across the United
States HIMSS represents more than 23000 individual members of which 73 work in patient care delivery
settings HIMSS also includes over 380 corporate members and nearly 30 not-for-profit organizations that
share our mission of transforming healthcare through the effective use of information technology and
management systems HIMSS frames and leads healthcare public policy and industry practices through
its educational professional development and advocacy initiatives designed to promote information and
management systemsrsquo contributions to ensuring quality patient care
ISBN 978-0-9821070-6-5
Order Code 564
230 E Ohio St Suite 500
Chicago IL 60611ndash3270
312-915-9295
www himss org
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1839
xvii
Acknowledgments
Te authors would like to thank the ollowing individuals or sharing
their expertise and experiences or this book
Saaa Al-Haddad MD
Internal Medicine
University Hospitals
Cleveland Ohio
Ronnie D Bower Jr MA
Manager Change Management
BayCare Health System
ampa Florida
Nabil Chehade MD MSBS
CPC
Director Medical Inormatics
Regional Chie o Urology
KP HealthConnect RegionalPhysician Lead
Kaiser Permanente Medical
Group
Cleveland Ohio
Kenneth Goodman MD
Associate Director Center
or Continuing Medical
Education
Department o Family Medicine
Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland Ohio
Marie Hamilton RN
Kaiser Permanente
Oregon Federation o Nurses
and Health ProessionalsHealthcare Inormation
echnology Committee
AF Healthcare
Portland Oregon
Lindsey P Jarrell FACHE
Senior Vice President amp CIO
BayCare Health System
ampa Florida
J Scott JoslynCIO
MemorialCare
Long Beach Caliornia
Margaret M Rudoph PhD
Consultant
Vancouver British Columbia
Canada
om Smith
CIO
NorthShore University Health
System
Evanston Illinois
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1939
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2039
1
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 983089
Te Business Case forChange Management
ldquoWersquore not in Kansas anymorehelliprdquo
In the introduction an EMR implementation is compared to a tornado
in that it whips through an organization turning lie upside down and
throwing users into a world 1047297lled with new ways o doing things and
seeking ways to recapture some sense o balance and control EMR
technology disrupts the status quo and along with the many opportu-
nities it promises it also brings a whirlwind o seemingly never-ending
changes which can have an entirely different effect on different people
While an implementation that is effectively managed even brings these
challenges a poor implementation can be disastrous and will cost the
organization much more time energy and money to get things back
on track
Dorothy the character rom the movie Te Wizard of Oz held
her composure pretty well through the tornado that ripped her rom
a calm stable lie on the arm and threw her into a oreign world She
was able to manage through the obstacles and challenges and stay the
course as she ollowed the yellow brick road in search o the wizard
Some say this is similar to the experience users have except or the
part when Dorothy wakes up rom her dream and 1047297nds hersel back
home as she remembers itEMR implementations donrsquot have to be nightmarish or users but
there certainly will be obstacles and challenges along the way Te key is
to help users through the road blocks and enable them to experience a
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2139
2 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
positive journey Tis process is always easier when people know what
they are getting into eel supported and are prepared or what liesahead both good and bad Tis is the role o change management
CHANGE MANAGEMEN DEFINED
Itrsquos important to understand why you should make an investment in
the people side o the projectmdashbringing in the best technology pos-
sible doesnrsquot mean anything unless users are comortable and pro1047297-
cient in its use Te truth is just because you build it doesnrsquot mean they
will come
Letrsquos start by answering the two questions we are most ofen asked
ldquoWhat is change management anyway What is it change managers
dordquoo avoid conusion wersquoll say up ront we are not talking about
change management as it relates to technical issues such as version or
change control We also want to be clear that change management is
not project management What we are talking about is the human side
o electronic medical records implementations the human-ocused
work o engaging and preparing people to succeed in the new world
o EMRs
A word about project management while good project manage-
ment acilitates change management the two disciplines are not the
same Project management is much more linear and task-ocused
whereas change management deals with the complexities o human
behavior But a good project plan creates a structure and a ounda-
tion in which the change management process can occur Tereore
the two disciplines though different complement and support each
other
A word o caution do not conuse the project plan with the end
result Te plan is necessary and it guides you throughout the process
Te plan is proactive itrsquos the order in the chaos But technology adop-
tion is kind o like herding cats itrsquos unpredictable and you need to
maintain 1047298exibility to respond as things evolve Tis is a more reactive
process than what may be expressed in a plan In our experience an
EMR implementation requires both structure and 1047298exibility
Tere is a saying in change management circles When one door
closes another one opens but sometimes itrsquos hell in the hallway Change
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2239
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 3
management deals mostly with the hallway situation acilitating the
human transition rom the present to the uture Tese days change isongoing and requires ocused leadership i it is to be as ast and pain-
less as possible
Te three legs o the project stool represent the critical compo-nents o an implementation (Figure 1-1)mdashPeople Process and ech-
nology Te people are the most important When technology projects
ail it is primarily due to a lack o use and not a ailure o the sof-
ware Te ocus o change management is people and the objective is
to change behavior Tis is good or business because it accelerates the
change process so bene1047297ts are achieved aster Change management
is not about being nice or placing an emphasis on eelings Itrsquos about
perormance improvement and results
I you search the literature you will 1047297nd a variety o de1047297nitions o
human-ocused change management Tey all cover similar concepts
sometimes using different terminology Te simplest explanation ochange management is to say ldquoItrsquos all about the peoplerdquo But or the
purposes o this book we expand on that concept and use the ollow-
ing de1047297nition o change management
bull A structured process designed to deal directly and intentionally
with the human actors involved in not just planning and imple-
menting an EMR but through behavior change achieving the
anticipated bene1047297ts that justi1047297ed the project in the 1047297rst place
bull Desired behavior change is achieved by helping people understand
and internalize change and by preparing them to be successul
contributors in the uture state In the case o EMR implementa-
tions effective change management delivers users who are willingand able to use an EMR in a way that satis1047297es the requirements o
the job the needs o the patient and the health o the organization
Key Tip
Our assumption is that the software you are implementing
works If the software doesnrsquot work you have another kind of
problem one that even the best change management wonrsquot
resolve
Key Tip
Our assumption is that the software you are implementing
works If the software doesnrsquot work you have another kind of
problemmdashone that even the best change management wonrsquot
resolve
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2339
4 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
Well-designed integrated people-ocused work builds logically
over time in a way that makes sense to the user It brings users along
guiding and supporting them so they arrive at where you want them
to be Tis is about willingness and ability hearts and minds You must
have both
Te overarching purpose o change management is to acceleratethe speed at which people move successfully through the change
process so that anticipated bene1047297ts are achieved faster And there
are additional bene1047297ts to change management Trough optimizing
the effi ciency and effi cacy o users an effective EMR change manage-
ment program will also
bull Improve organizational outcomes and perormance (effective use
o the system generates value to patients and the organization)
bull Enhance employee satisaction morale and engagement (when
people learn new skills meet perormance expectations and con-
tribute to a greater good they eel pride in their accomplishments)
bull Improve service quality (users eel valued and supported by anorganization that makes an investment in them this positively
impacts how they treat patients)
Figure 1-1 The Three-legged Stool
Technology
People Process
Technology
People Process
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2439
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 5
bull Help achieve hoped-or bene1047297ts (bene1047297ts that include EMR value
realization reduction o errors return on investment)bull Create higher levels o openness trust involvement and teamwork
(develop an engaged workorce)
bull Build change capability and capacity in the organization resulting
in improved ability to respond quickly and effectively to new situa-
tions (create organizational nimbleness through embedded change
management knowledge structure and process)
In other words it really is all about the people Intentionally man-
aging the cultural behavioral and organizational changes that need
to take place to make the desired EMR uture not only a reality but
a sustainable reality pays off on many levels in that it also acilitates
organizational transormation Building on individual capability andorganizational capacity change management results in a change-
capable culturemdasha huge advantage in todayrsquos competitive and ast-
changing world
Change Management echnology AdoptionmdashWhatrsquos the Difference
Tere are a number o terms that people use to reer to the work
involved in managing the people side o a change effort We think o
change management as the mother ship that is the umbrella term that
embraces all specialties within the 1047297eld Similar to the various special-
ties or domains o service within a healthcare system change man-agement proessionals may choose speci1047297c areas o ocus echnology
adoption speci1047297cally inormation technology (I) is one such area
and it involves the application o change management principles to the
implementation o I Te focus of this book is technology adoption
and we will mostly use this term instead of change management
throughout the rest of the book
Effective technology adoption proessionals align themselves with
the operationalbusiness side o the organization and tailor solutions
that drive behavioral change and tangible outcomes Tey participate in
EMR implementation projects rom the beginning driving the people
side o change throughout and continuing to add value post-live as theEMR becomes part o the central nervous system o the organization
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2539
6 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
HE IMPORANCE OF HE PEOPLE SIDE
OF AN EMR IMPLEMENAIONTere are many reerences in the literature to ailed change efforts and
I implementations Estimates are that only one third o these projects
achieve success which means two thirds ail to meet expectations Te
good news is that ailure is optional as much has been learned about
why some change efforts ail and others succeed
Herersquos the issue while the change that is going to occur is an exter-
nal eventmdashthe EMR implementation a reorganization proposed out-
sourcing a promotion etcmdashthe transition rom old to new that those
who are impacted experience is a psychological and emotional pro-
cess It is this transition that is diffi cultmdasheven when a change is sel-
imposed or considered positive
In the words o William Bridges a key thought leader in manage-
ment o transitions ldquoIt isnrsquot the changes that do you in itrsquos the transi-
tion afer the change that doesrdquo1
For an implementation team part o the problem encountered
during transition is that change is messy people start where they are
not where we want them to be And when considering the personnel
within a typical hospital people can be all over the place in terms o
comort with computers stage in lie commitment to the organiza-
tion ear o change etc Add to this the act that or change to be suc-
cessul three things must occur People
bull Must let go o their current reality have an ending
bull Go through a conused period in-between (hell in the hallway)
bull Only then can have a new beginning 1
o take this a step urther while I consultants want to install the
system and make enhancements the users will ultimately determine
how the system is used Tis use is affected by human not technical
actors
bull Different rames o reerence backgrounds experiences with
technology
bull Organizational history and experience with other large-scale
change projects
bull Levels o resistance ear ability to deal with ambiguity
bull Degree o alignment o ldquoWhatrsquos in it or merdquo or the various stake-
holder groups
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2639
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 7
bull Ineffi ciencies uncovered because the system creates transparency
bull Workarounds that become quickly entrenchedbull Pressure to get through the day can override doing what is right
bull User worklie balance issues coming into play rom the very
beginning
All o these actors create problems or implementation teams that
just want to install technology How do you effectively address the
people issues Or is it easier to just install the technology and assume
that people will learn because they have to use it Some on the imple-
mentation team may alsely assume that users o an EMR system will
snap into place over time and do what is right or the organization
Tis thinking is a oolrsquos paradise
In the oreword to this book Dave Garets made the point that EMRdeployments are not about technology but about equipping organiza-
tions to reach critical business objectives by providing employees with
technical capabilities that make new things possible and by engaging
them in changing their behavior to effectively use the new capabilities
to generate desired results
With all due respect to the technical side o an EMR implemen-
tation installing the technology is only hal the battle Tis is not to
degrade the importance o the technology Te act that we spend a lot
o money researching technology acquiring it con1047297guring it install-
ing it and supporting it speaks to its importance I we werenrsquot imple-
menting EMRs we wouldnrsquot even be having a discussion about EMR-related change management
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2739
8 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
But implementation o the technology is just a 1047297rst and very nec-
essary stepmdashbecause in and o itsel the technology does not generate
value Te technology is necessary but not suffi cient or bene1047297t realiza-
tion to occur o create value requires people and this is why change
management is so important oo much o a ocus on technology even
in the early stages will create issues downstream And even with the
best technology i not used effi ciently hoped-or bene1047297ts will be tough
to achieve
CIO Perspective
ldquoDuring my masters program I took an Organization Development
class that really opened my eyes to peoplesrsquo needs during large-scale
change Since the OD class I have been very interested in what makes
people tick and why people react in different ways to the same
environment No matter how good of an idea a large-scale technology
implementation is we will always have early adopters average adopters
and laggards As leaders within large organizations we have a
responsibility to plan for and respect all types of technology adopters
Ultimately the people who work within in our organizations want a positive
human experience when they are at work
Utilizing a change management methodology enables the implementation
and leadership teams to provide a positive experience during the period of
significant change By utilizing a solid change management methodologythe organization promotes team communication a safer environment for
the patient a work environment that promotes trust and an environment
where people are allowed to talk about the fear of change All of this
promotes a better human experience and a much stronger work force
hellip An effective change management program has meant the difference
between good go-lives and great go-lives at our 10 hospitalsrdquo
Lindsey P Jarrell FACHE
SVP amp CIO
BayCare Health System
Clearwater FL
CIO Perspective
During my masters program I took an Organization Development
class that really opened my eyes to peoplesrsquo needs during large-scale
change Since the OD class I have been very interested in what makes
people tick and why people react in different ways to the same
environment No matter how good of an idea a large-scale technology
implementation is we will always have early adopters average adopters
and laggards As leaders within large organizations we have a
responsibility to plan for and respect all types of technology adopters
Ultimately the people who work within in our organizations want a positive
human experience when they are at work
Utilizing a change management methodology enables the implementation
and leadership teams to provide a positive experience during the period of
significant change By utilizing a solid change management methodologythe organization promotes team communication a safer environment for
the patient a work environment that promotes trust and an environment
where people are allowed to talk about the fear of change All of this
promotes a better human experience and a much stronger work force
hellip An effective change management program has meant the difference
between good go-lives and great go-lives at our 10 hospitals
Lindsey P Jarrell FACHE
SVP amp CIO
BayCare Health System
Clearwater FL
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2839
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 9
Remember that change is a personal experience It is also local and
individual And itrsquos hardmdasheven when itrsquos sel-imposed and positive
Tere are no shortcuts People have to go through the process o change
in much the same way that we move through the stages o grie2 It canrsquot
be avoided or skipped You can measure twice and cut once or you
can cut now and then do costly remediation later Either way you canrsquot
avoid the expense or time required or real change to occur
SYSEMS PERSPECIVE
Experienced technology adoption proessionals embrace a systems
perspective when given the assignment to drive perormance man-
age perceptions and increase the utilization o new and existing tech-
nology A systems approach is the ability to see the big picture and
address the interrelationships among the variables within the abric o
CIO Perspective
ldquoIrsquove been in healthcare IT a long time and I now realize itrsquos
all about change management What was considered soft is
now hard We know so much more about how to install
technologymdashItrsquos the people part we donrsquot know well yet
and so itrsquos hardrdquo
Scott Joslyn
CIO
MemorialCare
Long Beach CA
CIO Perspective
Irsquove been in healthcare IT a long time and I now realize itrsquos
all about change management What was considered soft is
now hard We know so much more about how to install
technologymdashitrsquos the people part we donrsquot know well yet
and so itrsquos hard
J Scott Joslyn
CIO
MemorialCare
Long Beach CA
Quoteldquordquo
ldquoNo man can think clearly when his fists are clenchedrdquo
- George Jean Nathan
Quoteldquordquo
ldquordquo
ldquoNo man can think clearly when his fists are clenchedrdquo
- George Jean Nathan
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2939
10 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
the organization and in1047298uence the combined impact these variables
have on organizational effectiveness As each variable has the powerto in1047298uence the outcome o any intervention behavior change is ofen
not sustainable because variables tend to work against one another
Effective technology adoption strategies account or this interrelation-
shipinterdependency and aim to bring these variables into alignment
as a means or driving sustainable results
Figure 1-2 introduces the Organizational Fabric Model which
highlights the six primary threads (or variables) that are interwoven
in the abric (or culture) o an organization Te model suggests that
all six threads must work in concert to successully shape the organi-
zational abric A well-woven technology adoption plan strategically
manipulates these threads to in1047298uence desired change A poorly wovenplan in which a thread or combination o threads is not accounted
or leads to disaster or by way o analogy will hit a snag down the
road Depending on the 1047298exibility and durability o this abric a snag
can result in a huge hole that detracts rom the overall strength o the
intervention Te intent o the Organizational Fabric Model is to stress
how important it is to understand the uture state recognize how each
variable or combination o variables will come into play and develop a
sound technology adoption program that appropriately in1047298uences this
set o variables to reshape the abric or culture so desired change can
actually take place
Te Organizational Fabric Model will be revisited in subsequent
chapters as each thread or variable is explored in urther detail For
now we reiterate that technology adoption strategies must not rely
on only one or two threads to drive behavior change Sustainable out-
comes result rom an organizationrsquos ability to leverage the combination
o all six threads working in concert to create an environment orsuccess
Key Point
Fundamentally culture is ldquothe way we do things around hererdquo
Key Point
Fundamentally culture is ldquothe way we do things around hererdquo
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3039
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 11
CREAING AN ENVIRONMEN FOR SUCCESS
echnology adoption is about creating a context an environment in
which change can be achieved and sustained over the long term Tis
involves two levelsmdashorganizational and individual
With an EMR implementation the organization must create thesupporting environment provide needed training and resources
articulate a clear direction coupled with clear expectations engage its
people include them in the process and reinorce desired new behav-
iors Tis is not about checking things off a list but rather about 1047297nd-
ing synergy among impacted groups giving them what they need and
coordinating efforts to meet the end goal Itrsquos an ongoing effort
o give you an idea o what we are talking about herersquos an exam-
ple o an individual situation occurring within a social context Tink
about what happens when you want to make a signi1047297cant change in
your personal liemdashquit smoking stop drinking lose weight Itrsquos one
thing to talk with a doctor or another proessional about what needsto happen when yoursquore in their offi ce but once you leave the offi ce
you then return to your social reality I your riends and amily donrsquot
want your behavior to change you will have a tough time All the rein-
Figure 1-2 Organizational Fabric Model
Sponsorship
Stakeholder Mgmt
Training
Vision
Reinforcement
Communications
Sponsorship
Stakeholder Mgmt
Training
Vision
Reinforcement
Communications
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3139
12 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
orcements and temptations will conspire to prevent you rom mak-
ing changes But i you can get some important people in your lieto make the changes with you or at least support you in the process
you have a much greater chance o success Te lesson is donrsquot send a
changed person back into an unchanged environment if you want
to see behavior change
Engaging individuals involves arousing two key aspects mdashwilling-
ness and ability Te organization must in1047298uence both in order to suc-
ceed With the help o the Skill Versus Will Matrix (Figure 1-3) think
about it this way
bull When people want to do something but donrsquot know how they canrsquot
(willingunable)
bull When people know how but donrsquot want to they wonrsquot(ableunwilling)
Can you think o examples in your own lie when you have been in
either o these situations
Consider the circumstance o people who know how to do some-
thing but donrsquot want to do it Tis is a ldquowillrdquo not a ldquoskillrdquo issue and it is
a very common technology adoption dilemma I the amount o work
and effort involved are not perceived by the user as being equal to the
Figure 1-3 The Skill versus Will Matrix
Skill
Will
WONrsquoT
WONrsquoT
DOES
CANrsquoTLow
High
HighLow
Skill
Will
WONrsquoT
WONrsquoT
DOES
CANrsquoTLow
High
HighLow HighLow
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3239
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 13
return or value experienced through the implementation the user will
most likely choose to reduce the effort A goal o an effective people-ocused strategy is to identiy potential areas o disconnect and 1047297nd
ways to increase the perceived value to users Te assumption is that
when the return is perceived to be greater the effort increases When
there are no incentives to try harder it may be diffi cult to drive desired
behavior change
Te point in getting users to actively support the deployment o
an EMR is about a lot more than a communication plan or eature
unction training Managing the people side o an EMR implementa-
tion requires a savvy technology adoption plan that ties sponsorship
training communication work1047298ow harmonization user support and
reinorcement with the business priorities o the organization andeffectively coordinates all o these activities with the user in mindmdashin
an environment that reinorces desired behavior changes
Key Questions
Two key questions to remember throughout the
project arehellip
(1) How will this decision impact the user
(2) How might it impact patients
Key Questions
Two key questions to remember throughout the
project are
(1) How will this decision impact the user
(2) How might it impact patients
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3339
14 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
Consider this example
In this example what are the key elements o this process that
ensure success
bull Te picture of success the desired outcome is clearmdashit is or the
child to become a unctioning adult in the community
bull How this happens is clearly de1047297ned in behavioral terms Tere is a
process that is known and understood by the entire community
including children
bull Leaders at all levels in the community agree on the desired out-
come support the entire process and actively ful1047297ll their roles to ensure success Leaders include village elders and ormal lead-
ers parents o the children inormal opinion leaders and amily
members
bull Te children who are about to become adults take an active role
in their own transormation taking responsibility or their suc-
cess Tey receive guidance and counsel rom elders Tey know
and understand the transormation process and what they must do
to achieve their new status Goals and steps are clear Tey also
understand the consequences o not successully transitioning to
adulthood
bull I there is more than one child slated to go through transormationto adulthood at the same time they are a peer group and as appro-
priate prepare together and support each other
Key Point
In native cultures there tend to be rites of passage that serve
to transition a person from childhood to adult status in the
community The child may actually leave the village for a day or
two of contemplation following a prescribed process When the
child returns he or she is redefined as an adult and assumes
the consequent privileges and responsibilities The entire
community reinforces the personrsquos new status the new adult is
not allowed to return to being a child whenever itrsquos convenient
but is supported to complete the transformation to adulthood
The change to adulthood does not happen in a vacuum but is
part of a carefully designed process that ensures success
Key Point
In native cultures there tend to be rites of passage that serve
to transition a person from childhood to adult status in the
community The child may actually leave the village for a day or
two of contemplation following a prescribed process When the
child returns he or she is redefined as an adult and assumes
the consequent privileges and responsibilities The entire
community reinforces the personrsquos new status the new adult is
not allowed to return to being a child whenever itrsquos convenient
but is supported to complete the transformation to adulthood
The change to adulthood does not happen in a vacuum but is
part of a carefully designed process that ensures success
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3439
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 15
bull Te entire community works together to bring about the
transormationbull Success results in positive reinforcement
Te environmental context is the trump card in any implementerrsquos
hand It takes a lot o work to create a suitable environment but it is an
essential ingredient in being able to drive and sustain change
Willingness and Ability
Earlier we mentioned willingness and ability as key concepts in tech-
nology adoption Willingness and ability can also be thought o as
hearts and minds or will and skill Te point is the same regardless
o the terms used People need to be supported on both an emotional
level to commit and on an intellectual level to be able Te questionto be answered is ldquoWhat are the conditions under which users will
accept and adopt the EMRrdquo
Letrsquos talk about willingness 1047297rst
Willingness or hearts is the commitment to go orward Tis is
impacted by many things including the ollowing elements
bull Leadership Perceived support or lack o support or the change
rom senior executives in the company the cascade o sponsors
down through the organization and just as importantly rom the
employeersquos direct supervisor
bull Communication Quality and requency o verbal and written
messages that describe the desired uture state tell why the changeneeds to happen and what will happen i change isnrsquot made set
clear expectations explain how the company will prepare and sup-
port people to success and describe local details such as timelines
etc
bull Reinforcement Degree o appropriateness and timeliness o
rewards or demonstrating desired new behaviors and conse-
quences or sticking to the old ways
bull Participation Degree to which users are involved every step o
the way either directly as individuals or indirectly by being effec-
tively represented by trusted local opinion leader peers who serve
as liaisons between users and the project teambull Organizational History with Change Previous organizational
experience with changemdashgood and badmdashwill in1047298uence user per-
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3539
16 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
ceptions and expectations o the EMR implementation Under-
standing the past is important in planning or the utureTis all sounds logical but the reaction to it can be emotional Tis
is where people conront their ear o ailure eeling stupid making
mistakes etc Remember that the change may require people to give
up the very things that they believe made them successul in the past
Tis can be a diffi cult sell
Ability or minds is about the actual capability to successully
meet new job expectations Tis is impacted by many things including
the ollowing elements
bull raining and Support In most cases the new EMR abilities must
be learned An effective training program that is role-based and
intentionally ocused on preparing people to perorm new jobexpectations is key Just discussing desired outcomes is not enough
though we have to clearly tell people what we want them to do
Tis requires an intellectual understanding o what and how a
conceptual understanding is necessary but not suffi cient Most
people need to practice something new to develop competence and
con1047297dence Sae opportunities to practice preerably with immedi-
ate eedback are very important to pro1047297ciency development and
sustainability
Getting people to move in the direction you want is the diffi -
cultymdashsome say the hardest part o the whole project And i you agree
that people are the oundation o successmdashthat bene1047297t realization isdependant not on technology but on people agreeing to go through
personal disruption learn new things change established patterns and
conront their earsmdashthen we must be proactive and courageous in
addressing the human issues
Tis is the people side o the project Tis is the organizational read-
iness unction It involves collaboration coordination and sequencing
o activities inormation and events rom all people-ocused areas Te
idea is to have all the people-ocused unctions working together to
reach clearly de1047297ned shared outcomes Te organizational readiness
plan to create individual and organizational readiness is the umbrella
that connects it allmdashthe glue that holds it together and the grease thatmakes it workmdashor the user We will address the structure and process
or doing this in more detail in subsequent chapters
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3639
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 17
Good News on wo Fronts
1 Tere is a social science Tere is a body o work research andsubsequent publications about the human experience with change
Tere are proven change management strategies tools and tech-
niques Tis isnrsquot olklore hooey or black magic Te transition
process is known and predictable Tere is a change curve that
describes the steps (Chapter 5 Stakeholder Management) And
though there is no silver bullet it isnrsquot rocket science Senior
healthcare executives must take the emerging proession o change
managementtechnology adoption seriously Not understanding it
is no excuse or ignoring it Tat is ar too expensive an option
2 All people go through transition when changemdashgood or badmdash
happens in both their personal and proessional lie You canrsquot
avoid it Te wonderul thing is i you learn about change and
transition at work it will improve your personal lie Tis is one
o the times to ldquotry this at homerdquo Wersquore all humanmdashat work and
at home So treat your people as the humans they are and avoid
some predictable expense and diffi culty Lead your organization
to a successul outcome and speed up the process by treating your
staff as customers 1047297rst
Donrsquot make the mistake o glossing over the critical human aspects
o change Hire experts and 1047297nd the emotionally intelligent people in
your organization who want to participate And remember you can
install technology without your people but you canrsquot ully implement
and achieve return on investment without them Consciously choose
to move fear and resistance to trust and adoption Itrsquos a case o pay
now or pay later I you wait until later it will always cost more ech-
nology Adoption is expensive but not as expensive as trying to gloss
it over and then having to undo the damage When ailure happens it
Quoteldquordquo
ldquoNot everything that can be counted counts and not everything thatcounts can be countedrdquo
- Albert Einstein
Quoteldquordquo
ldquordquo
ldquoNot everything that can be counted counts and not everything thatcounts can be countedrdquo
- Albert Einstein
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3739
18 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
takes a long time or people to re-engage And in todayrsquos world this
presents real problems or healthcare organizations aced with short-ages in many proessions Tere is a huge risk o alienating and poten-
tially losing needed staff or in causing long delays We can do better
Not so long ago it wasnrsquot conventional wisdom that clinical application
rollouts are not I projects More frequently than not these were consid-
ered technical projects in which the point of celebration was when con-nection from workstation to central processor was reliable and wireless
access actually worked Te classic I People-Process-echnology trian-
gle never got much past echnology to the real hard work on the People-
Process axis Tat has all changed in the 21st century system implemen-
tations that are both successful and valuable have had people and process
on the front burner
When MemorialCare embarked on a 1047297ve-hospital roll-out of an
EMR in 2002 it had several things in its favor
bull Te technology the organization ultimately acquired was robust and
reliable it worked
bull It had 15 yearsrsquo experience with CPOE (computerized providerorder entry) Terefore although unevenly adopted it was not new
territory
bull It had had the experience of a system-wide roll-out and standard-
ization on a general 1047297nance human resources and materials man-
agement system When all was said and done users had not been
suffi ciently involved standardization fell short because involvement
was low business leadership was diffuse and I ownership was too
high It was judged successful overall but the organization continues
to move slowly forward with an underutilized set of applications
With this experience and the insights of others MemorialCare pri-
oritized engagement of physicians nurses pharmacists and other staffWell before 1047297nancial commitment to a new system was obtained Memo-
rialCare hired a ldquoCare Planning Executiverdquo a person whose full-time
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3839
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 19
activities were devoted to the project 1047297rst to help understand the drivers
of a new system scope out the territory to be covered gain the com-mitment of senior leaders as well as governance and outline the case
for change At my insistence the Care Planning Executive a registered
nurse and former hospital chief operating offi cer joined the organization
reporting to the system-wide CEO as a peer and partner of the CIO not
a staff member and a peer to the CEOs of each medical center campus
Tat dedication alone made clear the commitment intentions and over-
all priority of the company
Among several other critical success factorsmdashand the outcome was
a successmdashwas the overall employee engagement program that the Care
Planning Executive established In summary it was an education mar-
keting and training program dedicated to equipping the affected staffwith the knowledge and tools to embrace unavoidable change Staff com-
munication was clear that it wasnrsquot change for changersquos sake but a major
move forward in the paperless way care would be delivered and work-
1047298ows would be streamlined Of course at the time no one could have
foreseen later moves by government to push everyone in this direction
(with the American Recovery and Reconstruction Act of 2009) Because
of our early efforts wersquore now very well positioned
J Scott Joslyn
CIO
MemorialCareLong Beach California
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3939
About the BookDespite the promise of improving care and other benefits EMR implementations are highly disruptive to the
organization This book prepares you to lead or participate successfully in change managementtechnologyadoption efforts so that meaningful use of EMRs can be achieved The authors provide successful strategies
to plan and implement change The content is based on their decades of combined experience designing
and leading technology adoption programs
Sections of the book deal with establishing a foundation for change building commitment and developing
requisite skill in helping users be successful with technology The book includes numerous lessons learned
tips for success best practices and case studies from organizations that have handled change well
About the AuthorsClaire McCarthy MA is a recognized technology adoption strategist and leader
with 25 years of healthcare industry experience supporting people through softwareimplementations and other large-scale change efforts As Director of Organizational
Effectiveness for Kaiser Permanentersquos enterprise-wide EMR deployment Ms McCarthy
led a national community of practice focused on preparing users to assume new
roles and responsibilities in support of organizational objectives Ms McCarthy
speaks internationally on the topic of technology adoption encouraging healthcare
leaders around the globe to set the stage for benefit realization by investing in the
people side of EMR implementation
Douglas Eastman PhD is an organizational development executive with extensive
experience managing large-scale change initiatives With more than 20 years
of consulting experience Dr Eastmanrsquos focus is to help organizations grow and
manage change by unleashing human potential His specialties are organizationaltransformation technology adoption and optimization process redesign strategic
planning and program and tools development As the Executive Director of Technology
Adoption and Organizational Capability within the Kaiser Permanente IT Care
Delivery Business Information Office Dr Eastman has pioneered several of Kaiserrsquos
implementation readiness toolsmethodologies and post-live optimization strategies
programs adding to the organizationrsquos ability to realize the benefit of its technology
About HIMSS The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) is a comprehensive healthcare-
stakeholder membership organization exclusively focused on providing global leadership for the optimal
use of information technology (IT) and management systems for the betterment of healthcare Founded in
1961 with offices in Chicago Washington DC Brussels Singapore and other locations across the United
States HIMSS represents more than 23000 individual members of which 73 work in patient care delivery
settings HIMSS also includes over 380 corporate members and nearly 30 not-for-profit organizations that
share our mission of transforming healthcare through the effective use of information technology and
management systems HIMSS frames and leads healthcare public policy and industry practices through
its educational professional development and advocacy initiatives designed to promote information and
management systemsrsquo contributions to ensuring quality patient care
ISBN 978-0-9821070-6-5
Order Code 564
230 E Ohio St Suite 500
Chicago IL 60611ndash3270
312-915-9295
www himss org
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 1939
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2039
1
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 983089
Te Business Case forChange Management
ldquoWersquore not in Kansas anymorehelliprdquo
In the introduction an EMR implementation is compared to a tornado
in that it whips through an organization turning lie upside down and
throwing users into a world 1047297lled with new ways o doing things and
seeking ways to recapture some sense o balance and control EMR
technology disrupts the status quo and along with the many opportu-
nities it promises it also brings a whirlwind o seemingly never-ending
changes which can have an entirely different effect on different people
While an implementation that is effectively managed even brings these
challenges a poor implementation can be disastrous and will cost the
organization much more time energy and money to get things back
on track
Dorothy the character rom the movie Te Wizard of Oz held
her composure pretty well through the tornado that ripped her rom
a calm stable lie on the arm and threw her into a oreign world She
was able to manage through the obstacles and challenges and stay the
course as she ollowed the yellow brick road in search o the wizard
Some say this is similar to the experience users have except or the
part when Dorothy wakes up rom her dream and 1047297nds hersel back
home as she remembers itEMR implementations donrsquot have to be nightmarish or users but
there certainly will be obstacles and challenges along the way Te key is
to help users through the road blocks and enable them to experience a
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2139
2 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
positive journey Tis process is always easier when people know what
they are getting into eel supported and are prepared or what liesahead both good and bad Tis is the role o change management
CHANGE MANAGEMEN DEFINED
Itrsquos important to understand why you should make an investment in
the people side o the projectmdashbringing in the best technology pos-
sible doesnrsquot mean anything unless users are comortable and pro1047297-
cient in its use Te truth is just because you build it doesnrsquot mean they
will come
Letrsquos start by answering the two questions we are most ofen asked
ldquoWhat is change management anyway What is it change managers
dordquoo avoid conusion wersquoll say up ront we are not talking about
change management as it relates to technical issues such as version or
change control We also want to be clear that change management is
not project management What we are talking about is the human side
o electronic medical records implementations the human-ocused
work o engaging and preparing people to succeed in the new world
o EMRs
A word about project management while good project manage-
ment acilitates change management the two disciplines are not the
same Project management is much more linear and task-ocused
whereas change management deals with the complexities o human
behavior But a good project plan creates a structure and a ounda-
tion in which the change management process can occur Tereore
the two disciplines though different complement and support each
other
A word o caution do not conuse the project plan with the end
result Te plan is necessary and it guides you throughout the process
Te plan is proactive itrsquos the order in the chaos But technology adop-
tion is kind o like herding cats itrsquos unpredictable and you need to
maintain 1047298exibility to respond as things evolve Tis is a more reactive
process than what may be expressed in a plan In our experience an
EMR implementation requires both structure and 1047298exibility
Tere is a saying in change management circles When one door
closes another one opens but sometimes itrsquos hell in the hallway Change
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2239
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 3
management deals mostly with the hallway situation acilitating the
human transition rom the present to the uture Tese days change isongoing and requires ocused leadership i it is to be as ast and pain-
less as possible
Te three legs o the project stool represent the critical compo-nents o an implementation (Figure 1-1)mdashPeople Process and ech-
nology Te people are the most important When technology projects
ail it is primarily due to a lack o use and not a ailure o the sof-
ware Te ocus o change management is people and the objective is
to change behavior Tis is good or business because it accelerates the
change process so bene1047297ts are achieved aster Change management
is not about being nice or placing an emphasis on eelings Itrsquos about
perormance improvement and results
I you search the literature you will 1047297nd a variety o de1047297nitions o
human-ocused change management Tey all cover similar concepts
sometimes using different terminology Te simplest explanation ochange management is to say ldquoItrsquos all about the peoplerdquo But or the
purposes o this book we expand on that concept and use the ollow-
ing de1047297nition o change management
bull A structured process designed to deal directly and intentionally
with the human actors involved in not just planning and imple-
menting an EMR but through behavior change achieving the
anticipated bene1047297ts that justi1047297ed the project in the 1047297rst place
bull Desired behavior change is achieved by helping people understand
and internalize change and by preparing them to be successul
contributors in the uture state In the case o EMR implementa-
tions effective change management delivers users who are willingand able to use an EMR in a way that satis1047297es the requirements o
the job the needs o the patient and the health o the organization
Key Tip
Our assumption is that the software you are implementing
works If the software doesnrsquot work you have another kind of
problem one that even the best change management wonrsquot
resolve
Key Tip
Our assumption is that the software you are implementing
works If the software doesnrsquot work you have another kind of
problemmdashone that even the best change management wonrsquot
resolve
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2339
4 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
Well-designed integrated people-ocused work builds logically
over time in a way that makes sense to the user It brings users along
guiding and supporting them so they arrive at where you want them
to be Tis is about willingness and ability hearts and minds You must
have both
Te overarching purpose o change management is to acceleratethe speed at which people move successfully through the change
process so that anticipated bene1047297ts are achieved faster And there
are additional bene1047297ts to change management Trough optimizing
the effi ciency and effi cacy o users an effective EMR change manage-
ment program will also
bull Improve organizational outcomes and perormance (effective use
o the system generates value to patients and the organization)
bull Enhance employee satisaction morale and engagement (when
people learn new skills meet perormance expectations and con-
tribute to a greater good they eel pride in their accomplishments)
bull Improve service quality (users eel valued and supported by anorganization that makes an investment in them this positively
impacts how they treat patients)
Figure 1-1 The Three-legged Stool
Technology
People Process
Technology
People Process
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2439
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 5
bull Help achieve hoped-or bene1047297ts (bene1047297ts that include EMR value
realization reduction o errors return on investment)bull Create higher levels o openness trust involvement and teamwork
(develop an engaged workorce)
bull Build change capability and capacity in the organization resulting
in improved ability to respond quickly and effectively to new situa-
tions (create organizational nimbleness through embedded change
management knowledge structure and process)
In other words it really is all about the people Intentionally man-
aging the cultural behavioral and organizational changes that need
to take place to make the desired EMR uture not only a reality but
a sustainable reality pays off on many levels in that it also acilitates
organizational transormation Building on individual capability andorganizational capacity change management results in a change-
capable culturemdasha huge advantage in todayrsquos competitive and ast-
changing world
Change Management echnology AdoptionmdashWhatrsquos the Difference
Tere are a number o terms that people use to reer to the work
involved in managing the people side o a change effort We think o
change management as the mother ship that is the umbrella term that
embraces all specialties within the 1047297eld Similar to the various special-
ties or domains o service within a healthcare system change man-agement proessionals may choose speci1047297c areas o ocus echnology
adoption speci1047297cally inormation technology (I) is one such area
and it involves the application o change management principles to the
implementation o I Te focus of this book is technology adoption
and we will mostly use this term instead of change management
throughout the rest of the book
Effective technology adoption proessionals align themselves with
the operationalbusiness side o the organization and tailor solutions
that drive behavioral change and tangible outcomes Tey participate in
EMR implementation projects rom the beginning driving the people
side o change throughout and continuing to add value post-live as theEMR becomes part o the central nervous system o the organization
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2539
6 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
HE IMPORANCE OF HE PEOPLE SIDE
OF AN EMR IMPLEMENAIONTere are many reerences in the literature to ailed change efforts and
I implementations Estimates are that only one third o these projects
achieve success which means two thirds ail to meet expectations Te
good news is that ailure is optional as much has been learned about
why some change efforts ail and others succeed
Herersquos the issue while the change that is going to occur is an exter-
nal eventmdashthe EMR implementation a reorganization proposed out-
sourcing a promotion etcmdashthe transition rom old to new that those
who are impacted experience is a psychological and emotional pro-
cess It is this transition that is diffi cultmdasheven when a change is sel-
imposed or considered positive
In the words o William Bridges a key thought leader in manage-
ment o transitions ldquoIt isnrsquot the changes that do you in itrsquos the transi-
tion afer the change that doesrdquo1
For an implementation team part o the problem encountered
during transition is that change is messy people start where they are
not where we want them to be And when considering the personnel
within a typical hospital people can be all over the place in terms o
comort with computers stage in lie commitment to the organiza-
tion ear o change etc Add to this the act that or change to be suc-
cessul three things must occur People
bull Must let go o their current reality have an ending
bull Go through a conused period in-between (hell in the hallway)
bull Only then can have a new beginning 1
o take this a step urther while I consultants want to install the
system and make enhancements the users will ultimately determine
how the system is used Tis use is affected by human not technical
actors
bull Different rames o reerence backgrounds experiences with
technology
bull Organizational history and experience with other large-scale
change projects
bull Levels o resistance ear ability to deal with ambiguity
bull Degree o alignment o ldquoWhatrsquos in it or merdquo or the various stake-
holder groups
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2639
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 7
bull Ineffi ciencies uncovered because the system creates transparency
bull Workarounds that become quickly entrenchedbull Pressure to get through the day can override doing what is right
bull User worklie balance issues coming into play rom the very
beginning
All o these actors create problems or implementation teams that
just want to install technology How do you effectively address the
people issues Or is it easier to just install the technology and assume
that people will learn because they have to use it Some on the imple-
mentation team may alsely assume that users o an EMR system will
snap into place over time and do what is right or the organization
Tis thinking is a oolrsquos paradise
In the oreword to this book Dave Garets made the point that EMRdeployments are not about technology but about equipping organiza-
tions to reach critical business objectives by providing employees with
technical capabilities that make new things possible and by engaging
them in changing their behavior to effectively use the new capabilities
to generate desired results
With all due respect to the technical side o an EMR implemen-
tation installing the technology is only hal the battle Tis is not to
degrade the importance o the technology Te act that we spend a lot
o money researching technology acquiring it con1047297guring it install-
ing it and supporting it speaks to its importance I we werenrsquot imple-
menting EMRs we wouldnrsquot even be having a discussion about EMR-related change management
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2739
8 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
But implementation o the technology is just a 1047297rst and very nec-
essary stepmdashbecause in and o itsel the technology does not generate
value Te technology is necessary but not suffi cient or bene1047297t realiza-
tion to occur o create value requires people and this is why change
management is so important oo much o a ocus on technology even
in the early stages will create issues downstream And even with the
best technology i not used effi ciently hoped-or bene1047297ts will be tough
to achieve
CIO Perspective
ldquoDuring my masters program I took an Organization Development
class that really opened my eyes to peoplesrsquo needs during large-scale
change Since the OD class I have been very interested in what makes
people tick and why people react in different ways to the same
environment No matter how good of an idea a large-scale technology
implementation is we will always have early adopters average adopters
and laggards As leaders within large organizations we have a
responsibility to plan for and respect all types of technology adopters
Ultimately the people who work within in our organizations want a positive
human experience when they are at work
Utilizing a change management methodology enables the implementation
and leadership teams to provide a positive experience during the period of
significant change By utilizing a solid change management methodologythe organization promotes team communication a safer environment for
the patient a work environment that promotes trust and an environment
where people are allowed to talk about the fear of change All of this
promotes a better human experience and a much stronger work force
hellip An effective change management program has meant the difference
between good go-lives and great go-lives at our 10 hospitalsrdquo
Lindsey P Jarrell FACHE
SVP amp CIO
BayCare Health System
Clearwater FL
CIO Perspective
During my masters program I took an Organization Development
class that really opened my eyes to peoplesrsquo needs during large-scale
change Since the OD class I have been very interested in what makes
people tick and why people react in different ways to the same
environment No matter how good of an idea a large-scale technology
implementation is we will always have early adopters average adopters
and laggards As leaders within large organizations we have a
responsibility to plan for and respect all types of technology adopters
Ultimately the people who work within in our organizations want a positive
human experience when they are at work
Utilizing a change management methodology enables the implementation
and leadership teams to provide a positive experience during the period of
significant change By utilizing a solid change management methodologythe organization promotes team communication a safer environment for
the patient a work environment that promotes trust and an environment
where people are allowed to talk about the fear of change All of this
promotes a better human experience and a much stronger work force
hellip An effective change management program has meant the difference
between good go-lives and great go-lives at our 10 hospitals
Lindsey P Jarrell FACHE
SVP amp CIO
BayCare Health System
Clearwater FL
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2839
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 9
Remember that change is a personal experience It is also local and
individual And itrsquos hardmdasheven when itrsquos sel-imposed and positive
Tere are no shortcuts People have to go through the process o change
in much the same way that we move through the stages o grie2 It canrsquot
be avoided or skipped You can measure twice and cut once or you
can cut now and then do costly remediation later Either way you canrsquot
avoid the expense or time required or real change to occur
SYSEMS PERSPECIVE
Experienced technology adoption proessionals embrace a systems
perspective when given the assignment to drive perormance man-
age perceptions and increase the utilization o new and existing tech-
nology A systems approach is the ability to see the big picture and
address the interrelationships among the variables within the abric o
CIO Perspective
ldquoIrsquove been in healthcare IT a long time and I now realize itrsquos
all about change management What was considered soft is
now hard We know so much more about how to install
technologymdashItrsquos the people part we donrsquot know well yet
and so itrsquos hardrdquo
Scott Joslyn
CIO
MemorialCare
Long Beach CA
CIO Perspective
Irsquove been in healthcare IT a long time and I now realize itrsquos
all about change management What was considered soft is
now hard We know so much more about how to install
technologymdashitrsquos the people part we donrsquot know well yet
and so itrsquos hard
J Scott Joslyn
CIO
MemorialCare
Long Beach CA
Quoteldquordquo
ldquoNo man can think clearly when his fists are clenchedrdquo
- George Jean Nathan
Quoteldquordquo
ldquordquo
ldquoNo man can think clearly when his fists are clenchedrdquo
- George Jean Nathan
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2939
10 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
the organization and in1047298uence the combined impact these variables
have on organizational effectiveness As each variable has the powerto in1047298uence the outcome o any intervention behavior change is ofen
not sustainable because variables tend to work against one another
Effective technology adoption strategies account or this interrelation-
shipinterdependency and aim to bring these variables into alignment
as a means or driving sustainable results
Figure 1-2 introduces the Organizational Fabric Model which
highlights the six primary threads (or variables) that are interwoven
in the abric (or culture) o an organization Te model suggests that
all six threads must work in concert to successully shape the organi-
zational abric A well-woven technology adoption plan strategically
manipulates these threads to in1047298uence desired change A poorly wovenplan in which a thread or combination o threads is not accounted
or leads to disaster or by way o analogy will hit a snag down the
road Depending on the 1047298exibility and durability o this abric a snag
can result in a huge hole that detracts rom the overall strength o the
intervention Te intent o the Organizational Fabric Model is to stress
how important it is to understand the uture state recognize how each
variable or combination o variables will come into play and develop a
sound technology adoption program that appropriately in1047298uences this
set o variables to reshape the abric or culture so desired change can
actually take place
Te Organizational Fabric Model will be revisited in subsequent
chapters as each thread or variable is explored in urther detail For
now we reiterate that technology adoption strategies must not rely
on only one or two threads to drive behavior change Sustainable out-
comes result rom an organizationrsquos ability to leverage the combination
o all six threads working in concert to create an environment orsuccess
Key Point
Fundamentally culture is ldquothe way we do things around hererdquo
Key Point
Fundamentally culture is ldquothe way we do things around hererdquo
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3039
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 11
CREAING AN ENVIRONMEN FOR SUCCESS
echnology adoption is about creating a context an environment in
which change can be achieved and sustained over the long term Tis
involves two levelsmdashorganizational and individual
With an EMR implementation the organization must create thesupporting environment provide needed training and resources
articulate a clear direction coupled with clear expectations engage its
people include them in the process and reinorce desired new behav-
iors Tis is not about checking things off a list but rather about 1047297nd-
ing synergy among impacted groups giving them what they need and
coordinating efforts to meet the end goal Itrsquos an ongoing effort
o give you an idea o what we are talking about herersquos an exam-
ple o an individual situation occurring within a social context Tink
about what happens when you want to make a signi1047297cant change in
your personal liemdashquit smoking stop drinking lose weight Itrsquos one
thing to talk with a doctor or another proessional about what needsto happen when yoursquore in their offi ce but once you leave the offi ce
you then return to your social reality I your riends and amily donrsquot
want your behavior to change you will have a tough time All the rein-
Figure 1-2 Organizational Fabric Model
Sponsorship
Stakeholder Mgmt
Training
Vision
Reinforcement
Communications
Sponsorship
Stakeholder Mgmt
Training
Vision
Reinforcement
Communications
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3139
12 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
orcements and temptations will conspire to prevent you rom mak-
ing changes But i you can get some important people in your lieto make the changes with you or at least support you in the process
you have a much greater chance o success Te lesson is donrsquot send a
changed person back into an unchanged environment if you want
to see behavior change
Engaging individuals involves arousing two key aspects mdashwilling-
ness and ability Te organization must in1047298uence both in order to suc-
ceed With the help o the Skill Versus Will Matrix (Figure 1-3) think
about it this way
bull When people want to do something but donrsquot know how they canrsquot
(willingunable)
bull When people know how but donrsquot want to they wonrsquot(ableunwilling)
Can you think o examples in your own lie when you have been in
either o these situations
Consider the circumstance o people who know how to do some-
thing but donrsquot want to do it Tis is a ldquowillrdquo not a ldquoskillrdquo issue and it is
a very common technology adoption dilemma I the amount o work
and effort involved are not perceived by the user as being equal to the
Figure 1-3 The Skill versus Will Matrix
Skill
Will
WONrsquoT
WONrsquoT
DOES
CANrsquoTLow
High
HighLow
Skill
Will
WONrsquoT
WONrsquoT
DOES
CANrsquoTLow
High
HighLow HighLow
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3239
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 13
return or value experienced through the implementation the user will
most likely choose to reduce the effort A goal o an effective people-ocused strategy is to identiy potential areas o disconnect and 1047297nd
ways to increase the perceived value to users Te assumption is that
when the return is perceived to be greater the effort increases When
there are no incentives to try harder it may be diffi cult to drive desired
behavior change
Te point in getting users to actively support the deployment o
an EMR is about a lot more than a communication plan or eature
unction training Managing the people side o an EMR implementa-
tion requires a savvy technology adoption plan that ties sponsorship
training communication work1047298ow harmonization user support and
reinorcement with the business priorities o the organization andeffectively coordinates all o these activities with the user in mindmdashin
an environment that reinorces desired behavior changes
Key Questions
Two key questions to remember throughout the
project arehellip
(1) How will this decision impact the user
(2) How might it impact patients
Key Questions
Two key questions to remember throughout the
project are
(1) How will this decision impact the user
(2) How might it impact patients
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3339
14 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
Consider this example
In this example what are the key elements o this process that
ensure success
bull Te picture of success the desired outcome is clearmdashit is or the
child to become a unctioning adult in the community
bull How this happens is clearly de1047297ned in behavioral terms Tere is a
process that is known and understood by the entire community
including children
bull Leaders at all levels in the community agree on the desired out-
come support the entire process and actively ful1047297ll their roles to ensure success Leaders include village elders and ormal lead-
ers parents o the children inormal opinion leaders and amily
members
bull Te children who are about to become adults take an active role
in their own transormation taking responsibility or their suc-
cess Tey receive guidance and counsel rom elders Tey know
and understand the transormation process and what they must do
to achieve their new status Goals and steps are clear Tey also
understand the consequences o not successully transitioning to
adulthood
bull I there is more than one child slated to go through transormationto adulthood at the same time they are a peer group and as appro-
priate prepare together and support each other
Key Point
In native cultures there tend to be rites of passage that serve
to transition a person from childhood to adult status in the
community The child may actually leave the village for a day or
two of contemplation following a prescribed process When the
child returns he or she is redefined as an adult and assumes
the consequent privileges and responsibilities The entire
community reinforces the personrsquos new status the new adult is
not allowed to return to being a child whenever itrsquos convenient
but is supported to complete the transformation to adulthood
The change to adulthood does not happen in a vacuum but is
part of a carefully designed process that ensures success
Key Point
In native cultures there tend to be rites of passage that serve
to transition a person from childhood to adult status in the
community The child may actually leave the village for a day or
two of contemplation following a prescribed process When the
child returns he or she is redefined as an adult and assumes
the consequent privileges and responsibilities The entire
community reinforces the personrsquos new status the new adult is
not allowed to return to being a child whenever itrsquos convenient
but is supported to complete the transformation to adulthood
The change to adulthood does not happen in a vacuum but is
part of a carefully designed process that ensures success
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3439
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 15
bull Te entire community works together to bring about the
transormationbull Success results in positive reinforcement
Te environmental context is the trump card in any implementerrsquos
hand It takes a lot o work to create a suitable environment but it is an
essential ingredient in being able to drive and sustain change
Willingness and Ability
Earlier we mentioned willingness and ability as key concepts in tech-
nology adoption Willingness and ability can also be thought o as
hearts and minds or will and skill Te point is the same regardless
o the terms used People need to be supported on both an emotional
level to commit and on an intellectual level to be able Te questionto be answered is ldquoWhat are the conditions under which users will
accept and adopt the EMRrdquo
Letrsquos talk about willingness 1047297rst
Willingness or hearts is the commitment to go orward Tis is
impacted by many things including the ollowing elements
bull Leadership Perceived support or lack o support or the change
rom senior executives in the company the cascade o sponsors
down through the organization and just as importantly rom the
employeersquos direct supervisor
bull Communication Quality and requency o verbal and written
messages that describe the desired uture state tell why the changeneeds to happen and what will happen i change isnrsquot made set
clear expectations explain how the company will prepare and sup-
port people to success and describe local details such as timelines
etc
bull Reinforcement Degree o appropriateness and timeliness o
rewards or demonstrating desired new behaviors and conse-
quences or sticking to the old ways
bull Participation Degree to which users are involved every step o
the way either directly as individuals or indirectly by being effec-
tively represented by trusted local opinion leader peers who serve
as liaisons between users and the project teambull Organizational History with Change Previous organizational
experience with changemdashgood and badmdashwill in1047298uence user per-
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3539
16 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
ceptions and expectations o the EMR implementation Under-
standing the past is important in planning or the utureTis all sounds logical but the reaction to it can be emotional Tis
is where people conront their ear o ailure eeling stupid making
mistakes etc Remember that the change may require people to give
up the very things that they believe made them successul in the past
Tis can be a diffi cult sell
Ability or minds is about the actual capability to successully
meet new job expectations Tis is impacted by many things including
the ollowing elements
bull raining and Support In most cases the new EMR abilities must
be learned An effective training program that is role-based and
intentionally ocused on preparing people to perorm new jobexpectations is key Just discussing desired outcomes is not enough
though we have to clearly tell people what we want them to do
Tis requires an intellectual understanding o what and how a
conceptual understanding is necessary but not suffi cient Most
people need to practice something new to develop competence and
con1047297dence Sae opportunities to practice preerably with immedi-
ate eedback are very important to pro1047297ciency development and
sustainability
Getting people to move in the direction you want is the diffi -
cultymdashsome say the hardest part o the whole project And i you agree
that people are the oundation o successmdashthat bene1047297t realization isdependant not on technology but on people agreeing to go through
personal disruption learn new things change established patterns and
conront their earsmdashthen we must be proactive and courageous in
addressing the human issues
Tis is the people side o the project Tis is the organizational read-
iness unction It involves collaboration coordination and sequencing
o activities inormation and events rom all people-ocused areas Te
idea is to have all the people-ocused unctions working together to
reach clearly de1047297ned shared outcomes Te organizational readiness
plan to create individual and organizational readiness is the umbrella
that connects it allmdashthe glue that holds it together and the grease thatmakes it workmdashor the user We will address the structure and process
or doing this in more detail in subsequent chapters
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3639
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 17
Good News on wo Fronts
1 Tere is a social science Tere is a body o work research andsubsequent publications about the human experience with change
Tere are proven change management strategies tools and tech-
niques Tis isnrsquot olklore hooey or black magic Te transition
process is known and predictable Tere is a change curve that
describes the steps (Chapter 5 Stakeholder Management) And
though there is no silver bullet it isnrsquot rocket science Senior
healthcare executives must take the emerging proession o change
managementtechnology adoption seriously Not understanding it
is no excuse or ignoring it Tat is ar too expensive an option
2 All people go through transition when changemdashgood or badmdash
happens in both their personal and proessional lie You canrsquot
avoid it Te wonderul thing is i you learn about change and
transition at work it will improve your personal lie Tis is one
o the times to ldquotry this at homerdquo Wersquore all humanmdashat work and
at home So treat your people as the humans they are and avoid
some predictable expense and diffi culty Lead your organization
to a successul outcome and speed up the process by treating your
staff as customers 1047297rst
Donrsquot make the mistake o glossing over the critical human aspects
o change Hire experts and 1047297nd the emotionally intelligent people in
your organization who want to participate And remember you can
install technology without your people but you canrsquot ully implement
and achieve return on investment without them Consciously choose
to move fear and resistance to trust and adoption Itrsquos a case o pay
now or pay later I you wait until later it will always cost more ech-
nology Adoption is expensive but not as expensive as trying to gloss
it over and then having to undo the damage When ailure happens it
Quoteldquordquo
ldquoNot everything that can be counted counts and not everything thatcounts can be countedrdquo
- Albert Einstein
Quoteldquordquo
ldquordquo
ldquoNot everything that can be counted counts and not everything thatcounts can be countedrdquo
- Albert Einstein
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3739
18 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
takes a long time or people to re-engage And in todayrsquos world this
presents real problems or healthcare organizations aced with short-ages in many proessions Tere is a huge risk o alienating and poten-
tially losing needed staff or in causing long delays We can do better
Not so long ago it wasnrsquot conventional wisdom that clinical application
rollouts are not I projects More frequently than not these were consid-
ered technical projects in which the point of celebration was when con-nection from workstation to central processor was reliable and wireless
access actually worked Te classic I People-Process-echnology trian-
gle never got much past echnology to the real hard work on the People-
Process axis Tat has all changed in the 21st century system implemen-
tations that are both successful and valuable have had people and process
on the front burner
When MemorialCare embarked on a 1047297ve-hospital roll-out of an
EMR in 2002 it had several things in its favor
bull Te technology the organization ultimately acquired was robust and
reliable it worked
bull It had 15 yearsrsquo experience with CPOE (computerized providerorder entry) Terefore although unevenly adopted it was not new
territory
bull It had had the experience of a system-wide roll-out and standard-
ization on a general 1047297nance human resources and materials man-
agement system When all was said and done users had not been
suffi ciently involved standardization fell short because involvement
was low business leadership was diffuse and I ownership was too
high It was judged successful overall but the organization continues
to move slowly forward with an underutilized set of applications
With this experience and the insights of others MemorialCare pri-
oritized engagement of physicians nurses pharmacists and other staffWell before 1047297nancial commitment to a new system was obtained Memo-
rialCare hired a ldquoCare Planning Executiverdquo a person whose full-time
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3839
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 19
activities were devoted to the project 1047297rst to help understand the drivers
of a new system scope out the territory to be covered gain the com-mitment of senior leaders as well as governance and outline the case
for change At my insistence the Care Planning Executive a registered
nurse and former hospital chief operating offi cer joined the organization
reporting to the system-wide CEO as a peer and partner of the CIO not
a staff member and a peer to the CEOs of each medical center campus
Tat dedication alone made clear the commitment intentions and over-
all priority of the company
Among several other critical success factorsmdashand the outcome was
a successmdashwas the overall employee engagement program that the Care
Planning Executive established In summary it was an education mar-
keting and training program dedicated to equipping the affected staffwith the knowledge and tools to embrace unavoidable change Staff com-
munication was clear that it wasnrsquot change for changersquos sake but a major
move forward in the paperless way care would be delivered and work-
1047298ows would be streamlined Of course at the time no one could have
foreseen later moves by government to push everyone in this direction
(with the American Recovery and Reconstruction Act of 2009) Because
of our early efforts wersquore now very well positioned
J Scott Joslyn
CIO
MemorialCareLong Beach California
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3939
About the BookDespite the promise of improving care and other benefits EMR implementations are highly disruptive to the
organization This book prepares you to lead or participate successfully in change managementtechnologyadoption efforts so that meaningful use of EMRs can be achieved The authors provide successful strategies
to plan and implement change The content is based on their decades of combined experience designing
and leading technology adoption programs
Sections of the book deal with establishing a foundation for change building commitment and developing
requisite skill in helping users be successful with technology The book includes numerous lessons learned
tips for success best practices and case studies from organizations that have handled change well
About the AuthorsClaire McCarthy MA is a recognized technology adoption strategist and leader
with 25 years of healthcare industry experience supporting people through softwareimplementations and other large-scale change efforts As Director of Organizational
Effectiveness for Kaiser Permanentersquos enterprise-wide EMR deployment Ms McCarthy
led a national community of practice focused on preparing users to assume new
roles and responsibilities in support of organizational objectives Ms McCarthy
speaks internationally on the topic of technology adoption encouraging healthcare
leaders around the globe to set the stage for benefit realization by investing in the
people side of EMR implementation
Douglas Eastman PhD is an organizational development executive with extensive
experience managing large-scale change initiatives With more than 20 years
of consulting experience Dr Eastmanrsquos focus is to help organizations grow and
manage change by unleashing human potential His specialties are organizationaltransformation technology adoption and optimization process redesign strategic
planning and program and tools development As the Executive Director of Technology
Adoption and Organizational Capability within the Kaiser Permanente IT Care
Delivery Business Information Office Dr Eastman has pioneered several of Kaiserrsquos
implementation readiness toolsmethodologies and post-live optimization strategies
programs adding to the organizationrsquos ability to realize the benefit of its technology
About HIMSS The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) is a comprehensive healthcare-
stakeholder membership organization exclusively focused on providing global leadership for the optimal
use of information technology (IT) and management systems for the betterment of healthcare Founded in
1961 with offices in Chicago Washington DC Brussels Singapore and other locations across the United
States HIMSS represents more than 23000 individual members of which 73 work in patient care delivery
settings HIMSS also includes over 380 corporate members and nearly 30 not-for-profit organizations that
share our mission of transforming healthcare through the effective use of information technology and
management systems HIMSS frames and leads healthcare public policy and industry practices through
its educational professional development and advocacy initiatives designed to promote information and
management systemsrsquo contributions to ensuring quality patient care
ISBN 978-0-9821070-6-5
Order Code 564
230 E Ohio St Suite 500
Chicago IL 60611ndash3270
312-915-9295
www himss org
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2039
1
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 983089
Te Business Case forChange Management
ldquoWersquore not in Kansas anymorehelliprdquo
In the introduction an EMR implementation is compared to a tornado
in that it whips through an organization turning lie upside down and
throwing users into a world 1047297lled with new ways o doing things and
seeking ways to recapture some sense o balance and control EMR
technology disrupts the status quo and along with the many opportu-
nities it promises it also brings a whirlwind o seemingly never-ending
changes which can have an entirely different effect on different people
While an implementation that is effectively managed even brings these
challenges a poor implementation can be disastrous and will cost the
organization much more time energy and money to get things back
on track
Dorothy the character rom the movie Te Wizard of Oz held
her composure pretty well through the tornado that ripped her rom
a calm stable lie on the arm and threw her into a oreign world She
was able to manage through the obstacles and challenges and stay the
course as she ollowed the yellow brick road in search o the wizard
Some say this is similar to the experience users have except or the
part when Dorothy wakes up rom her dream and 1047297nds hersel back
home as she remembers itEMR implementations donrsquot have to be nightmarish or users but
there certainly will be obstacles and challenges along the way Te key is
to help users through the road blocks and enable them to experience a
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2139
2 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
positive journey Tis process is always easier when people know what
they are getting into eel supported and are prepared or what liesahead both good and bad Tis is the role o change management
CHANGE MANAGEMEN DEFINED
Itrsquos important to understand why you should make an investment in
the people side o the projectmdashbringing in the best technology pos-
sible doesnrsquot mean anything unless users are comortable and pro1047297-
cient in its use Te truth is just because you build it doesnrsquot mean they
will come
Letrsquos start by answering the two questions we are most ofen asked
ldquoWhat is change management anyway What is it change managers
dordquoo avoid conusion wersquoll say up ront we are not talking about
change management as it relates to technical issues such as version or
change control We also want to be clear that change management is
not project management What we are talking about is the human side
o electronic medical records implementations the human-ocused
work o engaging and preparing people to succeed in the new world
o EMRs
A word about project management while good project manage-
ment acilitates change management the two disciplines are not the
same Project management is much more linear and task-ocused
whereas change management deals with the complexities o human
behavior But a good project plan creates a structure and a ounda-
tion in which the change management process can occur Tereore
the two disciplines though different complement and support each
other
A word o caution do not conuse the project plan with the end
result Te plan is necessary and it guides you throughout the process
Te plan is proactive itrsquos the order in the chaos But technology adop-
tion is kind o like herding cats itrsquos unpredictable and you need to
maintain 1047298exibility to respond as things evolve Tis is a more reactive
process than what may be expressed in a plan In our experience an
EMR implementation requires both structure and 1047298exibility
Tere is a saying in change management circles When one door
closes another one opens but sometimes itrsquos hell in the hallway Change
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2239
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 3
management deals mostly with the hallway situation acilitating the
human transition rom the present to the uture Tese days change isongoing and requires ocused leadership i it is to be as ast and pain-
less as possible
Te three legs o the project stool represent the critical compo-nents o an implementation (Figure 1-1)mdashPeople Process and ech-
nology Te people are the most important When technology projects
ail it is primarily due to a lack o use and not a ailure o the sof-
ware Te ocus o change management is people and the objective is
to change behavior Tis is good or business because it accelerates the
change process so bene1047297ts are achieved aster Change management
is not about being nice or placing an emphasis on eelings Itrsquos about
perormance improvement and results
I you search the literature you will 1047297nd a variety o de1047297nitions o
human-ocused change management Tey all cover similar concepts
sometimes using different terminology Te simplest explanation ochange management is to say ldquoItrsquos all about the peoplerdquo But or the
purposes o this book we expand on that concept and use the ollow-
ing de1047297nition o change management
bull A structured process designed to deal directly and intentionally
with the human actors involved in not just planning and imple-
menting an EMR but through behavior change achieving the
anticipated bene1047297ts that justi1047297ed the project in the 1047297rst place
bull Desired behavior change is achieved by helping people understand
and internalize change and by preparing them to be successul
contributors in the uture state In the case o EMR implementa-
tions effective change management delivers users who are willingand able to use an EMR in a way that satis1047297es the requirements o
the job the needs o the patient and the health o the organization
Key Tip
Our assumption is that the software you are implementing
works If the software doesnrsquot work you have another kind of
problem one that even the best change management wonrsquot
resolve
Key Tip
Our assumption is that the software you are implementing
works If the software doesnrsquot work you have another kind of
problemmdashone that even the best change management wonrsquot
resolve
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2339
4 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
Well-designed integrated people-ocused work builds logically
over time in a way that makes sense to the user It brings users along
guiding and supporting them so they arrive at where you want them
to be Tis is about willingness and ability hearts and minds You must
have both
Te overarching purpose o change management is to acceleratethe speed at which people move successfully through the change
process so that anticipated bene1047297ts are achieved faster And there
are additional bene1047297ts to change management Trough optimizing
the effi ciency and effi cacy o users an effective EMR change manage-
ment program will also
bull Improve organizational outcomes and perormance (effective use
o the system generates value to patients and the organization)
bull Enhance employee satisaction morale and engagement (when
people learn new skills meet perormance expectations and con-
tribute to a greater good they eel pride in their accomplishments)
bull Improve service quality (users eel valued and supported by anorganization that makes an investment in them this positively
impacts how they treat patients)
Figure 1-1 The Three-legged Stool
Technology
People Process
Technology
People Process
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2439
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 5
bull Help achieve hoped-or bene1047297ts (bene1047297ts that include EMR value
realization reduction o errors return on investment)bull Create higher levels o openness trust involvement and teamwork
(develop an engaged workorce)
bull Build change capability and capacity in the organization resulting
in improved ability to respond quickly and effectively to new situa-
tions (create organizational nimbleness through embedded change
management knowledge structure and process)
In other words it really is all about the people Intentionally man-
aging the cultural behavioral and organizational changes that need
to take place to make the desired EMR uture not only a reality but
a sustainable reality pays off on many levels in that it also acilitates
organizational transormation Building on individual capability andorganizational capacity change management results in a change-
capable culturemdasha huge advantage in todayrsquos competitive and ast-
changing world
Change Management echnology AdoptionmdashWhatrsquos the Difference
Tere are a number o terms that people use to reer to the work
involved in managing the people side o a change effort We think o
change management as the mother ship that is the umbrella term that
embraces all specialties within the 1047297eld Similar to the various special-
ties or domains o service within a healthcare system change man-agement proessionals may choose speci1047297c areas o ocus echnology
adoption speci1047297cally inormation technology (I) is one such area
and it involves the application o change management principles to the
implementation o I Te focus of this book is technology adoption
and we will mostly use this term instead of change management
throughout the rest of the book
Effective technology adoption proessionals align themselves with
the operationalbusiness side o the organization and tailor solutions
that drive behavioral change and tangible outcomes Tey participate in
EMR implementation projects rom the beginning driving the people
side o change throughout and continuing to add value post-live as theEMR becomes part o the central nervous system o the organization
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2539
6 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
HE IMPORANCE OF HE PEOPLE SIDE
OF AN EMR IMPLEMENAIONTere are many reerences in the literature to ailed change efforts and
I implementations Estimates are that only one third o these projects
achieve success which means two thirds ail to meet expectations Te
good news is that ailure is optional as much has been learned about
why some change efforts ail and others succeed
Herersquos the issue while the change that is going to occur is an exter-
nal eventmdashthe EMR implementation a reorganization proposed out-
sourcing a promotion etcmdashthe transition rom old to new that those
who are impacted experience is a psychological and emotional pro-
cess It is this transition that is diffi cultmdasheven when a change is sel-
imposed or considered positive
In the words o William Bridges a key thought leader in manage-
ment o transitions ldquoIt isnrsquot the changes that do you in itrsquos the transi-
tion afer the change that doesrdquo1
For an implementation team part o the problem encountered
during transition is that change is messy people start where they are
not where we want them to be And when considering the personnel
within a typical hospital people can be all over the place in terms o
comort with computers stage in lie commitment to the organiza-
tion ear o change etc Add to this the act that or change to be suc-
cessul three things must occur People
bull Must let go o their current reality have an ending
bull Go through a conused period in-between (hell in the hallway)
bull Only then can have a new beginning 1
o take this a step urther while I consultants want to install the
system and make enhancements the users will ultimately determine
how the system is used Tis use is affected by human not technical
actors
bull Different rames o reerence backgrounds experiences with
technology
bull Organizational history and experience with other large-scale
change projects
bull Levels o resistance ear ability to deal with ambiguity
bull Degree o alignment o ldquoWhatrsquos in it or merdquo or the various stake-
holder groups
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2639
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 7
bull Ineffi ciencies uncovered because the system creates transparency
bull Workarounds that become quickly entrenchedbull Pressure to get through the day can override doing what is right
bull User worklie balance issues coming into play rom the very
beginning
All o these actors create problems or implementation teams that
just want to install technology How do you effectively address the
people issues Or is it easier to just install the technology and assume
that people will learn because they have to use it Some on the imple-
mentation team may alsely assume that users o an EMR system will
snap into place over time and do what is right or the organization
Tis thinking is a oolrsquos paradise
In the oreword to this book Dave Garets made the point that EMRdeployments are not about technology but about equipping organiza-
tions to reach critical business objectives by providing employees with
technical capabilities that make new things possible and by engaging
them in changing their behavior to effectively use the new capabilities
to generate desired results
With all due respect to the technical side o an EMR implemen-
tation installing the technology is only hal the battle Tis is not to
degrade the importance o the technology Te act that we spend a lot
o money researching technology acquiring it con1047297guring it install-
ing it and supporting it speaks to its importance I we werenrsquot imple-
menting EMRs we wouldnrsquot even be having a discussion about EMR-related change management
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2739
8 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
But implementation o the technology is just a 1047297rst and very nec-
essary stepmdashbecause in and o itsel the technology does not generate
value Te technology is necessary but not suffi cient or bene1047297t realiza-
tion to occur o create value requires people and this is why change
management is so important oo much o a ocus on technology even
in the early stages will create issues downstream And even with the
best technology i not used effi ciently hoped-or bene1047297ts will be tough
to achieve
CIO Perspective
ldquoDuring my masters program I took an Organization Development
class that really opened my eyes to peoplesrsquo needs during large-scale
change Since the OD class I have been very interested in what makes
people tick and why people react in different ways to the same
environment No matter how good of an idea a large-scale technology
implementation is we will always have early adopters average adopters
and laggards As leaders within large organizations we have a
responsibility to plan for and respect all types of technology adopters
Ultimately the people who work within in our organizations want a positive
human experience when they are at work
Utilizing a change management methodology enables the implementation
and leadership teams to provide a positive experience during the period of
significant change By utilizing a solid change management methodologythe organization promotes team communication a safer environment for
the patient a work environment that promotes trust and an environment
where people are allowed to talk about the fear of change All of this
promotes a better human experience and a much stronger work force
hellip An effective change management program has meant the difference
between good go-lives and great go-lives at our 10 hospitalsrdquo
Lindsey P Jarrell FACHE
SVP amp CIO
BayCare Health System
Clearwater FL
CIO Perspective
During my masters program I took an Organization Development
class that really opened my eyes to peoplesrsquo needs during large-scale
change Since the OD class I have been very interested in what makes
people tick and why people react in different ways to the same
environment No matter how good of an idea a large-scale technology
implementation is we will always have early adopters average adopters
and laggards As leaders within large organizations we have a
responsibility to plan for and respect all types of technology adopters
Ultimately the people who work within in our organizations want a positive
human experience when they are at work
Utilizing a change management methodology enables the implementation
and leadership teams to provide a positive experience during the period of
significant change By utilizing a solid change management methodologythe organization promotes team communication a safer environment for
the patient a work environment that promotes trust and an environment
where people are allowed to talk about the fear of change All of this
promotes a better human experience and a much stronger work force
hellip An effective change management program has meant the difference
between good go-lives and great go-lives at our 10 hospitals
Lindsey P Jarrell FACHE
SVP amp CIO
BayCare Health System
Clearwater FL
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2839
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 9
Remember that change is a personal experience It is also local and
individual And itrsquos hardmdasheven when itrsquos sel-imposed and positive
Tere are no shortcuts People have to go through the process o change
in much the same way that we move through the stages o grie2 It canrsquot
be avoided or skipped You can measure twice and cut once or you
can cut now and then do costly remediation later Either way you canrsquot
avoid the expense or time required or real change to occur
SYSEMS PERSPECIVE
Experienced technology adoption proessionals embrace a systems
perspective when given the assignment to drive perormance man-
age perceptions and increase the utilization o new and existing tech-
nology A systems approach is the ability to see the big picture and
address the interrelationships among the variables within the abric o
CIO Perspective
ldquoIrsquove been in healthcare IT a long time and I now realize itrsquos
all about change management What was considered soft is
now hard We know so much more about how to install
technologymdashItrsquos the people part we donrsquot know well yet
and so itrsquos hardrdquo
Scott Joslyn
CIO
MemorialCare
Long Beach CA
CIO Perspective
Irsquove been in healthcare IT a long time and I now realize itrsquos
all about change management What was considered soft is
now hard We know so much more about how to install
technologymdashitrsquos the people part we donrsquot know well yet
and so itrsquos hard
J Scott Joslyn
CIO
MemorialCare
Long Beach CA
Quoteldquordquo
ldquoNo man can think clearly when his fists are clenchedrdquo
- George Jean Nathan
Quoteldquordquo
ldquordquo
ldquoNo man can think clearly when his fists are clenchedrdquo
- George Jean Nathan
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2939
10 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
the organization and in1047298uence the combined impact these variables
have on organizational effectiveness As each variable has the powerto in1047298uence the outcome o any intervention behavior change is ofen
not sustainable because variables tend to work against one another
Effective technology adoption strategies account or this interrelation-
shipinterdependency and aim to bring these variables into alignment
as a means or driving sustainable results
Figure 1-2 introduces the Organizational Fabric Model which
highlights the six primary threads (or variables) that are interwoven
in the abric (or culture) o an organization Te model suggests that
all six threads must work in concert to successully shape the organi-
zational abric A well-woven technology adoption plan strategically
manipulates these threads to in1047298uence desired change A poorly wovenplan in which a thread or combination o threads is not accounted
or leads to disaster or by way o analogy will hit a snag down the
road Depending on the 1047298exibility and durability o this abric a snag
can result in a huge hole that detracts rom the overall strength o the
intervention Te intent o the Organizational Fabric Model is to stress
how important it is to understand the uture state recognize how each
variable or combination o variables will come into play and develop a
sound technology adoption program that appropriately in1047298uences this
set o variables to reshape the abric or culture so desired change can
actually take place
Te Organizational Fabric Model will be revisited in subsequent
chapters as each thread or variable is explored in urther detail For
now we reiterate that technology adoption strategies must not rely
on only one or two threads to drive behavior change Sustainable out-
comes result rom an organizationrsquos ability to leverage the combination
o all six threads working in concert to create an environment orsuccess
Key Point
Fundamentally culture is ldquothe way we do things around hererdquo
Key Point
Fundamentally culture is ldquothe way we do things around hererdquo
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3039
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 11
CREAING AN ENVIRONMEN FOR SUCCESS
echnology adoption is about creating a context an environment in
which change can be achieved and sustained over the long term Tis
involves two levelsmdashorganizational and individual
With an EMR implementation the organization must create thesupporting environment provide needed training and resources
articulate a clear direction coupled with clear expectations engage its
people include them in the process and reinorce desired new behav-
iors Tis is not about checking things off a list but rather about 1047297nd-
ing synergy among impacted groups giving them what they need and
coordinating efforts to meet the end goal Itrsquos an ongoing effort
o give you an idea o what we are talking about herersquos an exam-
ple o an individual situation occurring within a social context Tink
about what happens when you want to make a signi1047297cant change in
your personal liemdashquit smoking stop drinking lose weight Itrsquos one
thing to talk with a doctor or another proessional about what needsto happen when yoursquore in their offi ce but once you leave the offi ce
you then return to your social reality I your riends and amily donrsquot
want your behavior to change you will have a tough time All the rein-
Figure 1-2 Organizational Fabric Model
Sponsorship
Stakeholder Mgmt
Training
Vision
Reinforcement
Communications
Sponsorship
Stakeholder Mgmt
Training
Vision
Reinforcement
Communications
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3139
12 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
orcements and temptations will conspire to prevent you rom mak-
ing changes But i you can get some important people in your lieto make the changes with you or at least support you in the process
you have a much greater chance o success Te lesson is donrsquot send a
changed person back into an unchanged environment if you want
to see behavior change
Engaging individuals involves arousing two key aspects mdashwilling-
ness and ability Te organization must in1047298uence both in order to suc-
ceed With the help o the Skill Versus Will Matrix (Figure 1-3) think
about it this way
bull When people want to do something but donrsquot know how they canrsquot
(willingunable)
bull When people know how but donrsquot want to they wonrsquot(ableunwilling)
Can you think o examples in your own lie when you have been in
either o these situations
Consider the circumstance o people who know how to do some-
thing but donrsquot want to do it Tis is a ldquowillrdquo not a ldquoskillrdquo issue and it is
a very common technology adoption dilemma I the amount o work
and effort involved are not perceived by the user as being equal to the
Figure 1-3 The Skill versus Will Matrix
Skill
Will
WONrsquoT
WONrsquoT
DOES
CANrsquoTLow
High
HighLow
Skill
Will
WONrsquoT
WONrsquoT
DOES
CANrsquoTLow
High
HighLow HighLow
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3239
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 13
return or value experienced through the implementation the user will
most likely choose to reduce the effort A goal o an effective people-ocused strategy is to identiy potential areas o disconnect and 1047297nd
ways to increase the perceived value to users Te assumption is that
when the return is perceived to be greater the effort increases When
there are no incentives to try harder it may be diffi cult to drive desired
behavior change
Te point in getting users to actively support the deployment o
an EMR is about a lot more than a communication plan or eature
unction training Managing the people side o an EMR implementa-
tion requires a savvy technology adoption plan that ties sponsorship
training communication work1047298ow harmonization user support and
reinorcement with the business priorities o the organization andeffectively coordinates all o these activities with the user in mindmdashin
an environment that reinorces desired behavior changes
Key Questions
Two key questions to remember throughout the
project arehellip
(1) How will this decision impact the user
(2) How might it impact patients
Key Questions
Two key questions to remember throughout the
project are
(1) How will this decision impact the user
(2) How might it impact patients
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3339
14 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
Consider this example
In this example what are the key elements o this process that
ensure success
bull Te picture of success the desired outcome is clearmdashit is or the
child to become a unctioning adult in the community
bull How this happens is clearly de1047297ned in behavioral terms Tere is a
process that is known and understood by the entire community
including children
bull Leaders at all levels in the community agree on the desired out-
come support the entire process and actively ful1047297ll their roles to ensure success Leaders include village elders and ormal lead-
ers parents o the children inormal opinion leaders and amily
members
bull Te children who are about to become adults take an active role
in their own transormation taking responsibility or their suc-
cess Tey receive guidance and counsel rom elders Tey know
and understand the transormation process and what they must do
to achieve their new status Goals and steps are clear Tey also
understand the consequences o not successully transitioning to
adulthood
bull I there is more than one child slated to go through transormationto adulthood at the same time they are a peer group and as appro-
priate prepare together and support each other
Key Point
In native cultures there tend to be rites of passage that serve
to transition a person from childhood to adult status in the
community The child may actually leave the village for a day or
two of contemplation following a prescribed process When the
child returns he or she is redefined as an adult and assumes
the consequent privileges and responsibilities The entire
community reinforces the personrsquos new status the new adult is
not allowed to return to being a child whenever itrsquos convenient
but is supported to complete the transformation to adulthood
The change to adulthood does not happen in a vacuum but is
part of a carefully designed process that ensures success
Key Point
In native cultures there tend to be rites of passage that serve
to transition a person from childhood to adult status in the
community The child may actually leave the village for a day or
two of contemplation following a prescribed process When the
child returns he or she is redefined as an adult and assumes
the consequent privileges and responsibilities The entire
community reinforces the personrsquos new status the new adult is
not allowed to return to being a child whenever itrsquos convenient
but is supported to complete the transformation to adulthood
The change to adulthood does not happen in a vacuum but is
part of a carefully designed process that ensures success
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3439
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 15
bull Te entire community works together to bring about the
transormationbull Success results in positive reinforcement
Te environmental context is the trump card in any implementerrsquos
hand It takes a lot o work to create a suitable environment but it is an
essential ingredient in being able to drive and sustain change
Willingness and Ability
Earlier we mentioned willingness and ability as key concepts in tech-
nology adoption Willingness and ability can also be thought o as
hearts and minds or will and skill Te point is the same regardless
o the terms used People need to be supported on both an emotional
level to commit and on an intellectual level to be able Te questionto be answered is ldquoWhat are the conditions under which users will
accept and adopt the EMRrdquo
Letrsquos talk about willingness 1047297rst
Willingness or hearts is the commitment to go orward Tis is
impacted by many things including the ollowing elements
bull Leadership Perceived support or lack o support or the change
rom senior executives in the company the cascade o sponsors
down through the organization and just as importantly rom the
employeersquos direct supervisor
bull Communication Quality and requency o verbal and written
messages that describe the desired uture state tell why the changeneeds to happen and what will happen i change isnrsquot made set
clear expectations explain how the company will prepare and sup-
port people to success and describe local details such as timelines
etc
bull Reinforcement Degree o appropriateness and timeliness o
rewards or demonstrating desired new behaviors and conse-
quences or sticking to the old ways
bull Participation Degree to which users are involved every step o
the way either directly as individuals or indirectly by being effec-
tively represented by trusted local opinion leader peers who serve
as liaisons between users and the project teambull Organizational History with Change Previous organizational
experience with changemdashgood and badmdashwill in1047298uence user per-
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3539
16 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
ceptions and expectations o the EMR implementation Under-
standing the past is important in planning or the utureTis all sounds logical but the reaction to it can be emotional Tis
is where people conront their ear o ailure eeling stupid making
mistakes etc Remember that the change may require people to give
up the very things that they believe made them successul in the past
Tis can be a diffi cult sell
Ability or minds is about the actual capability to successully
meet new job expectations Tis is impacted by many things including
the ollowing elements
bull raining and Support In most cases the new EMR abilities must
be learned An effective training program that is role-based and
intentionally ocused on preparing people to perorm new jobexpectations is key Just discussing desired outcomes is not enough
though we have to clearly tell people what we want them to do
Tis requires an intellectual understanding o what and how a
conceptual understanding is necessary but not suffi cient Most
people need to practice something new to develop competence and
con1047297dence Sae opportunities to practice preerably with immedi-
ate eedback are very important to pro1047297ciency development and
sustainability
Getting people to move in the direction you want is the diffi -
cultymdashsome say the hardest part o the whole project And i you agree
that people are the oundation o successmdashthat bene1047297t realization isdependant not on technology but on people agreeing to go through
personal disruption learn new things change established patterns and
conront their earsmdashthen we must be proactive and courageous in
addressing the human issues
Tis is the people side o the project Tis is the organizational read-
iness unction It involves collaboration coordination and sequencing
o activities inormation and events rom all people-ocused areas Te
idea is to have all the people-ocused unctions working together to
reach clearly de1047297ned shared outcomes Te organizational readiness
plan to create individual and organizational readiness is the umbrella
that connects it allmdashthe glue that holds it together and the grease thatmakes it workmdashor the user We will address the structure and process
or doing this in more detail in subsequent chapters
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3639
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 17
Good News on wo Fronts
1 Tere is a social science Tere is a body o work research andsubsequent publications about the human experience with change
Tere are proven change management strategies tools and tech-
niques Tis isnrsquot olklore hooey or black magic Te transition
process is known and predictable Tere is a change curve that
describes the steps (Chapter 5 Stakeholder Management) And
though there is no silver bullet it isnrsquot rocket science Senior
healthcare executives must take the emerging proession o change
managementtechnology adoption seriously Not understanding it
is no excuse or ignoring it Tat is ar too expensive an option
2 All people go through transition when changemdashgood or badmdash
happens in both their personal and proessional lie You canrsquot
avoid it Te wonderul thing is i you learn about change and
transition at work it will improve your personal lie Tis is one
o the times to ldquotry this at homerdquo Wersquore all humanmdashat work and
at home So treat your people as the humans they are and avoid
some predictable expense and diffi culty Lead your organization
to a successul outcome and speed up the process by treating your
staff as customers 1047297rst
Donrsquot make the mistake o glossing over the critical human aspects
o change Hire experts and 1047297nd the emotionally intelligent people in
your organization who want to participate And remember you can
install technology without your people but you canrsquot ully implement
and achieve return on investment without them Consciously choose
to move fear and resistance to trust and adoption Itrsquos a case o pay
now or pay later I you wait until later it will always cost more ech-
nology Adoption is expensive but not as expensive as trying to gloss
it over and then having to undo the damage When ailure happens it
Quoteldquordquo
ldquoNot everything that can be counted counts and not everything thatcounts can be countedrdquo
- Albert Einstein
Quoteldquordquo
ldquordquo
ldquoNot everything that can be counted counts and not everything thatcounts can be countedrdquo
- Albert Einstein
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3739
18 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
takes a long time or people to re-engage And in todayrsquos world this
presents real problems or healthcare organizations aced with short-ages in many proessions Tere is a huge risk o alienating and poten-
tially losing needed staff or in causing long delays We can do better
Not so long ago it wasnrsquot conventional wisdom that clinical application
rollouts are not I projects More frequently than not these were consid-
ered technical projects in which the point of celebration was when con-nection from workstation to central processor was reliable and wireless
access actually worked Te classic I People-Process-echnology trian-
gle never got much past echnology to the real hard work on the People-
Process axis Tat has all changed in the 21st century system implemen-
tations that are both successful and valuable have had people and process
on the front burner
When MemorialCare embarked on a 1047297ve-hospital roll-out of an
EMR in 2002 it had several things in its favor
bull Te technology the organization ultimately acquired was robust and
reliable it worked
bull It had 15 yearsrsquo experience with CPOE (computerized providerorder entry) Terefore although unevenly adopted it was not new
territory
bull It had had the experience of a system-wide roll-out and standard-
ization on a general 1047297nance human resources and materials man-
agement system When all was said and done users had not been
suffi ciently involved standardization fell short because involvement
was low business leadership was diffuse and I ownership was too
high It was judged successful overall but the organization continues
to move slowly forward with an underutilized set of applications
With this experience and the insights of others MemorialCare pri-
oritized engagement of physicians nurses pharmacists and other staffWell before 1047297nancial commitment to a new system was obtained Memo-
rialCare hired a ldquoCare Planning Executiverdquo a person whose full-time
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3839
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 19
activities were devoted to the project 1047297rst to help understand the drivers
of a new system scope out the territory to be covered gain the com-mitment of senior leaders as well as governance and outline the case
for change At my insistence the Care Planning Executive a registered
nurse and former hospital chief operating offi cer joined the organization
reporting to the system-wide CEO as a peer and partner of the CIO not
a staff member and a peer to the CEOs of each medical center campus
Tat dedication alone made clear the commitment intentions and over-
all priority of the company
Among several other critical success factorsmdashand the outcome was
a successmdashwas the overall employee engagement program that the Care
Planning Executive established In summary it was an education mar-
keting and training program dedicated to equipping the affected staffwith the knowledge and tools to embrace unavoidable change Staff com-
munication was clear that it wasnrsquot change for changersquos sake but a major
move forward in the paperless way care would be delivered and work-
1047298ows would be streamlined Of course at the time no one could have
foreseen later moves by government to push everyone in this direction
(with the American Recovery and Reconstruction Act of 2009) Because
of our early efforts wersquore now very well positioned
J Scott Joslyn
CIO
MemorialCareLong Beach California
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3939
About the BookDespite the promise of improving care and other benefits EMR implementations are highly disruptive to the
organization This book prepares you to lead or participate successfully in change managementtechnologyadoption efforts so that meaningful use of EMRs can be achieved The authors provide successful strategies
to plan and implement change The content is based on their decades of combined experience designing
and leading technology adoption programs
Sections of the book deal with establishing a foundation for change building commitment and developing
requisite skill in helping users be successful with technology The book includes numerous lessons learned
tips for success best practices and case studies from organizations that have handled change well
About the AuthorsClaire McCarthy MA is a recognized technology adoption strategist and leader
with 25 years of healthcare industry experience supporting people through softwareimplementations and other large-scale change efforts As Director of Organizational
Effectiveness for Kaiser Permanentersquos enterprise-wide EMR deployment Ms McCarthy
led a national community of practice focused on preparing users to assume new
roles and responsibilities in support of organizational objectives Ms McCarthy
speaks internationally on the topic of technology adoption encouraging healthcare
leaders around the globe to set the stage for benefit realization by investing in the
people side of EMR implementation
Douglas Eastman PhD is an organizational development executive with extensive
experience managing large-scale change initiatives With more than 20 years
of consulting experience Dr Eastmanrsquos focus is to help organizations grow and
manage change by unleashing human potential His specialties are organizationaltransformation technology adoption and optimization process redesign strategic
planning and program and tools development As the Executive Director of Technology
Adoption and Organizational Capability within the Kaiser Permanente IT Care
Delivery Business Information Office Dr Eastman has pioneered several of Kaiserrsquos
implementation readiness toolsmethodologies and post-live optimization strategies
programs adding to the organizationrsquos ability to realize the benefit of its technology
About HIMSS The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) is a comprehensive healthcare-
stakeholder membership organization exclusively focused on providing global leadership for the optimal
use of information technology (IT) and management systems for the betterment of healthcare Founded in
1961 with offices in Chicago Washington DC Brussels Singapore and other locations across the United
States HIMSS represents more than 23000 individual members of which 73 work in patient care delivery
settings HIMSS also includes over 380 corporate members and nearly 30 not-for-profit organizations that
share our mission of transforming healthcare through the effective use of information technology and
management systems HIMSS frames and leads healthcare public policy and industry practices through
its educational professional development and advocacy initiatives designed to promote information and
management systemsrsquo contributions to ensuring quality patient care
ISBN 978-0-9821070-6-5
Order Code 564
230 E Ohio St Suite 500
Chicago IL 60611ndash3270
312-915-9295
www himss org
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2139
2 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
positive journey Tis process is always easier when people know what
they are getting into eel supported and are prepared or what liesahead both good and bad Tis is the role o change management
CHANGE MANAGEMEN DEFINED
Itrsquos important to understand why you should make an investment in
the people side o the projectmdashbringing in the best technology pos-
sible doesnrsquot mean anything unless users are comortable and pro1047297-
cient in its use Te truth is just because you build it doesnrsquot mean they
will come
Letrsquos start by answering the two questions we are most ofen asked
ldquoWhat is change management anyway What is it change managers
dordquoo avoid conusion wersquoll say up ront we are not talking about
change management as it relates to technical issues such as version or
change control We also want to be clear that change management is
not project management What we are talking about is the human side
o electronic medical records implementations the human-ocused
work o engaging and preparing people to succeed in the new world
o EMRs
A word about project management while good project manage-
ment acilitates change management the two disciplines are not the
same Project management is much more linear and task-ocused
whereas change management deals with the complexities o human
behavior But a good project plan creates a structure and a ounda-
tion in which the change management process can occur Tereore
the two disciplines though different complement and support each
other
A word o caution do not conuse the project plan with the end
result Te plan is necessary and it guides you throughout the process
Te plan is proactive itrsquos the order in the chaos But technology adop-
tion is kind o like herding cats itrsquos unpredictable and you need to
maintain 1047298exibility to respond as things evolve Tis is a more reactive
process than what may be expressed in a plan In our experience an
EMR implementation requires both structure and 1047298exibility
Tere is a saying in change management circles When one door
closes another one opens but sometimes itrsquos hell in the hallway Change
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2239
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 3
management deals mostly with the hallway situation acilitating the
human transition rom the present to the uture Tese days change isongoing and requires ocused leadership i it is to be as ast and pain-
less as possible
Te three legs o the project stool represent the critical compo-nents o an implementation (Figure 1-1)mdashPeople Process and ech-
nology Te people are the most important When technology projects
ail it is primarily due to a lack o use and not a ailure o the sof-
ware Te ocus o change management is people and the objective is
to change behavior Tis is good or business because it accelerates the
change process so bene1047297ts are achieved aster Change management
is not about being nice or placing an emphasis on eelings Itrsquos about
perormance improvement and results
I you search the literature you will 1047297nd a variety o de1047297nitions o
human-ocused change management Tey all cover similar concepts
sometimes using different terminology Te simplest explanation ochange management is to say ldquoItrsquos all about the peoplerdquo But or the
purposes o this book we expand on that concept and use the ollow-
ing de1047297nition o change management
bull A structured process designed to deal directly and intentionally
with the human actors involved in not just planning and imple-
menting an EMR but through behavior change achieving the
anticipated bene1047297ts that justi1047297ed the project in the 1047297rst place
bull Desired behavior change is achieved by helping people understand
and internalize change and by preparing them to be successul
contributors in the uture state In the case o EMR implementa-
tions effective change management delivers users who are willingand able to use an EMR in a way that satis1047297es the requirements o
the job the needs o the patient and the health o the organization
Key Tip
Our assumption is that the software you are implementing
works If the software doesnrsquot work you have another kind of
problem one that even the best change management wonrsquot
resolve
Key Tip
Our assumption is that the software you are implementing
works If the software doesnrsquot work you have another kind of
problemmdashone that even the best change management wonrsquot
resolve
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2339
4 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
Well-designed integrated people-ocused work builds logically
over time in a way that makes sense to the user It brings users along
guiding and supporting them so they arrive at where you want them
to be Tis is about willingness and ability hearts and minds You must
have both
Te overarching purpose o change management is to acceleratethe speed at which people move successfully through the change
process so that anticipated bene1047297ts are achieved faster And there
are additional bene1047297ts to change management Trough optimizing
the effi ciency and effi cacy o users an effective EMR change manage-
ment program will also
bull Improve organizational outcomes and perormance (effective use
o the system generates value to patients and the organization)
bull Enhance employee satisaction morale and engagement (when
people learn new skills meet perormance expectations and con-
tribute to a greater good they eel pride in their accomplishments)
bull Improve service quality (users eel valued and supported by anorganization that makes an investment in them this positively
impacts how they treat patients)
Figure 1-1 The Three-legged Stool
Technology
People Process
Technology
People Process
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2439
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 5
bull Help achieve hoped-or bene1047297ts (bene1047297ts that include EMR value
realization reduction o errors return on investment)bull Create higher levels o openness trust involvement and teamwork
(develop an engaged workorce)
bull Build change capability and capacity in the organization resulting
in improved ability to respond quickly and effectively to new situa-
tions (create organizational nimbleness through embedded change
management knowledge structure and process)
In other words it really is all about the people Intentionally man-
aging the cultural behavioral and organizational changes that need
to take place to make the desired EMR uture not only a reality but
a sustainable reality pays off on many levels in that it also acilitates
organizational transormation Building on individual capability andorganizational capacity change management results in a change-
capable culturemdasha huge advantage in todayrsquos competitive and ast-
changing world
Change Management echnology AdoptionmdashWhatrsquos the Difference
Tere are a number o terms that people use to reer to the work
involved in managing the people side o a change effort We think o
change management as the mother ship that is the umbrella term that
embraces all specialties within the 1047297eld Similar to the various special-
ties or domains o service within a healthcare system change man-agement proessionals may choose speci1047297c areas o ocus echnology
adoption speci1047297cally inormation technology (I) is one such area
and it involves the application o change management principles to the
implementation o I Te focus of this book is technology adoption
and we will mostly use this term instead of change management
throughout the rest of the book
Effective technology adoption proessionals align themselves with
the operationalbusiness side o the organization and tailor solutions
that drive behavioral change and tangible outcomes Tey participate in
EMR implementation projects rom the beginning driving the people
side o change throughout and continuing to add value post-live as theEMR becomes part o the central nervous system o the organization
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2539
6 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
HE IMPORANCE OF HE PEOPLE SIDE
OF AN EMR IMPLEMENAIONTere are many reerences in the literature to ailed change efforts and
I implementations Estimates are that only one third o these projects
achieve success which means two thirds ail to meet expectations Te
good news is that ailure is optional as much has been learned about
why some change efforts ail and others succeed
Herersquos the issue while the change that is going to occur is an exter-
nal eventmdashthe EMR implementation a reorganization proposed out-
sourcing a promotion etcmdashthe transition rom old to new that those
who are impacted experience is a psychological and emotional pro-
cess It is this transition that is diffi cultmdasheven when a change is sel-
imposed or considered positive
In the words o William Bridges a key thought leader in manage-
ment o transitions ldquoIt isnrsquot the changes that do you in itrsquos the transi-
tion afer the change that doesrdquo1
For an implementation team part o the problem encountered
during transition is that change is messy people start where they are
not where we want them to be And when considering the personnel
within a typical hospital people can be all over the place in terms o
comort with computers stage in lie commitment to the organiza-
tion ear o change etc Add to this the act that or change to be suc-
cessul three things must occur People
bull Must let go o their current reality have an ending
bull Go through a conused period in-between (hell in the hallway)
bull Only then can have a new beginning 1
o take this a step urther while I consultants want to install the
system and make enhancements the users will ultimately determine
how the system is used Tis use is affected by human not technical
actors
bull Different rames o reerence backgrounds experiences with
technology
bull Organizational history and experience with other large-scale
change projects
bull Levels o resistance ear ability to deal with ambiguity
bull Degree o alignment o ldquoWhatrsquos in it or merdquo or the various stake-
holder groups
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2639
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 7
bull Ineffi ciencies uncovered because the system creates transparency
bull Workarounds that become quickly entrenchedbull Pressure to get through the day can override doing what is right
bull User worklie balance issues coming into play rom the very
beginning
All o these actors create problems or implementation teams that
just want to install technology How do you effectively address the
people issues Or is it easier to just install the technology and assume
that people will learn because they have to use it Some on the imple-
mentation team may alsely assume that users o an EMR system will
snap into place over time and do what is right or the organization
Tis thinking is a oolrsquos paradise
In the oreword to this book Dave Garets made the point that EMRdeployments are not about technology but about equipping organiza-
tions to reach critical business objectives by providing employees with
technical capabilities that make new things possible and by engaging
them in changing their behavior to effectively use the new capabilities
to generate desired results
With all due respect to the technical side o an EMR implemen-
tation installing the technology is only hal the battle Tis is not to
degrade the importance o the technology Te act that we spend a lot
o money researching technology acquiring it con1047297guring it install-
ing it and supporting it speaks to its importance I we werenrsquot imple-
menting EMRs we wouldnrsquot even be having a discussion about EMR-related change management
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2739
8 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
But implementation o the technology is just a 1047297rst and very nec-
essary stepmdashbecause in and o itsel the technology does not generate
value Te technology is necessary but not suffi cient or bene1047297t realiza-
tion to occur o create value requires people and this is why change
management is so important oo much o a ocus on technology even
in the early stages will create issues downstream And even with the
best technology i not used effi ciently hoped-or bene1047297ts will be tough
to achieve
CIO Perspective
ldquoDuring my masters program I took an Organization Development
class that really opened my eyes to peoplesrsquo needs during large-scale
change Since the OD class I have been very interested in what makes
people tick and why people react in different ways to the same
environment No matter how good of an idea a large-scale technology
implementation is we will always have early adopters average adopters
and laggards As leaders within large organizations we have a
responsibility to plan for and respect all types of technology adopters
Ultimately the people who work within in our organizations want a positive
human experience when they are at work
Utilizing a change management methodology enables the implementation
and leadership teams to provide a positive experience during the period of
significant change By utilizing a solid change management methodologythe organization promotes team communication a safer environment for
the patient a work environment that promotes trust and an environment
where people are allowed to talk about the fear of change All of this
promotes a better human experience and a much stronger work force
hellip An effective change management program has meant the difference
between good go-lives and great go-lives at our 10 hospitalsrdquo
Lindsey P Jarrell FACHE
SVP amp CIO
BayCare Health System
Clearwater FL
CIO Perspective
During my masters program I took an Organization Development
class that really opened my eyes to peoplesrsquo needs during large-scale
change Since the OD class I have been very interested in what makes
people tick and why people react in different ways to the same
environment No matter how good of an idea a large-scale technology
implementation is we will always have early adopters average adopters
and laggards As leaders within large organizations we have a
responsibility to plan for and respect all types of technology adopters
Ultimately the people who work within in our organizations want a positive
human experience when they are at work
Utilizing a change management methodology enables the implementation
and leadership teams to provide a positive experience during the period of
significant change By utilizing a solid change management methodologythe organization promotes team communication a safer environment for
the patient a work environment that promotes trust and an environment
where people are allowed to talk about the fear of change All of this
promotes a better human experience and a much stronger work force
hellip An effective change management program has meant the difference
between good go-lives and great go-lives at our 10 hospitals
Lindsey P Jarrell FACHE
SVP amp CIO
BayCare Health System
Clearwater FL
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2839
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 9
Remember that change is a personal experience It is also local and
individual And itrsquos hardmdasheven when itrsquos sel-imposed and positive
Tere are no shortcuts People have to go through the process o change
in much the same way that we move through the stages o grie2 It canrsquot
be avoided or skipped You can measure twice and cut once or you
can cut now and then do costly remediation later Either way you canrsquot
avoid the expense or time required or real change to occur
SYSEMS PERSPECIVE
Experienced technology adoption proessionals embrace a systems
perspective when given the assignment to drive perormance man-
age perceptions and increase the utilization o new and existing tech-
nology A systems approach is the ability to see the big picture and
address the interrelationships among the variables within the abric o
CIO Perspective
ldquoIrsquove been in healthcare IT a long time and I now realize itrsquos
all about change management What was considered soft is
now hard We know so much more about how to install
technologymdashItrsquos the people part we donrsquot know well yet
and so itrsquos hardrdquo
Scott Joslyn
CIO
MemorialCare
Long Beach CA
CIO Perspective
Irsquove been in healthcare IT a long time and I now realize itrsquos
all about change management What was considered soft is
now hard We know so much more about how to install
technologymdashitrsquos the people part we donrsquot know well yet
and so itrsquos hard
J Scott Joslyn
CIO
MemorialCare
Long Beach CA
Quoteldquordquo
ldquoNo man can think clearly when his fists are clenchedrdquo
- George Jean Nathan
Quoteldquordquo
ldquordquo
ldquoNo man can think clearly when his fists are clenchedrdquo
- George Jean Nathan
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2939
10 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
the organization and in1047298uence the combined impact these variables
have on organizational effectiveness As each variable has the powerto in1047298uence the outcome o any intervention behavior change is ofen
not sustainable because variables tend to work against one another
Effective technology adoption strategies account or this interrelation-
shipinterdependency and aim to bring these variables into alignment
as a means or driving sustainable results
Figure 1-2 introduces the Organizational Fabric Model which
highlights the six primary threads (or variables) that are interwoven
in the abric (or culture) o an organization Te model suggests that
all six threads must work in concert to successully shape the organi-
zational abric A well-woven technology adoption plan strategically
manipulates these threads to in1047298uence desired change A poorly wovenplan in which a thread or combination o threads is not accounted
or leads to disaster or by way o analogy will hit a snag down the
road Depending on the 1047298exibility and durability o this abric a snag
can result in a huge hole that detracts rom the overall strength o the
intervention Te intent o the Organizational Fabric Model is to stress
how important it is to understand the uture state recognize how each
variable or combination o variables will come into play and develop a
sound technology adoption program that appropriately in1047298uences this
set o variables to reshape the abric or culture so desired change can
actually take place
Te Organizational Fabric Model will be revisited in subsequent
chapters as each thread or variable is explored in urther detail For
now we reiterate that technology adoption strategies must not rely
on only one or two threads to drive behavior change Sustainable out-
comes result rom an organizationrsquos ability to leverage the combination
o all six threads working in concert to create an environment orsuccess
Key Point
Fundamentally culture is ldquothe way we do things around hererdquo
Key Point
Fundamentally culture is ldquothe way we do things around hererdquo
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3039
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 11
CREAING AN ENVIRONMEN FOR SUCCESS
echnology adoption is about creating a context an environment in
which change can be achieved and sustained over the long term Tis
involves two levelsmdashorganizational and individual
With an EMR implementation the organization must create thesupporting environment provide needed training and resources
articulate a clear direction coupled with clear expectations engage its
people include them in the process and reinorce desired new behav-
iors Tis is not about checking things off a list but rather about 1047297nd-
ing synergy among impacted groups giving them what they need and
coordinating efforts to meet the end goal Itrsquos an ongoing effort
o give you an idea o what we are talking about herersquos an exam-
ple o an individual situation occurring within a social context Tink
about what happens when you want to make a signi1047297cant change in
your personal liemdashquit smoking stop drinking lose weight Itrsquos one
thing to talk with a doctor or another proessional about what needsto happen when yoursquore in their offi ce but once you leave the offi ce
you then return to your social reality I your riends and amily donrsquot
want your behavior to change you will have a tough time All the rein-
Figure 1-2 Organizational Fabric Model
Sponsorship
Stakeholder Mgmt
Training
Vision
Reinforcement
Communications
Sponsorship
Stakeholder Mgmt
Training
Vision
Reinforcement
Communications
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3139
12 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
orcements and temptations will conspire to prevent you rom mak-
ing changes But i you can get some important people in your lieto make the changes with you or at least support you in the process
you have a much greater chance o success Te lesson is donrsquot send a
changed person back into an unchanged environment if you want
to see behavior change
Engaging individuals involves arousing two key aspects mdashwilling-
ness and ability Te organization must in1047298uence both in order to suc-
ceed With the help o the Skill Versus Will Matrix (Figure 1-3) think
about it this way
bull When people want to do something but donrsquot know how they canrsquot
(willingunable)
bull When people know how but donrsquot want to they wonrsquot(ableunwilling)
Can you think o examples in your own lie when you have been in
either o these situations
Consider the circumstance o people who know how to do some-
thing but donrsquot want to do it Tis is a ldquowillrdquo not a ldquoskillrdquo issue and it is
a very common technology adoption dilemma I the amount o work
and effort involved are not perceived by the user as being equal to the
Figure 1-3 The Skill versus Will Matrix
Skill
Will
WONrsquoT
WONrsquoT
DOES
CANrsquoTLow
High
HighLow
Skill
Will
WONrsquoT
WONrsquoT
DOES
CANrsquoTLow
High
HighLow HighLow
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3239
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 13
return or value experienced through the implementation the user will
most likely choose to reduce the effort A goal o an effective people-ocused strategy is to identiy potential areas o disconnect and 1047297nd
ways to increase the perceived value to users Te assumption is that
when the return is perceived to be greater the effort increases When
there are no incentives to try harder it may be diffi cult to drive desired
behavior change
Te point in getting users to actively support the deployment o
an EMR is about a lot more than a communication plan or eature
unction training Managing the people side o an EMR implementa-
tion requires a savvy technology adoption plan that ties sponsorship
training communication work1047298ow harmonization user support and
reinorcement with the business priorities o the organization andeffectively coordinates all o these activities with the user in mindmdashin
an environment that reinorces desired behavior changes
Key Questions
Two key questions to remember throughout the
project arehellip
(1) How will this decision impact the user
(2) How might it impact patients
Key Questions
Two key questions to remember throughout the
project are
(1) How will this decision impact the user
(2) How might it impact patients
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3339
14 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
Consider this example
In this example what are the key elements o this process that
ensure success
bull Te picture of success the desired outcome is clearmdashit is or the
child to become a unctioning adult in the community
bull How this happens is clearly de1047297ned in behavioral terms Tere is a
process that is known and understood by the entire community
including children
bull Leaders at all levels in the community agree on the desired out-
come support the entire process and actively ful1047297ll their roles to ensure success Leaders include village elders and ormal lead-
ers parents o the children inormal opinion leaders and amily
members
bull Te children who are about to become adults take an active role
in their own transormation taking responsibility or their suc-
cess Tey receive guidance and counsel rom elders Tey know
and understand the transormation process and what they must do
to achieve their new status Goals and steps are clear Tey also
understand the consequences o not successully transitioning to
adulthood
bull I there is more than one child slated to go through transormationto adulthood at the same time they are a peer group and as appro-
priate prepare together and support each other
Key Point
In native cultures there tend to be rites of passage that serve
to transition a person from childhood to adult status in the
community The child may actually leave the village for a day or
two of contemplation following a prescribed process When the
child returns he or she is redefined as an adult and assumes
the consequent privileges and responsibilities The entire
community reinforces the personrsquos new status the new adult is
not allowed to return to being a child whenever itrsquos convenient
but is supported to complete the transformation to adulthood
The change to adulthood does not happen in a vacuum but is
part of a carefully designed process that ensures success
Key Point
In native cultures there tend to be rites of passage that serve
to transition a person from childhood to adult status in the
community The child may actually leave the village for a day or
two of contemplation following a prescribed process When the
child returns he or she is redefined as an adult and assumes
the consequent privileges and responsibilities The entire
community reinforces the personrsquos new status the new adult is
not allowed to return to being a child whenever itrsquos convenient
but is supported to complete the transformation to adulthood
The change to adulthood does not happen in a vacuum but is
part of a carefully designed process that ensures success
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3439
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 15
bull Te entire community works together to bring about the
transormationbull Success results in positive reinforcement
Te environmental context is the trump card in any implementerrsquos
hand It takes a lot o work to create a suitable environment but it is an
essential ingredient in being able to drive and sustain change
Willingness and Ability
Earlier we mentioned willingness and ability as key concepts in tech-
nology adoption Willingness and ability can also be thought o as
hearts and minds or will and skill Te point is the same regardless
o the terms used People need to be supported on both an emotional
level to commit and on an intellectual level to be able Te questionto be answered is ldquoWhat are the conditions under which users will
accept and adopt the EMRrdquo
Letrsquos talk about willingness 1047297rst
Willingness or hearts is the commitment to go orward Tis is
impacted by many things including the ollowing elements
bull Leadership Perceived support or lack o support or the change
rom senior executives in the company the cascade o sponsors
down through the organization and just as importantly rom the
employeersquos direct supervisor
bull Communication Quality and requency o verbal and written
messages that describe the desired uture state tell why the changeneeds to happen and what will happen i change isnrsquot made set
clear expectations explain how the company will prepare and sup-
port people to success and describe local details such as timelines
etc
bull Reinforcement Degree o appropriateness and timeliness o
rewards or demonstrating desired new behaviors and conse-
quences or sticking to the old ways
bull Participation Degree to which users are involved every step o
the way either directly as individuals or indirectly by being effec-
tively represented by trusted local opinion leader peers who serve
as liaisons between users and the project teambull Organizational History with Change Previous organizational
experience with changemdashgood and badmdashwill in1047298uence user per-
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3539
16 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
ceptions and expectations o the EMR implementation Under-
standing the past is important in planning or the utureTis all sounds logical but the reaction to it can be emotional Tis
is where people conront their ear o ailure eeling stupid making
mistakes etc Remember that the change may require people to give
up the very things that they believe made them successul in the past
Tis can be a diffi cult sell
Ability or minds is about the actual capability to successully
meet new job expectations Tis is impacted by many things including
the ollowing elements
bull raining and Support In most cases the new EMR abilities must
be learned An effective training program that is role-based and
intentionally ocused on preparing people to perorm new jobexpectations is key Just discussing desired outcomes is not enough
though we have to clearly tell people what we want them to do
Tis requires an intellectual understanding o what and how a
conceptual understanding is necessary but not suffi cient Most
people need to practice something new to develop competence and
con1047297dence Sae opportunities to practice preerably with immedi-
ate eedback are very important to pro1047297ciency development and
sustainability
Getting people to move in the direction you want is the diffi -
cultymdashsome say the hardest part o the whole project And i you agree
that people are the oundation o successmdashthat bene1047297t realization isdependant not on technology but on people agreeing to go through
personal disruption learn new things change established patterns and
conront their earsmdashthen we must be proactive and courageous in
addressing the human issues
Tis is the people side o the project Tis is the organizational read-
iness unction It involves collaboration coordination and sequencing
o activities inormation and events rom all people-ocused areas Te
idea is to have all the people-ocused unctions working together to
reach clearly de1047297ned shared outcomes Te organizational readiness
plan to create individual and organizational readiness is the umbrella
that connects it allmdashthe glue that holds it together and the grease thatmakes it workmdashor the user We will address the structure and process
or doing this in more detail in subsequent chapters
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3639
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 17
Good News on wo Fronts
1 Tere is a social science Tere is a body o work research andsubsequent publications about the human experience with change
Tere are proven change management strategies tools and tech-
niques Tis isnrsquot olklore hooey or black magic Te transition
process is known and predictable Tere is a change curve that
describes the steps (Chapter 5 Stakeholder Management) And
though there is no silver bullet it isnrsquot rocket science Senior
healthcare executives must take the emerging proession o change
managementtechnology adoption seriously Not understanding it
is no excuse or ignoring it Tat is ar too expensive an option
2 All people go through transition when changemdashgood or badmdash
happens in both their personal and proessional lie You canrsquot
avoid it Te wonderul thing is i you learn about change and
transition at work it will improve your personal lie Tis is one
o the times to ldquotry this at homerdquo Wersquore all humanmdashat work and
at home So treat your people as the humans they are and avoid
some predictable expense and diffi culty Lead your organization
to a successul outcome and speed up the process by treating your
staff as customers 1047297rst
Donrsquot make the mistake o glossing over the critical human aspects
o change Hire experts and 1047297nd the emotionally intelligent people in
your organization who want to participate And remember you can
install technology without your people but you canrsquot ully implement
and achieve return on investment without them Consciously choose
to move fear and resistance to trust and adoption Itrsquos a case o pay
now or pay later I you wait until later it will always cost more ech-
nology Adoption is expensive but not as expensive as trying to gloss
it over and then having to undo the damage When ailure happens it
Quoteldquordquo
ldquoNot everything that can be counted counts and not everything thatcounts can be countedrdquo
- Albert Einstein
Quoteldquordquo
ldquordquo
ldquoNot everything that can be counted counts and not everything thatcounts can be countedrdquo
- Albert Einstein
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3739
18 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
takes a long time or people to re-engage And in todayrsquos world this
presents real problems or healthcare organizations aced with short-ages in many proessions Tere is a huge risk o alienating and poten-
tially losing needed staff or in causing long delays We can do better
Not so long ago it wasnrsquot conventional wisdom that clinical application
rollouts are not I projects More frequently than not these were consid-
ered technical projects in which the point of celebration was when con-nection from workstation to central processor was reliable and wireless
access actually worked Te classic I People-Process-echnology trian-
gle never got much past echnology to the real hard work on the People-
Process axis Tat has all changed in the 21st century system implemen-
tations that are both successful and valuable have had people and process
on the front burner
When MemorialCare embarked on a 1047297ve-hospital roll-out of an
EMR in 2002 it had several things in its favor
bull Te technology the organization ultimately acquired was robust and
reliable it worked
bull It had 15 yearsrsquo experience with CPOE (computerized providerorder entry) Terefore although unevenly adopted it was not new
territory
bull It had had the experience of a system-wide roll-out and standard-
ization on a general 1047297nance human resources and materials man-
agement system When all was said and done users had not been
suffi ciently involved standardization fell short because involvement
was low business leadership was diffuse and I ownership was too
high It was judged successful overall but the organization continues
to move slowly forward with an underutilized set of applications
With this experience and the insights of others MemorialCare pri-
oritized engagement of physicians nurses pharmacists and other staffWell before 1047297nancial commitment to a new system was obtained Memo-
rialCare hired a ldquoCare Planning Executiverdquo a person whose full-time
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3839
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 19
activities were devoted to the project 1047297rst to help understand the drivers
of a new system scope out the territory to be covered gain the com-mitment of senior leaders as well as governance and outline the case
for change At my insistence the Care Planning Executive a registered
nurse and former hospital chief operating offi cer joined the organization
reporting to the system-wide CEO as a peer and partner of the CIO not
a staff member and a peer to the CEOs of each medical center campus
Tat dedication alone made clear the commitment intentions and over-
all priority of the company
Among several other critical success factorsmdashand the outcome was
a successmdashwas the overall employee engagement program that the Care
Planning Executive established In summary it was an education mar-
keting and training program dedicated to equipping the affected staffwith the knowledge and tools to embrace unavoidable change Staff com-
munication was clear that it wasnrsquot change for changersquos sake but a major
move forward in the paperless way care would be delivered and work-
1047298ows would be streamlined Of course at the time no one could have
foreseen later moves by government to push everyone in this direction
(with the American Recovery and Reconstruction Act of 2009) Because
of our early efforts wersquore now very well positioned
J Scott Joslyn
CIO
MemorialCareLong Beach California
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3939
About the BookDespite the promise of improving care and other benefits EMR implementations are highly disruptive to the
organization This book prepares you to lead or participate successfully in change managementtechnologyadoption efforts so that meaningful use of EMRs can be achieved The authors provide successful strategies
to plan and implement change The content is based on their decades of combined experience designing
and leading technology adoption programs
Sections of the book deal with establishing a foundation for change building commitment and developing
requisite skill in helping users be successful with technology The book includes numerous lessons learned
tips for success best practices and case studies from organizations that have handled change well
About the AuthorsClaire McCarthy MA is a recognized technology adoption strategist and leader
with 25 years of healthcare industry experience supporting people through softwareimplementations and other large-scale change efforts As Director of Organizational
Effectiveness for Kaiser Permanentersquos enterprise-wide EMR deployment Ms McCarthy
led a national community of practice focused on preparing users to assume new
roles and responsibilities in support of organizational objectives Ms McCarthy
speaks internationally on the topic of technology adoption encouraging healthcare
leaders around the globe to set the stage for benefit realization by investing in the
people side of EMR implementation
Douglas Eastman PhD is an organizational development executive with extensive
experience managing large-scale change initiatives With more than 20 years
of consulting experience Dr Eastmanrsquos focus is to help organizations grow and
manage change by unleashing human potential His specialties are organizationaltransformation technology adoption and optimization process redesign strategic
planning and program and tools development As the Executive Director of Technology
Adoption and Organizational Capability within the Kaiser Permanente IT Care
Delivery Business Information Office Dr Eastman has pioneered several of Kaiserrsquos
implementation readiness toolsmethodologies and post-live optimization strategies
programs adding to the organizationrsquos ability to realize the benefit of its technology
About HIMSS The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) is a comprehensive healthcare-
stakeholder membership organization exclusively focused on providing global leadership for the optimal
use of information technology (IT) and management systems for the betterment of healthcare Founded in
1961 with offices in Chicago Washington DC Brussels Singapore and other locations across the United
States HIMSS represents more than 23000 individual members of which 73 work in patient care delivery
settings HIMSS also includes over 380 corporate members and nearly 30 not-for-profit organizations that
share our mission of transforming healthcare through the effective use of information technology and
management systems HIMSS frames and leads healthcare public policy and industry practices through
its educational professional development and advocacy initiatives designed to promote information and
management systemsrsquo contributions to ensuring quality patient care
ISBN 978-0-9821070-6-5
Order Code 564
230 E Ohio St Suite 500
Chicago IL 60611ndash3270
312-915-9295
www himss org
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2239
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 3
management deals mostly with the hallway situation acilitating the
human transition rom the present to the uture Tese days change isongoing and requires ocused leadership i it is to be as ast and pain-
less as possible
Te three legs o the project stool represent the critical compo-nents o an implementation (Figure 1-1)mdashPeople Process and ech-
nology Te people are the most important When technology projects
ail it is primarily due to a lack o use and not a ailure o the sof-
ware Te ocus o change management is people and the objective is
to change behavior Tis is good or business because it accelerates the
change process so bene1047297ts are achieved aster Change management
is not about being nice or placing an emphasis on eelings Itrsquos about
perormance improvement and results
I you search the literature you will 1047297nd a variety o de1047297nitions o
human-ocused change management Tey all cover similar concepts
sometimes using different terminology Te simplest explanation ochange management is to say ldquoItrsquos all about the peoplerdquo But or the
purposes o this book we expand on that concept and use the ollow-
ing de1047297nition o change management
bull A structured process designed to deal directly and intentionally
with the human actors involved in not just planning and imple-
menting an EMR but through behavior change achieving the
anticipated bene1047297ts that justi1047297ed the project in the 1047297rst place
bull Desired behavior change is achieved by helping people understand
and internalize change and by preparing them to be successul
contributors in the uture state In the case o EMR implementa-
tions effective change management delivers users who are willingand able to use an EMR in a way that satis1047297es the requirements o
the job the needs o the patient and the health o the organization
Key Tip
Our assumption is that the software you are implementing
works If the software doesnrsquot work you have another kind of
problem one that even the best change management wonrsquot
resolve
Key Tip
Our assumption is that the software you are implementing
works If the software doesnrsquot work you have another kind of
problemmdashone that even the best change management wonrsquot
resolve
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2339
4 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
Well-designed integrated people-ocused work builds logically
over time in a way that makes sense to the user It brings users along
guiding and supporting them so they arrive at where you want them
to be Tis is about willingness and ability hearts and minds You must
have both
Te overarching purpose o change management is to acceleratethe speed at which people move successfully through the change
process so that anticipated bene1047297ts are achieved faster And there
are additional bene1047297ts to change management Trough optimizing
the effi ciency and effi cacy o users an effective EMR change manage-
ment program will also
bull Improve organizational outcomes and perormance (effective use
o the system generates value to patients and the organization)
bull Enhance employee satisaction morale and engagement (when
people learn new skills meet perormance expectations and con-
tribute to a greater good they eel pride in their accomplishments)
bull Improve service quality (users eel valued and supported by anorganization that makes an investment in them this positively
impacts how they treat patients)
Figure 1-1 The Three-legged Stool
Technology
People Process
Technology
People Process
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2439
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 5
bull Help achieve hoped-or bene1047297ts (bene1047297ts that include EMR value
realization reduction o errors return on investment)bull Create higher levels o openness trust involvement and teamwork
(develop an engaged workorce)
bull Build change capability and capacity in the organization resulting
in improved ability to respond quickly and effectively to new situa-
tions (create organizational nimbleness through embedded change
management knowledge structure and process)
In other words it really is all about the people Intentionally man-
aging the cultural behavioral and organizational changes that need
to take place to make the desired EMR uture not only a reality but
a sustainable reality pays off on many levels in that it also acilitates
organizational transormation Building on individual capability andorganizational capacity change management results in a change-
capable culturemdasha huge advantage in todayrsquos competitive and ast-
changing world
Change Management echnology AdoptionmdashWhatrsquos the Difference
Tere are a number o terms that people use to reer to the work
involved in managing the people side o a change effort We think o
change management as the mother ship that is the umbrella term that
embraces all specialties within the 1047297eld Similar to the various special-
ties or domains o service within a healthcare system change man-agement proessionals may choose speci1047297c areas o ocus echnology
adoption speci1047297cally inormation technology (I) is one such area
and it involves the application o change management principles to the
implementation o I Te focus of this book is technology adoption
and we will mostly use this term instead of change management
throughout the rest of the book
Effective technology adoption proessionals align themselves with
the operationalbusiness side o the organization and tailor solutions
that drive behavioral change and tangible outcomes Tey participate in
EMR implementation projects rom the beginning driving the people
side o change throughout and continuing to add value post-live as theEMR becomes part o the central nervous system o the organization
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2539
6 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
HE IMPORANCE OF HE PEOPLE SIDE
OF AN EMR IMPLEMENAIONTere are many reerences in the literature to ailed change efforts and
I implementations Estimates are that only one third o these projects
achieve success which means two thirds ail to meet expectations Te
good news is that ailure is optional as much has been learned about
why some change efforts ail and others succeed
Herersquos the issue while the change that is going to occur is an exter-
nal eventmdashthe EMR implementation a reorganization proposed out-
sourcing a promotion etcmdashthe transition rom old to new that those
who are impacted experience is a psychological and emotional pro-
cess It is this transition that is diffi cultmdasheven when a change is sel-
imposed or considered positive
In the words o William Bridges a key thought leader in manage-
ment o transitions ldquoIt isnrsquot the changes that do you in itrsquos the transi-
tion afer the change that doesrdquo1
For an implementation team part o the problem encountered
during transition is that change is messy people start where they are
not where we want them to be And when considering the personnel
within a typical hospital people can be all over the place in terms o
comort with computers stage in lie commitment to the organiza-
tion ear o change etc Add to this the act that or change to be suc-
cessul three things must occur People
bull Must let go o their current reality have an ending
bull Go through a conused period in-between (hell in the hallway)
bull Only then can have a new beginning 1
o take this a step urther while I consultants want to install the
system and make enhancements the users will ultimately determine
how the system is used Tis use is affected by human not technical
actors
bull Different rames o reerence backgrounds experiences with
technology
bull Organizational history and experience with other large-scale
change projects
bull Levels o resistance ear ability to deal with ambiguity
bull Degree o alignment o ldquoWhatrsquos in it or merdquo or the various stake-
holder groups
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2639
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 7
bull Ineffi ciencies uncovered because the system creates transparency
bull Workarounds that become quickly entrenchedbull Pressure to get through the day can override doing what is right
bull User worklie balance issues coming into play rom the very
beginning
All o these actors create problems or implementation teams that
just want to install technology How do you effectively address the
people issues Or is it easier to just install the technology and assume
that people will learn because they have to use it Some on the imple-
mentation team may alsely assume that users o an EMR system will
snap into place over time and do what is right or the organization
Tis thinking is a oolrsquos paradise
In the oreword to this book Dave Garets made the point that EMRdeployments are not about technology but about equipping organiza-
tions to reach critical business objectives by providing employees with
technical capabilities that make new things possible and by engaging
them in changing their behavior to effectively use the new capabilities
to generate desired results
With all due respect to the technical side o an EMR implemen-
tation installing the technology is only hal the battle Tis is not to
degrade the importance o the technology Te act that we spend a lot
o money researching technology acquiring it con1047297guring it install-
ing it and supporting it speaks to its importance I we werenrsquot imple-
menting EMRs we wouldnrsquot even be having a discussion about EMR-related change management
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2739
8 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
But implementation o the technology is just a 1047297rst and very nec-
essary stepmdashbecause in and o itsel the technology does not generate
value Te technology is necessary but not suffi cient or bene1047297t realiza-
tion to occur o create value requires people and this is why change
management is so important oo much o a ocus on technology even
in the early stages will create issues downstream And even with the
best technology i not used effi ciently hoped-or bene1047297ts will be tough
to achieve
CIO Perspective
ldquoDuring my masters program I took an Organization Development
class that really opened my eyes to peoplesrsquo needs during large-scale
change Since the OD class I have been very interested in what makes
people tick and why people react in different ways to the same
environment No matter how good of an idea a large-scale technology
implementation is we will always have early adopters average adopters
and laggards As leaders within large organizations we have a
responsibility to plan for and respect all types of technology adopters
Ultimately the people who work within in our organizations want a positive
human experience when they are at work
Utilizing a change management methodology enables the implementation
and leadership teams to provide a positive experience during the period of
significant change By utilizing a solid change management methodologythe organization promotes team communication a safer environment for
the patient a work environment that promotes trust and an environment
where people are allowed to talk about the fear of change All of this
promotes a better human experience and a much stronger work force
hellip An effective change management program has meant the difference
between good go-lives and great go-lives at our 10 hospitalsrdquo
Lindsey P Jarrell FACHE
SVP amp CIO
BayCare Health System
Clearwater FL
CIO Perspective
During my masters program I took an Organization Development
class that really opened my eyes to peoplesrsquo needs during large-scale
change Since the OD class I have been very interested in what makes
people tick and why people react in different ways to the same
environment No matter how good of an idea a large-scale technology
implementation is we will always have early adopters average adopters
and laggards As leaders within large organizations we have a
responsibility to plan for and respect all types of technology adopters
Ultimately the people who work within in our organizations want a positive
human experience when they are at work
Utilizing a change management methodology enables the implementation
and leadership teams to provide a positive experience during the period of
significant change By utilizing a solid change management methodologythe organization promotes team communication a safer environment for
the patient a work environment that promotes trust and an environment
where people are allowed to talk about the fear of change All of this
promotes a better human experience and a much stronger work force
hellip An effective change management program has meant the difference
between good go-lives and great go-lives at our 10 hospitals
Lindsey P Jarrell FACHE
SVP amp CIO
BayCare Health System
Clearwater FL
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2839
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 9
Remember that change is a personal experience It is also local and
individual And itrsquos hardmdasheven when itrsquos sel-imposed and positive
Tere are no shortcuts People have to go through the process o change
in much the same way that we move through the stages o grie2 It canrsquot
be avoided or skipped You can measure twice and cut once or you
can cut now and then do costly remediation later Either way you canrsquot
avoid the expense or time required or real change to occur
SYSEMS PERSPECIVE
Experienced technology adoption proessionals embrace a systems
perspective when given the assignment to drive perormance man-
age perceptions and increase the utilization o new and existing tech-
nology A systems approach is the ability to see the big picture and
address the interrelationships among the variables within the abric o
CIO Perspective
ldquoIrsquove been in healthcare IT a long time and I now realize itrsquos
all about change management What was considered soft is
now hard We know so much more about how to install
technologymdashItrsquos the people part we donrsquot know well yet
and so itrsquos hardrdquo
Scott Joslyn
CIO
MemorialCare
Long Beach CA
CIO Perspective
Irsquove been in healthcare IT a long time and I now realize itrsquos
all about change management What was considered soft is
now hard We know so much more about how to install
technologymdashitrsquos the people part we donrsquot know well yet
and so itrsquos hard
J Scott Joslyn
CIO
MemorialCare
Long Beach CA
Quoteldquordquo
ldquoNo man can think clearly when his fists are clenchedrdquo
- George Jean Nathan
Quoteldquordquo
ldquordquo
ldquoNo man can think clearly when his fists are clenchedrdquo
- George Jean Nathan
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2939
10 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
the organization and in1047298uence the combined impact these variables
have on organizational effectiveness As each variable has the powerto in1047298uence the outcome o any intervention behavior change is ofen
not sustainable because variables tend to work against one another
Effective technology adoption strategies account or this interrelation-
shipinterdependency and aim to bring these variables into alignment
as a means or driving sustainable results
Figure 1-2 introduces the Organizational Fabric Model which
highlights the six primary threads (or variables) that are interwoven
in the abric (or culture) o an organization Te model suggests that
all six threads must work in concert to successully shape the organi-
zational abric A well-woven technology adoption plan strategically
manipulates these threads to in1047298uence desired change A poorly wovenplan in which a thread or combination o threads is not accounted
or leads to disaster or by way o analogy will hit a snag down the
road Depending on the 1047298exibility and durability o this abric a snag
can result in a huge hole that detracts rom the overall strength o the
intervention Te intent o the Organizational Fabric Model is to stress
how important it is to understand the uture state recognize how each
variable or combination o variables will come into play and develop a
sound technology adoption program that appropriately in1047298uences this
set o variables to reshape the abric or culture so desired change can
actually take place
Te Organizational Fabric Model will be revisited in subsequent
chapters as each thread or variable is explored in urther detail For
now we reiterate that technology adoption strategies must not rely
on only one or two threads to drive behavior change Sustainable out-
comes result rom an organizationrsquos ability to leverage the combination
o all six threads working in concert to create an environment orsuccess
Key Point
Fundamentally culture is ldquothe way we do things around hererdquo
Key Point
Fundamentally culture is ldquothe way we do things around hererdquo
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3039
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 11
CREAING AN ENVIRONMEN FOR SUCCESS
echnology adoption is about creating a context an environment in
which change can be achieved and sustained over the long term Tis
involves two levelsmdashorganizational and individual
With an EMR implementation the organization must create thesupporting environment provide needed training and resources
articulate a clear direction coupled with clear expectations engage its
people include them in the process and reinorce desired new behav-
iors Tis is not about checking things off a list but rather about 1047297nd-
ing synergy among impacted groups giving them what they need and
coordinating efforts to meet the end goal Itrsquos an ongoing effort
o give you an idea o what we are talking about herersquos an exam-
ple o an individual situation occurring within a social context Tink
about what happens when you want to make a signi1047297cant change in
your personal liemdashquit smoking stop drinking lose weight Itrsquos one
thing to talk with a doctor or another proessional about what needsto happen when yoursquore in their offi ce but once you leave the offi ce
you then return to your social reality I your riends and amily donrsquot
want your behavior to change you will have a tough time All the rein-
Figure 1-2 Organizational Fabric Model
Sponsorship
Stakeholder Mgmt
Training
Vision
Reinforcement
Communications
Sponsorship
Stakeholder Mgmt
Training
Vision
Reinforcement
Communications
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3139
12 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
orcements and temptations will conspire to prevent you rom mak-
ing changes But i you can get some important people in your lieto make the changes with you or at least support you in the process
you have a much greater chance o success Te lesson is donrsquot send a
changed person back into an unchanged environment if you want
to see behavior change
Engaging individuals involves arousing two key aspects mdashwilling-
ness and ability Te organization must in1047298uence both in order to suc-
ceed With the help o the Skill Versus Will Matrix (Figure 1-3) think
about it this way
bull When people want to do something but donrsquot know how they canrsquot
(willingunable)
bull When people know how but donrsquot want to they wonrsquot(ableunwilling)
Can you think o examples in your own lie when you have been in
either o these situations
Consider the circumstance o people who know how to do some-
thing but donrsquot want to do it Tis is a ldquowillrdquo not a ldquoskillrdquo issue and it is
a very common technology adoption dilemma I the amount o work
and effort involved are not perceived by the user as being equal to the
Figure 1-3 The Skill versus Will Matrix
Skill
Will
WONrsquoT
WONrsquoT
DOES
CANrsquoTLow
High
HighLow
Skill
Will
WONrsquoT
WONrsquoT
DOES
CANrsquoTLow
High
HighLow HighLow
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3239
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 13
return or value experienced through the implementation the user will
most likely choose to reduce the effort A goal o an effective people-ocused strategy is to identiy potential areas o disconnect and 1047297nd
ways to increase the perceived value to users Te assumption is that
when the return is perceived to be greater the effort increases When
there are no incentives to try harder it may be diffi cult to drive desired
behavior change
Te point in getting users to actively support the deployment o
an EMR is about a lot more than a communication plan or eature
unction training Managing the people side o an EMR implementa-
tion requires a savvy technology adoption plan that ties sponsorship
training communication work1047298ow harmonization user support and
reinorcement with the business priorities o the organization andeffectively coordinates all o these activities with the user in mindmdashin
an environment that reinorces desired behavior changes
Key Questions
Two key questions to remember throughout the
project arehellip
(1) How will this decision impact the user
(2) How might it impact patients
Key Questions
Two key questions to remember throughout the
project are
(1) How will this decision impact the user
(2) How might it impact patients
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3339
14 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
Consider this example
In this example what are the key elements o this process that
ensure success
bull Te picture of success the desired outcome is clearmdashit is or the
child to become a unctioning adult in the community
bull How this happens is clearly de1047297ned in behavioral terms Tere is a
process that is known and understood by the entire community
including children
bull Leaders at all levels in the community agree on the desired out-
come support the entire process and actively ful1047297ll their roles to ensure success Leaders include village elders and ormal lead-
ers parents o the children inormal opinion leaders and amily
members
bull Te children who are about to become adults take an active role
in their own transormation taking responsibility or their suc-
cess Tey receive guidance and counsel rom elders Tey know
and understand the transormation process and what they must do
to achieve their new status Goals and steps are clear Tey also
understand the consequences o not successully transitioning to
adulthood
bull I there is more than one child slated to go through transormationto adulthood at the same time they are a peer group and as appro-
priate prepare together and support each other
Key Point
In native cultures there tend to be rites of passage that serve
to transition a person from childhood to adult status in the
community The child may actually leave the village for a day or
two of contemplation following a prescribed process When the
child returns he or she is redefined as an adult and assumes
the consequent privileges and responsibilities The entire
community reinforces the personrsquos new status the new adult is
not allowed to return to being a child whenever itrsquos convenient
but is supported to complete the transformation to adulthood
The change to adulthood does not happen in a vacuum but is
part of a carefully designed process that ensures success
Key Point
In native cultures there tend to be rites of passage that serve
to transition a person from childhood to adult status in the
community The child may actually leave the village for a day or
two of contemplation following a prescribed process When the
child returns he or she is redefined as an adult and assumes
the consequent privileges and responsibilities The entire
community reinforces the personrsquos new status the new adult is
not allowed to return to being a child whenever itrsquos convenient
but is supported to complete the transformation to adulthood
The change to adulthood does not happen in a vacuum but is
part of a carefully designed process that ensures success
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3439
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 15
bull Te entire community works together to bring about the
transormationbull Success results in positive reinforcement
Te environmental context is the trump card in any implementerrsquos
hand It takes a lot o work to create a suitable environment but it is an
essential ingredient in being able to drive and sustain change
Willingness and Ability
Earlier we mentioned willingness and ability as key concepts in tech-
nology adoption Willingness and ability can also be thought o as
hearts and minds or will and skill Te point is the same regardless
o the terms used People need to be supported on both an emotional
level to commit and on an intellectual level to be able Te questionto be answered is ldquoWhat are the conditions under which users will
accept and adopt the EMRrdquo
Letrsquos talk about willingness 1047297rst
Willingness or hearts is the commitment to go orward Tis is
impacted by many things including the ollowing elements
bull Leadership Perceived support or lack o support or the change
rom senior executives in the company the cascade o sponsors
down through the organization and just as importantly rom the
employeersquos direct supervisor
bull Communication Quality and requency o verbal and written
messages that describe the desired uture state tell why the changeneeds to happen and what will happen i change isnrsquot made set
clear expectations explain how the company will prepare and sup-
port people to success and describe local details such as timelines
etc
bull Reinforcement Degree o appropriateness and timeliness o
rewards or demonstrating desired new behaviors and conse-
quences or sticking to the old ways
bull Participation Degree to which users are involved every step o
the way either directly as individuals or indirectly by being effec-
tively represented by trusted local opinion leader peers who serve
as liaisons between users and the project teambull Organizational History with Change Previous organizational
experience with changemdashgood and badmdashwill in1047298uence user per-
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3539
16 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
ceptions and expectations o the EMR implementation Under-
standing the past is important in planning or the utureTis all sounds logical but the reaction to it can be emotional Tis
is where people conront their ear o ailure eeling stupid making
mistakes etc Remember that the change may require people to give
up the very things that they believe made them successul in the past
Tis can be a diffi cult sell
Ability or minds is about the actual capability to successully
meet new job expectations Tis is impacted by many things including
the ollowing elements
bull raining and Support In most cases the new EMR abilities must
be learned An effective training program that is role-based and
intentionally ocused on preparing people to perorm new jobexpectations is key Just discussing desired outcomes is not enough
though we have to clearly tell people what we want them to do
Tis requires an intellectual understanding o what and how a
conceptual understanding is necessary but not suffi cient Most
people need to practice something new to develop competence and
con1047297dence Sae opportunities to practice preerably with immedi-
ate eedback are very important to pro1047297ciency development and
sustainability
Getting people to move in the direction you want is the diffi -
cultymdashsome say the hardest part o the whole project And i you agree
that people are the oundation o successmdashthat bene1047297t realization isdependant not on technology but on people agreeing to go through
personal disruption learn new things change established patterns and
conront their earsmdashthen we must be proactive and courageous in
addressing the human issues
Tis is the people side o the project Tis is the organizational read-
iness unction It involves collaboration coordination and sequencing
o activities inormation and events rom all people-ocused areas Te
idea is to have all the people-ocused unctions working together to
reach clearly de1047297ned shared outcomes Te organizational readiness
plan to create individual and organizational readiness is the umbrella
that connects it allmdashthe glue that holds it together and the grease thatmakes it workmdashor the user We will address the structure and process
or doing this in more detail in subsequent chapters
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3639
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 17
Good News on wo Fronts
1 Tere is a social science Tere is a body o work research andsubsequent publications about the human experience with change
Tere are proven change management strategies tools and tech-
niques Tis isnrsquot olklore hooey or black magic Te transition
process is known and predictable Tere is a change curve that
describes the steps (Chapter 5 Stakeholder Management) And
though there is no silver bullet it isnrsquot rocket science Senior
healthcare executives must take the emerging proession o change
managementtechnology adoption seriously Not understanding it
is no excuse or ignoring it Tat is ar too expensive an option
2 All people go through transition when changemdashgood or badmdash
happens in both their personal and proessional lie You canrsquot
avoid it Te wonderul thing is i you learn about change and
transition at work it will improve your personal lie Tis is one
o the times to ldquotry this at homerdquo Wersquore all humanmdashat work and
at home So treat your people as the humans they are and avoid
some predictable expense and diffi culty Lead your organization
to a successul outcome and speed up the process by treating your
staff as customers 1047297rst
Donrsquot make the mistake o glossing over the critical human aspects
o change Hire experts and 1047297nd the emotionally intelligent people in
your organization who want to participate And remember you can
install technology without your people but you canrsquot ully implement
and achieve return on investment without them Consciously choose
to move fear and resistance to trust and adoption Itrsquos a case o pay
now or pay later I you wait until later it will always cost more ech-
nology Adoption is expensive but not as expensive as trying to gloss
it over and then having to undo the damage When ailure happens it
Quoteldquordquo
ldquoNot everything that can be counted counts and not everything thatcounts can be countedrdquo
- Albert Einstein
Quoteldquordquo
ldquordquo
ldquoNot everything that can be counted counts and not everything thatcounts can be countedrdquo
- Albert Einstein
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3739
18 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
takes a long time or people to re-engage And in todayrsquos world this
presents real problems or healthcare organizations aced with short-ages in many proessions Tere is a huge risk o alienating and poten-
tially losing needed staff or in causing long delays We can do better
Not so long ago it wasnrsquot conventional wisdom that clinical application
rollouts are not I projects More frequently than not these were consid-
ered technical projects in which the point of celebration was when con-nection from workstation to central processor was reliable and wireless
access actually worked Te classic I People-Process-echnology trian-
gle never got much past echnology to the real hard work on the People-
Process axis Tat has all changed in the 21st century system implemen-
tations that are both successful and valuable have had people and process
on the front burner
When MemorialCare embarked on a 1047297ve-hospital roll-out of an
EMR in 2002 it had several things in its favor
bull Te technology the organization ultimately acquired was robust and
reliable it worked
bull It had 15 yearsrsquo experience with CPOE (computerized providerorder entry) Terefore although unevenly adopted it was not new
territory
bull It had had the experience of a system-wide roll-out and standard-
ization on a general 1047297nance human resources and materials man-
agement system When all was said and done users had not been
suffi ciently involved standardization fell short because involvement
was low business leadership was diffuse and I ownership was too
high It was judged successful overall but the organization continues
to move slowly forward with an underutilized set of applications
With this experience and the insights of others MemorialCare pri-
oritized engagement of physicians nurses pharmacists and other staffWell before 1047297nancial commitment to a new system was obtained Memo-
rialCare hired a ldquoCare Planning Executiverdquo a person whose full-time
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3839
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 19
activities were devoted to the project 1047297rst to help understand the drivers
of a new system scope out the territory to be covered gain the com-mitment of senior leaders as well as governance and outline the case
for change At my insistence the Care Planning Executive a registered
nurse and former hospital chief operating offi cer joined the organization
reporting to the system-wide CEO as a peer and partner of the CIO not
a staff member and a peer to the CEOs of each medical center campus
Tat dedication alone made clear the commitment intentions and over-
all priority of the company
Among several other critical success factorsmdashand the outcome was
a successmdashwas the overall employee engagement program that the Care
Planning Executive established In summary it was an education mar-
keting and training program dedicated to equipping the affected staffwith the knowledge and tools to embrace unavoidable change Staff com-
munication was clear that it wasnrsquot change for changersquos sake but a major
move forward in the paperless way care would be delivered and work-
1047298ows would be streamlined Of course at the time no one could have
foreseen later moves by government to push everyone in this direction
(with the American Recovery and Reconstruction Act of 2009) Because
of our early efforts wersquore now very well positioned
J Scott Joslyn
CIO
MemorialCareLong Beach California
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3939
About the BookDespite the promise of improving care and other benefits EMR implementations are highly disruptive to the
organization This book prepares you to lead or participate successfully in change managementtechnologyadoption efforts so that meaningful use of EMRs can be achieved The authors provide successful strategies
to plan and implement change The content is based on their decades of combined experience designing
and leading technology adoption programs
Sections of the book deal with establishing a foundation for change building commitment and developing
requisite skill in helping users be successful with technology The book includes numerous lessons learned
tips for success best practices and case studies from organizations that have handled change well
About the AuthorsClaire McCarthy MA is a recognized technology adoption strategist and leader
with 25 years of healthcare industry experience supporting people through softwareimplementations and other large-scale change efforts As Director of Organizational
Effectiveness for Kaiser Permanentersquos enterprise-wide EMR deployment Ms McCarthy
led a national community of practice focused on preparing users to assume new
roles and responsibilities in support of organizational objectives Ms McCarthy
speaks internationally on the topic of technology adoption encouraging healthcare
leaders around the globe to set the stage for benefit realization by investing in the
people side of EMR implementation
Douglas Eastman PhD is an organizational development executive with extensive
experience managing large-scale change initiatives With more than 20 years
of consulting experience Dr Eastmanrsquos focus is to help organizations grow and
manage change by unleashing human potential His specialties are organizationaltransformation technology adoption and optimization process redesign strategic
planning and program and tools development As the Executive Director of Technology
Adoption and Organizational Capability within the Kaiser Permanente IT Care
Delivery Business Information Office Dr Eastman has pioneered several of Kaiserrsquos
implementation readiness toolsmethodologies and post-live optimization strategies
programs adding to the organizationrsquos ability to realize the benefit of its technology
About HIMSS The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) is a comprehensive healthcare-
stakeholder membership organization exclusively focused on providing global leadership for the optimal
use of information technology (IT) and management systems for the betterment of healthcare Founded in
1961 with offices in Chicago Washington DC Brussels Singapore and other locations across the United
States HIMSS represents more than 23000 individual members of which 73 work in patient care delivery
settings HIMSS also includes over 380 corporate members and nearly 30 not-for-profit organizations that
share our mission of transforming healthcare through the effective use of information technology and
management systems HIMSS frames and leads healthcare public policy and industry practices through
its educational professional development and advocacy initiatives designed to promote information and
management systemsrsquo contributions to ensuring quality patient care
ISBN 978-0-9821070-6-5
Order Code 564
230 E Ohio St Suite 500
Chicago IL 60611ndash3270
312-915-9295
www himss org
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2339
4 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
Well-designed integrated people-ocused work builds logically
over time in a way that makes sense to the user It brings users along
guiding and supporting them so they arrive at where you want them
to be Tis is about willingness and ability hearts and minds You must
have both
Te overarching purpose o change management is to acceleratethe speed at which people move successfully through the change
process so that anticipated bene1047297ts are achieved faster And there
are additional bene1047297ts to change management Trough optimizing
the effi ciency and effi cacy o users an effective EMR change manage-
ment program will also
bull Improve organizational outcomes and perormance (effective use
o the system generates value to patients and the organization)
bull Enhance employee satisaction morale and engagement (when
people learn new skills meet perormance expectations and con-
tribute to a greater good they eel pride in their accomplishments)
bull Improve service quality (users eel valued and supported by anorganization that makes an investment in them this positively
impacts how they treat patients)
Figure 1-1 The Three-legged Stool
Technology
People Process
Technology
People Process
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2439
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 5
bull Help achieve hoped-or bene1047297ts (bene1047297ts that include EMR value
realization reduction o errors return on investment)bull Create higher levels o openness trust involvement and teamwork
(develop an engaged workorce)
bull Build change capability and capacity in the organization resulting
in improved ability to respond quickly and effectively to new situa-
tions (create organizational nimbleness through embedded change
management knowledge structure and process)
In other words it really is all about the people Intentionally man-
aging the cultural behavioral and organizational changes that need
to take place to make the desired EMR uture not only a reality but
a sustainable reality pays off on many levels in that it also acilitates
organizational transormation Building on individual capability andorganizational capacity change management results in a change-
capable culturemdasha huge advantage in todayrsquos competitive and ast-
changing world
Change Management echnology AdoptionmdashWhatrsquos the Difference
Tere are a number o terms that people use to reer to the work
involved in managing the people side o a change effort We think o
change management as the mother ship that is the umbrella term that
embraces all specialties within the 1047297eld Similar to the various special-
ties or domains o service within a healthcare system change man-agement proessionals may choose speci1047297c areas o ocus echnology
adoption speci1047297cally inormation technology (I) is one such area
and it involves the application o change management principles to the
implementation o I Te focus of this book is technology adoption
and we will mostly use this term instead of change management
throughout the rest of the book
Effective technology adoption proessionals align themselves with
the operationalbusiness side o the organization and tailor solutions
that drive behavioral change and tangible outcomes Tey participate in
EMR implementation projects rom the beginning driving the people
side o change throughout and continuing to add value post-live as theEMR becomes part o the central nervous system o the organization
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2539
6 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
HE IMPORANCE OF HE PEOPLE SIDE
OF AN EMR IMPLEMENAIONTere are many reerences in the literature to ailed change efforts and
I implementations Estimates are that only one third o these projects
achieve success which means two thirds ail to meet expectations Te
good news is that ailure is optional as much has been learned about
why some change efforts ail and others succeed
Herersquos the issue while the change that is going to occur is an exter-
nal eventmdashthe EMR implementation a reorganization proposed out-
sourcing a promotion etcmdashthe transition rom old to new that those
who are impacted experience is a psychological and emotional pro-
cess It is this transition that is diffi cultmdasheven when a change is sel-
imposed or considered positive
In the words o William Bridges a key thought leader in manage-
ment o transitions ldquoIt isnrsquot the changes that do you in itrsquos the transi-
tion afer the change that doesrdquo1
For an implementation team part o the problem encountered
during transition is that change is messy people start where they are
not where we want them to be And when considering the personnel
within a typical hospital people can be all over the place in terms o
comort with computers stage in lie commitment to the organiza-
tion ear o change etc Add to this the act that or change to be suc-
cessul three things must occur People
bull Must let go o their current reality have an ending
bull Go through a conused period in-between (hell in the hallway)
bull Only then can have a new beginning 1
o take this a step urther while I consultants want to install the
system and make enhancements the users will ultimately determine
how the system is used Tis use is affected by human not technical
actors
bull Different rames o reerence backgrounds experiences with
technology
bull Organizational history and experience with other large-scale
change projects
bull Levels o resistance ear ability to deal with ambiguity
bull Degree o alignment o ldquoWhatrsquos in it or merdquo or the various stake-
holder groups
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2639
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 7
bull Ineffi ciencies uncovered because the system creates transparency
bull Workarounds that become quickly entrenchedbull Pressure to get through the day can override doing what is right
bull User worklie balance issues coming into play rom the very
beginning
All o these actors create problems or implementation teams that
just want to install technology How do you effectively address the
people issues Or is it easier to just install the technology and assume
that people will learn because they have to use it Some on the imple-
mentation team may alsely assume that users o an EMR system will
snap into place over time and do what is right or the organization
Tis thinking is a oolrsquos paradise
In the oreword to this book Dave Garets made the point that EMRdeployments are not about technology but about equipping organiza-
tions to reach critical business objectives by providing employees with
technical capabilities that make new things possible and by engaging
them in changing their behavior to effectively use the new capabilities
to generate desired results
With all due respect to the technical side o an EMR implemen-
tation installing the technology is only hal the battle Tis is not to
degrade the importance o the technology Te act that we spend a lot
o money researching technology acquiring it con1047297guring it install-
ing it and supporting it speaks to its importance I we werenrsquot imple-
menting EMRs we wouldnrsquot even be having a discussion about EMR-related change management
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2739
8 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
But implementation o the technology is just a 1047297rst and very nec-
essary stepmdashbecause in and o itsel the technology does not generate
value Te technology is necessary but not suffi cient or bene1047297t realiza-
tion to occur o create value requires people and this is why change
management is so important oo much o a ocus on technology even
in the early stages will create issues downstream And even with the
best technology i not used effi ciently hoped-or bene1047297ts will be tough
to achieve
CIO Perspective
ldquoDuring my masters program I took an Organization Development
class that really opened my eyes to peoplesrsquo needs during large-scale
change Since the OD class I have been very interested in what makes
people tick and why people react in different ways to the same
environment No matter how good of an idea a large-scale technology
implementation is we will always have early adopters average adopters
and laggards As leaders within large organizations we have a
responsibility to plan for and respect all types of technology adopters
Ultimately the people who work within in our organizations want a positive
human experience when they are at work
Utilizing a change management methodology enables the implementation
and leadership teams to provide a positive experience during the period of
significant change By utilizing a solid change management methodologythe organization promotes team communication a safer environment for
the patient a work environment that promotes trust and an environment
where people are allowed to talk about the fear of change All of this
promotes a better human experience and a much stronger work force
hellip An effective change management program has meant the difference
between good go-lives and great go-lives at our 10 hospitalsrdquo
Lindsey P Jarrell FACHE
SVP amp CIO
BayCare Health System
Clearwater FL
CIO Perspective
During my masters program I took an Organization Development
class that really opened my eyes to peoplesrsquo needs during large-scale
change Since the OD class I have been very interested in what makes
people tick and why people react in different ways to the same
environment No matter how good of an idea a large-scale technology
implementation is we will always have early adopters average adopters
and laggards As leaders within large organizations we have a
responsibility to plan for and respect all types of technology adopters
Ultimately the people who work within in our organizations want a positive
human experience when they are at work
Utilizing a change management methodology enables the implementation
and leadership teams to provide a positive experience during the period of
significant change By utilizing a solid change management methodologythe organization promotes team communication a safer environment for
the patient a work environment that promotes trust and an environment
where people are allowed to talk about the fear of change All of this
promotes a better human experience and a much stronger work force
hellip An effective change management program has meant the difference
between good go-lives and great go-lives at our 10 hospitals
Lindsey P Jarrell FACHE
SVP amp CIO
BayCare Health System
Clearwater FL
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2839
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 9
Remember that change is a personal experience It is also local and
individual And itrsquos hardmdasheven when itrsquos sel-imposed and positive
Tere are no shortcuts People have to go through the process o change
in much the same way that we move through the stages o grie2 It canrsquot
be avoided or skipped You can measure twice and cut once or you
can cut now and then do costly remediation later Either way you canrsquot
avoid the expense or time required or real change to occur
SYSEMS PERSPECIVE
Experienced technology adoption proessionals embrace a systems
perspective when given the assignment to drive perormance man-
age perceptions and increase the utilization o new and existing tech-
nology A systems approach is the ability to see the big picture and
address the interrelationships among the variables within the abric o
CIO Perspective
ldquoIrsquove been in healthcare IT a long time and I now realize itrsquos
all about change management What was considered soft is
now hard We know so much more about how to install
technologymdashItrsquos the people part we donrsquot know well yet
and so itrsquos hardrdquo
Scott Joslyn
CIO
MemorialCare
Long Beach CA
CIO Perspective
Irsquove been in healthcare IT a long time and I now realize itrsquos
all about change management What was considered soft is
now hard We know so much more about how to install
technologymdashitrsquos the people part we donrsquot know well yet
and so itrsquos hard
J Scott Joslyn
CIO
MemorialCare
Long Beach CA
Quoteldquordquo
ldquoNo man can think clearly when his fists are clenchedrdquo
- George Jean Nathan
Quoteldquordquo
ldquordquo
ldquoNo man can think clearly when his fists are clenchedrdquo
- George Jean Nathan
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2939
10 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
the organization and in1047298uence the combined impact these variables
have on organizational effectiveness As each variable has the powerto in1047298uence the outcome o any intervention behavior change is ofen
not sustainable because variables tend to work against one another
Effective technology adoption strategies account or this interrelation-
shipinterdependency and aim to bring these variables into alignment
as a means or driving sustainable results
Figure 1-2 introduces the Organizational Fabric Model which
highlights the six primary threads (or variables) that are interwoven
in the abric (or culture) o an organization Te model suggests that
all six threads must work in concert to successully shape the organi-
zational abric A well-woven technology adoption plan strategically
manipulates these threads to in1047298uence desired change A poorly wovenplan in which a thread or combination o threads is not accounted
or leads to disaster or by way o analogy will hit a snag down the
road Depending on the 1047298exibility and durability o this abric a snag
can result in a huge hole that detracts rom the overall strength o the
intervention Te intent o the Organizational Fabric Model is to stress
how important it is to understand the uture state recognize how each
variable or combination o variables will come into play and develop a
sound technology adoption program that appropriately in1047298uences this
set o variables to reshape the abric or culture so desired change can
actually take place
Te Organizational Fabric Model will be revisited in subsequent
chapters as each thread or variable is explored in urther detail For
now we reiterate that technology adoption strategies must not rely
on only one or two threads to drive behavior change Sustainable out-
comes result rom an organizationrsquos ability to leverage the combination
o all six threads working in concert to create an environment orsuccess
Key Point
Fundamentally culture is ldquothe way we do things around hererdquo
Key Point
Fundamentally culture is ldquothe way we do things around hererdquo
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3039
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 11
CREAING AN ENVIRONMEN FOR SUCCESS
echnology adoption is about creating a context an environment in
which change can be achieved and sustained over the long term Tis
involves two levelsmdashorganizational and individual
With an EMR implementation the organization must create thesupporting environment provide needed training and resources
articulate a clear direction coupled with clear expectations engage its
people include them in the process and reinorce desired new behav-
iors Tis is not about checking things off a list but rather about 1047297nd-
ing synergy among impacted groups giving them what they need and
coordinating efforts to meet the end goal Itrsquos an ongoing effort
o give you an idea o what we are talking about herersquos an exam-
ple o an individual situation occurring within a social context Tink
about what happens when you want to make a signi1047297cant change in
your personal liemdashquit smoking stop drinking lose weight Itrsquos one
thing to talk with a doctor or another proessional about what needsto happen when yoursquore in their offi ce but once you leave the offi ce
you then return to your social reality I your riends and amily donrsquot
want your behavior to change you will have a tough time All the rein-
Figure 1-2 Organizational Fabric Model
Sponsorship
Stakeholder Mgmt
Training
Vision
Reinforcement
Communications
Sponsorship
Stakeholder Mgmt
Training
Vision
Reinforcement
Communications
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3139
12 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
orcements and temptations will conspire to prevent you rom mak-
ing changes But i you can get some important people in your lieto make the changes with you or at least support you in the process
you have a much greater chance o success Te lesson is donrsquot send a
changed person back into an unchanged environment if you want
to see behavior change
Engaging individuals involves arousing two key aspects mdashwilling-
ness and ability Te organization must in1047298uence both in order to suc-
ceed With the help o the Skill Versus Will Matrix (Figure 1-3) think
about it this way
bull When people want to do something but donrsquot know how they canrsquot
(willingunable)
bull When people know how but donrsquot want to they wonrsquot(ableunwilling)
Can you think o examples in your own lie when you have been in
either o these situations
Consider the circumstance o people who know how to do some-
thing but donrsquot want to do it Tis is a ldquowillrdquo not a ldquoskillrdquo issue and it is
a very common technology adoption dilemma I the amount o work
and effort involved are not perceived by the user as being equal to the
Figure 1-3 The Skill versus Will Matrix
Skill
Will
WONrsquoT
WONrsquoT
DOES
CANrsquoTLow
High
HighLow
Skill
Will
WONrsquoT
WONrsquoT
DOES
CANrsquoTLow
High
HighLow HighLow
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3239
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 13
return or value experienced through the implementation the user will
most likely choose to reduce the effort A goal o an effective people-ocused strategy is to identiy potential areas o disconnect and 1047297nd
ways to increase the perceived value to users Te assumption is that
when the return is perceived to be greater the effort increases When
there are no incentives to try harder it may be diffi cult to drive desired
behavior change
Te point in getting users to actively support the deployment o
an EMR is about a lot more than a communication plan or eature
unction training Managing the people side o an EMR implementa-
tion requires a savvy technology adoption plan that ties sponsorship
training communication work1047298ow harmonization user support and
reinorcement with the business priorities o the organization andeffectively coordinates all o these activities with the user in mindmdashin
an environment that reinorces desired behavior changes
Key Questions
Two key questions to remember throughout the
project arehellip
(1) How will this decision impact the user
(2) How might it impact patients
Key Questions
Two key questions to remember throughout the
project are
(1) How will this decision impact the user
(2) How might it impact patients
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3339
14 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
Consider this example
In this example what are the key elements o this process that
ensure success
bull Te picture of success the desired outcome is clearmdashit is or the
child to become a unctioning adult in the community
bull How this happens is clearly de1047297ned in behavioral terms Tere is a
process that is known and understood by the entire community
including children
bull Leaders at all levels in the community agree on the desired out-
come support the entire process and actively ful1047297ll their roles to ensure success Leaders include village elders and ormal lead-
ers parents o the children inormal opinion leaders and amily
members
bull Te children who are about to become adults take an active role
in their own transormation taking responsibility or their suc-
cess Tey receive guidance and counsel rom elders Tey know
and understand the transormation process and what they must do
to achieve their new status Goals and steps are clear Tey also
understand the consequences o not successully transitioning to
adulthood
bull I there is more than one child slated to go through transormationto adulthood at the same time they are a peer group and as appro-
priate prepare together and support each other
Key Point
In native cultures there tend to be rites of passage that serve
to transition a person from childhood to adult status in the
community The child may actually leave the village for a day or
two of contemplation following a prescribed process When the
child returns he or she is redefined as an adult and assumes
the consequent privileges and responsibilities The entire
community reinforces the personrsquos new status the new adult is
not allowed to return to being a child whenever itrsquos convenient
but is supported to complete the transformation to adulthood
The change to adulthood does not happen in a vacuum but is
part of a carefully designed process that ensures success
Key Point
In native cultures there tend to be rites of passage that serve
to transition a person from childhood to adult status in the
community The child may actually leave the village for a day or
two of contemplation following a prescribed process When the
child returns he or she is redefined as an adult and assumes
the consequent privileges and responsibilities The entire
community reinforces the personrsquos new status the new adult is
not allowed to return to being a child whenever itrsquos convenient
but is supported to complete the transformation to adulthood
The change to adulthood does not happen in a vacuum but is
part of a carefully designed process that ensures success
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3439
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 15
bull Te entire community works together to bring about the
transormationbull Success results in positive reinforcement
Te environmental context is the trump card in any implementerrsquos
hand It takes a lot o work to create a suitable environment but it is an
essential ingredient in being able to drive and sustain change
Willingness and Ability
Earlier we mentioned willingness and ability as key concepts in tech-
nology adoption Willingness and ability can also be thought o as
hearts and minds or will and skill Te point is the same regardless
o the terms used People need to be supported on both an emotional
level to commit and on an intellectual level to be able Te questionto be answered is ldquoWhat are the conditions under which users will
accept and adopt the EMRrdquo
Letrsquos talk about willingness 1047297rst
Willingness or hearts is the commitment to go orward Tis is
impacted by many things including the ollowing elements
bull Leadership Perceived support or lack o support or the change
rom senior executives in the company the cascade o sponsors
down through the organization and just as importantly rom the
employeersquos direct supervisor
bull Communication Quality and requency o verbal and written
messages that describe the desired uture state tell why the changeneeds to happen and what will happen i change isnrsquot made set
clear expectations explain how the company will prepare and sup-
port people to success and describe local details such as timelines
etc
bull Reinforcement Degree o appropriateness and timeliness o
rewards or demonstrating desired new behaviors and conse-
quences or sticking to the old ways
bull Participation Degree to which users are involved every step o
the way either directly as individuals or indirectly by being effec-
tively represented by trusted local opinion leader peers who serve
as liaisons between users and the project teambull Organizational History with Change Previous organizational
experience with changemdashgood and badmdashwill in1047298uence user per-
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3539
16 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
ceptions and expectations o the EMR implementation Under-
standing the past is important in planning or the utureTis all sounds logical but the reaction to it can be emotional Tis
is where people conront their ear o ailure eeling stupid making
mistakes etc Remember that the change may require people to give
up the very things that they believe made them successul in the past
Tis can be a diffi cult sell
Ability or minds is about the actual capability to successully
meet new job expectations Tis is impacted by many things including
the ollowing elements
bull raining and Support In most cases the new EMR abilities must
be learned An effective training program that is role-based and
intentionally ocused on preparing people to perorm new jobexpectations is key Just discussing desired outcomes is not enough
though we have to clearly tell people what we want them to do
Tis requires an intellectual understanding o what and how a
conceptual understanding is necessary but not suffi cient Most
people need to practice something new to develop competence and
con1047297dence Sae opportunities to practice preerably with immedi-
ate eedback are very important to pro1047297ciency development and
sustainability
Getting people to move in the direction you want is the diffi -
cultymdashsome say the hardest part o the whole project And i you agree
that people are the oundation o successmdashthat bene1047297t realization isdependant not on technology but on people agreeing to go through
personal disruption learn new things change established patterns and
conront their earsmdashthen we must be proactive and courageous in
addressing the human issues
Tis is the people side o the project Tis is the organizational read-
iness unction It involves collaboration coordination and sequencing
o activities inormation and events rom all people-ocused areas Te
idea is to have all the people-ocused unctions working together to
reach clearly de1047297ned shared outcomes Te organizational readiness
plan to create individual and organizational readiness is the umbrella
that connects it allmdashthe glue that holds it together and the grease thatmakes it workmdashor the user We will address the structure and process
or doing this in more detail in subsequent chapters
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3639
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 17
Good News on wo Fronts
1 Tere is a social science Tere is a body o work research andsubsequent publications about the human experience with change
Tere are proven change management strategies tools and tech-
niques Tis isnrsquot olklore hooey or black magic Te transition
process is known and predictable Tere is a change curve that
describes the steps (Chapter 5 Stakeholder Management) And
though there is no silver bullet it isnrsquot rocket science Senior
healthcare executives must take the emerging proession o change
managementtechnology adoption seriously Not understanding it
is no excuse or ignoring it Tat is ar too expensive an option
2 All people go through transition when changemdashgood or badmdash
happens in both their personal and proessional lie You canrsquot
avoid it Te wonderul thing is i you learn about change and
transition at work it will improve your personal lie Tis is one
o the times to ldquotry this at homerdquo Wersquore all humanmdashat work and
at home So treat your people as the humans they are and avoid
some predictable expense and diffi culty Lead your organization
to a successul outcome and speed up the process by treating your
staff as customers 1047297rst
Donrsquot make the mistake o glossing over the critical human aspects
o change Hire experts and 1047297nd the emotionally intelligent people in
your organization who want to participate And remember you can
install technology without your people but you canrsquot ully implement
and achieve return on investment without them Consciously choose
to move fear and resistance to trust and adoption Itrsquos a case o pay
now or pay later I you wait until later it will always cost more ech-
nology Adoption is expensive but not as expensive as trying to gloss
it over and then having to undo the damage When ailure happens it
Quoteldquordquo
ldquoNot everything that can be counted counts and not everything thatcounts can be countedrdquo
- Albert Einstein
Quoteldquordquo
ldquordquo
ldquoNot everything that can be counted counts and not everything thatcounts can be countedrdquo
- Albert Einstein
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3739
18 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
takes a long time or people to re-engage And in todayrsquos world this
presents real problems or healthcare organizations aced with short-ages in many proessions Tere is a huge risk o alienating and poten-
tially losing needed staff or in causing long delays We can do better
Not so long ago it wasnrsquot conventional wisdom that clinical application
rollouts are not I projects More frequently than not these were consid-
ered technical projects in which the point of celebration was when con-nection from workstation to central processor was reliable and wireless
access actually worked Te classic I People-Process-echnology trian-
gle never got much past echnology to the real hard work on the People-
Process axis Tat has all changed in the 21st century system implemen-
tations that are both successful and valuable have had people and process
on the front burner
When MemorialCare embarked on a 1047297ve-hospital roll-out of an
EMR in 2002 it had several things in its favor
bull Te technology the organization ultimately acquired was robust and
reliable it worked
bull It had 15 yearsrsquo experience with CPOE (computerized providerorder entry) Terefore although unevenly adopted it was not new
territory
bull It had had the experience of a system-wide roll-out and standard-
ization on a general 1047297nance human resources and materials man-
agement system When all was said and done users had not been
suffi ciently involved standardization fell short because involvement
was low business leadership was diffuse and I ownership was too
high It was judged successful overall but the organization continues
to move slowly forward with an underutilized set of applications
With this experience and the insights of others MemorialCare pri-
oritized engagement of physicians nurses pharmacists and other staffWell before 1047297nancial commitment to a new system was obtained Memo-
rialCare hired a ldquoCare Planning Executiverdquo a person whose full-time
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3839
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 19
activities were devoted to the project 1047297rst to help understand the drivers
of a new system scope out the territory to be covered gain the com-mitment of senior leaders as well as governance and outline the case
for change At my insistence the Care Planning Executive a registered
nurse and former hospital chief operating offi cer joined the organization
reporting to the system-wide CEO as a peer and partner of the CIO not
a staff member and a peer to the CEOs of each medical center campus
Tat dedication alone made clear the commitment intentions and over-
all priority of the company
Among several other critical success factorsmdashand the outcome was
a successmdashwas the overall employee engagement program that the Care
Planning Executive established In summary it was an education mar-
keting and training program dedicated to equipping the affected staffwith the knowledge and tools to embrace unavoidable change Staff com-
munication was clear that it wasnrsquot change for changersquos sake but a major
move forward in the paperless way care would be delivered and work-
1047298ows would be streamlined Of course at the time no one could have
foreseen later moves by government to push everyone in this direction
(with the American Recovery and Reconstruction Act of 2009) Because
of our early efforts wersquore now very well positioned
J Scott Joslyn
CIO
MemorialCareLong Beach California
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3939
About the BookDespite the promise of improving care and other benefits EMR implementations are highly disruptive to the
organization This book prepares you to lead or participate successfully in change managementtechnologyadoption efforts so that meaningful use of EMRs can be achieved The authors provide successful strategies
to plan and implement change The content is based on their decades of combined experience designing
and leading technology adoption programs
Sections of the book deal with establishing a foundation for change building commitment and developing
requisite skill in helping users be successful with technology The book includes numerous lessons learned
tips for success best practices and case studies from organizations that have handled change well
About the AuthorsClaire McCarthy MA is a recognized technology adoption strategist and leader
with 25 years of healthcare industry experience supporting people through softwareimplementations and other large-scale change efforts As Director of Organizational
Effectiveness for Kaiser Permanentersquos enterprise-wide EMR deployment Ms McCarthy
led a national community of practice focused on preparing users to assume new
roles and responsibilities in support of organizational objectives Ms McCarthy
speaks internationally on the topic of technology adoption encouraging healthcare
leaders around the globe to set the stage for benefit realization by investing in the
people side of EMR implementation
Douglas Eastman PhD is an organizational development executive with extensive
experience managing large-scale change initiatives With more than 20 years
of consulting experience Dr Eastmanrsquos focus is to help organizations grow and
manage change by unleashing human potential His specialties are organizationaltransformation technology adoption and optimization process redesign strategic
planning and program and tools development As the Executive Director of Technology
Adoption and Organizational Capability within the Kaiser Permanente IT Care
Delivery Business Information Office Dr Eastman has pioneered several of Kaiserrsquos
implementation readiness toolsmethodologies and post-live optimization strategies
programs adding to the organizationrsquos ability to realize the benefit of its technology
About HIMSS The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) is a comprehensive healthcare-
stakeholder membership organization exclusively focused on providing global leadership for the optimal
use of information technology (IT) and management systems for the betterment of healthcare Founded in
1961 with offices in Chicago Washington DC Brussels Singapore and other locations across the United
States HIMSS represents more than 23000 individual members of which 73 work in patient care delivery
settings HIMSS also includes over 380 corporate members and nearly 30 not-for-profit organizations that
share our mission of transforming healthcare through the effective use of information technology and
management systems HIMSS frames and leads healthcare public policy and industry practices through
its educational professional development and advocacy initiatives designed to promote information and
management systemsrsquo contributions to ensuring quality patient care
ISBN 978-0-9821070-6-5
Order Code 564
230 E Ohio St Suite 500
Chicago IL 60611ndash3270
312-915-9295
www himss org
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2439
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 5
bull Help achieve hoped-or bene1047297ts (bene1047297ts that include EMR value
realization reduction o errors return on investment)bull Create higher levels o openness trust involvement and teamwork
(develop an engaged workorce)
bull Build change capability and capacity in the organization resulting
in improved ability to respond quickly and effectively to new situa-
tions (create organizational nimbleness through embedded change
management knowledge structure and process)
In other words it really is all about the people Intentionally man-
aging the cultural behavioral and organizational changes that need
to take place to make the desired EMR uture not only a reality but
a sustainable reality pays off on many levels in that it also acilitates
organizational transormation Building on individual capability andorganizational capacity change management results in a change-
capable culturemdasha huge advantage in todayrsquos competitive and ast-
changing world
Change Management echnology AdoptionmdashWhatrsquos the Difference
Tere are a number o terms that people use to reer to the work
involved in managing the people side o a change effort We think o
change management as the mother ship that is the umbrella term that
embraces all specialties within the 1047297eld Similar to the various special-
ties or domains o service within a healthcare system change man-agement proessionals may choose speci1047297c areas o ocus echnology
adoption speci1047297cally inormation technology (I) is one such area
and it involves the application o change management principles to the
implementation o I Te focus of this book is technology adoption
and we will mostly use this term instead of change management
throughout the rest of the book
Effective technology adoption proessionals align themselves with
the operationalbusiness side o the organization and tailor solutions
that drive behavioral change and tangible outcomes Tey participate in
EMR implementation projects rom the beginning driving the people
side o change throughout and continuing to add value post-live as theEMR becomes part o the central nervous system o the organization
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2539
6 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
HE IMPORANCE OF HE PEOPLE SIDE
OF AN EMR IMPLEMENAIONTere are many reerences in the literature to ailed change efforts and
I implementations Estimates are that only one third o these projects
achieve success which means two thirds ail to meet expectations Te
good news is that ailure is optional as much has been learned about
why some change efforts ail and others succeed
Herersquos the issue while the change that is going to occur is an exter-
nal eventmdashthe EMR implementation a reorganization proposed out-
sourcing a promotion etcmdashthe transition rom old to new that those
who are impacted experience is a psychological and emotional pro-
cess It is this transition that is diffi cultmdasheven when a change is sel-
imposed or considered positive
In the words o William Bridges a key thought leader in manage-
ment o transitions ldquoIt isnrsquot the changes that do you in itrsquos the transi-
tion afer the change that doesrdquo1
For an implementation team part o the problem encountered
during transition is that change is messy people start where they are
not where we want them to be And when considering the personnel
within a typical hospital people can be all over the place in terms o
comort with computers stage in lie commitment to the organiza-
tion ear o change etc Add to this the act that or change to be suc-
cessul three things must occur People
bull Must let go o their current reality have an ending
bull Go through a conused period in-between (hell in the hallway)
bull Only then can have a new beginning 1
o take this a step urther while I consultants want to install the
system and make enhancements the users will ultimately determine
how the system is used Tis use is affected by human not technical
actors
bull Different rames o reerence backgrounds experiences with
technology
bull Organizational history and experience with other large-scale
change projects
bull Levels o resistance ear ability to deal with ambiguity
bull Degree o alignment o ldquoWhatrsquos in it or merdquo or the various stake-
holder groups
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2639
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 7
bull Ineffi ciencies uncovered because the system creates transparency
bull Workarounds that become quickly entrenchedbull Pressure to get through the day can override doing what is right
bull User worklie balance issues coming into play rom the very
beginning
All o these actors create problems or implementation teams that
just want to install technology How do you effectively address the
people issues Or is it easier to just install the technology and assume
that people will learn because they have to use it Some on the imple-
mentation team may alsely assume that users o an EMR system will
snap into place over time and do what is right or the organization
Tis thinking is a oolrsquos paradise
In the oreword to this book Dave Garets made the point that EMRdeployments are not about technology but about equipping organiza-
tions to reach critical business objectives by providing employees with
technical capabilities that make new things possible and by engaging
them in changing their behavior to effectively use the new capabilities
to generate desired results
With all due respect to the technical side o an EMR implemen-
tation installing the technology is only hal the battle Tis is not to
degrade the importance o the technology Te act that we spend a lot
o money researching technology acquiring it con1047297guring it install-
ing it and supporting it speaks to its importance I we werenrsquot imple-
menting EMRs we wouldnrsquot even be having a discussion about EMR-related change management
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2739
8 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
But implementation o the technology is just a 1047297rst and very nec-
essary stepmdashbecause in and o itsel the technology does not generate
value Te technology is necessary but not suffi cient or bene1047297t realiza-
tion to occur o create value requires people and this is why change
management is so important oo much o a ocus on technology even
in the early stages will create issues downstream And even with the
best technology i not used effi ciently hoped-or bene1047297ts will be tough
to achieve
CIO Perspective
ldquoDuring my masters program I took an Organization Development
class that really opened my eyes to peoplesrsquo needs during large-scale
change Since the OD class I have been very interested in what makes
people tick and why people react in different ways to the same
environment No matter how good of an idea a large-scale technology
implementation is we will always have early adopters average adopters
and laggards As leaders within large organizations we have a
responsibility to plan for and respect all types of technology adopters
Ultimately the people who work within in our organizations want a positive
human experience when they are at work
Utilizing a change management methodology enables the implementation
and leadership teams to provide a positive experience during the period of
significant change By utilizing a solid change management methodologythe organization promotes team communication a safer environment for
the patient a work environment that promotes trust and an environment
where people are allowed to talk about the fear of change All of this
promotes a better human experience and a much stronger work force
hellip An effective change management program has meant the difference
between good go-lives and great go-lives at our 10 hospitalsrdquo
Lindsey P Jarrell FACHE
SVP amp CIO
BayCare Health System
Clearwater FL
CIO Perspective
During my masters program I took an Organization Development
class that really opened my eyes to peoplesrsquo needs during large-scale
change Since the OD class I have been very interested in what makes
people tick and why people react in different ways to the same
environment No matter how good of an idea a large-scale technology
implementation is we will always have early adopters average adopters
and laggards As leaders within large organizations we have a
responsibility to plan for and respect all types of technology adopters
Ultimately the people who work within in our organizations want a positive
human experience when they are at work
Utilizing a change management methodology enables the implementation
and leadership teams to provide a positive experience during the period of
significant change By utilizing a solid change management methodologythe organization promotes team communication a safer environment for
the patient a work environment that promotes trust and an environment
where people are allowed to talk about the fear of change All of this
promotes a better human experience and a much stronger work force
hellip An effective change management program has meant the difference
between good go-lives and great go-lives at our 10 hospitals
Lindsey P Jarrell FACHE
SVP amp CIO
BayCare Health System
Clearwater FL
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2839
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 9
Remember that change is a personal experience It is also local and
individual And itrsquos hardmdasheven when itrsquos sel-imposed and positive
Tere are no shortcuts People have to go through the process o change
in much the same way that we move through the stages o grie2 It canrsquot
be avoided or skipped You can measure twice and cut once or you
can cut now and then do costly remediation later Either way you canrsquot
avoid the expense or time required or real change to occur
SYSEMS PERSPECIVE
Experienced technology adoption proessionals embrace a systems
perspective when given the assignment to drive perormance man-
age perceptions and increase the utilization o new and existing tech-
nology A systems approach is the ability to see the big picture and
address the interrelationships among the variables within the abric o
CIO Perspective
ldquoIrsquove been in healthcare IT a long time and I now realize itrsquos
all about change management What was considered soft is
now hard We know so much more about how to install
technologymdashItrsquos the people part we donrsquot know well yet
and so itrsquos hardrdquo
Scott Joslyn
CIO
MemorialCare
Long Beach CA
CIO Perspective
Irsquove been in healthcare IT a long time and I now realize itrsquos
all about change management What was considered soft is
now hard We know so much more about how to install
technologymdashitrsquos the people part we donrsquot know well yet
and so itrsquos hard
J Scott Joslyn
CIO
MemorialCare
Long Beach CA
Quoteldquordquo
ldquoNo man can think clearly when his fists are clenchedrdquo
- George Jean Nathan
Quoteldquordquo
ldquordquo
ldquoNo man can think clearly when his fists are clenchedrdquo
- George Jean Nathan
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2939
10 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
the organization and in1047298uence the combined impact these variables
have on organizational effectiveness As each variable has the powerto in1047298uence the outcome o any intervention behavior change is ofen
not sustainable because variables tend to work against one another
Effective technology adoption strategies account or this interrelation-
shipinterdependency and aim to bring these variables into alignment
as a means or driving sustainable results
Figure 1-2 introduces the Organizational Fabric Model which
highlights the six primary threads (or variables) that are interwoven
in the abric (or culture) o an organization Te model suggests that
all six threads must work in concert to successully shape the organi-
zational abric A well-woven technology adoption plan strategically
manipulates these threads to in1047298uence desired change A poorly wovenplan in which a thread or combination o threads is not accounted
or leads to disaster or by way o analogy will hit a snag down the
road Depending on the 1047298exibility and durability o this abric a snag
can result in a huge hole that detracts rom the overall strength o the
intervention Te intent o the Organizational Fabric Model is to stress
how important it is to understand the uture state recognize how each
variable or combination o variables will come into play and develop a
sound technology adoption program that appropriately in1047298uences this
set o variables to reshape the abric or culture so desired change can
actually take place
Te Organizational Fabric Model will be revisited in subsequent
chapters as each thread or variable is explored in urther detail For
now we reiterate that technology adoption strategies must not rely
on only one or two threads to drive behavior change Sustainable out-
comes result rom an organizationrsquos ability to leverage the combination
o all six threads working in concert to create an environment orsuccess
Key Point
Fundamentally culture is ldquothe way we do things around hererdquo
Key Point
Fundamentally culture is ldquothe way we do things around hererdquo
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3039
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 11
CREAING AN ENVIRONMEN FOR SUCCESS
echnology adoption is about creating a context an environment in
which change can be achieved and sustained over the long term Tis
involves two levelsmdashorganizational and individual
With an EMR implementation the organization must create thesupporting environment provide needed training and resources
articulate a clear direction coupled with clear expectations engage its
people include them in the process and reinorce desired new behav-
iors Tis is not about checking things off a list but rather about 1047297nd-
ing synergy among impacted groups giving them what they need and
coordinating efforts to meet the end goal Itrsquos an ongoing effort
o give you an idea o what we are talking about herersquos an exam-
ple o an individual situation occurring within a social context Tink
about what happens when you want to make a signi1047297cant change in
your personal liemdashquit smoking stop drinking lose weight Itrsquos one
thing to talk with a doctor or another proessional about what needsto happen when yoursquore in their offi ce but once you leave the offi ce
you then return to your social reality I your riends and amily donrsquot
want your behavior to change you will have a tough time All the rein-
Figure 1-2 Organizational Fabric Model
Sponsorship
Stakeholder Mgmt
Training
Vision
Reinforcement
Communications
Sponsorship
Stakeholder Mgmt
Training
Vision
Reinforcement
Communications
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3139
12 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
orcements and temptations will conspire to prevent you rom mak-
ing changes But i you can get some important people in your lieto make the changes with you or at least support you in the process
you have a much greater chance o success Te lesson is donrsquot send a
changed person back into an unchanged environment if you want
to see behavior change
Engaging individuals involves arousing two key aspects mdashwilling-
ness and ability Te organization must in1047298uence both in order to suc-
ceed With the help o the Skill Versus Will Matrix (Figure 1-3) think
about it this way
bull When people want to do something but donrsquot know how they canrsquot
(willingunable)
bull When people know how but donrsquot want to they wonrsquot(ableunwilling)
Can you think o examples in your own lie when you have been in
either o these situations
Consider the circumstance o people who know how to do some-
thing but donrsquot want to do it Tis is a ldquowillrdquo not a ldquoskillrdquo issue and it is
a very common technology adoption dilemma I the amount o work
and effort involved are not perceived by the user as being equal to the
Figure 1-3 The Skill versus Will Matrix
Skill
Will
WONrsquoT
WONrsquoT
DOES
CANrsquoTLow
High
HighLow
Skill
Will
WONrsquoT
WONrsquoT
DOES
CANrsquoTLow
High
HighLow HighLow
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3239
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 13
return or value experienced through the implementation the user will
most likely choose to reduce the effort A goal o an effective people-ocused strategy is to identiy potential areas o disconnect and 1047297nd
ways to increase the perceived value to users Te assumption is that
when the return is perceived to be greater the effort increases When
there are no incentives to try harder it may be diffi cult to drive desired
behavior change
Te point in getting users to actively support the deployment o
an EMR is about a lot more than a communication plan or eature
unction training Managing the people side o an EMR implementa-
tion requires a savvy technology adoption plan that ties sponsorship
training communication work1047298ow harmonization user support and
reinorcement with the business priorities o the organization andeffectively coordinates all o these activities with the user in mindmdashin
an environment that reinorces desired behavior changes
Key Questions
Two key questions to remember throughout the
project arehellip
(1) How will this decision impact the user
(2) How might it impact patients
Key Questions
Two key questions to remember throughout the
project are
(1) How will this decision impact the user
(2) How might it impact patients
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3339
14 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
Consider this example
In this example what are the key elements o this process that
ensure success
bull Te picture of success the desired outcome is clearmdashit is or the
child to become a unctioning adult in the community
bull How this happens is clearly de1047297ned in behavioral terms Tere is a
process that is known and understood by the entire community
including children
bull Leaders at all levels in the community agree on the desired out-
come support the entire process and actively ful1047297ll their roles to ensure success Leaders include village elders and ormal lead-
ers parents o the children inormal opinion leaders and amily
members
bull Te children who are about to become adults take an active role
in their own transormation taking responsibility or their suc-
cess Tey receive guidance and counsel rom elders Tey know
and understand the transormation process and what they must do
to achieve their new status Goals and steps are clear Tey also
understand the consequences o not successully transitioning to
adulthood
bull I there is more than one child slated to go through transormationto adulthood at the same time they are a peer group and as appro-
priate prepare together and support each other
Key Point
In native cultures there tend to be rites of passage that serve
to transition a person from childhood to adult status in the
community The child may actually leave the village for a day or
two of contemplation following a prescribed process When the
child returns he or she is redefined as an adult and assumes
the consequent privileges and responsibilities The entire
community reinforces the personrsquos new status the new adult is
not allowed to return to being a child whenever itrsquos convenient
but is supported to complete the transformation to adulthood
The change to adulthood does not happen in a vacuum but is
part of a carefully designed process that ensures success
Key Point
In native cultures there tend to be rites of passage that serve
to transition a person from childhood to adult status in the
community The child may actually leave the village for a day or
two of contemplation following a prescribed process When the
child returns he or she is redefined as an adult and assumes
the consequent privileges and responsibilities The entire
community reinforces the personrsquos new status the new adult is
not allowed to return to being a child whenever itrsquos convenient
but is supported to complete the transformation to adulthood
The change to adulthood does not happen in a vacuum but is
part of a carefully designed process that ensures success
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3439
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 15
bull Te entire community works together to bring about the
transormationbull Success results in positive reinforcement
Te environmental context is the trump card in any implementerrsquos
hand It takes a lot o work to create a suitable environment but it is an
essential ingredient in being able to drive and sustain change
Willingness and Ability
Earlier we mentioned willingness and ability as key concepts in tech-
nology adoption Willingness and ability can also be thought o as
hearts and minds or will and skill Te point is the same regardless
o the terms used People need to be supported on both an emotional
level to commit and on an intellectual level to be able Te questionto be answered is ldquoWhat are the conditions under which users will
accept and adopt the EMRrdquo
Letrsquos talk about willingness 1047297rst
Willingness or hearts is the commitment to go orward Tis is
impacted by many things including the ollowing elements
bull Leadership Perceived support or lack o support or the change
rom senior executives in the company the cascade o sponsors
down through the organization and just as importantly rom the
employeersquos direct supervisor
bull Communication Quality and requency o verbal and written
messages that describe the desired uture state tell why the changeneeds to happen and what will happen i change isnrsquot made set
clear expectations explain how the company will prepare and sup-
port people to success and describe local details such as timelines
etc
bull Reinforcement Degree o appropriateness and timeliness o
rewards or demonstrating desired new behaviors and conse-
quences or sticking to the old ways
bull Participation Degree to which users are involved every step o
the way either directly as individuals or indirectly by being effec-
tively represented by trusted local opinion leader peers who serve
as liaisons between users and the project teambull Organizational History with Change Previous organizational
experience with changemdashgood and badmdashwill in1047298uence user per-
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3539
16 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
ceptions and expectations o the EMR implementation Under-
standing the past is important in planning or the utureTis all sounds logical but the reaction to it can be emotional Tis
is where people conront their ear o ailure eeling stupid making
mistakes etc Remember that the change may require people to give
up the very things that they believe made them successul in the past
Tis can be a diffi cult sell
Ability or minds is about the actual capability to successully
meet new job expectations Tis is impacted by many things including
the ollowing elements
bull raining and Support In most cases the new EMR abilities must
be learned An effective training program that is role-based and
intentionally ocused on preparing people to perorm new jobexpectations is key Just discussing desired outcomes is not enough
though we have to clearly tell people what we want them to do
Tis requires an intellectual understanding o what and how a
conceptual understanding is necessary but not suffi cient Most
people need to practice something new to develop competence and
con1047297dence Sae opportunities to practice preerably with immedi-
ate eedback are very important to pro1047297ciency development and
sustainability
Getting people to move in the direction you want is the diffi -
cultymdashsome say the hardest part o the whole project And i you agree
that people are the oundation o successmdashthat bene1047297t realization isdependant not on technology but on people agreeing to go through
personal disruption learn new things change established patterns and
conront their earsmdashthen we must be proactive and courageous in
addressing the human issues
Tis is the people side o the project Tis is the organizational read-
iness unction It involves collaboration coordination and sequencing
o activities inormation and events rom all people-ocused areas Te
idea is to have all the people-ocused unctions working together to
reach clearly de1047297ned shared outcomes Te organizational readiness
plan to create individual and organizational readiness is the umbrella
that connects it allmdashthe glue that holds it together and the grease thatmakes it workmdashor the user We will address the structure and process
or doing this in more detail in subsequent chapters
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3639
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 17
Good News on wo Fronts
1 Tere is a social science Tere is a body o work research andsubsequent publications about the human experience with change
Tere are proven change management strategies tools and tech-
niques Tis isnrsquot olklore hooey or black magic Te transition
process is known and predictable Tere is a change curve that
describes the steps (Chapter 5 Stakeholder Management) And
though there is no silver bullet it isnrsquot rocket science Senior
healthcare executives must take the emerging proession o change
managementtechnology adoption seriously Not understanding it
is no excuse or ignoring it Tat is ar too expensive an option
2 All people go through transition when changemdashgood or badmdash
happens in both their personal and proessional lie You canrsquot
avoid it Te wonderul thing is i you learn about change and
transition at work it will improve your personal lie Tis is one
o the times to ldquotry this at homerdquo Wersquore all humanmdashat work and
at home So treat your people as the humans they are and avoid
some predictable expense and diffi culty Lead your organization
to a successul outcome and speed up the process by treating your
staff as customers 1047297rst
Donrsquot make the mistake o glossing over the critical human aspects
o change Hire experts and 1047297nd the emotionally intelligent people in
your organization who want to participate And remember you can
install technology without your people but you canrsquot ully implement
and achieve return on investment without them Consciously choose
to move fear and resistance to trust and adoption Itrsquos a case o pay
now or pay later I you wait until later it will always cost more ech-
nology Adoption is expensive but not as expensive as trying to gloss
it over and then having to undo the damage When ailure happens it
Quoteldquordquo
ldquoNot everything that can be counted counts and not everything thatcounts can be countedrdquo
- Albert Einstein
Quoteldquordquo
ldquordquo
ldquoNot everything that can be counted counts and not everything thatcounts can be countedrdquo
- Albert Einstein
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3739
18 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
takes a long time or people to re-engage And in todayrsquos world this
presents real problems or healthcare organizations aced with short-ages in many proessions Tere is a huge risk o alienating and poten-
tially losing needed staff or in causing long delays We can do better
Not so long ago it wasnrsquot conventional wisdom that clinical application
rollouts are not I projects More frequently than not these were consid-
ered technical projects in which the point of celebration was when con-nection from workstation to central processor was reliable and wireless
access actually worked Te classic I People-Process-echnology trian-
gle never got much past echnology to the real hard work on the People-
Process axis Tat has all changed in the 21st century system implemen-
tations that are both successful and valuable have had people and process
on the front burner
When MemorialCare embarked on a 1047297ve-hospital roll-out of an
EMR in 2002 it had several things in its favor
bull Te technology the organization ultimately acquired was robust and
reliable it worked
bull It had 15 yearsrsquo experience with CPOE (computerized providerorder entry) Terefore although unevenly adopted it was not new
territory
bull It had had the experience of a system-wide roll-out and standard-
ization on a general 1047297nance human resources and materials man-
agement system When all was said and done users had not been
suffi ciently involved standardization fell short because involvement
was low business leadership was diffuse and I ownership was too
high It was judged successful overall but the organization continues
to move slowly forward with an underutilized set of applications
With this experience and the insights of others MemorialCare pri-
oritized engagement of physicians nurses pharmacists and other staffWell before 1047297nancial commitment to a new system was obtained Memo-
rialCare hired a ldquoCare Planning Executiverdquo a person whose full-time
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3839
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 19
activities were devoted to the project 1047297rst to help understand the drivers
of a new system scope out the territory to be covered gain the com-mitment of senior leaders as well as governance and outline the case
for change At my insistence the Care Planning Executive a registered
nurse and former hospital chief operating offi cer joined the organization
reporting to the system-wide CEO as a peer and partner of the CIO not
a staff member and a peer to the CEOs of each medical center campus
Tat dedication alone made clear the commitment intentions and over-
all priority of the company
Among several other critical success factorsmdashand the outcome was
a successmdashwas the overall employee engagement program that the Care
Planning Executive established In summary it was an education mar-
keting and training program dedicated to equipping the affected staffwith the knowledge and tools to embrace unavoidable change Staff com-
munication was clear that it wasnrsquot change for changersquos sake but a major
move forward in the paperless way care would be delivered and work-
1047298ows would be streamlined Of course at the time no one could have
foreseen later moves by government to push everyone in this direction
(with the American Recovery and Reconstruction Act of 2009) Because
of our early efforts wersquore now very well positioned
J Scott Joslyn
CIO
MemorialCareLong Beach California
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3939
About the BookDespite the promise of improving care and other benefits EMR implementations are highly disruptive to the
organization This book prepares you to lead or participate successfully in change managementtechnologyadoption efforts so that meaningful use of EMRs can be achieved The authors provide successful strategies
to plan and implement change The content is based on their decades of combined experience designing
and leading technology adoption programs
Sections of the book deal with establishing a foundation for change building commitment and developing
requisite skill in helping users be successful with technology The book includes numerous lessons learned
tips for success best practices and case studies from organizations that have handled change well
About the AuthorsClaire McCarthy MA is a recognized technology adoption strategist and leader
with 25 years of healthcare industry experience supporting people through softwareimplementations and other large-scale change efforts As Director of Organizational
Effectiveness for Kaiser Permanentersquos enterprise-wide EMR deployment Ms McCarthy
led a national community of practice focused on preparing users to assume new
roles and responsibilities in support of organizational objectives Ms McCarthy
speaks internationally on the topic of technology adoption encouraging healthcare
leaders around the globe to set the stage for benefit realization by investing in the
people side of EMR implementation
Douglas Eastman PhD is an organizational development executive with extensive
experience managing large-scale change initiatives With more than 20 years
of consulting experience Dr Eastmanrsquos focus is to help organizations grow and
manage change by unleashing human potential His specialties are organizationaltransformation technology adoption and optimization process redesign strategic
planning and program and tools development As the Executive Director of Technology
Adoption and Organizational Capability within the Kaiser Permanente IT Care
Delivery Business Information Office Dr Eastman has pioneered several of Kaiserrsquos
implementation readiness toolsmethodologies and post-live optimization strategies
programs adding to the organizationrsquos ability to realize the benefit of its technology
About HIMSS The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) is a comprehensive healthcare-
stakeholder membership organization exclusively focused on providing global leadership for the optimal
use of information technology (IT) and management systems for the betterment of healthcare Founded in
1961 with offices in Chicago Washington DC Brussels Singapore and other locations across the United
States HIMSS represents more than 23000 individual members of which 73 work in patient care delivery
settings HIMSS also includes over 380 corporate members and nearly 30 not-for-profit organizations that
share our mission of transforming healthcare through the effective use of information technology and
management systems HIMSS frames and leads healthcare public policy and industry practices through
its educational professional development and advocacy initiatives designed to promote information and
management systemsrsquo contributions to ensuring quality patient care
ISBN 978-0-9821070-6-5
Order Code 564
230 E Ohio St Suite 500
Chicago IL 60611ndash3270
312-915-9295
www himss org
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2539
6 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
HE IMPORANCE OF HE PEOPLE SIDE
OF AN EMR IMPLEMENAIONTere are many reerences in the literature to ailed change efforts and
I implementations Estimates are that only one third o these projects
achieve success which means two thirds ail to meet expectations Te
good news is that ailure is optional as much has been learned about
why some change efforts ail and others succeed
Herersquos the issue while the change that is going to occur is an exter-
nal eventmdashthe EMR implementation a reorganization proposed out-
sourcing a promotion etcmdashthe transition rom old to new that those
who are impacted experience is a psychological and emotional pro-
cess It is this transition that is diffi cultmdasheven when a change is sel-
imposed or considered positive
In the words o William Bridges a key thought leader in manage-
ment o transitions ldquoIt isnrsquot the changes that do you in itrsquos the transi-
tion afer the change that doesrdquo1
For an implementation team part o the problem encountered
during transition is that change is messy people start where they are
not where we want them to be And when considering the personnel
within a typical hospital people can be all over the place in terms o
comort with computers stage in lie commitment to the organiza-
tion ear o change etc Add to this the act that or change to be suc-
cessul three things must occur People
bull Must let go o their current reality have an ending
bull Go through a conused period in-between (hell in the hallway)
bull Only then can have a new beginning 1
o take this a step urther while I consultants want to install the
system and make enhancements the users will ultimately determine
how the system is used Tis use is affected by human not technical
actors
bull Different rames o reerence backgrounds experiences with
technology
bull Organizational history and experience with other large-scale
change projects
bull Levels o resistance ear ability to deal with ambiguity
bull Degree o alignment o ldquoWhatrsquos in it or merdquo or the various stake-
holder groups
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2639
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 7
bull Ineffi ciencies uncovered because the system creates transparency
bull Workarounds that become quickly entrenchedbull Pressure to get through the day can override doing what is right
bull User worklie balance issues coming into play rom the very
beginning
All o these actors create problems or implementation teams that
just want to install technology How do you effectively address the
people issues Or is it easier to just install the technology and assume
that people will learn because they have to use it Some on the imple-
mentation team may alsely assume that users o an EMR system will
snap into place over time and do what is right or the organization
Tis thinking is a oolrsquos paradise
In the oreword to this book Dave Garets made the point that EMRdeployments are not about technology but about equipping organiza-
tions to reach critical business objectives by providing employees with
technical capabilities that make new things possible and by engaging
them in changing their behavior to effectively use the new capabilities
to generate desired results
With all due respect to the technical side o an EMR implemen-
tation installing the technology is only hal the battle Tis is not to
degrade the importance o the technology Te act that we spend a lot
o money researching technology acquiring it con1047297guring it install-
ing it and supporting it speaks to its importance I we werenrsquot imple-
menting EMRs we wouldnrsquot even be having a discussion about EMR-related change management
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2739
8 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
But implementation o the technology is just a 1047297rst and very nec-
essary stepmdashbecause in and o itsel the technology does not generate
value Te technology is necessary but not suffi cient or bene1047297t realiza-
tion to occur o create value requires people and this is why change
management is so important oo much o a ocus on technology even
in the early stages will create issues downstream And even with the
best technology i not used effi ciently hoped-or bene1047297ts will be tough
to achieve
CIO Perspective
ldquoDuring my masters program I took an Organization Development
class that really opened my eyes to peoplesrsquo needs during large-scale
change Since the OD class I have been very interested in what makes
people tick and why people react in different ways to the same
environment No matter how good of an idea a large-scale technology
implementation is we will always have early adopters average adopters
and laggards As leaders within large organizations we have a
responsibility to plan for and respect all types of technology adopters
Ultimately the people who work within in our organizations want a positive
human experience when they are at work
Utilizing a change management methodology enables the implementation
and leadership teams to provide a positive experience during the period of
significant change By utilizing a solid change management methodologythe organization promotes team communication a safer environment for
the patient a work environment that promotes trust and an environment
where people are allowed to talk about the fear of change All of this
promotes a better human experience and a much stronger work force
hellip An effective change management program has meant the difference
between good go-lives and great go-lives at our 10 hospitalsrdquo
Lindsey P Jarrell FACHE
SVP amp CIO
BayCare Health System
Clearwater FL
CIO Perspective
During my masters program I took an Organization Development
class that really opened my eyes to peoplesrsquo needs during large-scale
change Since the OD class I have been very interested in what makes
people tick and why people react in different ways to the same
environment No matter how good of an idea a large-scale technology
implementation is we will always have early adopters average adopters
and laggards As leaders within large organizations we have a
responsibility to plan for and respect all types of technology adopters
Ultimately the people who work within in our organizations want a positive
human experience when they are at work
Utilizing a change management methodology enables the implementation
and leadership teams to provide a positive experience during the period of
significant change By utilizing a solid change management methodologythe organization promotes team communication a safer environment for
the patient a work environment that promotes trust and an environment
where people are allowed to talk about the fear of change All of this
promotes a better human experience and a much stronger work force
hellip An effective change management program has meant the difference
between good go-lives and great go-lives at our 10 hospitals
Lindsey P Jarrell FACHE
SVP amp CIO
BayCare Health System
Clearwater FL
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2839
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 9
Remember that change is a personal experience It is also local and
individual And itrsquos hardmdasheven when itrsquos sel-imposed and positive
Tere are no shortcuts People have to go through the process o change
in much the same way that we move through the stages o grie2 It canrsquot
be avoided or skipped You can measure twice and cut once or you
can cut now and then do costly remediation later Either way you canrsquot
avoid the expense or time required or real change to occur
SYSEMS PERSPECIVE
Experienced technology adoption proessionals embrace a systems
perspective when given the assignment to drive perormance man-
age perceptions and increase the utilization o new and existing tech-
nology A systems approach is the ability to see the big picture and
address the interrelationships among the variables within the abric o
CIO Perspective
ldquoIrsquove been in healthcare IT a long time and I now realize itrsquos
all about change management What was considered soft is
now hard We know so much more about how to install
technologymdashItrsquos the people part we donrsquot know well yet
and so itrsquos hardrdquo
Scott Joslyn
CIO
MemorialCare
Long Beach CA
CIO Perspective
Irsquove been in healthcare IT a long time and I now realize itrsquos
all about change management What was considered soft is
now hard We know so much more about how to install
technologymdashitrsquos the people part we donrsquot know well yet
and so itrsquos hard
J Scott Joslyn
CIO
MemorialCare
Long Beach CA
Quoteldquordquo
ldquoNo man can think clearly when his fists are clenchedrdquo
- George Jean Nathan
Quoteldquordquo
ldquordquo
ldquoNo man can think clearly when his fists are clenchedrdquo
- George Jean Nathan
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2939
10 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
the organization and in1047298uence the combined impact these variables
have on organizational effectiveness As each variable has the powerto in1047298uence the outcome o any intervention behavior change is ofen
not sustainable because variables tend to work against one another
Effective technology adoption strategies account or this interrelation-
shipinterdependency and aim to bring these variables into alignment
as a means or driving sustainable results
Figure 1-2 introduces the Organizational Fabric Model which
highlights the six primary threads (or variables) that are interwoven
in the abric (or culture) o an organization Te model suggests that
all six threads must work in concert to successully shape the organi-
zational abric A well-woven technology adoption plan strategically
manipulates these threads to in1047298uence desired change A poorly wovenplan in which a thread or combination o threads is not accounted
or leads to disaster or by way o analogy will hit a snag down the
road Depending on the 1047298exibility and durability o this abric a snag
can result in a huge hole that detracts rom the overall strength o the
intervention Te intent o the Organizational Fabric Model is to stress
how important it is to understand the uture state recognize how each
variable or combination o variables will come into play and develop a
sound technology adoption program that appropriately in1047298uences this
set o variables to reshape the abric or culture so desired change can
actually take place
Te Organizational Fabric Model will be revisited in subsequent
chapters as each thread or variable is explored in urther detail For
now we reiterate that technology adoption strategies must not rely
on only one or two threads to drive behavior change Sustainable out-
comes result rom an organizationrsquos ability to leverage the combination
o all six threads working in concert to create an environment orsuccess
Key Point
Fundamentally culture is ldquothe way we do things around hererdquo
Key Point
Fundamentally culture is ldquothe way we do things around hererdquo
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3039
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 11
CREAING AN ENVIRONMEN FOR SUCCESS
echnology adoption is about creating a context an environment in
which change can be achieved and sustained over the long term Tis
involves two levelsmdashorganizational and individual
With an EMR implementation the organization must create thesupporting environment provide needed training and resources
articulate a clear direction coupled with clear expectations engage its
people include them in the process and reinorce desired new behav-
iors Tis is not about checking things off a list but rather about 1047297nd-
ing synergy among impacted groups giving them what they need and
coordinating efforts to meet the end goal Itrsquos an ongoing effort
o give you an idea o what we are talking about herersquos an exam-
ple o an individual situation occurring within a social context Tink
about what happens when you want to make a signi1047297cant change in
your personal liemdashquit smoking stop drinking lose weight Itrsquos one
thing to talk with a doctor or another proessional about what needsto happen when yoursquore in their offi ce but once you leave the offi ce
you then return to your social reality I your riends and amily donrsquot
want your behavior to change you will have a tough time All the rein-
Figure 1-2 Organizational Fabric Model
Sponsorship
Stakeholder Mgmt
Training
Vision
Reinforcement
Communications
Sponsorship
Stakeholder Mgmt
Training
Vision
Reinforcement
Communications
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3139
12 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
orcements and temptations will conspire to prevent you rom mak-
ing changes But i you can get some important people in your lieto make the changes with you or at least support you in the process
you have a much greater chance o success Te lesson is donrsquot send a
changed person back into an unchanged environment if you want
to see behavior change
Engaging individuals involves arousing two key aspects mdashwilling-
ness and ability Te organization must in1047298uence both in order to suc-
ceed With the help o the Skill Versus Will Matrix (Figure 1-3) think
about it this way
bull When people want to do something but donrsquot know how they canrsquot
(willingunable)
bull When people know how but donrsquot want to they wonrsquot(ableunwilling)
Can you think o examples in your own lie when you have been in
either o these situations
Consider the circumstance o people who know how to do some-
thing but donrsquot want to do it Tis is a ldquowillrdquo not a ldquoskillrdquo issue and it is
a very common technology adoption dilemma I the amount o work
and effort involved are not perceived by the user as being equal to the
Figure 1-3 The Skill versus Will Matrix
Skill
Will
WONrsquoT
WONrsquoT
DOES
CANrsquoTLow
High
HighLow
Skill
Will
WONrsquoT
WONrsquoT
DOES
CANrsquoTLow
High
HighLow HighLow
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3239
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 13
return or value experienced through the implementation the user will
most likely choose to reduce the effort A goal o an effective people-ocused strategy is to identiy potential areas o disconnect and 1047297nd
ways to increase the perceived value to users Te assumption is that
when the return is perceived to be greater the effort increases When
there are no incentives to try harder it may be diffi cult to drive desired
behavior change
Te point in getting users to actively support the deployment o
an EMR is about a lot more than a communication plan or eature
unction training Managing the people side o an EMR implementa-
tion requires a savvy technology adoption plan that ties sponsorship
training communication work1047298ow harmonization user support and
reinorcement with the business priorities o the organization andeffectively coordinates all o these activities with the user in mindmdashin
an environment that reinorces desired behavior changes
Key Questions
Two key questions to remember throughout the
project arehellip
(1) How will this decision impact the user
(2) How might it impact patients
Key Questions
Two key questions to remember throughout the
project are
(1) How will this decision impact the user
(2) How might it impact patients
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3339
14 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
Consider this example
In this example what are the key elements o this process that
ensure success
bull Te picture of success the desired outcome is clearmdashit is or the
child to become a unctioning adult in the community
bull How this happens is clearly de1047297ned in behavioral terms Tere is a
process that is known and understood by the entire community
including children
bull Leaders at all levels in the community agree on the desired out-
come support the entire process and actively ful1047297ll their roles to ensure success Leaders include village elders and ormal lead-
ers parents o the children inormal opinion leaders and amily
members
bull Te children who are about to become adults take an active role
in their own transormation taking responsibility or their suc-
cess Tey receive guidance and counsel rom elders Tey know
and understand the transormation process and what they must do
to achieve their new status Goals and steps are clear Tey also
understand the consequences o not successully transitioning to
adulthood
bull I there is more than one child slated to go through transormationto adulthood at the same time they are a peer group and as appro-
priate prepare together and support each other
Key Point
In native cultures there tend to be rites of passage that serve
to transition a person from childhood to adult status in the
community The child may actually leave the village for a day or
two of contemplation following a prescribed process When the
child returns he or she is redefined as an adult and assumes
the consequent privileges and responsibilities The entire
community reinforces the personrsquos new status the new adult is
not allowed to return to being a child whenever itrsquos convenient
but is supported to complete the transformation to adulthood
The change to adulthood does not happen in a vacuum but is
part of a carefully designed process that ensures success
Key Point
In native cultures there tend to be rites of passage that serve
to transition a person from childhood to adult status in the
community The child may actually leave the village for a day or
two of contemplation following a prescribed process When the
child returns he or she is redefined as an adult and assumes
the consequent privileges and responsibilities The entire
community reinforces the personrsquos new status the new adult is
not allowed to return to being a child whenever itrsquos convenient
but is supported to complete the transformation to adulthood
The change to adulthood does not happen in a vacuum but is
part of a carefully designed process that ensures success
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3439
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 15
bull Te entire community works together to bring about the
transormationbull Success results in positive reinforcement
Te environmental context is the trump card in any implementerrsquos
hand It takes a lot o work to create a suitable environment but it is an
essential ingredient in being able to drive and sustain change
Willingness and Ability
Earlier we mentioned willingness and ability as key concepts in tech-
nology adoption Willingness and ability can also be thought o as
hearts and minds or will and skill Te point is the same regardless
o the terms used People need to be supported on both an emotional
level to commit and on an intellectual level to be able Te questionto be answered is ldquoWhat are the conditions under which users will
accept and adopt the EMRrdquo
Letrsquos talk about willingness 1047297rst
Willingness or hearts is the commitment to go orward Tis is
impacted by many things including the ollowing elements
bull Leadership Perceived support or lack o support or the change
rom senior executives in the company the cascade o sponsors
down through the organization and just as importantly rom the
employeersquos direct supervisor
bull Communication Quality and requency o verbal and written
messages that describe the desired uture state tell why the changeneeds to happen and what will happen i change isnrsquot made set
clear expectations explain how the company will prepare and sup-
port people to success and describe local details such as timelines
etc
bull Reinforcement Degree o appropriateness and timeliness o
rewards or demonstrating desired new behaviors and conse-
quences or sticking to the old ways
bull Participation Degree to which users are involved every step o
the way either directly as individuals or indirectly by being effec-
tively represented by trusted local opinion leader peers who serve
as liaisons between users and the project teambull Organizational History with Change Previous organizational
experience with changemdashgood and badmdashwill in1047298uence user per-
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3539
16 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
ceptions and expectations o the EMR implementation Under-
standing the past is important in planning or the utureTis all sounds logical but the reaction to it can be emotional Tis
is where people conront their ear o ailure eeling stupid making
mistakes etc Remember that the change may require people to give
up the very things that they believe made them successul in the past
Tis can be a diffi cult sell
Ability or minds is about the actual capability to successully
meet new job expectations Tis is impacted by many things including
the ollowing elements
bull raining and Support In most cases the new EMR abilities must
be learned An effective training program that is role-based and
intentionally ocused on preparing people to perorm new jobexpectations is key Just discussing desired outcomes is not enough
though we have to clearly tell people what we want them to do
Tis requires an intellectual understanding o what and how a
conceptual understanding is necessary but not suffi cient Most
people need to practice something new to develop competence and
con1047297dence Sae opportunities to practice preerably with immedi-
ate eedback are very important to pro1047297ciency development and
sustainability
Getting people to move in the direction you want is the diffi -
cultymdashsome say the hardest part o the whole project And i you agree
that people are the oundation o successmdashthat bene1047297t realization isdependant not on technology but on people agreeing to go through
personal disruption learn new things change established patterns and
conront their earsmdashthen we must be proactive and courageous in
addressing the human issues
Tis is the people side o the project Tis is the organizational read-
iness unction It involves collaboration coordination and sequencing
o activities inormation and events rom all people-ocused areas Te
idea is to have all the people-ocused unctions working together to
reach clearly de1047297ned shared outcomes Te organizational readiness
plan to create individual and organizational readiness is the umbrella
that connects it allmdashthe glue that holds it together and the grease thatmakes it workmdashor the user We will address the structure and process
or doing this in more detail in subsequent chapters
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3639
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 17
Good News on wo Fronts
1 Tere is a social science Tere is a body o work research andsubsequent publications about the human experience with change
Tere are proven change management strategies tools and tech-
niques Tis isnrsquot olklore hooey or black magic Te transition
process is known and predictable Tere is a change curve that
describes the steps (Chapter 5 Stakeholder Management) And
though there is no silver bullet it isnrsquot rocket science Senior
healthcare executives must take the emerging proession o change
managementtechnology adoption seriously Not understanding it
is no excuse or ignoring it Tat is ar too expensive an option
2 All people go through transition when changemdashgood or badmdash
happens in both their personal and proessional lie You canrsquot
avoid it Te wonderul thing is i you learn about change and
transition at work it will improve your personal lie Tis is one
o the times to ldquotry this at homerdquo Wersquore all humanmdashat work and
at home So treat your people as the humans they are and avoid
some predictable expense and diffi culty Lead your organization
to a successul outcome and speed up the process by treating your
staff as customers 1047297rst
Donrsquot make the mistake o glossing over the critical human aspects
o change Hire experts and 1047297nd the emotionally intelligent people in
your organization who want to participate And remember you can
install technology without your people but you canrsquot ully implement
and achieve return on investment without them Consciously choose
to move fear and resistance to trust and adoption Itrsquos a case o pay
now or pay later I you wait until later it will always cost more ech-
nology Adoption is expensive but not as expensive as trying to gloss
it over and then having to undo the damage When ailure happens it
Quoteldquordquo
ldquoNot everything that can be counted counts and not everything thatcounts can be countedrdquo
- Albert Einstein
Quoteldquordquo
ldquordquo
ldquoNot everything that can be counted counts and not everything thatcounts can be countedrdquo
- Albert Einstein
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3739
18 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
takes a long time or people to re-engage And in todayrsquos world this
presents real problems or healthcare organizations aced with short-ages in many proessions Tere is a huge risk o alienating and poten-
tially losing needed staff or in causing long delays We can do better
Not so long ago it wasnrsquot conventional wisdom that clinical application
rollouts are not I projects More frequently than not these were consid-
ered technical projects in which the point of celebration was when con-nection from workstation to central processor was reliable and wireless
access actually worked Te classic I People-Process-echnology trian-
gle never got much past echnology to the real hard work on the People-
Process axis Tat has all changed in the 21st century system implemen-
tations that are both successful and valuable have had people and process
on the front burner
When MemorialCare embarked on a 1047297ve-hospital roll-out of an
EMR in 2002 it had several things in its favor
bull Te technology the organization ultimately acquired was robust and
reliable it worked
bull It had 15 yearsrsquo experience with CPOE (computerized providerorder entry) Terefore although unevenly adopted it was not new
territory
bull It had had the experience of a system-wide roll-out and standard-
ization on a general 1047297nance human resources and materials man-
agement system When all was said and done users had not been
suffi ciently involved standardization fell short because involvement
was low business leadership was diffuse and I ownership was too
high It was judged successful overall but the organization continues
to move slowly forward with an underutilized set of applications
With this experience and the insights of others MemorialCare pri-
oritized engagement of physicians nurses pharmacists and other staffWell before 1047297nancial commitment to a new system was obtained Memo-
rialCare hired a ldquoCare Planning Executiverdquo a person whose full-time
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3839
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 19
activities were devoted to the project 1047297rst to help understand the drivers
of a new system scope out the territory to be covered gain the com-mitment of senior leaders as well as governance and outline the case
for change At my insistence the Care Planning Executive a registered
nurse and former hospital chief operating offi cer joined the organization
reporting to the system-wide CEO as a peer and partner of the CIO not
a staff member and a peer to the CEOs of each medical center campus
Tat dedication alone made clear the commitment intentions and over-
all priority of the company
Among several other critical success factorsmdashand the outcome was
a successmdashwas the overall employee engagement program that the Care
Planning Executive established In summary it was an education mar-
keting and training program dedicated to equipping the affected staffwith the knowledge and tools to embrace unavoidable change Staff com-
munication was clear that it wasnrsquot change for changersquos sake but a major
move forward in the paperless way care would be delivered and work-
1047298ows would be streamlined Of course at the time no one could have
foreseen later moves by government to push everyone in this direction
(with the American Recovery and Reconstruction Act of 2009) Because
of our early efforts wersquore now very well positioned
J Scott Joslyn
CIO
MemorialCareLong Beach California
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3939
About the BookDespite the promise of improving care and other benefits EMR implementations are highly disruptive to the
organization This book prepares you to lead or participate successfully in change managementtechnologyadoption efforts so that meaningful use of EMRs can be achieved The authors provide successful strategies
to plan and implement change The content is based on their decades of combined experience designing
and leading technology adoption programs
Sections of the book deal with establishing a foundation for change building commitment and developing
requisite skill in helping users be successful with technology The book includes numerous lessons learned
tips for success best practices and case studies from organizations that have handled change well
About the AuthorsClaire McCarthy MA is a recognized technology adoption strategist and leader
with 25 years of healthcare industry experience supporting people through softwareimplementations and other large-scale change efforts As Director of Organizational
Effectiveness for Kaiser Permanentersquos enterprise-wide EMR deployment Ms McCarthy
led a national community of practice focused on preparing users to assume new
roles and responsibilities in support of organizational objectives Ms McCarthy
speaks internationally on the topic of technology adoption encouraging healthcare
leaders around the globe to set the stage for benefit realization by investing in the
people side of EMR implementation
Douglas Eastman PhD is an organizational development executive with extensive
experience managing large-scale change initiatives With more than 20 years
of consulting experience Dr Eastmanrsquos focus is to help organizations grow and
manage change by unleashing human potential His specialties are organizationaltransformation technology adoption and optimization process redesign strategic
planning and program and tools development As the Executive Director of Technology
Adoption and Organizational Capability within the Kaiser Permanente IT Care
Delivery Business Information Office Dr Eastman has pioneered several of Kaiserrsquos
implementation readiness toolsmethodologies and post-live optimization strategies
programs adding to the organizationrsquos ability to realize the benefit of its technology
About HIMSS The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) is a comprehensive healthcare-
stakeholder membership organization exclusively focused on providing global leadership for the optimal
use of information technology (IT) and management systems for the betterment of healthcare Founded in
1961 with offices in Chicago Washington DC Brussels Singapore and other locations across the United
States HIMSS represents more than 23000 individual members of which 73 work in patient care delivery
settings HIMSS also includes over 380 corporate members and nearly 30 not-for-profit organizations that
share our mission of transforming healthcare through the effective use of information technology and
management systems HIMSS frames and leads healthcare public policy and industry practices through
its educational professional development and advocacy initiatives designed to promote information and
management systemsrsquo contributions to ensuring quality patient care
ISBN 978-0-9821070-6-5
Order Code 564
230 E Ohio St Suite 500
Chicago IL 60611ndash3270
312-915-9295
www himss org
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2639
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 7
bull Ineffi ciencies uncovered because the system creates transparency
bull Workarounds that become quickly entrenchedbull Pressure to get through the day can override doing what is right
bull User worklie balance issues coming into play rom the very
beginning
All o these actors create problems or implementation teams that
just want to install technology How do you effectively address the
people issues Or is it easier to just install the technology and assume
that people will learn because they have to use it Some on the imple-
mentation team may alsely assume that users o an EMR system will
snap into place over time and do what is right or the organization
Tis thinking is a oolrsquos paradise
In the oreword to this book Dave Garets made the point that EMRdeployments are not about technology but about equipping organiza-
tions to reach critical business objectives by providing employees with
technical capabilities that make new things possible and by engaging
them in changing their behavior to effectively use the new capabilities
to generate desired results
With all due respect to the technical side o an EMR implemen-
tation installing the technology is only hal the battle Tis is not to
degrade the importance o the technology Te act that we spend a lot
o money researching technology acquiring it con1047297guring it install-
ing it and supporting it speaks to its importance I we werenrsquot imple-
menting EMRs we wouldnrsquot even be having a discussion about EMR-related change management
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2739
8 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
But implementation o the technology is just a 1047297rst and very nec-
essary stepmdashbecause in and o itsel the technology does not generate
value Te technology is necessary but not suffi cient or bene1047297t realiza-
tion to occur o create value requires people and this is why change
management is so important oo much o a ocus on technology even
in the early stages will create issues downstream And even with the
best technology i not used effi ciently hoped-or bene1047297ts will be tough
to achieve
CIO Perspective
ldquoDuring my masters program I took an Organization Development
class that really opened my eyes to peoplesrsquo needs during large-scale
change Since the OD class I have been very interested in what makes
people tick and why people react in different ways to the same
environment No matter how good of an idea a large-scale technology
implementation is we will always have early adopters average adopters
and laggards As leaders within large organizations we have a
responsibility to plan for and respect all types of technology adopters
Ultimately the people who work within in our organizations want a positive
human experience when they are at work
Utilizing a change management methodology enables the implementation
and leadership teams to provide a positive experience during the period of
significant change By utilizing a solid change management methodologythe organization promotes team communication a safer environment for
the patient a work environment that promotes trust and an environment
where people are allowed to talk about the fear of change All of this
promotes a better human experience and a much stronger work force
hellip An effective change management program has meant the difference
between good go-lives and great go-lives at our 10 hospitalsrdquo
Lindsey P Jarrell FACHE
SVP amp CIO
BayCare Health System
Clearwater FL
CIO Perspective
During my masters program I took an Organization Development
class that really opened my eyes to peoplesrsquo needs during large-scale
change Since the OD class I have been very interested in what makes
people tick and why people react in different ways to the same
environment No matter how good of an idea a large-scale technology
implementation is we will always have early adopters average adopters
and laggards As leaders within large organizations we have a
responsibility to plan for and respect all types of technology adopters
Ultimately the people who work within in our organizations want a positive
human experience when they are at work
Utilizing a change management methodology enables the implementation
and leadership teams to provide a positive experience during the period of
significant change By utilizing a solid change management methodologythe organization promotes team communication a safer environment for
the patient a work environment that promotes trust and an environment
where people are allowed to talk about the fear of change All of this
promotes a better human experience and a much stronger work force
hellip An effective change management program has meant the difference
between good go-lives and great go-lives at our 10 hospitals
Lindsey P Jarrell FACHE
SVP amp CIO
BayCare Health System
Clearwater FL
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2839
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 9
Remember that change is a personal experience It is also local and
individual And itrsquos hardmdasheven when itrsquos sel-imposed and positive
Tere are no shortcuts People have to go through the process o change
in much the same way that we move through the stages o grie2 It canrsquot
be avoided or skipped You can measure twice and cut once or you
can cut now and then do costly remediation later Either way you canrsquot
avoid the expense or time required or real change to occur
SYSEMS PERSPECIVE
Experienced technology adoption proessionals embrace a systems
perspective when given the assignment to drive perormance man-
age perceptions and increase the utilization o new and existing tech-
nology A systems approach is the ability to see the big picture and
address the interrelationships among the variables within the abric o
CIO Perspective
ldquoIrsquove been in healthcare IT a long time and I now realize itrsquos
all about change management What was considered soft is
now hard We know so much more about how to install
technologymdashItrsquos the people part we donrsquot know well yet
and so itrsquos hardrdquo
Scott Joslyn
CIO
MemorialCare
Long Beach CA
CIO Perspective
Irsquove been in healthcare IT a long time and I now realize itrsquos
all about change management What was considered soft is
now hard We know so much more about how to install
technologymdashitrsquos the people part we donrsquot know well yet
and so itrsquos hard
J Scott Joslyn
CIO
MemorialCare
Long Beach CA
Quoteldquordquo
ldquoNo man can think clearly when his fists are clenchedrdquo
- George Jean Nathan
Quoteldquordquo
ldquordquo
ldquoNo man can think clearly when his fists are clenchedrdquo
- George Jean Nathan
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2939
10 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
the organization and in1047298uence the combined impact these variables
have on organizational effectiveness As each variable has the powerto in1047298uence the outcome o any intervention behavior change is ofen
not sustainable because variables tend to work against one another
Effective technology adoption strategies account or this interrelation-
shipinterdependency and aim to bring these variables into alignment
as a means or driving sustainable results
Figure 1-2 introduces the Organizational Fabric Model which
highlights the six primary threads (or variables) that are interwoven
in the abric (or culture) o an organization Te model suggests that
all six threads must work in concert to successully shape the organi-
zational abric A well-woven technology adoption plan strategically
manipulates these threads to in1047298uence desired change A poorly wovenplan in which a thread or combination o threads is not accounted
or leads to disaster or by way o analogy will hit a snag down the
road Depending on the 1047298exibility and durability o this abric a snag
can result in a huge hole that detracts rom the overall strength o the
intervention Te intent o the Organizational Fabric Model is to stress
how important it is to understand the uture state recognize how each
variable or combination o variables will come into play and develop a
sound technology adoption program that appropriately in1047298uences this
set o variables to reshape the abric or culture so desired change can
actually take place
Te Organizational Fabric Model will be revisited in subsequent
chapters as each thread or variable is explored in urther detail For
now we reiterate that technology adoption strategies must not rely
on only one or two threads to drive behavior change Sustainable out-
comes result rom an organizationrsquos ability to leverage the combination
o all six threads working in concert to create an environment orsuccess
Key Point
Fundamentally culture is ldquothe way we do things around hererdquo
Key Point
Fundamentally culture is ldquothe way we do things around hererdquo
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3039
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 11
CREAING AN ENVIRONMEN FOR SUCCESS
echnology adoption is about creating a context an environment in
which change can be achieved and sustained over the long term Tis
involves two levelsmdashorganizational and individual
With an EMR implementation the organization must create thesupporting environment provide needed training and resources
articulate a clear direction coupled with clear expectations engage its
people include them in the process and reinorce desired new behav-
iors Tis is not about checking things off a list but rather about 1047297nd-
ing synergy among impacted groups giving them what they need and
coordinating efforts to meet the end goal Itrsquos an ongoing effort
o give you an idea o what we are talking about herersquos an exam-
ple o an individual situation occurring within a social context Tink
about what happens when you want to make a signi1047297cant change in
your personal liemdashquit smoking stop drinking lose weight Itrsquos one
thing to talk with a doctor or another proessional about what needsto happen when yoursquore in their offi ce but once you leave the offi ce
you then return to your social reality I your riends and amily donrsquot
want your behavior to change you will have a tough time All the rein-
Figure 1-2 Organizational Fabric Model
Sponsorship
Stakeholder Mgmt
Training
Vision
Reinforcement
Communications
Sponsorship
Stakeholder Mgmt
Training
Vision
Reinforcement
Communications
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3139
12 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
orcements and temptations will conspire to prevent you rom mak-
ing changes But i you can get some important people in your lieto make the changes with you or at least support you in the process
you have a much greater chance o success Te lesson is donrsquot send a
changed person back into an unchanged environment if you want
to see behavior change
Engaging individuals involves arousing two key aspects mdashwilling-
ness and ability Te organization must in1047298uence both in order to suc-
ceed With the help o the Skill Versus Will Matrix (Figure 1-3) think
about it this way
bull When people want to do something but donrsquot know how they canrsquot
(willingunable)
bull When people know how but donrsquot want to they wonrsquot(ableunwilling)
Can you think o examples in your own lie when you have been in
either o these situations
Consider the circumstance o people who know how to do some-
thing but donrsquot want to do it Tis is a ldquowillrdquo not a ldquoskillrdquo issue and it is
a very common technology adoption dilemma I the amount o work
and effort involved are not perceived by the user as being equal to the
Figure 1-3 The Skill versus Will Matrix
Skill
Will
WONrsquoT
WONrsquoT
DOES
CANrsquoTLow
High
HighLow
Skill
Will
WONrsquoT
WONrsquoT
DOES
CANrsquoTLow
High
HighLow HighLow
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3239
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 13
return or value experienced through the implementation the user will
most likely choose to reduce the effort A goal o an effective people-ocused strategy is to identiy potential areas o disconnect and 1047297nd
ways to increase the perceived value to users Te assumption is that
when the return is perceived to be greater the effort increases When
there are no incentives to try harder it may be diffi cult to drive desired
behavior change
Te point in getting users to actively support the deployment o
an EMR is about a lot more than a communication plan or eature
unction training Managing the people side o an EMR implementa-
tion requires a savvy technology adoption plan that ties sponsorship
training communication work1047298ow harmonization user support and
reinorcement with the business priorities o the organization andeffectively coordinates all o these activities with the user in mindmdashin
an environment that reinorces desired behavior changes
Key Questions
Two key questions to remember throughout the
project arehellip
(1) How will this decision impact the user
(2) How might it impact patients
Key Questions
Two key questions to remember throughout the
project are
(1) How will this decision impact the user
(2) How might it impact patients
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3339
14 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
Consider this example
In this example what are the key elements o this process that
ensure success
bull Te picture of success the desired outcome is clearmdashit is or the
child to become a unctioning adult in the community
bull How this happens is clearly de1047297ned in behavioral terms Tere is a
process that is known and understood by the entire community
including children
bull Leaders at all levels in the community agree on the desired out-
come support the entire process and actively ful1047297ll their roles to ensure success Leaders include village elders and ormal lead-
ers parents o the children inormal opinion leaders and amily
members
bull Te children who are about to become adults take an active role
in their own transormation taking responsibility or their suc-
cess Tey receive guidance and counsel rom elders Tey know
and understand the transormation process and what they must do
to achieve their new status Goals and steps are clear Tey also
understand the consequences o not successully transitioning to
adulthood
bull I there is more than one child slated to go through transormationto adulthood at the same time they are a peer group and as appro-
priate prepare together and support each other
Key Point
In native cultures there tend to be rites of passage that serve
to transition a person from childhood to adult status in the
community The child may actually leave the village for a day or
two of contemplation following a prescribed process When the
child returns he or she is redefined as an adult and assumes
the consequent privileges and responsibilities The entire
community reinforces the personrsquos new status the new adult is
not allowed to return to being a child whenever itrsquos convenient
but is supported to complete the transformation to adulthood
The change to adulthood does not happen in a vacuum but is
part of a carefully designed process that ensures success
Key Point
In native cultures there tend to be rites of passage that serve
to transition a person from childhood to adult status in the
community The child may actually leave the village for a day or
two of contemplation following a prescribed process When the
child returns he or she is redefined as an adult and assumes
the consequent privileges and responsibilities The entire
community reinforces the personrsquos new status the new adult is
not allowed to return to being a child whenever itrsquos convenient
but is supported to complete the transformation to adulthood
The change to adulthood does not happen in a vacuum but is
part of a carefully designed process that ensures success
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3439
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 15
bull Te entire community works together to bring about the
transormationbull Success results in positive reinforcement
Te environmental context is the trump card in any implementerrsquos
hand It takes a lot o work to create a suitable environment but it is an
essential ingredient in being able to drive and sustain change
Willingness and Ability
Earlier we mentioned willingness and ability as key concepts in tech-
nology adoption Willingness and ability can also be thought o as
hearts and minds or will and skill Te point is the same regardless
o the terms used People need to be supported on both an emotional
level to commit and on an intellectual level to be able Te questionto be answered is ldquoWhat are the conditions under which users will
accept and adopt the EMRrdquo
Letrsquos talk about willingness 1047297rst
Willingness or hearts is the commitment to go orward Tis is
impacted by many things including the ollowing elements
bull Leadership Perceived support or lack o support or the change
rom senior executives in the company the cascade o sponsors
down through the organization and just as importantly rom the
employeersquos direct supervisor
bull Communication Quality and requency o verbal and written
messages that describe the desired uture state tell why the changeneeds to happen and what will happen i change isnrsquot made set
clear expectations explain how the company will prepare and sup-
port people to success and describe local details such as timelines
etc
bull Reinforcement Degree o appropriateness and timeliness o
rewards or demonstrating desired new behaviors and conse-
quences or sticking to the old ways
bull Participation Degree to which users are involved every step o
the way either directly as individuals or indirectly by being effec-
tively represented by trusted local opinion leader peers who serve
as liaisons between users and the project teambull Organizational History with Change Previous organizational
experience with changemdashgood and badmdashwill in1047298uence user per-
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3539
16 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
ceptions and expectations o the EMR implementation Under-
standing the past is important in planning or the utureTis all sounds logical but the reaction to it can be emotional Tis
is where people conront their ear o ailure eeling stupid making
mistakes etc Remember that the change may require people to give
up the very things that they believe made them successul in the past
Tis can be a diffi cult sell
Ability or minds is about the actual capability to successully
meet new job expectations Tis is impacted by many things including
the ollowing elements
bull raining and Support In most cases the new EMR abilities must
be learned An effective training program that is role-based and
intentionally ocused on preparing people to perorm new jobexpectations is key Just discussing desired outcomes is not enough
though we have to clearly tell people what we want them to do
Tis requires an intellectual understanding o what and how a
conceptual understanding is necessary but not suffi cient Most
people need to practice something new to develop competence and
con1047297dence Sae opportunities to practice preerably with immedi-
ate eedback are very important to pro1047297ciency development and
sustainability
Getting people to move in the direction you want is the diffi -
cultymdashsome say the hardest part o the whole project And i you agree
that people are the oundation o successmdashthat bene1047297t realization isdependant not on technology but on people agreeing to go through
personal disruption learn new things change established patterns and
conront their earsmdashthen we must be proactive and courageous in
addressing the human issues
Tis is the people side o the project Tis is the organizational read-
iness unction It involves collaboration coordination and sequencing
o activities inormation and events rom all people-ocused areas Te
idea is to have all the people-ocused unctions working together to
reach clearly de1047297ned shared outcomes Te organizational readiness
plan to create individual and organizational readiness is the umbrella
that connects it allmdashthe glue that holds it together and the grease thatmakes it workmdashor the user We will address the structure and process
or doing this in more detail in subsequent chapters
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3639
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 17
Good News on wo Fronts
1 Tere is a social science Tere is a body o work research andsubsequent publications about the human experience with change
Tere are proven change management strategies tools and tech-
niques Tis isnrsquot olklore hooey or black magic Te transition
process is known and predictable Tere is a change curve that
describes the steps (Chapter 5 Stakeholder Management) And
though there is no silver bullet it isnrsquot rocket science Senior
healthcare executives must take the emerging proession o change
managementtechnology adoption seriously Not understanding it
is no excuse or ignoring it Tat is ar too expensive an option
2 All people go through transition when changemdashgood or badmdash
happens in both their personal and proessional lie You canrsquot
avoid it Te wonderul thing is i you learn about change and
transition at work it will improve your personal lie Tis is one
o the times to ldquotry this at homerdquo Wersquore all humanmdashat work and
at home So treat your people as the humans they are and avoid
some predictable expense and diffi culty Lead your organization
to a successul outcome and speed up the process by treating your
staff as customers 1047297rst
Donrsquot make the mistake o glossing over the critical human aspects
o change Hire experts and 1047297nd the emotionally intelligent people in
your organization who want to participate And remember you can
install technology without your people but you canrsquot ully implement
and achieve return on investment without them Consciously choose
to move fear and resistance to trust and adoption Itrsquos a case o pay
now or pay later I you wait until later it will always cost more ech-
nology Adoption is expensive but not as expensive as trying to gloss
it over and then having to undo the damage When ailure happens it
Quoteldquordquo
ldquoNot everything that can be counted counts and not everything thatcounts can be countedrdquo
- Albert Einstein
Quoteldquordquo
ldquordquo
ldquoNot everything that can be counted counts and not everything thatcounts can be countedrdquo
- Albert Einstein
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3739
18 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
takes a long time or people to re-engage And in todayrsquos world this
presents real problems or healthcare organizations aced with short-ages in many proessions Tere is a huge risk o alienating and poten-
tially losing needed staff or in causing long delays We can do better
Not so long ago it wasnrsquot conventional wisdom that clinical application
rollouts are not I projects More frequently than not these were consid-
ered technical projects in which the point of celebration was when con-nection from workstation to central processor was reliable and wireless
access actually worked Te classic I People-Process-echnology trian-
gle never got much past echnology to the real hard work on the People-
Process axis Tat has all changed in the 21st century system implemen-
tations that are both successful and valuable have had people and process
on the front burner
When MemorialCare embarked on a 1047297ve-hospital roll-out of an
EMR in 2002 it had several things in its favor
bull Te technology the organization ultimately acquired was robust and
reliable it worked
bull It had 15 yearsrsquo experience with CPOE (computerized providerorder entry) Terefore although unevenly adopted it was not new
territory
bull It had had the experience of a system-wide roll-out and standard-
ization on a general 1047297nance human resources and materials man-
agement system When all was said and done users had not been
suffi ciently involved standardization fell short because involvement
was low business leadership was diffuse and I ownership was too
high It was judged successful overall but the organization continues
to move slowly forward with an underutilized set of applications
With this experience and the insights of others MemorialCare pri-
oritized engagement of physicians nurses pharmacists and other staffWell before 1047297nancial commitment to a new system was obtained Memo-
rialCare hired a ldquoCare Planning Executiverdquo a person whose full-time
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3839
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 19
activities were devoted to the project 1047297rst to help understand the drivers
of a new system scope out the territory to be covered gain the com-mitment of senior leaders as well as governance and outline the case
for change At my insistence the Care Planning Executive a registered
nurse and former hospital chief operating offi cer joined the organization
reporting to the system-wide CEO as a peer and partner of the CIO not
a staff member and a peer to the CEOs of each medical center campus
Tat dedication alone made clear the commitment intentions and over-
all priority of the company
Among several other critical success factorsmdashand the outcome was
a successmdashwas the overall employee engagement program that the Care
Planning Executive established In summary it was an education mar-
keting and training program dedicated to equipping the affected staffwith the knowledge and tools to embrace unavoidable change Staff com-
munication was clear that it wasnrsquot change for changersquos sake but a major
move forward in the paperless way care would be delivered and work-
1047298ows would be streamlined Of course at the time no one could have
foreseen later moves by government to push everyone in this direction
(with the American Recovery and Reconstruction Act of 2009) Because
of our early efforts wersquore now very well positioned
J Scott Joslyn
CIO
MemorialCareLong Beach California
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3939
About the BookDespite the promise of improving care and other benefits EMR implementations are highly disruptive to the
organization This book prepares you to lead or participate successfully in change managementtechnologyadoption efforts so that meaningful use of EMRs can be achieved The authors provide successful strategies
to plan and implement change The content is based on their decades of combined experience designing
and leading technology adoption programs
Sections of the book deal with establishing a foundation for change building commitment and developing
requisite skill in helping users be successful with technology The book includes numerous lessons learned
tips for success best practices and case studies from organizations that have handled change well
About the AuthorsClaire McCarthy MA is a recognized technology adoption strategist and leader
with 25 years of healthcare industry experience supporting people through softwareimplementations and other large-scale change efforts As Director of Organizational
Effectiveness for Kaiser Permanentersquos enterprise-wide EMR deployment Ms McCarthy
led a national community of practice focused on preparing users to assume new
roles and responsibilities in support of organizational objectives Ms McCarthy
speaks internationally on the topic of technology adoption encouraging healthcare
leaders around the globe to set the stage for benefit realization by investing in the
people side of EMR implementation
Douglas Eastman PhD is an organizational development executive with extensive
experience managing large-scale change initiatives With more than 20 years
of consulting experience Dr Eastmanrsquos focus is to help organizations grow and
manage change by unleashing human potential His specialties are organizationaltransformation technology adoption and optimization process redesign strategic
planning and program and tools development As the Executive Director of Technology
Adoption and Organizational Capability within the Kaiser Permanente IT Care
Delivery Business Information Office Dr Eastman has pioneered several of Kaiserrsquos
implementation readiness toolsmethodologies and post-live optimization strategies
programs adding to the organizationrsquos ability to realize the benefit of its technology
About HIMSS The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) is a comprehensive healthcare-
stakeholder membership organization exclusively focused on providing global leadership for the optimal
use of information technology (IT) and management systems for the betterment of healthcare Founded in
1961 with offices in Chicago Washington DC Brussels Singapore and other locations across the United
States HIMSS represents more than 23000 individual members of which 73 work in patient care delivery
settings HIMSS also includes over 380 corporate members and nearly 30 not-for-profit organizations that
share our mission of transforming healthcare through the effective use of information technology and
management systems HIMSS frames and leads healthcare public policy and industry practices through
its educational professional development and advocacy initiatives designed to promote information and
management systemsrsquo contributions to ensuring quality patient care
ISBN 978-0-9821070-6-5
Order Code 564
230 E Ohio St Suite 500
Chicago IL 60611ndash3270
312-915-9295
www himss org
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2739
8 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
But implementation o the technology is just a 1047297rst and very nec-
essary stepmdashbecause in and o itsel the technology does not generate
value Te technology is necessary but not suffi cient or bene1047297t realiza-
tion to occur o create value requires people and this is why change
management is so important oo much o a ocus on technology even
in the early stages will create issues downstream And even with the
best technology i not used effi ciently hoped-or bene1047297ts will be tough
to achieve
CIO Perspective
ldquoDuring my masters program I took an Organization Development
class that really opened my eyes to peoplesrsquo needs during large-scale
change Since the OD class I have been very interested in what makes
people tick and why people react in different ways to the same
environment No matter how good of an idea a large-scale technology
implementation is we will always have early adopters average adopters
and laggards As leaders within large organizations we have a
responsibility to plan for and respect all types of technology adopters
Ultimately the people who work within in our organizations want a positive
human experience when they are at work
Utilizing a change management methodology enables the implementation
and leadership teams to provide a positive experience during the period of
significant change By utilizing a solid change management methodologythe organization promotes team communication a safer environment for
the patient a work environment that promotes trust and an environment
where people are allowed to talk about the fear of change All of this
promotes a better human experience and a much stronger work force
hellip An effective change management program has meant the difference
between good go-lives and great go-lives at our 10 hospitalsrdquo
Lindsey P Jarrell FACHE
SVP amp CIO
BayCare Health System
Clearwater FL
CIO Perspective
During my masters program I took an Organization Development
class that really opened my eyes to peoplesrsquo needs during large-scale
change Since the OD class I have been very interested in what makes
people tick and why people react in different ways to the same
environment No matter how good of an idea a large-scale technology
implementation is we will always have early adopters average adopters
and laggards As leaders within large organizations we have a
responsibility to plan for and respect all types of technology adopters
Ultimately the people who work within in our organizations want a positive
human experience when they are at work
Utilizing a change management methodology enables the implementation
and leadership teams to provide a positive experience during the period of
significant change By utilizing a solid change management methodologythe organization promotes team communication a safer environment for
the patient a work environment that promotes trust and an environment
where people are allowed to talk about the fear of change All of this
promotes a better human experience and a much stronger work force
hellip An effective change management program has meant the difference
between good go-lives and great go-lives at our 10 hospitals
Lindsey P Jarrell FACHE
SVP amp CIO
BayCare Health System
Clearwater FL
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2839
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 9
Remember that change is a personal experience It is also local and
individual And itrsquos hardmdasheven when itrsquos sel-imposed and positive
Tere are no shortcuts People have to go through the process o change
in much the same way that we move through the stages o grie2 It canrsquot
be avoided or skipped You can measure twice and cut once or you
can cut now and then do costly remediation later Either way you canrsquot
avoid the expense or time required or real change to occur
SYSEMS PERSPECIVE
Experienced technology adoption proessionals embrace a systems
perspective when given the assignment to drive perormance man-
age perceptions and increase the utilization o new and existing tech-
nology A systems approach is the ability to see the big picture and
address the interrelationships among the variables within the abric o
CIO Perspective
ldquoIrsquove been in healthcare IT a long time and I now realize itrsquos
all about change management What was considered soft is
now hard We know so much more about how to install
technologymdashItrsquos the people part we donrsquot know well yet
and so itrsquos hardrdquo
Scott Joslyn
CIO
MemorialCare
Long Beach CA
CIO Perspective
Irsquove been in healthcare IT a long time and I now realize itrsquos
all about change management What was considered soft is
now hard We know so much more about how to install
technologymdashitrsquos the people part we donrsquot know well yet
and so itrsquos hard
J Scott Joslyn
CIO
MemorialCare
Long Beach CA
Quoteldquordquo
ldquoNo man can think clearly when his fists are clenchedrdquo
- George Jean Nathan
Quoteldquordquo
ldquordquo
ldquoNo man can think clearly when his fists are clenchedrdquo
- George Jean Nathan
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2939
10 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
the organization and in1047298uence the combined impact these variables
have on organizational effectiveness As each variable has the powerto in1047298uence the outcome o any intervention behavior change is ofen
not sustainable because variables tend to work against one another
Effective technology adoption strategies account or this interrelation-
shipinterdependency and aim to bring these variables into alignment
as a means or driving sustainable results
Figure 1-2 introduces the Organizational Fabric Model which
highlights the six primary threads (or variables) that are interwoven
in the abric (or culture) o an organization Te model suggests that
all six threads must work in concert to successully shape the organi-
zational abric A well-woven technology adoption plan strategically
manipulates these threads to in1047298uence desired change A poorly wovenplan in which a thread or combination o threads is not accounted
or leads to disaster or by way o analogy will hit a snag down the
road Depending on the 1047298exibility and durability o this abric a snag
can result in a huge hole that detracts rom the overall strength o the
intervention Te intent o the Organizational Fabric Model is to stress
how important it is to understand the uture state recognize how each
variable or combination o variables will come into play and develop a
sound technology adoption program that appropriately in1047298uences this
set o variables to reshape the abric or culture so desired change can
actually take place
Te Organizational Fabric Model will be revisited in subsequent
chapters as each thread or variable is explored in urther detail For
now we reiterate that technology adoption strategies must not rely
on only one or two threads to drive behavior change Sustainable out-
comes result rom an organizationrsquos ability to leverage the combination
o all six threads working in concert to create an environment orsuccess
Key Point
Fundamentally culture is ldquothe way we do things around hererdquo
Key Point
Fundamentally culture is ldquothe way we do things around hererdquo
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3039
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 11
CREAING AN ENVIRONMEN FOR SUCCESS
echnology adoption is about creating a context an environment in
which change can be achieved and sustained over the long term Tis
involves two levelsmdashorganizational and individual
With an EMR implementation the organization must create thesupporting environment provide needed training and resources
articulate a clear direction coupled with clear expectations engage its
people include them in the process and reinorce desired new behav-
iors Tis is not about checking things off a list but rather about 1047297nd-
ing synergy among impacted groups giving them what they need and
coordinating efforts to meet the end goal Itrsquos an ongoing effort
o give you an idea o what we are talking about herersquos an exam-
ple o an individual situation occurring within a social context Tink
about what happens when you want to make a signi1047297cant change in
your personal liemdashquit smoking stop drinking lose weight Itrsquos one
thing to talk with a doctor or another proessional about what needsto happen when yoursquore in their offi ce but once you leave the offi ce
you then return to your social reality I your riends and amily donrsquot
want your behavior to change you will have a tough time All the rein-
Figure 1-2 Organizational Fabric Model
Sponsorship
Stakeholder Mgmt
Training
Vision
Reinforcement
Communications
Sponsorship
Stakeholder Mgmt
Training
Vision
Reinforcement
Communications
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3139
12 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
orcements and temptations will conspire to prevent you rom mak-
ing changes But i you can get some important people in your lieto make the changes with you or at least support you in the process
you have a much greater chance o success Te lesson is donrsquot send a
changed person back into an unchanged environment if you want
to see behavior change
Engaging individuals involves arousing two key aspects mdashwilling-
ness and ability Te organization must in1047298uence both in order to suc-
ceed With the help o the Skill Versus Will Matrix (Figure 1-3) think
about it this way
bull When people want to do something but donrsquot know how they canrsquot
(willingunable)
bull When people know how but donrsquot want to they wonrsquot(ableunwilling)
Can you think o examples in your own lie when you have been in
either o these situations
Consider the circumstance o people who know how to do some-
thing but donrsquot want to do it Tis is a ldquowillrdquo not a ldquoskillrdquo issue and it is
a very common technology adoption dilemma I the amount o work
and effort involved are not perceived by the user as being equal to the
Figure 1-3 The Skill versus Will Matrix
Skill
Will
WONrsquoT
WONrsquoT
DOES
CANrsquoTLow
High
HighLow
Skill
Will
WONrsquoT
WONrsquoT
DOES
CANrsquoTLow
High
HighLow HighLow
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3239
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 13
return or value experienced through the implementation the user will
most likely choose to reduce the effort A goal o an effective people-ocused strategy is to identiy potential areas o disconnect and 1047297nd
ways to increase the perceived value to users Te assumption is that
when the return is perceived to be greater the effort increases When
there are no incentives to try harder it may be diffi cult to drive desired
behavior change
Te point in getting users to actively support the deployment o
an EMR is about a lot more than a communication plan or eature
unction training Managing the people side o an EMR implementa-
tion requires a savvy technology adoption plan that ties sponsorship
training communication work1047298ow harmonization user support and
reinorcement with the business priorities o the organization andeffectively coordinates all o these activities with the user in mindmdashin
an environment that reinorces desired behavior changes
Key Questions
Two key questions to remember throughout the
project arehellip
(1) How will this decision impact the user
(2) How might it impact patients
Key Questions
Two key questions to remember throughout the
project are
(1) How will this decision impact the user
(2) How might it impact patients
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3339
14 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
Consider this example
In this example what are the key elements o this process that
ensure success
bull Te picture of success the desired outcome is clearmdashit is or the
child to become a unctioning adult in the community
bull How this happens is clearly de1047297ned in behavioral terms Tere is a
process that is known and understood by the entire community
including children
bull Leaders at all levels in the community agree on the desired out-
come support the entire process and actively ful1047297ll their roles to ensure success Leaders include village elders and ormal lead-
ers parents o the children inormal opinion leaders and amily
members
bull Te children who are about to become adults take an active role
in their own transormation taking responsibility or their suc-
cess Tey receive guidance and counsel rom elders Tey know
and understand the transormation process and what they must do
to achieve their new status Goals and steps are clear Tey also
understand the consequences o not successully transitioning to
adulthood
bull I there is more than one child slated to go through transormationto adulthood at the same time they are a peer group and as appro-
priate prepare together and support each other
Key Point
In native cultures there tend to be rites of passage that serve
to transition a person from childhood to adult status in the
community The child may actually leave the village for a day or
two of contemplation following a prescribed process When the
child returns he or she is redefined as an adult and assumes
the consequent privileges and responsibilities The entire
community reinforces the personrsquos new status the new adult is
not allowed to return to being a child whenever itrsquos convenient
but is supported to complete the transformation to adulthood
The change to adulthood does not happen in a vacuum but is
part of a carefully designed process that ensures success
Key Point
In native cultures there tend to be rites of passage that serve
to transition a person from childhood to adult status in the
community The child may actually leave the village for a day or
two of contemplation following a prescribed process When the
child returns he or she is redefined as an adult and assumes
the consequent privileges and responsibilities The entire
community reinforces the personrsquos new status the new adult is
not allowed to return to being a child whenever itrsquos convenient
but is supported to complete the transformation to adulthood
The change to adulthood does not happen in a vacuum but is
part of a carefully designed process that ensures success
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3439
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 15
bull Te entire community works together to bring about the
transormationbull Success results in positive reinforcement
Te environmental context is the trump card in any implementerrsquos
hand It takes a lot o work to create a suitable environment but it is an
essential ingredient in being able to drive and sustain change
Willingness and Ability
Earlier we mentioned willingness and ability as key concepts in tech-
nology adoption Willingness and ability can also be thought o as
hearts and minds or will and skill Te point is the same regardless
o the terms used People need to be supported on both an emotional
level to commit and on an intellectual level to be able Te questionto be answered is ldquoWhat are the conditions under which users will
accept and adopt the EMRrdquo
Letrsquos talk about willingness 1047297rst
Willingness or hearts is the commitment to go orward Tis is
impacted by many things including the ollowing elements
bull Leadership Perceived support or lack o support or the change
rom senior executives in the company the cascade o sponsors
down through the organization and just as importantly rom the
employeersquos direct supervisor
bull Communication Quality and requency o verbal and written
messages that describe the desired uture state tell why the changeneeds to happen and what will happen i change isnrsquot made set
clear expectations explain how the company will prepare and sup-
port people to success and describe local details such as timelines
etc
bull Reinforcement Degree o appropriateness and timeliness o
rewards or demonstrating desired new behaviors and conse-
quences or sticking to the old ways
bull Participation Degree to which users are involved every step o
the way either directly as individuals or indirectly by being effec-
tively represented by trusted local opinion leader peers who serve
as liaisons between users and the project teambull Organizational History with Change Previous organizational
experience with changemdashgood and badmdashwill in1047298uence user per-
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3539
16 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
ceptions and expectations o the EMR implementation Under-
standing the past is important in planning or the utureTis all sounds logical but the reaction to it can be emotional Tis
is where people conront their ear o ailure eeling stupid making
mistakes etc Remember that the change may require people to give
up the very things that they believe made them successul in the past
Tis can be a diffi cult sell
Ability or minds is about the actual capability to successully
meet new job expectations Tis is impacted by many things including
the ollowing elements
bull raining and Support In most cases the new EMR abilities must
be learned An effective training program that is role-based and
intentionally ocused on preparing people to perorm new jobexpectations is key Just discussing desired outcomes is not enough
though we have to clearly tell people what we want them to do
Tis requires an intellectual understanding o what and how a
conceptual understanding is necessary but not suffi cient Most
people need to practice something new to develop competence and
con1047297dence Sae opportunities to practice preerably with immedi-
ate eedback are very important to pro1047297ciency development and
sustainability
Getting people to move in the direction you want is the diffi -
cultymdashsome say the hardest part o the whole project And i you agree
that people are the oundation o successmdashthat bene1047297t realization isdependant not on technology but on people agreeing to go through
personal disruption learn new things change established patterns and
conront their earsmdashthen we must be proactive and courageous in
addressing the human issues
Tis is the people side o the project Tis is the organizational read-
iness unction It involves collaboration coordination and sequencing
o activities inormation and events rom all people-ocused areas Te
idea is to have all the people-ocused unctions working together to
reach clearly de1047297ned shared outcomes Te organizational readiness
plan to create individual and organizational readiness is the umbrella
that connects it allmdashthe glue that holds it together and the grease thatmakes it workmdashor the user We will address the structure and process
or doing this in more detail in subsequent chapters
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3639
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 17
Good News on wo Fronts
1 Tere is a social science Tere is a body o work research andsubsequent publications about the human experience with change
Tere are proven change management strategies tools and tech-
niques Tis isnrsquot olklore hooey or black magic Te transition
process is known and predictable Tere is a change curve that
describes the steps (Chapter 5 Stakeholder Management) And
though there is no silver bullet it isnrsquot rocket science Senior
healthcare executives must take the emerging proession o change
managementtechnology adoption seriously Not understanding it
is no excuse or ignoring it Tat is ar too expensive an option
2 All people go through transition when changemdashgood or badmdash
happens in both their personal and proessional lie You canrsquot
avoid it Te wonderul thing is i you learn about change and
transition at work it will improve your personal lie Tis is one
o the times to ldquotry this at homerdquo Wersquore all humanmdashat work and
at home So treat your people as the humans they are and avoid
some predictable expense and diffi culty Lead your organization
to a successul outcome and speed up the process by treating your
staff as customers 1047297rst
Donrsquot make the mistake o glossing over the critical human aspects
o change Hire experts and 1047297nd the emotionally intelligent people in
your organization who want to participate And remember you can
install technology without your people but you canrsquot ully implement
and achieve return on investment without them Consciously choose
to move fear and resistance to trust and adoption Itrsquos a case o pay
now or pay later I you wait until later it will always cost more ech-
nology Adoption is expensive but not as expensive as trying to gloss
it over and then having to undo the damage When ailure happens it
Quoteldquordquo
ldquoNot everything that can be counted counts and not everything thatcounts can be countedrdquo
- Albert Einstein
Quoteldquordquo
ldquordquo
ldquoNot everything that can be counted counts and not everything thatcounts can be countedrdquo
- Albert Einstein
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3739
18 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
takes a long time or people to re-engage And in todayrsquos world this
presents real problems or healthcare organizations aced with short-ages in many proessions Tere is a huge risk o alienating and poten-
tially losing needed staff or in causing long delays We can do better
Not so long ago it wasnrsquot conventional wisdom that clinical application
rollouts are not I projects More frequently than not these were consid-
ered technical projects in which the point of celebration was when con-nection from workstation to central processor was reliable and wireless
access actually worked Te classic I People-Process-echnology trian-
gle never got much past echnology to the real hard work on the People-
Process axis Tat has all changed in the 21st century system implemen-
tations that are both successful and valuable have had people and process
on the front burner
When MemorialCare embarked on a 1047297ve-hospital roll-out of an
EMR in 2002 it had several things in its favor
bull Te technology the organization ultimately acquired was robust and
reliable it worked
bull It had 15 yearsrsquo experience with CPOE (computerized providerorder entry) Terefore although unevenly adopted it was not new
territory
bull It had had the experience of a system-wide roll-out and standard-
ization on a general 1047297nance human resources and materials man-
agement system When all was said and done users had not been
suffi ciently involved standardization fell short because involvement
was low business leadership was diffuse and I ownership was too
high It was judged successful overall but the organization continues
to move slowly forward with an underutilized set of applications
With this experience and the insights of others MemorialCare pri-
oritized engagement of physicians nurses pharmacists and other staffWell before 1047297nancial commitment to a new system was obtained Memo-
rialCare hired a ldquoCare Planning Executiverdquo a person whose full-time
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3839
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 19
activities were devoted to the project 1047297rst to help understand the drivers
of a new system scope out the territory to be covered gain the com-mitment of senior leaders as well as governance and outline the case
for change At my insistence the Care Planning Executive a registered
nurse and former hospital chief operating offi cer joined the organization
reporting to the system-wide CEO as a peer and partner of the CIO not
a staff member and a peer to the CEOs of each medical center campus
Tat dedication alone made clear the commitment intentions and over-
all priority of the company
Among several other critical success factorsmdashand the outcome was
a successmdashwas the overall employee engagement program that the Care
Planning Executive established In summary it was an education mar-
keting and training program dedicated to equipping the affected staffwith the knowledge and tools to embrace unavoidable change Staff com-
munication was clear that it wasnrsquot change for changersquos sake but a major
move forward in the paperless way care would be delivered and work-
1047298ows would be streamlined Of course at the time no one could have
foreseen later moves by government to push everyone in this direction
(with the American Recovery and Reconstruction Act of 2009) Because
of our early efforts wersquore now very well positioned
J Scott Joslyn
CIO
MemorialCareLong Beach California
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3939
About the BookDespite the promise of improving care and other benefits EMR implementations are highly disruptive to the
organization This book prepares you to lead or participate successfully in change managementtechnologyadoption efforts so that meaningful use of EMRs can be achieved The authors provide successful strategies
to plan and implement change The content is based on their decades of combined experience designing
and leading technology adoption programs
Sections of the book deal with establishing a foundation for change building commitment and developing
requisite skill in helping users be successful with technology The book includes numerous lessons learned
tips for success best practices and case studies from organizations that have handled change well
About the AuthorsClaire McCarthy MA is a recognized technology adoption strategist and leader
with 25 years of healthcare industry experience supporting people through softwareimplementations and other large-scale change efforts As Director of Organizational
Effectiveness for Kaiser Permanentersquos enterprise-wide EMR deployment Ms McCarthy
led a national community of practice focused on preparing users to assume new
roles and responsibilities in support of organizational objectives Ms McCarthy
speaks internationally on the topic of technology adoption encouraging healthcare
leaders around the globe to set the stage for benefit realization by investing in the
people side of EMR implementation
Douglas Eastman PhD is an organizational development executive with extensive
experience managing large-scale change initiatives With more than 20 years
of consulting experience Dr Eastmanrsquos focus is to help organizations grow and
manage change by unleashing human potential His specialties are organizationaltransformation technology adoption and optimization process redesign strategic
planning and program and tools development As the Executive Director of Technology
Adoption and Organizational Capability within the Kaiser Permanente IT Care
Delivery Business Information Office Dr Eastman has pioneered several of Kaiserrsquos
implementation readiness toolsmethodologies and post-live optimization strategies
programs adding to the organizationrsquos ability to realize the benefit of its technology
About HIMSS The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) is a comprehensive healthcare-
stakeholder membership organization exclusively focused on providing global leadership for the optimal
use of information technology (IT) and management systems for the betterment of healthcare Founded in
1961 with offices in Chicago Washington DC Brussels Singapore and other locations across the United
States HIMSS represents more than 23000 individual members of which 73 work in patient care delivery
settings HIMSS also includes over 380 corporate members and nearly 30 not-for-profit organizations that
share our mission of transforming healthcare through the effective use of information technology and
management systems HIMSS frames and leads healthcare public policy and industry practices through
its educational professional development and advocacy initiatives designed to promote information and
management systemsrsquo contributions to ensuring quality patient care
ISBN 978-0-9821070-6-5
Order Code 564
230 E Ohio St Suite 500
Chicago IL 60611ndash3270
312-915-9295
www himss org
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2839
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 9
Remember that change is a personal experience It is also local and
individual And itrsquos hardmdasheven when itrsquos sel-imposed and positive
Tere are no shortcuts People have to go through the process o change
in much the same way that we move through the stages o grie2 It canrsquot
be avoided or skipped You can measure twice and cut once or you
can cut now and then do costly remediation later Either way you canrsquot
avoid the expense or time required or real change to occur
SYSEMS PERSPECIVE
Experienced technology adoption proessionals embrace a systems
perspective when given the assignment to drive perormance man-
age perceptions and increase the utilization o new and existing tech-
nology A systems approach is the ability to see the big picture and
address the interrelationships among the variables within the abric o
CIO Perspective
ldquoIrsquove been in healthcare IT a long time and I now realize itrsquos
all about change management What was considered soft is
now hard We know so much more about how to install
technologymdashItrsquos the people part we donrsquot know well yet
and so itrsquos hardrdquo
Scott Joslyn
CIO
MemorialCare
Long Beach CA
CIO Perspective
Irsquove been in healthcare IT a long time and I now realize itrsquos
all about change management What was considered soft is
now hard We know so much more about how to install
technologymdashitrsquos the people part we donrsquot know well yet
and so itrsquos hard
J Scott Joslyn
CIO
MemorialCare
Long Beach CA
Quoteldquordquo
ldquoNo man can think clearly when his fists are clenchedrdquo
- George Jean Nathan
Quoteldquordquo
ldquordquo
ldquoNo man can think clearly when his fists are clenchedrdquo
- George Jean Nathan
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2939
10 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
the organization and in1047298uence the combined impact these variables
have on organizational effectiveness As each variable has the powerto in1047298uence the outcome o any intervention behavior change is ofen
not sustainable because variables tend to work against one another
Effective technology adoption strategies account or this interrelation-
shipinterdependency and aim to bring these variables into alignment
as a means or driving sustainable results
Figure 1-2 introduces the Organizational Fabric Model which
highlights the six primary threads (or variables) that are interwoven
in the abric (or culture) o an organization Te model suggests that
all six threads must work in concert to successully shape the organi-
zational abric A well-woven technology adoption plan strategically
manipulates these threads to in1047298uence desired change A poorly wovenplan in which a thread or combination o threads is not accounted
or leads to disaster or by way o analogy will hit a snag down the
road Depending on the 1047298exibility and durability o this abric a snag
can result in a huge hole that detracts rom the overall strength o the
intervention Te intent o the Organizational Fabric Model is to stress
how important it is to understand the uture state recognize how each
variable or combination o variables will come into play and develop a
sound technology adoption program that appropriately in1047298uences this
set o variables to reshape the abric or culture so desired change can
actually take place
Te Organizational Fabric Model will be revisited in subsequent
chapters as each thread or variable is explored in urther detail For
now we reiterate that technology adoption strategies must not rely
on only one or two threads to drive behavior change Sustainable out-
comes result rom an organizationrsquos ability to leverage the combination
o all six threads working in concert to create an environment orsuccess
Key Point
Fundamentally culture is ldquothe way we do things around hererdquo
Key Point
Fundamentally culture is ldquothe way we do things around hererdquo
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3039
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 11
CREAING AN ENVIRONMEN FOR SUCCESS
echnology adoption is about creating a context an environment in
which change can be achieved and sustained over the long term Tis
involves two levelsmdashorganizational and individual
With an EMR implementation the organization must create thesupporting environment provide needed training and resources
articulate a clear direction coupled with clear expectations engage its
people include them in the process and reinorce desired new behav-
iors Tis is not about checking things off a list but rather about 1047297nd-
ing synergy among impacted groups giving them what they need and
coordinating efforts to meet the end goal Itrsquos an ongoing effort
o give you an idea o what we are talking about herersquos an exam-
ple o an individual situation occurring within a social context Tink
about what happens when you want to make a signi1047297cant change in
your personal liemdashquit smoking stop drinking lose weight Itrsquos one
thing to talk with a doctor or another proessional about what needsto happen when yoursquore in their offi ce but once you leave the offi ce
you then return to your social reality I your riends and amily donrsquot
want your behavior to change you will have a tough time All the rein-
Figure 1-2 Organizational Fabric Model
Sponsorship
Stakeholder Mgmt
Training
Vision
Reinforcement
Communications
Sponsorship
Stakeholder Mgmt
Training
Vision
Reinforcement
Communications
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3139
12 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
orcements and temptations will conspire to prevent you rom mak-
ing changes But i you can get some important people in your lieto make the changes with you or at least support you in the process
you have a much greater chance o success Te lesson is donrsquot send a
changed person back into an unchanged environment if you want
to see behavior change
Engaging individuals involves arousing two key aspects mdashwilling-
ness and ability Te organization must in1047298uence both in order to suc-
ceed With the help o the Skill Versus Will Matrix (Figure 1-3) think
about it this way
bull When people want to do something but donrsquot know how they canrsquot
(willingunable)
bull When people know how but donrsquot want to they wonrsquot(ableunwilling)
Can you think o examples in your own lie when you have been in
either o these situations
Consider the circumstance o people who know how to do some-
thing but donrsquot want to do it Tis is a ldquowillrdquo not a ldquoskillrdquo issue and it is
a very common technology adoption dilemma I the amount o work
and effort involved are not perceived by the user as being equal to the
Figure 1-3 The Skill versus Will Matrix
Skill
Will
WONrsquoT
WONrsquoT
DOES
CANrsquoTLow
High
HighLow
Skill
Will
WONrsquoT
WONrsquoT
DOES
CANrsquoTLow
High
HighLow HighLow
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3239
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 13
return or value experienced through the implementation the user will
most likely choose to reduce the effort A goal o an effective people-ocused strategy is to identiy potential areas o disconnect and 1047297nd
ways to increase the perceived value to users Te assumption is that
when the return is perceived to be greater the effort increases When
there are no incentives to try harder it may be diffi cult to drive desired
behavior change
Te point in getting users to actively support the deployment o
an EMR is about a lot more than a communication plan or eature
unction training Managing the people side o an EMR implementa-
tion requires a savvy technology adoption plan that ties sponsorship
training communication work1047298ow harmonization user support and
reinorcement with the business priorities o the organization andeffectively coordinates all o these activities with the user in mindmdashin
an environment that reinorces desired behavior changes
Key Questions
Two key questions to remember throughout the
project arehellip
(1) How will this decision impact the user
(2) How might it impact patients
Key Questions
Two key questions to remember throughout the
project are
(1) How will this decision impact the user
(2) How might it impact patients
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3339
14 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
Consider this example
In this example what are the key elements o this process that
ensure success
bull Te picture of success the desired outcome is clearmdashit is or the
child to become a unctioning adult in the community
bull How this happens is clearly de1047297ned in behavioral terms Tere is a
process that is known and understood by the entire community
including children
bull Leaders at all levels in the community agree on the desired out-
come support the entire process and actively ful1047297ll their roles to ensure success Leaders include village elders and ormal lead-
ers parents o the children inormal opinion leaders and amily
members
bull Te children who are about to become adults take an active role
in their own transormation taking responsibility or their suc-
cess Tey receive guidance and counsel rom elders Tey know
and understand the transormation process and what they must do
to achieve their new status Goals and steps are clear Tey also
understand the consequences o not successully transitioning to
adulthood
bull I there is more than one child slated to go through transormationto adulthood at the same time they are a peer group and as appro-
priate prepare together and support each other
Key Point
In native cultures there tend to be rites of passage that serve
to transition a person from childhood to adult status in the
community The child may actually leave the village for a day or
two of contemplation following a prescribed process When the
child returns he or she is redefined as an adult and assumes
the consequent privileges and responsibilities The entire
community reinforces the personrsquos new status the new adult is
not allowed to return to being a child whenever itrsquos convenient
but is supported to complete the transformation to adulthood
The change to adulthood does not happen in a vacuum but is
part of a carefully designed process that ensures success
Key Point
In native cultures there tend to be rites of passage that serve
to transition a person from childhood to adult status in the
community The child may actually leave the village for a day or
two of contemplation following a prescribed process When the
child returns he or she is redefined as an adult and assumes
the consequent privileges and responsibilities The entire
community reinforces the personrsquos new status the new adult is
not allowed to return to being a child whenever itrsquos convenient
but is supported to complete the transformation to adulthood
The change to adulthood does not happen in a vacuum but is
part of a carefully designed process that ensures success
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3439
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 15
bull Te entire community works together to bring about the
transormationbull Success results in positive reinforcement
Te environmental context is the trump card in any implementerrsquos
hand It takes a lot o work to create a suitable environment but it is an
essential ingredient in being able to drive and sustain change
Willingness and Ability
Earlier we mentioned willingness and ability as key concepts in tech-
nology adoption Willingness and ability can also be thought o as
hearts and minds or will and skill Te point is the same regardless
o the terms used People need to be supported on both an emotional
level to commit and on an intellectual level to be able Te questionto be answered is ldquoWhat are the conditions under which users will
accept and adopt the EMRrdquo
Letrsquos talk about willingness 1047297rst
Willingness or hearts is the commitment to go orward Tis is
impacted by many things including the ollowing elements
bull Leadership Perceived support or lack o support or the change
rom senior executives in the company the cascade o sponsors
down through the organization and just as importantly rom the
employeersquos direct supervisor
bull Communication Quality and requency o verbal and written
messages that describe the desired uture state tell why the changeneeds to happen and what will happen i change isnrsquot made set
clear expectations explain how the company will prepare and sup-
port people to success and describe local details such as timelines
etc
bull Reinforcement Degree o appropriateness and timeliness o
rewards or demonstrating desired new behaviors and conse-
quences or sticking to the old ways
bull Participation Degree to which users are involved every step o
the way either directly as individuals or indirectly by being effec-
tively represented by trusted local opinion leader peers who serve
as liaisons between users and the project teambull Organizational History with Change Previous organizational
experience with changemdashgood and badmdashwill in1047298uence user per-
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3539
16 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
ceptions and expectations o the EMR implementation Under-
standing the past is important in planning or the utureTis all sounds logical but the reaction to it can be emotional Tis
is where people conront their ear o ailure eeling stupid making
mistakes etc Remember that the change may require people to give
up the very things that they believe made them successul in the past
Tis can be a diffi cult sell
Ability or minds is about the actual capability to successully
meet new job expectations Tis is impacted by many things including
the ollowing elements
bull raining and Support In most cases the new EMR abilities must
be learned An effective training program that is role-based and
intentionally ocused on preparing people to perorm new jobexpectations is key Just discussing desired outcomes is not enough
though we have to clearly tell people what we want them to do
Tis requires an intellectual understanding o what and how a
conceptual understanding is necessary but not suffi cient Most
people need to practice something new to develop competence and
con1047297dence Sae opportunities to practice preerably with immedi-
ate eedback are very important to pro1047297ciency development and
sustainability
Getting people to move in the direction you want is the diffi -
cultymdashsome say the hardest part o the whole project And i you agree
that people are the oundation o successmdashthat bene1047297t realization isdependant not on technology but on people agreeing to go through
personal disruption learn new things change established patterns and
conront their earsmdashthen we must be proactive and courageous in
addressing the human issues
Tis is the people side o the project Tis is the organizational read-
iness unction It involves collaboration coordination and sequencing
o activities inormation and events rom all people-ocused areas Te
idea is to have all the people-ocused unctions working together to
reach clearly de1047297ned shared outcomes Te organizational readiness
plan to create individual and organizational readiness is the umbrella
that connects it allmdashthe glue that holds it together and the grease thatmakes it workmdashor the user We will address the structure and process
or doing this in more detail in subsequent chapters
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3639
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 17
Good News on wo Fronts
1 Tere is a social science Tere is a body o work research andsubsequent publications about the human experience with change
Tere are proven change management strategies tools and tech-
niques Tis isnrsquot olklore hooey or black magic Te transition
process is known and predictable Tere is a change curve that
describes the steps (Chapter 5 Stakeholder Management) And
though there is no silver bullet it isnrsquot rocket science Senior
healthcare executives must take the emerging proession o change
managementtechnology adoption seriously Not understanding it
is no excuse or ignoring it Tat is ar too expensive an option
2 All people go through transition when changemdashgood or badmdash
happens in both their personal and proessional lie You canrsquot
avoid it Te wonderul thing is i you learn about change and
transition at work it will improve your personal lie Tis is one
o the times to ldquotry this at homerdquo Wersquore all humanmdashat work and
at home So treat your people as the humans they are and avoid
some predictable expense and diffi culty Lead your organization
to a successul outcome and speed up the process by treating your
staff as customers 1047297rst
Donrsquot make the mistake o glossing over the critical human aspects
o change Hire experts and 1047297nd the emotionally intelligent people in
your organization who want to participate And remember you can
install technology without your people but you canrsquot ully implement
and achieve return on investment without them Consciously choose
to move fear and resistance to trust and adoption Itrsquos a case o pay
now or pay later I you wait until later it will always cost more ech-
nology Adoption is expensive but not as expensive as trying to gloss
it over and then having to undo the damage When ailure happens it
Quoteldquordquo
ldquoNot everything that can be counted counts and not everything thatcounts can be countedrdquo
- Albert Einstein
Quoteldquordquo
ldquordquo
ldquoNot everything that can be counted counts and not everything thatcounts can be countedrdquo
- Albert Einstein
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3739
18 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
takes a long time or people to re-engage And in todayrsquos world this
presents real problems or healthcare organizations aced with short-ages in many proessions Tere is a huge risk o alienating and poten-
tially losing needed staff or in causing long delays We can do better
Not so long ago it wasnrsquot conventional wisdom that clinical application
rollouts are not I projects More frequently than not these were consid-
ered technical projects in which the point of celebration was when con-nection from workstation to central processor was reliable and wireless
access actually worked Te classic I People-Process-echnology trian-
gle never got much past echnology to the real hard work on the People-
Process axis Tat has all changed in the 21st century system implemen-
tations that are both successful and valuable have had people and process
on the front burner
When MemorialCare embarked on a 1047297ve-hospital roll-out of an
EMR in 2002 it had several things in its favor
bull Te technology the organization ultimately acquired was robust and
reliable it worked
bull It had 15 yearsrsquo experience with CPOE (computerized providerorder entry) Terefore although unevenly adopted it was not new
territory
bull It had had the experience of a system-wide roll-out and standard-
ization on a general 1047297nance human resources and materials man-
agement system When all was said and done users had not been
suffi ciently involved standardization fell short because involvement
was low business leadership was diffuse and I ownership was too
high It was judged successful overall but the organization continues
to move slowly forward with an underutilized set of applications
With this experience and the insights of others MemorialCare pri-
oritized engagement of physicians nurses pharmacists and other staffWell before 1047297nancial commitment to a new system was obtained Memo-
rialCare hired a ldquoCare Planning Executiverdquo a person whose full-time
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3839
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 19
activities were devoted to the project 1047297rst to help understand the drivers
of a new system scope out the territory to be covered gain the com-mitment of senior leaders as well as governance and outline the case
for change At my insistence the Care Planning Executive a registered
nurse and former hospital chief operating offi cer joined the organization
reporting to the system-wide CEO as a peer and partner of the CIO not
a staff member and a peer to the CEOs of each medical center campus
Tat dedication alone made clear the commitment intentions and over-
all priority of the company
Among several other critical success factorsmdashand the outcome was
a successmdashwas the overall employee engagement program that the Care
Planning Executive established In summary it was an education mar-
keting and training program dedicated to equipping the affected staffwith the knowledge and tools to embrace unavoidable change Staff com-
munication was clear that it wasnrsquot change for changersquos sake but a major
move forward in the paperless way care would be delivered and work-
1047298ows would be streamlined Of course at the time no one could have
foreseen later moves by government to push everyone in this direction
(with the American Recovery and Reconstruction Act of 2009) Because
of our early efforts wersquore now very well positioned
J Scott Joslyn
CIO
MemorialCareLong Beach California
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3939
About the BookDespite the promise of improving care and other benefits EMR implementations are highly disruptive to the
organization This book prepares you to lead or participate successfully in change managementtechnologyadoption efforts so that meaningful use of EMRs can be achieved The authors provide successful strategies
to plan and implement change The content is based on their decades of combined experience designing
and leading technology adoption programs
Sections of the book deal with establishing a foundation for change building commitment and developing
requisite skill in helping users be successful with technology The book includes numerous lessons learned
tips for success best practices and case studies from organizations that have handled change well
About the AuthorsClaire McCarthy MA is a recognized technology adoption strategist and leader
with 25 years of healthcare industry experience supporting people through softwareimplementations and other large-scale change efforts As Director of Organizational
Effectiveness for Kaiser Permanentersquos enterprise-wide EMR deployment Ms McCarthy
led a national community of practice focused on preparing users to assume new
roles and responsibilities in support of organizational objectives Ms McCarthy
speaks internationally on the topic of technology adoption encouraging healthcare
leaders around the globe to set the stage for benefit realization by investing in the
people side of EMR implementation
Douglas Eastman PhD is an organizational development executive with extensive
experience managing large-scale change initiatives With more than 20 years
of consulting experience Dr Eastmanrsquos focus is to help organizations grow and
manage change by unleashing human potential His specialties are organizationaltransformation technology adoption and optimization process redesign strategic
planning and program and tools development As the Executive Director of Technology
Adoption and Organizational Capability within the Kaiser Permanente IT Care
Delivery Business Information Office Dr Eastman has pioneered several of Kaiserrsquos
implementation readiness toolsmethodologies and post-live optimization strategies
programs adding to the organizationrsquos ability to realize the benefit of its technology
About HIMSS The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) is a comprehensive healthcare-
stakeholder membership organization exclusively focused on providing global leadership for the optimal
use of information technology (IT) and management systems for the betterment of healthcare Founded in
1961 with offices in Chicago Washington DC Brussels Singapore and other locations across the United
States HIMSS represents more than 23000 individual members of which 73 work in patient care delivery
settings HIMSS also includes over 380 corporate members and nearly 30 not-for-profit organizations that
share our mission of transforming healthcare through the effective use of information technology and
management systems HIMSS frames and leads healthcare public policy and industry practices through
its educational professional development and advocacy initiatives designed to promote information and
management systemsrsquo contributions to ensuring quality patient care
ISBN 978-0-9821070-6-5
Order Code 564
230 E Ohio St Suite 500
Chicago IL 60611ndash3270
312-915-9295
www himss org
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 2939
10 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
the organization and in1047298uence the combined impact these variables
have on organizational effectiveness As each variable has the powerto in1047298uence the outcome o any intervention behavior change is ofen
not sustainable because variables tend to work against one another
Effective technology adoption strategies account or this interrelation-
shipinterdependency and aim to bring these variables into alignment
as a means or driving sustainable results
Figure 1-2 introduces the Organizational Fabric Model which
highlights the six primary threads (or variables) that are interwoven
in the abric (or culture) o an organization Te model suggests that
all six threads must work in concert to successully shape the organi-
zational abric A well-woven technology adoption plan strategically
manipulates these threads to in1047298uence desired change A poorly wovenplan in which a thread or combination o threads is not accounted
or leads to disaster or by way o analogy will hit a snag down the
road Depending on the 1047298exibility and durability o this abric a snag
can result in a huge hole that detracts rom the overall strength o the
intervention Te intent o the Organizational Fabric Model is to stress
how important it is to understand the uture state recognize how each
variable or combination o variables will come into play and develop a
sound technology adoption program that appropriately in1047298uences this
set o variables to reshape the abric or culture so desired change can
actually take place
Te Organizational Fabric Model will be revisited in subsequent
chapters as each thread or variable is explored in urther detail For
now we reiterate that technology adoption strategies must not rely
on only one or two threads to drive behavior change Sustainable out-
comes result rom an organizationrsquos ability to leverage the combination
o all six threads working in concert to create an environment orsuccess
Key Point
Fundamentally culture is ldquothe way we do things around hererdquo
Key Point
Fundamentally culture is ldquothe way we do things around hererdquo
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3039
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 11
CREAING AN ENVIRONMEN FOR SUCCESS
echnology adoption is about creating a context an environment in
which change can be achieved and sustained over the long term Tis
involves two levelsmdashorganizational and individual
With an EMR implementation the organization must create thesupporting environment provide needed training and resources
articulate a clear direction coupled with clear expectations engage its
people include them in the process and reinorce desired new behav-
iors Tis is not about checking things off a list but rather about 1047297nd-
ing synergy among impacted groups giving them what they need and
coordinating efforts to meet the end goal Itrsquos an ongoing effort
o give you an idea o what we are talking about herersquos an exam-
ple o an individual situation occurring within a social context Tink
about what happens when you want to make a signi1047297cant change in
your personal liemdashquit smoking stop drinking lose weight Itrsquos one
thing to talk with a doctor or another proessional about what needsto happen when yoursquore in their offi ce but once you leave the offi ce
you then return to your social reality I your riends and amily donrsquot
want your behavior to change you will have a tough time All the rein-
Figure 1-2 Organizational Fabric Model
Sponsorship
Stakeholder Mgmt
Training
Vision
Reinforcement
Communications
Sponsorship
Stakeholder Mgmt
Training
Vision
Reinforcement
Communications
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3139
12 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
orcements and temptations will conspire to prevent you rom mak-
ing changes But i you can get some important people in your lieto make the changes with you or at least support you in the process
you have a much greater chance o success Te lesson is donrsquot send a
changed person back into an unchanged environment if you want
to see behavior change
Engaging individuals involves arousing two key aspects mdashwilling-
ness and ability Te organization must in1047298uence both in order to suc-
ceed With the help o the Skill Versus Will Matrix (Figure 1-3) think
about it this way
bull When people want to do something but donrsquot know how they canrsquot
(willingunable)
bull When people know how but donrsquot want to they wonrsquot(ableunwilling)
Can you think o examples in your own lie when you have been in
either o these situations
Consider the circumstance o people who know how to do some-
thing but donrsquot want to do it Tis is a ldquowillrdquo not a ldquoskillrdquo issue and it is
a very common technology adoption dilemma I the amount o work
and effort involved are not perceived by the user as being equal to the
Figure 1-3 The Skill versus Will Matrix
Skill
Will
WONrsquoT
WONrsquoT
DOES
CANrsquoTLow
High
HighLow
Skill
Will
WONrsquoT
WONrsquoT
DOES
CANrsquoTLow
High
HighLow HighLow
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3239
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 13
return or value experienced through the implementation the user will
most likely choose to reduce the effort A goal o an effective people-ocused strategy is to identiy potential areas o disconnect and 1047297nd
ways to increase the perceived value to users Te assumption is that
when the return is perceived to be greater the effort increases When
there are no incentives to try harder it may be diffi cult to drive desired
behavior change
Te point in getting users to actively support the deployment o
an EMR is about a lot more than a communication plan or eature
unction training Managing the people side o an EMR implementa-
tion requires a savvy technology adoption plan that ties sponsorship
training communication work1047298ow harmonization user support and
reinorcement with the business priorities o the organization andeffectively coordinates all o these activities with the user in mindmdashin
an environment that reinorces desired behavior changes
Key Questions
Two key questions to remember throughout the
project arehellip
(1) How will this decision impact the user
(2) How might it impact patients
Key Questions
Two key questions to remember throughout the
project are
(1) How will this decision impact the user
(2) How might it impact patients
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3339
14 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
Consider this example
In this example what are the key elements o this process that
ensure success
bull Te picture of success the desired outcome is clearmdashit is or the
child to become a unctioning adult in the community
bull How this happens is clearly de1047297ned in behavioral terms Tere is a
process that is known and understood by the entire community
including children
bull Leaders at all levels in the community agree on the desired out-
come support the entire process and actively ful1047297ll their roles to ensure success Leaders include village elders and ormal lead-
ers parents o the children inormal opinion leaders and amily
members
bull Te children who are about to become adults take an active role
in their own transormation taking responsibility or their suc-
cess Tey receive guidance and counsel rom elders Tey know
and understand the transormation process and what they must do
to achieve their new status Goals and steps are clear Tey also
understand the consequences o not successully transitioning to
adulthood
bull I there is more than one child slated to go through transormationto adulthood at the same time they are a peer group and as appro-
priate prepare together and support each other
Key Point
In native cultures there tend to be rites of passage that serve
to transition a person from childhood to adult status in the
community The child may actually leave the village for a day or
two of contemplation following a prescribed process When the
child returns he or she is redefined as an adult and assumes
the consequent privileges and responsibilities The entire
community reinforces the personrsquos new status the new adult is
not allowed to return to being a child whenever itrsquos convenient
but is supported to complete the transformation to adulthood
The change to adulthood does not happen in a vacuum but is
part of a carefully designed process that ensures success
Key Point
In native cultures there tend to be rites of passage that serve
to transition a person from childhood to adult status in the
community The child may actually leave the village for a day or
two of contemplation following a prescribed process When the
child returns he or she is redefined as an adult and assumes
the consequent privileges and responsibilities The entire
community reinforces the personrsquos new status the new adult is
not allowed to return to being a child whenever itrsquos convenient
but is supported to complete the transformation to adulthood
The change to adulthood does not happen in a vacuum but is
part of a carefully designed process that ensures success
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3439
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 15
bull Te entire community works together to bring about the
transormationbull Success results in positive reinforcement
Te environmental context is the trump card in any implementerrsquos
hand It takes a lot o work to create a suitable environment but it is an
essential ingredient in being able to drive and sustain change
Willingness and Ability
Earlier we mentioned willingness and ability as key concepts in tech-
nology adoption Willingness and ability can also be thought o as
hearts and minds or will and skill Te point is the same regardless
o the terms used People need to be supported on both an emotional
level to commit and on an intellectual level to be able Te questionto be answered is ldquoWhat are the conditions under which users will
accept and adopt the EMRrdquo
Letrsquos talk about willingness 1047297rst
Willingness or hearts is the commitment to go orward Tis is
impacted by many things including the ollowing elements
bull Leadership Perceived support or lack o support or the change
rom senior executives in the company the cascade o sponsors
down through the organization and just as importantly rom the
employeersquos direct supervisor
bull Communication Quality and requency o verbal and written
messages that describe the desired uture state tell why the changeneeds to happen and what will happen i change isnrsquot made set
clear expectations explain how the company will prepare and sup-
port people to success and describe local details such as timelines
etc
bull Reinforcement Degree o appropriateness and timeliness o
rewards or demonstrating desired new behaviors and conse-
quences or sticking to the old ways
bull Participation Degree to which users are involved every step o
the way either directly as individuals or indirectly by being effec-
tively represented by trusted local opinion leader peers who serve
as liaisons between users and the project teambull Organizational History with Change Previous organizational
experience with changemdashgood and badmdashwill in1047298uence user per-
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3539
16 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
ceptions and expectations o the EMR implementation Under-
standing the past is important in planning or the utureTis all sounds logical but the reaction to it can be emotional Tis
is where people conront their ear o ailure eeling stupid making
mistakes etc Remember that the change may require people to give
up the very things that they believe made them successul in the past
Tis can be a diffi cult sell
Ability or minds is about the actual capability to successully
meet new job expectations Tis is impacted by many things including
the ollowing elements
bull raining and Support In most cases the new EMR abilities must
be learned An effective training program that is role-based and
intentionally ocused on preparing people to perorm new jobexpectations is key Just discussing desired outcomes is not enough
though we have to clearly tell people what we want them to do
Tis requires an intellectual understanding o what and how a
conceptual understanding is necessary but not suffi cient Most
people need to practice something new to develop competence and
con1047297dence Sae opportunities to practice preerably with immedi-
ate eedback are very important to pro1047297ciency development and
sustainability
Getting people to move in the direction you want is the diffi -
cultymdashsome say the hardest part o the whole project And i you agree
that people are the oundation o successmdashthat bene1047297t realization isdependant not on technology but on people agreeing to go through
personal disruption learn new things change established patterns and
conront their earsmdashthen we must be proactive and courageous in
addressing the human issues
Tis is the people side o the project Tis is the organizational read-
iness unction It involves collaboration coordination and sequencing
o activities inormation and events rom all people-ocused areas Te
idea is to have all the people-ocused unctions working together to
reach clearly de1047297ned shared outcomes Te organizational readiness
plan to create individual and organizational readiness is the umbrella
that connects it allmdashthe glue that holds it together and the grease thatmakes it workmdashor the user We will address the structure and process
or doing this in more detail in subsequent chapters
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3639
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 17
Good News on wo Fronts
1 Tere is a social science Tere is a body o work research andsubsequent publications about the human experience with change
Tere are proven change management strategies tools and tech-
niques Tis isnrsquot olklore hooey or black magic Te transition
process is known and predictable Tere is a change curve that
describes the steps (Chapter 5 Stakeholder Management) And
though there is no silver bullet it isnrsquot rocket science Senior
healthcare executives must take the emerging proession o change
managementtechnology adoption seriously Not understanding it
is no excuse or ignoring it Tat is ar too expensive an option
2 All people go through transition when changemdashgood or badmdash
happens in both their personal and proessional lie You canrsquot
avoid it Te wonderul thing is i you learn about change and
transition at work it will improve your personal lie Tis is one
o the times to ldquotry this at homerdquo Wersquore all humanmdashat work and
at home So treat your people as the humans they are and avoid
some predictable expense and diffi culty Lead your organization
to a successul outcome and speed up the process by treating your
staff as customers 1047297rst
Donrsquot make the mistake o glossing over the critical human aspects
o change Hire experts and 1047297nd the emotionally intelligent people in
your organization who want to participate And remember you can
install technology without your people but you canrsquot ully implement
and achieve return on investment without them Consciously choose
to move fear and resistance to trust and adoption Itrsquos a case o pay
now or pay later I you wait until later it will always cost more ech-
nology Adoption is expensive but not as expensive as trying to gloss
it over and then having to undo the damage When ailure happens it
Quoteldquordquo
ldquoNot everything that can be counted counts and not everything thatcounts can be countedrdquo
- Albert Einstein
Quoteldquordquo
ldquordquo
ldquoNot everything that can be counted counts and not everything thatcounts can be countedrdquo
- Albert Einstein
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3739
18 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
takes a long time or people to re-engage And in todayrsquos world this
presents real problems or healthcare organizations aced with short-ages in many proessions Tere is a huge risk o alienating and poten-
tially losing needed staff or in causing long delays We can do better
Not so long ago it wasnrsquot conventional wisdom that clinical application
rollouts are not I projects More frequently than not these were consid-
ered technical projects in which the point of celebration was when con-nection from workstation to central processor was reliable and wireless
access actually worked Te classic I People-Process-echnology trian-
gle never got much past echnology to the real hard work on the People-
Process axis Tat has all changed in the 21st century system implemen-
tations that are both successful and valuable have had people and process
on the front burner
When MemorialCare embarked on a 1047297ve-hospital roll-out of an
EMR in 2002 it had several things in its favor
bull Te technology the organization ultimately acquired was robust and
reliable it worked
bull It had 15 yearsrsquo experience with CPOE (computerized providerorder entry) Terefore although unevenly adopted it was not new
territory
bull It had had the experience of a system-wide roll-out and standard-
ization on a general 1047297nance human resources and materials man-
agement system When all was said and done users had not been
suffi ciently involved standardization fell short because involvement
was low business leadership was diffuse and I ownership was too
high It was judged successful overall but the organization continues
to move slowly forward with an underutilized set of applications
With this experience and the insights of others MemorialCare pri-
oritized engagement of physicians nurses pharmacists and other staffWell before 1047297nancial commitment to a new system was obtained Memo-
rialCare hired a ldquoCare Planning Executiverdquo a person whose full-time
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3839
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 19
activities were devoted to the project 1047297rst to help understand the drivers
of a new system scope out the territory to be covered gain the com-mitment of senior leaders as well as governance and outline the case
for change At my insistence the Care Planning Executive a registered
nurse and former hospital chief operating offi cer joined the organization
reporting to the system-wide CEO as a peer and partner of the CIO not
a staff member and a peer to the CEOs of each medical center campus
Tat dedication alone made clear the commitment intentions and over-
all priority of the company
Among several other critical success factorsmdashand the outcome was
a successmdashwas the overall employee engagement program that the Care
Planning Executive established In summary it was an education mar-
keting and training program dedicated to equipping the affected staffwith the knowledge and tools to embrace unavoidable change Staff com-
munication was clear that it wasnrsquot change for changersquos sake but a major
move forward in the paperless way care would be delivered and work-
1047298ows would be streamlined Of course at the time no one could have
foreseen later moves by government to push everyone in this direction
(with the American Recovery and Reconstruction Act of 2009) Because
of our early efforts wersquore now very well positioned
J Scott Joslyn
CIO
MemorialCareLong Beach California
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3939
About the BookDespite the promise of improving care and other benefits EMR implementations are highly disruptive to the
organization This book prepares you to lead or participate successfully in change managementtechnologyadoption efforts so that meaningful use of EMRs can be achieved The authors provide successful strategies
to plan and implement change The content is based on their decades of combined experience designing
and leading technology adoption programs
Sections of the book deal with establishing a foundation for change building commitment and developing
requisite skill in helping users be successful with technology The book includes numerous lessons learned
tips for success best practices and case studies from organizations that have handled change well
About the AuthorsClaire McCarthy MA is a recognized technology adoption strategist and leader
with 25 years of healthcare industry experience supporting people through softwareimplementations and other large-scale change efforts As Director of Organizational
Effectiveness for Kaiser Permanentersquos enterprise-wide EMR deployment Ms McCarthy
led a national community of practice focused on preparing users to assume new
roles and responsibilities in support of organizational objectives Ms McCarthy
speaks internationally on the topic of technology adoption encouraging healthcare
leaders around the globe to set the stage for benefit realization by investing in the
people side of EMR implementation
Douglas Eastman PhD is an organizational development executive with extensive
experience managing large-scale change initiatives With more than 20 years
of consulting experience Dr Eastmanrsquos focus is to help organizations grow and
manage change by unleashing human potential His specialties are organizationaltransformation technology adoption and optimization process redesign strategic
planning and program and tools development As the Executive Director of Technology
Adoption and Organizational Capability within the Kaiser Permanente IT Care
Delivery Business Information Office Dr Eastman has pioneered several of Kaiserrsquos
implementation readiness toolsmethodologies and post-live optimization strategies
programs adding to the organizationrsquos ability to realize the benefit of its technology
About HIMSS The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) is a comprehensive healthcare-
stakeholder membership organization exclusively focused on providing global leadership for the optimal
use of information technology (IT) and management systems for the betterment of healthcare Founded in
1961 with offices in Chicago Washington DC Brussels Singapore and other locations across the United
States HIMSS represents more than 23000 individual members of which 73 work in patient care delivery
settings HIMSS also includes over 380 corporate members and nearly 30 not-for-profit organizations that
share our mission of transforming healthcare through the effective use of information technology and
management systems HIMSS frames and leads healthcare public policy and industry practices through
its educational professional development and advocacy initiatives designed to promote information and
management systemsrsquo contributions to ensuring quality patient care
ISBN 978-0-9821070-6-5
Order Code 564
230 E Ohio St Suite 500
Chicago IL 60611ndash3270
312-915-9295
www himss org
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3039
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 11
CREAING AN ENVIRONMEN FOR SUCCESS
echnology adoption is about creating a context an environment in
which change can be achieved and sustained over the long term Tis
involves two levelsmdashorganizational and individual
With an EMR implementation the organization must create thesupporting environment provide needed training and resources
articulate a clear direction coupled with clear expectations engage its
people include them in the process and reinorce desired new behav-
iors Tis is not about checking things off a list but rather about 1047297nd-
ing synergy among impacted groups giving them what they need and
coordinating efforts to meet the end goal Itrsquos an ongoing effort
o give you an idea o what we are talking about herersquos an exam-
ple o an individual situation occurring within a social context Tink
about what happens when you want to make a signi1047297cant change in
your personal liemdashquit smoking stop drinking lose weight Itrsquos one
thing to talk with a doctor or another proessional about what needsto happen when yoursquore in their offi ce but once you leave the offi ce
you then return to your social reality I your riends and amily donrsquot
want your behavior to change you will have a tough time All the rein-
Figure 1-2 Organizational Fabric Model
Sponsorship
Stakeholder Mgmt
Training
Vision
Reinforcement
Communications
Sponsorship
Stakeholder Mgmt
Training
Vision
Reinforcement
Communications
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3139
12 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
orcements and temptations will conspire to prevent you rom mak-
ing changes But i you can get some important people in your lieto make the changes with you or at least support you in the process
you have a much greater chance o success Te lesson is donrsquot send a
changed person back into an unchanged environment if you want
to see behavior change
Engaging individuals involves arousing two key aspects mdashwilling-
ness and ability Te organization must in1047298uence both in order to suc-
ceed With the help o the Skill Versus Will Matrix (Figure 1-3) think
about it this way
bull When people want to do something but donrsquot know how they canrsquot
(willingunable)
bull When people know how but donrsquot want to they wonrsquot(ableunwilling)
Can you think o examples in your own lie when you have been in
either o these situations
Consider the circumstance o people who know how to do some-
thing but donrsquot want to do it Tis is a ldquowillrdquo not a ldquoskillrdquo issue and it is
a very common technology adoption dilemma I the amount o work
and effort involved are not perceived by the user as being equal to the
Figure 1-3 The Skill versus Will Matrix
Skill
Will
WONrsquoT
WONrsquoT
DOES
CANrsquoTLow
High
HighLow
Skill
Will
WONrsquoT
WONrsquoT
DOES
CANrsquoTLow
High
HighLow HighLow
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3239
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 13
return or value experienced through the implementation the user will
most likely choose to reduce the effort A goal o an effective people-ocused strategy is to identiy potential areas o disconnect and 1047297nd
ways to increase the perceived value to users Te assumption is that
when the return is perceived to be greater the effort increases When
there are no incentives to try harder it may be diffi cult to drive desired
behavior change
Te point in getting users to actively support the deployment o
an EMR is about a lot more than a communication plan or eature
unction training Managing the people side o an EMR implementa-
tion requires a savvy technology adoption plan that ties sponsorship
training communication work1047298ow harmonization user support and
reinorcement with the business priorities o the organization andeffectively coordinates all o these activities with the user in mindmdashin
an environment that reinorces desired behavior changes
Key Questions
Two key questions to remember throughout the
project arehellip
(1) How will this decision impact the user
(2) How might it impact patients
Key Questions
Two key questions to remember throughout the
project are
(1) How will this decision impact the user
(2) How might it impact patients
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3339
14 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
Consider this example
In this example what are the key elements o this process that
ensure success
bull Te picture of success the desired outcome is clearmdashit is or the
child to become a unctioning adult in the community
bull How this happens is clearly de1047297ned in behavioral terms Tere is a
process that is known and understood by the entire community
including children
bull Leaders at all levels in the community agree on the desired out-
come support the entire process and actively ful1047297ll their roles to ensure success Leaders include village elders and ormal lead-
ers parents o the children inormal opinion leaders and amily
members
bull Te children who are about to become adults take an active role
in their own transormation taking responsibility or their suc-
cess Tey receive guidance and counsel rom elders Tey know
and understand the transormation process and what they must do
to achieve their new status Goals and steps are clear Tey also
understand the consequences o not successully transitioning to
adulthood
bull I there is more than one child slated to go through transormationto adulthood at the same time they are a peer group and as appro-
priate prepare together and support each other
Key Point
In native cultures there tend to be rites of passage that serve
to transition a person from childhood to adult status in the
community The child may actually leave the village for a day or
two of contemplation following a prescribed process When the
child returns he or she is redefined as an adult and assumes
the consequent privileges and responsibilities The entire
community reinforces the personrsquos new status the new adult is
not allowed to return to being a child whenever itrsquos convenient
but is supported to complete the transformation to adulthood
The change to adulthood does not happen in a vacuum but is
part of a carefully designed process that ensures success
Key Point
In native cultures there tend to be rites of passage that serve
to transition a person from childhood to adult status in the
community The child may actually leave the village for a day or
two of contemplation following a prescribed process When the
child returns he or she is redefined as an adult and assumes
the consequent privileges and responsibilities The entire
community reinforces the personrsquos new status the new adult is
not allowed to return to being a child whenever itrsquos convenient
but is supported to complete the transformation to adulthood
The change to adulthood does not happen in a vacuum but is
part of a carefully designed process that ensures success
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3439
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 15
bull Te entire community works together to bring about the
transormationbull Success results in positive reinforcement
Te environmental context is the trump card in any implementerrsquos
hand It takes a lot o work to create a suitable environment but it is an
essential ingredient in being able to drive and sustain change
Willingness and Ability
Earlier we mentioned willingness and ability as key concepts in tech-
nology adoption Willingness and ability can also be thought o as
hearts and minds or will and skill Te point is the same regardless
o the terms used People need to be supported on both an emotional
level to commit and on an intellectual level to be able Te questionto be answered is ldquoWhat are the conditions under which users will
accept and adopt the EMRrdquo
Letrsquos talk about willingness 1047297rst
Willingness or hearts is the commitment to go orward Tis is
impacted by many things including the ollowing elements
bull Leadership Perceived support or lack o support or the change
rom senior executives in the company the cascade o sponsors
down through the organization and just as importantly rom the
employeersquos direct supervisor
bull Communication Quality and requency o verbal and written
messages that describe the desired uture state tell why the changeneeds to happen and what will happen i change isnrsquot made set
clear expectations explain how the company will prepare and sup-
port people to success and describe local details such as timelines
etc
bull Reinforcement Degree o appropriateness and timeliness o
rewards or demonstrating desired new behaviors and conse-
quences or sticking to the old ways
bull Participation Degree to which users are involved every step o
the way either directly as individuals or indirectly by being effec-
tively represented by trusted local opinion leader peers who serve
as liaisons between users and the project teambull Organizational History with Change Previous organizational
experience with changemdashgood and badmdashwill in1047298uence user per-
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3539
16 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
ceptions and expectations o the EMR implementation Under-
standing the past is important in planning or the utureTis all sounds logical but the reaction to it can be emotional Tis
is where people conront their ear o ailure eeling stupid making
mistakes etc Remember that the change may require people to give
up the very things that they believe made them successul in the past
Tis can be a diffi cult sell
Ability or minds is about the actual capability to successully
meet new job expectations Tis is impacted by many things including
the ollowing elements
bull raining and Support In most cases the new EMR abilities must
be learned An effective training program that is role-based and
intentionally ocused on preparing people to perorm new jobexpectations is key Just discussing desired outcomes is not enough
though we have to clearly tell people what we want them to do
Tis requires an intellectual understanding o what and how a
conceptual understanding is necessary but not suffi cient Most
people need to practice something new to develop competence and
con1047297dence Sae opportunities to practice preerably with immedi-
ate eedback are very important to pro1047297ciency development and
sustainability
Getting people to move in the direction you want is the diffi -
cultymdashsome say the hardest part o the whole project And i you agree
that people are the oundation o successmdashthat bene1047297t realization isdependant not on technology but on people agreeing to go through
personal disruption learn new things change established patterns and
conront their earsmdashthen we must be proactive and courageous in
addressing the human issues
Tis is the people side o the project Tis is the organizational read-
iness unction It involves collaboration coordination and sequencing
o activities inormation and events rom all people-ocused areas Te
idea is to have all the people-ocused unctions working together to
reach clearly de1047297ned shared outcomes Te organizational readiness
plan to create individual and organizational readiness is the umbrella
that connects it allmdashthe glue that holds it together and the grease thatmakes it workmdashor the user We will address the structure and process
or doing this in more detail in subsequent chapters
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3639
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 17
Good News on wo Fronts
1 Tere is a social science Tere is a body o work research andsubsequent publications about the human experience with change
Tere are proven change management strategies tools and tech-
niques Tis isnrsquot olklore hooey or black magic Te transition
process is known and predictable Tere is a change curve that
describes the steps (Chapter 5 Stakeholder Management) And
though there is no silver bullet it isnrsquot rocket science Senior
healthcare executives must take the emerging proession o change
managementtechnology adoption seriously Not understanding it
is no excuse or ignoring it Tat is ar too expensive an option
2 All people go through transition when changemdashgood or badmdash
happens in both their personal and proessional lie You canrsquot
avoid it Te wonderul thing is i you learn about change and
transition at work it will improve your personal lie Tis is one
o the times to ldquotry this at homerdquo Wersquore all humanmdashat work and
at home So treat your people as the humans they are and avoid
some predictable expense and diffi culty Lead your organization
to a successul outcome and speed up the process by treating your
staff as customers 1047297rst
Donrsquot make the mistake o glossing over the critical human aspects
o change Hire experts and 1047297nd the emotionally intelligent people in
your organization who want to participate And remember you can
install technology without your people but you canrsquot ully implement
and achieve return on investment without them Consciously choose
to move fear and resistance to trust and adoption Itrsquos a case o pay
now or pay later I you wait until later it will always cost more ech-
nology Adoption is expensive but not as expensive as trying to gloss
it over and then having to undo the damage When ailure happens it
Quoteldquordquo
ldquoNot everything that can be counted counts and not everything thatcounts can be countedrdquo
- Albert Einstein
Quoteldquordquo
ldquordquo
ldquoNot everything that can be counted counts and not everything thatcounts can be countedrdquo
- Albert Einstein
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3739
18 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
takes a long time or people to re-engage And in todayrsquos world this
presents real problems or healthcare organizations aced with short-ages in many proessions Tere is a huge risk o alienating and poten-
tially losing needed staff or in causing long delays We can do better
Not so long ago it wasnrsquot conventional wisdom that clinical application
rollouts are not I projects More frequently than not these were consid-
ered technical projects in which the point of celebration was when con-nection from workstation to central processor was reliable and wireless
access actually worked Te classic I People-Process-echnology trian-
gle never got much past echnology to the real hard work on the People-
Process axis Tat has all changed in the 21st century system implemen-
tations that are both successful and valuable have had people and process
on the front burner
When MemorialCare embarked on a 1047297ve-hospital roll-out of an
EMR in 2002 it had several things in its favor
bull Te technology the organization ultimately acquired was robust and
reliable it worked
bull It had 15 yearsrsquo experience with CPOE (computerized providerorder entry) Terefore although unevenly adopted it was not new
territory
bull It had had the experience of a system-wide roll-out and standard-
ization on a general 1047297nance human resources and materials man-
agement system When all was said and done users had not been
suffi ciently involved standardization fell short because involvement
was low business leadership was diffuse and I ownership was too
high It was judged successful overall but the organization continues
to move slowly forward with an underutilized set of applications
With this experience and the insights of others MemorialCare pri-
oritized engagement of physicians nurses pharmacists and other staffWell before 1047297nancial commitment to a new system was obtained Memo-
rialCare hired a ldquoCare Planning Executiverdquo a person whose full-time
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3839
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 19
activities were devoted to the project 1047297rst to help understand the drivers
of a new system scope out the territory to be covered gain the com-mitment of senior leaders as well as governance and outline the case
for change At my insistence the Care Planning Executive a registered
nurse and former hospital chief operating offi cer joined the organization
reporting to the system-wide CEO as a peer and partner of the CIO not
a staff member and a peer to the CEOs of each medical center campus
Tat dedication alone made clear the commitment intentions and over-
all priority of the company
Among several other critical success factorsmdashand the outcome was
a successmdashwas the overall employee engagement program that the Care
Planning Executive established In summary it was an education mar-
keting and training program dedicated to equipping the affected staffwith the knowledge and tools to embrace unavoidable change Staff com-
munication was clear that it wasnrsquot change for changersquos sake but a major
move forward in the paperless way care would be delivered and work-
1047298ows would be streamlined Of course at the time no one could have
foreseen later moves by government to push everyone in this direction
(with the American Recovery and Reconstruction Act of 2009) Because
of our early efforts wersquore now very well positioned
J Scott Joslyn
CIO
MemorialCareLong Beach California
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3939
About the BookDespite the promise of improving care and other benefits EMR implementations are highly disruptive to the
organization This book prepares you to lead or participate successfully in change managementtechnologyadoption efforts so that meaningful use of EMRs can be achieved The authors provide successful strategies
to plan and implement change The content is based on their decades of combined experience designing
and leading technology adoption programs
Sections of the book deal with establishing a foundation for change building commitment and developing
requisite skill in helping users be successful with technology The book includes numerous lessons learned
tips for success best practices and case studies from organizations that have handled change well
About the AuthorsClaire McCarthy MA is a recognized technology adoption strategist and leader
with 25 years of healthcare industry experience supporting people through softwareimplementations and other large-scale change efforts As Director of Organizational
Effectiveness for Kaiser Permanentersquos enterprise-wide EMR deployment Ms McCarthy
led a national community of practice focused on preparing users to assume new
roles and responsibilities in support of organizational objectives Ms McCarthy
speaks internationally on the topic of technology adoption encouraging healthcare
leaders around the globe to set the stage for benefit realization by investing in the
people side of EMR implementation
Douglas Eastman PhD is an organizational development executive with extensive
experience managing large-scale change initiatives With more than 20 years
of consulting experience Dr Eastmanrsquos focus is to help organizations grow and
manage change by unleashing human potential His specialties are organizationaltransformation technology adoption and optimization process redesign strategic
planning and program and tools development As the Executive Director of Technology
Adoption and Organizational Capability within the Kaiser Permanente IT Care
Delivery Business Information Office Dr Eastman has pioneered several of Kaiserrsquos
implementation readiness toolsmethodologies and post-live optimization strategies
programs adding to the organizationrsquos ability to realize the benefit of its technology
About HIMSS The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) is a comprehensive healthcare-
stakeholder membership organization exclusively focused on providing global leadership for the optimal
use of information technology (IT) and management systems for the betterment of healthcare Founded in
1961 with offices in Chicago Washington DC Brussels Singapore and other locations across the United
States HIMSS represents more than 23000 individual members of which 73 work in patient care delivery
settings HIMSS also includes over 380 corporate members and nearly 30 not-for-profit organizations that
share our mission of transforming healthcare through the effective use of information technology and
management systems HIMSS frames and leads healthcare public policy and industry practices through
its educational professional development and advocacy initiatives designed to promote information and
management systemsrsquo contributions to ensuring quality patient care
ISBN 978-0-9821070-6-5
Order Code 564
230 E Ohio St Suite 500
Chicago IL 60611ndash3270
312-915-9295
www himss org
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3139
12 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
orcements and temptations will conspire to prevent you rom mak-
ing changes But i you can get some important people in your lieto make the changes with you or at least support you in the process
you have a much greater chance o success Te lesson is donrsquot send a
changed person back into an unchanged environment if you want
to see behavior change
Engaging individuals involves arousing two key aspects mdashwilling-
ness and ability Te organization must in1047298uence both in order to suc-
ceed With the help o the Skill Versus Will Matrix (Figure 1-3) think
about it this way
bull When people want to do something but donrsquot know how they canrsquot
(willingunable)
bull When people know how but donrsquot want to they wonrsquot(ableunwilling)
Can you think o examples in your own lie when you have been in
either o these situations
Consider the circumstance o people who know how to do some-
thing but donrsquot want to do it Tis is a ldquowillrdquo not a ldquoskillrdquo issue and it is
a very common technology adoption dilemma I the amount o work
and effort involved are not perceived by the user as being equal to the
Figure 1-3 The Skill versus Will Matrix
Skill
Will
WONrsquoT
WONrsquoT
DOES
CANrsquoTLow
High
HighLow
Skill
Will
WONrsquoT
WONrsquoT
DOES
CANrsquoTLow
High
HighLow HighLow
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3239
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 13
return or value experienced through the implementation the user will
most likely choose to reduce the effort A goal o an effective people-ocused strategy is to identiy potential areas o disconnect and 1047297nd
ways to increase the perceived value to users Te assumption is that
when the return is perceived to be greater the effort increases When
there are no incentives to try harder it may be diffi cult to drive desired
behavior change
Te point in getting users to actively support the deployment o
an EMR is about a lot more than a communication plan or eature
unction training Managing the people side o an EMR implementa-
tion requires a savvy technology adoption plan that ties sponsorship
training communication work1047298ow harmonization user support and
reinorcement with the business priorities o the organization andeffectively coordinates all o these activities with the user in mindmdashin
an environment that reinorces desired behavior changes
Key Questions
Two key questions to remember throughout the
project arehellip
(1) How will this decision impact the user
(2) How might it impact patients
Key Questions
Two key questions to remember throughout the
project are
(1) How will this decision impact the user
(2) How might it impact patients
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3339
14 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
Consider this example
In this example what are the key elements o this process that
ensure success
bull Te picture of success the desired outcome is clearmdashit is or the
child to become a unctioning adult in the community
bull How this happens is clearly de1047297ned in behavioral terms Tere is a
process that is known and understood by the entire community
including children
bull Leaders at all levels in the community agree on the desired out-
come support the entire process and actively ful1047297ll their roles to ensure success Leaders include village elders and ormal lead-
ers parents o the children inormal opinion leaders and amily
members
bull Te children who are about to become adults take an active role
in their own transormation taking responsibility or their suc-
cess Tey receive guidance and counsel rom elders Tey know
and understand the transormation process and what they must do
to achieve their new status Goals and steps are clear Tey also
understand the consequences o not successully transitioning to
adulthood
bull I there is more than one child slated to go through transormationto adulthood at the same time they are a peer group and as appro-
priate prepare together and support each other
Key Point
In native cultures there tend to be rites of passage that serve
to transition a person from childhood to adult status in the
community The child may actually leave the village for a day or
two of contemplation following a prescribed process When the
child returns he or she is redefined as an adult and assumes
the consequent privileges and responsibilities The entire
community reinforces the personrsquos new status the new adult is
not allowed to return to being a child whenever itrsquos convenient
but is supported to complete the transformation to adulthood
The change to adulthood does not happen in a vacuum but is
part of a carefully designed process that ensures success
Key Point
In native cultures there tend to be rites of passage that serve
to transition a person from childhood to adult status in the
community The child may actually leave the village for a day or
two of contemplation following a prescribed process When the
child returns he or she is redefined as an adult and assumes
the consequent privileges and responsibilities The entire
community reinforces the personrsquos new status the new adult is
not allowed to return to being a child whenever itrsquos convenient
but is supported to complete the transformation to adulthood
The change to adulthood does not happen in a vacuum but is
part of a carefully designed process that ensures success
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3439
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 15
bull Te entire community works together to bring about the
transormationbull Success results in positive reinforcement
Te environmental context is the trump card in any implementerrsquos
hand It takes a lot o work to create a suitable environment but it is an
essential ingredient in being able to drive and sustain change
Willingness and Ability
Earlier we mentioned willingness and ability as key concepts in tech-
nology adoption Willingness and ability can also be thought o as
hearts and minds or will and skill Te point is the same regardless
o the terms used People need to be supported on both an emotional
level to commit and on an intellectual level to be able Te questionto be answered is ldquoWhat are the conditions under which users will
accept and adopt the EMRrdquo
Letrsquos talk about willingness 1047297rst
Willingness or hearts is the commitment to go orward Tis is
impacted by many things including the ollowing elements
bull Leadership Perceived support or lack o support or the change
rom senior executives in the company the cascade o sponsors
down through the organization and just as importantly rom the
employeersquos direct supervisor
bull Communication Quality and requency o verbal and written
messages that describe the desired uture state tell why the changeneeds to happen and what will happen i change isnrsquot made set
clear expectations explain how the company will prepare and sup-
port people to success and describe local details such as timelines
etc
bull Reinforcement Degree o appropriateness and timeliness o
rewards or demonstrating desired new behaviors and conse-
quences or sticking to the old ways
bull Participation Degree to which users are involved every step o
the way either directly as individuals or indirectly by being effec-
tively represented by trusted local opinion leader peers who serve
as liaisons between users and the project teambull Organizational History with Change Previous organizational
experience with changemdashgood and badmdashwill in1047298uence user per-
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3539
16 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
ceptions and expectations o the EMR implementation Under-
standing the past is important in planning or the utureTis all sounds logical but the reaction to it can be emotional Tis
is where people conront their ear o ailure eeling stupid making
mistakes etc Remember that the change may require people to give
up the very things that they believe made them successul in the past
Tis can be a diffi cult sell
Ability or minds is about the actual capability to successully
meet new job expectations Tis is impacted by many things including
the ollowing elements
bull raining and Support In most cases the new EMR abilities must
be learned An effective training program that is role-based and
intentionally ocused on preparing people to perorm new jobexpectations is key Just discussing desired outcomes is not enough
though we have to clearly tell people what we want them to do
Tis requires an intellectual understanding o what and how a
conceptual understanding is necessary but not suffi cient Most
people need to practice something new to develop competence and
con1047297dence Sae opportunities to practice preerably with immedi-
ate eedback are very important to pro1047297ciency development and
sustainability
Getting people to move in the direction you want is the diffi -
cultymdashsome say the hardest part o the whole project And i you agree
that people are the oundation o successmdashthat bene1047297t realization isdependant not on technology but on people agreeing to go through
personal disruption learn new things change established patterns and
conront their earsmdashthen we must be proactive and courageous in
addressing the human issues
Tis is the people side o the project Tis is the organizational read-
iness unction It involves collaboration coordination and sequencing
o activities inormation and events rom all people-ocused areas Te
idea is to have all the people-ocused unctions working together to
reach clearly de1047297ned shared outcomes Te organizational readiness
plan to create individual and organizational readiness is the umbrella
that connects it allmdashthe glue that holds it together and the grease thatmakes it workmdashor the user We will address the structure and process
or doing this in more detail in subsequent chapters
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3639
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 17
Good News on wo Fronts
1 Tere is a social science Tere is a body o work research andsubsequent publications about the human experience with change
Tere are proven change management strategies tools and tech-
niques Tis isnrsquot olklore hooey or black magic Te transition
process is known and predictable Tere is a change curve that
describes the steps (Chapter 5 Stakeholder Management) And
though there is no silver bullet it isnrsquot rocket science Senior
healthcare executives must take the emerging proession o change
managementtechnology adoption seriously Not understanding it
is no excuse or ignoring it Tat is ar too expensive an option
2 All people go through transition when changemdashgood or badmdash
happens in both their personal and proessional lie You canrsquot
avoid it Te wonderul thing is i you learn about change and
transition at work it will improve your personal lie Tis is one
o the times to ldquotry this at homerdquo Wersquore all humanmdashat work and
at home So treat your people as the humans they are and avoid
some predictable expense and diffi culty Lead your organization
to a successul outcome and speed up the process by treating your
staff as customers 1047297rst
Donrsquot make the mistake o glossing over the critical human aspects
o change Hire experts and 1047297nd the emotionally intelligent people in
your organization who want to participate And remember you can
install technology without your people but you canrsquot ully implement
and achieve return on investment without them Consciously choose
to move fear and resistance to trust and adoption Itrsquos a case o pay
now or pay later I you wait until later it will always cost more ech-
nology Adoption is expensive but not as expensive as trying to gloss
it over and then having to undo the damage When ailure happens it
Quoteldquordquo
ldquoNot everything that can be counted counts and not everything thatcounts can be countedrdquo
- Albert Einstein
Quoteldquordquo
ldquordquo
ldquoNot everything that can be counted counts and not everything thatcounts can be countedrdquo
- Albert Einstein
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3739
18 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
takes a long time or people to re-engage And in todayrsquos world this
presents real problems or healthcare organizations aced with short-ages in many proessions Tere is a huge risk o alienating and poten-
tially losing needed staff or in causing long delays We can do better
Not so long ago it wasnrsquot conventional wisdom that clinical application
rollouts are not I projects More frequently than not these were consid-
ered technical projects in which the point of celebration was when con-nection from workstation to central processor was reliable and wireless
access actually worked Te classic I People-Process-echnology trian-
gle never got much past echnology to the real hard work on the People-
Process axis Tat has all changed in the 21st century system implemen-
tations that are both successful and valuable have had people and process
on the front burner
When MemorialCare embarked on a 1047297ve-hospital roll-out of an
EMR in 2002 it had several things in its favor
bull Te technology the organization ultimately acquired was robust and
reliable it worked
bull It had 15 yearsrsquo experience with CPOE (computerized providerorder entry) Terefore although unevenly adopted it was not new
territory
bull It had had the experience of a system-wide roll-out and standard-
ization on a general 1047297nance human resources and materials man-
agement system When all was said and done users had not been
suffi ciently involved standardization fell short because involvement
was low business leadership was diffuse and I ownership was too
high It was judged successful overall but the organization continues
to move slowly forward with an underutilized set of applications
With this experience and the insights of others MemorialCare pri-
oritized engagement of physicians nurses pharmacists and other staffWell before 1047297nancial commitment to a new system was obtained Memo-
rialCare hired a ldquoCare Planning Executiverdquo a person whose full-time
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3839
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 19
activities were devoted to the project 1047297rst to help understand the drivers
of a new system scope out the territory to be covered gain the com-mitment of senior leaders as well as governance and outline the case
for change At my insistence the Care Planning Executive a registered
nurse and former hospital chief operating offi cer joined the organization
reporting to the system-wide CEO as a peer and partner of the CIO not
a staff member and a peer to the CEOs of each medical center campus
Tat dedication alone made clear the commitment intentions and over-
all priority of the company
Among several other critical success factorsmdashand the outcome was
a successmdashwas the overall employee engagement program that the Care
Planning Executive established In summary it was an education mar-
keting and training program dedicated to equipping the affected staffwith the knowledge and tools to embrace unavoidable change Staff com-
munication was clear that it wasnrsquot change for changersquos sake but a major
move forward in the paperless way care would be delivered and work-
1047298ows would be streamlined Of course at the time no one could have
foreseen later moves by government to push everyone in this direction
(with the American Recovery and Reconstruction Act of 2009) Because
of our early efforts wersquore now very well positioned
J Scott Joslyn
CIO
MemorialCareLong Beach California
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3939
About the BookDespite the promise of improving care and other benefits EMR implementations are highly disruptive to the
organization This book prepares you to lead or participate successfully in change managementtechnologyadoption efforts so that meaningful use of EMRs can be achieved The authors provide successful strategies
to plan and implement change The content is based on their decades of combined experience designing
and leading technology adoption programs
Sections of the book deal with establishing a foundation for change building commitment and developing
requisite skill in helping users be successful with technology The book includes numerous lessons learned
tips for success best practices and case studies from organizations that have handled change well
About the AuthorsClaire McCarthy MA is a recognized technology adoption strategist and leader
with 25 years of healthcare industry experience supporting people through softwareimplementations and other large-scale change efforts As Director of Organizational
Effectiveness for Kaiser Permanentersquos enterprise-wide EMR deployment Ms McCarthy
led a national community of practice focused on preparing users to assume new
roles and responsibilities in support of organizational objectives Ms McCarthy
speaks internationally on the topic of technology adoption encouraging healthcare
leaders around the globe to set the stage for benefit realization by investing in the
people side of EMR implementation
Douglas Eastman PhD is an organizational development executive with extensive
experience managing large-scale change initiatives With more than 20 years
of consulting experience Dr Eastmanrsquos focus is to help organizations grow and
manage change by unleashing human potential His specialties are organizationaltransformation technology adoption and optimization process redesign strategic
planning and program and tools development As the Executive Director of Technology
Adoption and Organizational Capability within the Kaiser Permanente IT Care
Delivery Business Information Office Dr Eastman has pioneered several of Kaiserrsquos
implementation readiness toolsmethodologies and post-live optimization strategies
programs adding to the organizationrsquos ability to realize the benefit of its technology
About HIMSS The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) is a comprehensive healthcare-
stakeholder membership organization exclusively focused on providing global leadership for the optimal
use of information technology (IT) and management systems for the betterment of healthcare Founded in
1961 with offices in Chicago Washington DC Brussels Singapore and other locations across the United
States HIMSS represents more than 23000 individual members of which 73 work in patient care delivery
settings HIMSS also includes over 380 corporate members and nearly 30 not-for-profit organizations that
share our mission of transforming healthcare through the effective use of information technology and
management systems HIMSS frames and leads healthcare public policy and industry practices through
its educational professional development and advocacy initiatives designed to promote information and
management systemsrsquo contributions to ensuring quality patient care
ISBN 978-0-9821070-6-5
Order Code 564
230 E Ohio St Suite 500
Chicago IL 60611ndash3270
312-915-9295
www himss org
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3239
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 13
return or value experienced through the implementation the user will
most likely choose to reduce the effort A goal o an effective people-ocused strategy is to identiy potential areas o disconnect and 1047297nd
ways to increase the perceived value to users Te assumption is that
when the return is perceived to be greater the effort increases When
there are no incentives to try harder it may be diffi cult to drive desired
behavior change
Te point in getting users to actively support the deployment o
an EMR is about a lot more than a communication plan or eature
unction training Managing the people side o an EMR implementa-
tion requires a savvy technology adoption plan that ties sponsorship
training communication work1047298ow harmonization user support and
reinorcement with the business priorities o the organization andeffectively coordinates all o these activities with the user in mindmdashin
an environment that reinorces desired behavior changes
Key Questions
Two key questions to remember throughout the
project arehellip
(1) How will this decision impact the user
(2) How might it impact patients
Key Questions
Two key questions to remember throughout the
project are
(1) How will this decision impact the user
(2) How might it impact patients
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3339
14 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
Consider this example
In this example what are the key elements o this process that
ensure success
bull Te picture of success the desired outcome is clearmdashit is or the
child to become a unctioning adult in the community
bull How this happens is clearly de1047297ned in behavioral terms Tere is a
process that is known and understood by the entire community
including children
bull Leaders at all levels in the community agree on the desired out-
come support the entire process and actively ful1047297ll their roles to ensure success Leaders include village elders and ormal lead-
ers parents o the children inormal opinion leaders and amily
members
bull Te children who are about to become adults take an active role
in their own transormation taking responsibility or their suc-
cess Tey receive guidance and counsel rom elders Tey know
and understand the transormation process and what they must do
to achieve their new status Goals and steps are clear Tey also
understand the consequences o not successully transitioning to
adulthood
bull I there is more than one child slated to go through transormationto adulthood at the same time they are a peer group and as appro-
priate prepare together and support each other
Key Point
In native cultures there tend to be rites of passage that serve
to transition a person from childhood to adult status in the
community The child may actually leave the village for a day or
two of contemplation following a prescribed process When the
child returns he or she is redefined as an adult and assumes
the consequent privileges and responsibilities The entire
community reinforces the personrsquos new status the new adult is
not allowed to return to being a child whenever itrsquos convenient
but is supported to complete the transformation to adulthood
The change to adulthood does not happen in a vacuum but is
part of a carefully designed process that ensures success
Key Point
In native cultures there tend to be rites of passage that serve
to transition a person from childhood to adult status in the
community The child may actually leave the village for a day or
two of contemplation following a prescribed process When the
child returns he or she is redefined as an adult and assumes
the consequent privileges and responsibilities The entire
community reinforces the personrsquos new status the new adult is
not allowed to return to being a child whenever itrsquos convenient
but is supported to complete the transformation to adulthood
The change to adulthood does not happen in a vacuum but is
part of a carefully designed process that ensures success
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3439
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 15
bull Te entire community works together to bring about the
transormationbull Success results in positive reinforcement
Te environmental context is the trump card in any implementerrsquos
hand It takes a lot o work to create a suitable environment but it is an
essential ingredient in being able to drive and sustain change
Willingness and Ability
Earlier we mentioned willingness and ability as key concepts in tech-
nology adoption Willingness and ability can also be thought o as
hearts and minds or will and skill Te point is the same regardless
o the terms used People need to be supported on both an emotional
level to commit and on an intellectual level to be able Te questionto be answered is ldquoWhat are the conditions under which users will
accept and adopt the EMRrdquo
Letrsquos talk about willingness 1047297rst
Willingness or hearts is the commitment to go orward Tis is
impacted by many things including the ollowing elements
bull Leadership Perceived support or lack o support or the change
rom senior executives in the company the cascade o sponsors
down through the organization and just as importantly rom the
employeersquos direct supervisor
bull Communication Quality and requency o verbal and written
messages that describe the desired uture state tell why the changeneeds to happen and what will happen i change isnrsquot made set
clear expectations explain how the company will prepare and sup-
port people to success and describe local details such as timelines
etc
bull Reinforcement Degree o appropriateness and timeliness o
rewards or demonstrating desired new behaviors and conse-
quences or sticking to the old ways
bull Participation Degree to which users are involved every step o
the way either directly as individuals or indirectly by being effec-
tively represented by trusted local opinion leader peers who serve
as liaisons between users and the project teambull Organizational History with Change Previous organizational
experience with changemdashgood and badmdashwill in1047298uence user per-
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3539
16 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
ceptions and expectations o the EMR implementation Under-
standing the past is important in planning or the utureTis all sounds logical but the reaction to it can be emotional Tis
is where people conront their ear o ailure eeling stupid making
mistakes etc Remember that the change may require people to give
up the very things that they believe made them successul in the past
Tis can be a diffi cult sell
Ability or minds is about the actual capability to successully
meet new job expectations Tis is impacted by many things including
the ollowing elements
bull raining and Support In most cases the new EMR abilities must
be learned An effective training program that is role-based and
intentionally ocused on preparing people to perorm new jobexpectations is key Just discussing desired outcomes is not enough
though we have to clearly tell people what we want them to do
Tis requires an intellectual understanding o what and how a
conceptual understanding is necessary but not suffi cient Most
people need to practice something new to develop competence and
con1047297dence Sae opportunities to practice preerably with immedi-
ate eedback are very important to pro1047297ciency development and
sustainability
Getting people to move in the direction you want is the diffi -
cultymdashsome say the hardest part o the whole project And i you agree
that people are the oundation o successmdashthat bene1047297t realization isdependant not on technology but on people agreeing to go through
personal disruption learn new things change established patterns and
conront their earsmdashthen we must be proactive and courageous in
addressing the human issues
Tis is the people side o the project Tis is the organizational read-
iness unction It involves collaboration coordination and sequencing
o activities inormation and events rom all people-ocused areas Te
idea is to have all the people-ocused unctions working together to
reach clearly de1047297ned shared outcomes Te organizational readiness
plan to create individual and organizational readiness is the umbrella
that connects it allmdashthe glue that holds it together and the grease thatmakes it workmdashor the user We will address the structure and process
or doing this in more detail in subsequent chapters
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3639
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 17
Good News on wo Fronts
1 Tere is a social science Tere is a body o work research andsubsequent publications about the human experience with change
Tere are proven change management strategies tools and tech-
niques Tis isnrsquot olklore hooey or black magic Te transition
process is known and predictable Tere is a change curve that
describes the steps (Chapter 5 Stakeholder Management) And
though there is no silver bullet it isnrsquot rocket science Senior
healthcare executives must take the emerging proession o change
managementtechnology adoption seriously Not understanding it
is no excuse or ignoring it Tat is ar too expensive an option
2 All people go through transition when changemdashgood or badmdash
happens in both their personal and proessional lie You canrsquot
avoid it Te wonderul thing is i you learn about change and
transition at work it will improve your personal lie Tis is one
o the times to ldquotry this at homerdquo Wersquore all humanmdashat work and
at home So treat your people as the humans they are and avoid
some predictable expense and diffi culty Lead your organization
to a successul outcome and speed up the process by treating your
staff as customers 1047297rst
Donrsquot make the mistake o glossing over the critical human aspects
o change Hire experts and 1047297nd the emotionally intelligent people in
your organization who want to participate And remember you can
install technology without your people but you canrsquot ully implement
and achieve return on investment without them Consciously choose
to move fear and resistance to trust and adoption Itrsquos a case o pay
now or pay later I you wait until later it will always cost more ech-
nology Adoption is expensive but not as expensive as trying to gloss
it over and then having to undo the damage When ailure happens it
Quoteldquordquo
ldquoNot everything that can be counted counts and not everything thatcounts can be countedrdquo
- Albert Einstein
Quoteldquordquo
ldquordquo
ldquoNot everything that can be counted counts and not everything thatcounts can be countedrdquo
- Albert Einstein
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3739
18 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
takes a long time or people to re-engage And in todayrsquos world this
presents real problems or healthcare organizations aced with short-ages in many proessions Tere is a huge risk o alienating and poten-
tially losing needed staff or in causing long delays We can do better
Not so long ago it wasnrsquot conventional wisdom that clinical application
rollouts are not I projects More frequently than not these were consid-
ered technical projects in which the point of celebration was when con-nection from workstation to central processor was reliable and wireless
access actually worked Te classic I People-Process-echnology trian-
gle never got much past echnology to the real hard work on the People-
Process axis Tat has all changed in the 21st century system implemen-
tations that are both successful and valuable have had people and process
on the front burner
When MemorialCare embarked on a 1047297ve-hospital roll-out of an
EMR in 2002 it had several things in its favor
bull Te technology the organization ultimately acquired was robust and
reliable it worked
bull It had 15 yearsrsquo experience with CPOE (computerized providerorder entry) Terefore although unevenly adopted it was not new
territory
bull It had had the experience of a system-wide roll-out and standard-
ization on a general 1047297nance human resources and materials man-
agement system When all was said and done users had not been
suffi ciently involved standardization fell short because involvement
was low business leadership was diffuse and I ownership was too
high It was judged successful overall but the organization continues
to move slowly forward with an underutilized set of applications
With this experience and the insights of others MemorialCare pri-
oritized engagement of physicians nurses pharmacists and other staffWell before 1047297nancial commitment to a new system was obtained Memo-
rialCare hired a ldquoCare Planning Executiverdquo a person whose full-time
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3839
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 19
activities were devoted to the project 1047297rst to help understand the drivers
of a new system scope out the territory to be covered gain the com-mitment of senior leaders as well as governance and outline the case
for change At my insistence the Care Planning Executive a registered
nurse and former hospital chief operating offi cer joined the organization
reporting to the system-wide CEO as a peer and partner of the CIO not
a staff member and a peer to the CEOs of each medical center campus
Tat dedication alone made clear the commitment intentions and over-
all priority of the company
Among several other critical success factorsmdashand the outcome was
a successmdashwas the overall employee engagement program that the Care
Planning Executive established In summary it was an education mar-
keting and training program dedicated to equipping the affected staffwith the knowledge and tools to embrace unavoidable change Staff com-
munication was clear that it wasnrsquot change for changersquos sake but a major
move forward in the paperless way care would be delivered and work-
1047298ows would be streamlined Of course at the time no one could have
foreseen later moves by government to push everyone in this direction
(with the American Recovery and Reconstruction Act of 2009) Because
of our early efforts wersquore now very well positioned
J Scott Joslyn
CIO
MemorialCareLong Beach California
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3939
About the BookDespite the promise of improving care and other benefits EMR implementations are highly disruptive to the
organization This book prepares you to lead or participate successfully in change managementtechnologyadoption efforts so that meaningful use of EMRs can be achieved The authors provide successful strategies
to plan and implement change The content is based on their decades of combined experience designing
and leading technology adoption programs
Sections of the book deal with establishing a foundation for change building commitment and developing
requisite skill in helping users be successful with technology The book includes numerous lessons learned
tips for success best practices and case studies from organizations that have handled change well
About the AuthorsClaire McCarthy MA is a recognized technology adoption strategist and leader
with 25 years of healthcare industry experience supporting people through softwareimplementations and other large-scale change efforts As Director of Organizational
Effectiveness for Kaiser Permanentersquos enterprise-wide EMR deployment Ms McCarthy
led a national community of practice focused on preparing users to assume new
roles and responsibilities in support of organizational objectives Ms McCarthy
speaks internationally on the topic of technology adoption encouraging healthcare
leaders around the globe to set the stage for benefit realization by investing in the
people side of EMR implementation
Douglas Eastman PhD is an organizational development executive with extensive
experience managing large-scale change initiatives With more than 20 years
of consulting experience Dr Eastmanrsquos focus is to help organizations grow and
manage change by unleashing human potential His specialties are organizationaltransformation technology adoption and optimization process redesign strategic
planning and program and tools development As the Executive Director of Technology
Adoption and Organizational Capability within the Kaiser Permanente IT Care
Delivery Business Information Office Dr Eastman has pioneered several of Kaiserrsquos
implementation readiness toolsmethodologies and post-live optimization strategies
programs adding to the organizationrsquos ability to realize the benefit of its technology
About HIMSS The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) is a comprehensive healthcare-
stakeholder membership organization exclusively focused on providing global leadership for the optimal
use of information technology (IT) and management systems for the betterment of healthcare Founded in
1961 with offices in Chicago Washington DC Brussels Singapore and other locations across the United
States HIMSS represents more than 23000 individual members of which 73 work in patient care delivery
settings HIMSS also includes over 380 corporate members and nearly 30 not-for-profit organizations that
share our mission of transforming healthcare through the effective use of information technology and
management systems HIMSS frames and leads healthcare public policy and industry practices through
its educational professional development and advocacy initiatives designed to promote information and
management systemsrsquo contributions to ensuring quality patient care
ISBN 978-0-9821070-6-5
Order Code 564
230 E Ohio St Suite 500
Chicago IL 60611ndash3270
312-915-9295
www himss org
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3339
14 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
Consider this example
In this example what are the key elements o this process that
ensure success
bull Te picture of success the desired outcome is clearmdashit is or the
child to become a unctioning adult in the community
bull How this happens is clearly de1047297ned in behavioral terms Tere is a
process that is known and understood by the entire community
including children
bull Leaders at all levels in the community agree on the desired out-
come support the entire process and actively ful1047297ll their roles to ensure success Leaders include village elders and ormal lead-
ers parents o the children inormal opinion leaders and amily
members
bull Te children who are about to become adults take an active role
in their own transormation taking responsibility or their suc-
cess Tey receive guidance and counsel rom elders Tey know
and understand the transormation process and what they must do
to achieve their new status Goals and steps are clear Tey also
understand the consequences o not successully transitioning to
adulthood
bull I there is more than one child slated to go through transormationto adulthood at the same time they are a peer group and as appro-
priate prepare together and support each other
Key Point
In native cultures there tend to be rites of passage that serve
to transition a person from childhood to adult status in the
community The child may actually leave the village for a day or
two of contemplation following a prescribed process When the
child returns he or she is redefined as an adult and assumes
the consequent privileges and responsibilities The entire
community reinforces the personrsquos new status the new adult is
not allowed to return to being a child whenever itrsquos convenient
but is supported to complete the transformation to adulthood
The change to adulthood does not happen in a vacuum but is
part of a carefully designed process that ensures success
Key Point
In native cultures there tend to be rites of passage that serve
to transition a person from childhood to adult status in the
community The child may actually leave the village for a day or
two of contemplation following a prescribed process When the
child returns he or she is redefined as an adult and assumes
the consequent privileges and responsibilities The entire
community reinforces the personrsquos new status the new adult is
not allowed to return to being a child whenever itrsquos convenient
but is supported to complete the transformation to adulthood
The change to adulthood does not happen in a vacuum but is
part of a carefully designed process that ensures success
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3439
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 15
bull Te entire community works together to bring about the
transormationbull Success results in positive reinforcement
Te environmental context is the trump card in any implementerrsquos
hand It takes a lot o work to create a suitable environment but it is an
essential ingredient in being able to drive and sustain change
Willingness and Ability
Earlier we mentioned willingness and ability as key concepts in tech-
nology adoption Willingness and ability can also be thought o as
hearts and minds or will and skill Te point is the same regardless
o the terms used People need to be supported on both an emotional
level to commit and on an intellectual level to be able Te questionto be answered is ldquoWhat are the conditions under which users will
accept and adopt the EMRrdquo
Letrsquos talk about willingness 1047297rst
Willingness or hearts is the commitment to go orward Tis is
impacted by many things including the ollowing elements
bull Leadership Perceived support or lack o support or the change
rom senior executives in the company the cascade o sponsors
down through the organization and just as importantly rom the
employeersquos direct supervisor
bull Communication Quality and requency o verbal and written
messages that describe the desired uture state tell why the changeneeds to happen and what will happen i change isnrsquot made set
clear expectations explain how the company will prepare and sup-
port people to success and describe local details such as timelines
etc
bull Reinforcement Degree o appropriateness and timeliness o
rewards or demonstrating desired new behaviors and conse-
quences or sticking to the old ways
bull Participation Degree to which users are involved every step o
the way either directly as individuals or indirectly by being effec-
tively represented by trusted local opinion leader peers who serve
as liaisons between users and the project teambull Organizational History with Change Previous organizational
experience with changemdashgood and badmdashwill in1047298uence user per-
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3539
16 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
ceptions and expectations o the EMR implementation Under-
standing the past is important in planning or the utureTis all sounds logical but the reaction to it can be emotional Tis
is where people conront their ear o ailure eeling stupid making
mistakes etc Remember that the change may require people to give
up the very things that they believe made them successul in the past
Tis can be a diffi cult sell
Ability or minds is about the actual capability to successully
meet new job expectations Tis is impacted by many things including
the ollowing elements
bull raining and Support In most cases the new EMR abilities must
be learned An effective training program that is role-based and
intentionally ocused on preparing people to perorm new jobexpectations is key Just discussing desired outcomes is not enough
though we have to clearly tell people what we want them to do
Tis requires an intellectual understanding o what and how a
conceptual understanding is necessary but not suffi cient Most
people need to practice something new to develop competence and
con1047297dence Sae opportunities to practice preerably with immedi-
ate eedback are very important to pro1047297ciency development and
sustainability
Getting people to move in the direction you want is the diffi -
cultymdashsome say the hardest part o the whole project And i you agree
that people are the oundation o successmdashthat bene1047297t realization isdependant not on technology but on people agreeing to go through
personal disruption learn new things change established patterns and
conront their earsmdashthen we must be proactive and courageous in
addressing the human issues
Tis is the people side o the project Tis is the organizational read-
iness unction It involves collaboration coordination and sequencing
o activities inormation and events rom all people-ocused areas Te
idea is to have all the people-ocused unctions working together to
reach clearly de1047297ned shared outcomes Te organizational readiness
plan to create individual and organizational readiness is the umbrella
that connects it allmdashthe glue that holds it together and the grease thatmakes it workmdashor the user We will address the structure and process
or doing this in more detail in subsequent chapters
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3639
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 17
Good News on wo Fronts
1 Tere is a social science Tere is a body o work research andsubsequent publications about the human experience with change
Tere are proven change management strategies tools and tech-
niques Tis isnrsquot olklore hooey or black magic Te transition
process is known and predictable Tere is a change curve that
describes the steps (Chapter 5 Stakeholder Management) And
though there is no silver bullet it isnrsquot rocket science Senior
healthcare executives must take the emerging proession o change
managementtechnology adoption seriously Not understanding it
is no excuse or ignoring it Tat is ar too expensive an option
2 All people go through transition when changemdashgood or badmdash
happens in both their personal and proessional lie You canrsquot
avoid it Te wonderul thing is i you learn about change and
transition at work it will improve your personal lie Tis is one
o the times to ldquotry this at homerdquo Wersquore all humanmdashat work and
at home So treat your people as the humans they are and avoid
some predictable expense and diffi culty Lead your organization
to a successul outcome and speed up the process by treating your
staff as customers 1047297rst
Donrsquot make the mistake o glossing over the critical human aspects
o change Hire experts and 1047297nd the emotionally intelligent people in
your organization who want to participate And remember you can
install technology without your people but you canrsquot ully implement
and achieve return on investment without them Consciously choose
to move fear and resistance to trust and adoption Itrsquos a case o pay
now or pay later I you wait until later it will always cost more ech-
nology Adoption is expensive but not as expensive as trying to gloss
it over and then having to undo the damage When ailure happens it
Quoteldquordquo
ldquoNot everything that can be counted counts and not everything thatcounts can be countedrdquo
- Albert Einstein
Quoteldquordquo
ldquordquo
ldquoNot everything that can be counted counts and not everything thatcounts can be countedrdquo
- Albert Einstein
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3739
18 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
takes a long time or people to re-engage And in todayrsquos world this
presents real problems or healthcare organizations aced with short-ages in many proessions Tere is a huge risk o alienating and poten-
tially losing needed staff or in causing long delays We can do better
Not so long ago it wasnrsquot conventional wisdom that clinical application
rollouts are not I projects More frequently than not these were consid-
ered technical projects in which the point of celebration was when con-nection from workstation to central processor was reliable and wireless
access actually worked Te classic I People-Process-echnology trian-
gle never got much past echnology to the real hard work on the People-
Process axis Tat has all changed in the 21st century system implemen-
tations that are both successful and valuable have had people and process
on the front burner
When MemorialCare embarked on a 1047297ve-hospital roll-out of an
EMR in 2002 it had several things in its favor
bull Te technology the organization ultimately acquired was robust and
reliable it worked
bull It had 15 yearsrsquo experience with CPOE (computerized providerorder entry) Terefore although unevenly adopted it was not new
territory
bull It had had the experience of a system-wide roll-out and standard-
ization on a general 1047297nance human resources and materials man-
agement system When all was said and done users had not been
suffi ciently involved standardization fell short because involvement
was low business leadership was diffuse and I ownership was too
high It was judged successful overall but the organization continues
to move slowly forward with an underutilized set of applications
With this experience and the insights of others MemorialCare pri-
oritized engagement of physicians nurses pharmacists and other staffWell before 1047297nancial commitment to a new system was obtained Memo-
rialCare hired a ldquoCare Planning Executiverdquo a person whose full-time
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3839
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 19
activities were devoted to the project 1047297rst to help understand the drivers
of a new system scope out the territory to be covered gain the com-mitment of senior leaders as well as governance and outline the case
for change At my insistence the Care Planning Executive a registered
nurse and former hospital chief operating offi cer joined the organization
reporting to the system-wide CEO as a peer and partner of the CIO not
a staff member and a peer to the CEOs of each medical center campus
Tat dedication alone made clear the commitment intentions and over-
all priority of the company
Among several other critical success factorsmdashand the outcome was
a successmdashwas the overall employee engagement program that the Care
Planning Executive established In summary it was an education mar-
keting and training program dedicated to equipping the affected staffwith the knowledge and tools to embrace unavoidable change Staff com-
munication was clear that it wasnrsquot change for changersquos sake but a major
move forward in the paperless way care would be delivered and work-
1047298ows would be streamlined Of course at the time no one could have
foreseen later moves by government to push everyone in this direction
(with the American Recovery and Reconstruction Act of 2009) Because
of our early efforts wersquore now very well positioned
J Scott Joslyn
CIO
MemorialCareLong Beach California
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3939
About the BookDespite the promise of improving care and other benefits EMR implementations are highly disruptive to the
organization This book prepares you to lead or participate successfully in change managementtechnologyadoption efforts so that meaningful use of EMRs can be achieved The authors provide successful strategies
to plan and implement change The content is based on their decades of combined experience designing
and leading technology adoption programs
Sections of the book deal with establishing a foundation for change building commitment and developing
requisite skill in helping users be successful with technology The book includes numerous lessons learned
tips for success best practices and case studies from organizations that have handled change well
About the AuthorsClaire McCarthy MA is a recognized technology adoption strategist and leader
with 25 years of healthcare industry experience supporting people through softwareimplementations and other large-scale change efforts As Director of Organizational
Effectiveness for Kaiser Permanentersquos enterprise-wide EMR deployment Ms McCarthy
led a national community of practice focused on preparing users to assume new
roles and responsibilities in support of organizational objectives Ms McCarthy
speaks internationally on the topic of technology adoption encouraging healthcare
leaders around the globe to set the stage for benefit realization by investing in the
people side of EMR implementation
Douglas Eastman PhD is an organizational development executive with extensive
experience managing large-scale change initiatives With more than 20 years
of consulting experience Dr Eastmanrsquos focus is to help organizations grow and
manage change by unleashing human potential His specialties are organizationaltransformation technology adoption and optimization process redesign strategic
planning and program and tools development As the Executive Director of Technology
Adoption and Organizational Capability within the Kaiser Permanente IT Care
Delivery Business Information Office Dr Eastman has pioneered several of Kaiserrsquos
implementation readiness toolsmethodologies and post-live optimization strategies
programs adding to the organizationrsquos ability to realize the benefit of its technology
About HIMSS The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) is a comprehensive healthcare-
stakeholder membership organization exclusively focused on providing global leadership for the optimal
use of information technology (IT) and management systems for the betterment of healthcare Founded in
1961 with offices in Chicago Washington DC Brussels Singapore and other locations across the United
States HIMSS represents more than 23000 individual members of which 73 work in patient care delivery
settings HIMSS also includes over 380 corporate members and nearly 30 not-for-profit organizations that
share our mission of transforming healthcare through the effective use of information technology and
management systems HIMSS frames and leads healthcare public policy and industry practices through
its educational professional development and advocacy initiatives designed to promote information and
management systemsrsquo contributions to ensuring quality patient care
ISBN 978-0-9821070-6-5
Order Code 564
230 E Ohio St Suite 500
Chicago IL 60611ndash3270
312-915-9295
www himss org
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3439
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 15
bull Te entire community works together to bring about the
transormationbull Success results in positive reinforcement
Te environmental context is the trump card in any implementerrsquos
hand It takes a lot o work to create a suitable environment but it is an
essential ingredient in being able to drive and sustain change
Willingness and Ability
Earlier we mentioned willingness and ability as key concepts in tech-
nology adoption Willingness and ability can also be thought o as
hearts and minds or will and skill Te point is the same regardless
o the terms used People need to be supported on both an emotional
level to commit and on an intellectual level to be able Te questionto be answered is ldquoWhat are the conditions under which users will
accept and adopt the EMRrdquo
Letrsquos talk about willingness 1047297rst
Willingness or hearts is the commitment to go orward Tis is
impacted by many things including the ollowing elements
bull Leadership Perceived support or lack o support or the change
rom senior executives in the company the cascade o sponsors
down through the organization and just as importantly rom the
employeersquos direct supervisor
bull Communication Quality and requency o verbal and written
messages that describe the desired uture state tell why the changeneeds to happen and what will happen i change isnrsquot made set
clear expectations explain how the company will prepare and sup-
port people to success and describe local details such as timelines
etc
bull Reinforcement Degree o appropriateness and timeliness o
rewards or demonstrating desired new behaviors and conse-
quences or sticking to the old ways
bull Participation Degree to which users are involved every step o
the way either directly as individuals or indirectly by being effec-
tively represented by trusted local opinion leader peers who serve
as liaisons between users and the project teambull Organizational History with Change Previous organizational
experience with changemdashgood and badmdashwill in1047298uence user per-
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3539
16 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
ceptions and expectations o the EMR implementation Under-
standing the past is important in planning or the utureTis all sounds logical but the reaction to it can be emotional Tis
is where people conront their ear o ailure eeling stupid making
mistakes etc Remember that the change may require people to give
up the very things that they believe made them successul in the past
Tis can be a diffi cult sell
Ability or minds is about the actual capability to successully
meet new job expectations Tis is impacted by many things including
the ollowing elements
bull raining and Support In most cases the new EMR abilities must
be learned An effective training program that is role-based and
intentionally ocused on preparing people to perorm new jobexpectations is key Just discussing desired outcomes is not enough
though we have to clearly tell people what we want them to do
Tis requires an intellectual understanding o what and how a
conceptual understanding is necessary but not suffi cient Most
people need to practice something new to develop competence and
con1047297dence Sae opportunities to practice preerably with immedi-
ate eedback are very important to pro1047297ciency development and
sustainability
Getting people to move in the direction you want is the diffi -
cultymdashsome say the hardest part o the whole project And i you agree
that people are the oundation o successmdashthat bene1047297t realization isdependant not on technology but on people agreeing to go through
personal disruption learn new things change established patterns and
conront their earsmdashthen we must be proactive and courageous in
addressing the human issues
Tis is the people side o the project Tis is the organizational read-
iness unction It involves collaboration coordination and sequencing
o activities inormation and events rom all people-ocused areas Te
idea is to have all the people-ocused unctions working together to
reach clearly de1047297ned shared outcomes Te organizational readiness
plan to create individual and organizational readiness is the umbrella
that connects it allmdashthe glue that holds it together and the grease thatmakes it workmdashor the user We will address the structure and process
or doing this in more detail in subsequent chapters
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3639
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 17
Good News on wo Fronts
1 Tere is a social science Tere is a body o work research andsubsequent publications about the human experience with change
Tere are proven change management strategies tools and tech-
niques Tis isnrsquot olklore hooey or black magic Te transition
process is known and predictable Tere is a change curve that
describes the steps (Chapter 5 Stakeholder Management) And
though there is no silver bullet it isnrsquot rocket science Senior
healthcare executives must take the emerging proession o change
managementtechnology adoption seriously Not understanding it
is no excuse or ignoring it Tat is ar too expensive an option
2 All people go through transition when changemdashgood or badmdash
happens in both their personal and proessional lie You canrsquot
avoid it Te wonderul thing is i you learn about change and
transition at work it will improve your personal lie Tis is one
o the times to ldquotry this at homerdquo Wersquore all humanmdashat work and
at home So treat your people as the humans they are and avoid
some predictable expense and diffi culty Lead your organization
to a successul outcome and speed up the process by treating your
staff as customers 1047297rst
Donrsquot make the mistake o glossing over the critical human aspects
o change Hire experts and 1047297nd the emotionally intelligent people in
your organization who want to participate And remember you can
install technology without your people but you canrsquot ully implement
and achieve return on investment without them Consciously choose
to move fear and resistance to trust and adoption Itrsquos a case o pay
now or pay later I you wait until later it will always cost more ech-
nology Adoption is expensive but not as expensive as trying to gloss
it over and then having to undo the damage When ailure happens it
Quoteldquordquo
ldquoNot everything that can be counted counts and not everything thatcounts can be countedrdquo
- Albert Einstein
Quoteldquordquo
ldquordquo
ldquoNot everything that can be counted counts and not everything thatcounts can be countedrdquo
- Albert Einstein
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3739
18 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
takes a long time or people to re-engage And in todayrsquos world this
presents real problems or healthcare organizations aced with short-ages in many proessions Tere is a huge risk o alienating and poten-
tially losing needed staff or in causing long delays We can do better
Not so long ago it wasnrsquot conventional wisdom that clinical application
rollouts are not I projects More frequently than not these were consid-
ered technical projects in which the point of celebration was when con-nection from workstation to central processor was reliable and wireless
access actually worked Te classic I People-Process-echnology trian-
gle never got much past echnology to the real hard work on the People-
Process axis Tat has all changed in the 21st century system implemen-
tations that are both successful and valuable have had people and process
on the front burner
When MemorialCare embarked on a 1047297ve-hospital roll-out of an
EMR in 2002 it had several things in its favor
bull Te technology the organization ultimately acquired was robust and
reliable it worked
bull It had 15 yearsrsquo experience with CPOE (computerized providerorder entry) Terefore although unevenly adopted it was not new
territory
bull It had had the experience of a system-wide roll-out and standard-
ization on a general 1047297nance human resources and materials man-
agement system When all was said and done users had not been
suffi ciently involved standardization fell short because involvement
was low business leadership was diffuse and I ownership was too
high It was judged successful overall but the organization continues
to move slowly forward with an underutilized set of applications
With this experience and the insights of others MemorialCare pri-
oritized engagement of physicians nurses pharmacists and other staffWell before 1047297nancial commitment to a new system was obtained Memo-
rialCare hired a ldquoCare Planning Executiverdquo a person whose full-time
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3839
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 19
activities were devoted to the project 1047297rst to help understand the drivers
of a new system scope out the territory to be covered gain the com-mitment of senior leaders as well as governance and outline the case
for change At my insistence the Care Planning Executive a registered
nurse and former hospital chief operating offi cer joined the organization
reporting to the system-wide CEO as a peer and partner of the CIO not
a staff member and a peer to the CEOs of each medical center campus
Tat dedication alone made clear the commitment intentions and over-
all priority of the company
Among several other critical success factorsmdashand the outcome was
a successmdashwas the overall employee engagement program that the Care
Planning Executive established In summary it was an education mar-
keting and training program dedicated to equipping the affected staffwith the knowledge and tools to embrace unavoidable change Staff com-
munication was clear that it wasnrsquot change for changersquos sake but a major
move forward in the paperless way care would be delivered and work-
1047298ows would be streamlined Of course at the time no one could have
foreseen later moves by government to push everyone in this direction
(with the American Recovery and Reconstruction Act of 2009) Because
of our early efforts wersquore now very well positioned
J Scott Joslyn
CIO
MemorialCareLong Beach California
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3939
About the BookDespite the promise of improving care and other benefits EMR implementations are highly disruptive to the
organization This book prepares you to lead or participate successfully in change managementtechnologyadoption efforts so that meaningful use of EMRs can be achieved The authors provide successful strategies
to plan and implement change The content is based on their decades of combined experience designing
and leading technology adoption programs
Sections of the book deal with establishing a foundation for change building commitment and developing
requisite skill in helping users be successful with technology The book includes numerous lessons learned
tips for success best practices and case studies from organizations that have handled change well
About the AuthorsClaire McCarthy MA is a recognized technology adoption strategist and leader
with 25 years of healthcare industry experience supporting people through softwareimplementations and other large-scale change efforts As Director of Organizational
Effectiveness for Kaiser Permanentersquos enterprise-wide EMR deployment Ms McCarthy
led a national community of practice focused on preparing users to assume new
roles and responsibilities in support of organizational objectives Ms McCarthy
speaks internationally on the topic of technology adoption encouraging healthcare
leaders around the globe to set the stage for benefit realization by investing in the
people side of EMR implementation
Douglas Eastman PhD is an organizational development executive with extensive
experience managing large-scale change initiatives With more than 20 years
of consulting experience Dr Eastmanrsquos focus is to help organizations grow and
manage change by unleashing human potential His specialties are organizationaltransformation technology adoption and optimization process redesign strategic
planning and program and tools development As the Executive Director of Technology
Adoption and Organizational Capability within the Kaiser Permanente IT Care
Delivery Business Information Office Dr Eastman has pioneered several of Kaiserrsquos
implementation readiness toolsmethodologies and post-live optimization strategies
programs adding to the organizationrsquos ability to realize the benefit of its technology
About HIMSS The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) is a comprehensive healthcare-
stakeholder membership organization exclusively focused on providing global leadership for the optimal
use of information technology (IT) and management systems for the betterment of healthcare Founded in
1961 with offices in Chicago Washington DC Brussels Singapore and other locations across the United
States HIMSS represents more than 23000 individual members of which 73 work in patient care delivery
settings HIMSS also includes over 380 corporate members and nearly 30 not-for-profit organizations that
share our mission of transforming healthcare through the effective use of information technology and
management systems HIMSS frames and leads healthcare public policy and industry practices through
its educational professional development and advocacy initiatives designed to promote information and
management systemsrsquo contributions to ensuring quality patient care
ISBN 978-0-9821070-6-5
Order Code 564
230 E Ohio St Suite 500
Chicago IL 60611ndash3270
312-915-9295
www himss org
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3539
16 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
ceptions and expectations o the EMR implementation Under-
standing the past is important in planning or the utureTis all sounds logical but the reaction to it can be emotional Tis
is where people conront their ear o ailure eeling stupid making
mistakes etc Remember that the change may require people to give
up the very things that they believe made them successul in the past
Tis can be a diffi cult sell
Ability or minds is about the actual capability to successully
meet new job expectations Tis is impacted by many things including
the ollowing elements
bull raining and Support In most cases the new EMR abilities must
be learned An effective training program that is role-based and
intentionally ocused on preparing people to perorm new jobexpectations is key Just discussing desired outcomes is not enough
though we have to clearly tell people what we want them to do
Tis requires an intellectual understanding o what and how a
conceptual understanding is necessary but not suffi cient Most
people need to practice something new to develop competence and
con1047297dence Sae opportunities to practice preerably with immedi-
ate eedback are very important to pro1047297ciency development and
sustainability
Getting people to move in the direction you want is the diffi -
cultymdashsome say the hardest part o the whole project And i you agree
that people are the oundation o successmdashthat bene1047297t realization isdependant not on technology but on people agreeing to go through
personal disruption learn new things change established patterns and
conront their earsmdashthen we must be proactive and courageous in
addressing the human issues
Tis is the people side o the project Tis is the organizational read-
iness unction It involves collaboration coordination and sequencing
o activities inormation and events rom all people-ocused areas Te
idea is to have all the people-ocused unctions working together to
reach clearly de1047297ned shared outcomes Te organizational readiness
plan to create individual and organizational readiness is the umbrella
that connects it allmdashthe glue that holds it together and the grease thatmakes it workmdashor the user We will address the structure and process
or doing this in more detail in subsequent chapters
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3639
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 17
Good News on wo Fronts
1 Tere is a social science Tere is a body o work research andsubsequent publications about the human experience with change
Tere are proven change management strategies tools and tech-
niques Tis isnrsquot olklore hooey or black magic Te transition
process is known and predictable Tere is a change curve that
describes the steps (Chapter 5 Stakeholder Management) And
though there is no silver bullet it isnrsquot rocket science Senior
healthcare executives must take the emerging proession o change
managementtechnology adoption seriously Not understanding it
is no excuse or ignoring it Tat is ar too expensive an option
2 All people go through transition when changemdashgood or badmdash
happens in both their personal and proessional lie You canrsquot
avoid it Te wonderul thing is i you learn about change and
transition at work it will improve your personal lie Tis is one
o the times to ldquotry this at homerdquo Wersquore all humanmdashat work and
at home So treat your people as the humans they are and avoid
some predictable expense and diffi culty Lead your organization
to a successul outcome and speed up the process by treating your
staff as customers 1047297rst
Donrsquot make the mistake o glossing over the critical human aspects
o change Hire experts and 1047297nd the emotionally intelligent people in
your organization who want to participate And remember you can
install technology without your people but you canrsquot ully implement
and achieve return on investment without them Consciously choose
to move fear and resistance to trust and adoption Itrsquos a case o pay
now or pay later I you wait until later it will always cost more ech-
nology Adoption is expensive but not as expensive as trying to gloss
it over and then having to undo the damage When ailure happens it
Quoteldquordquo
ldquoNot everything that can be counted counts and not everything thatcounts can be countedrdquo
- Albert Einstein
Quoteldquordquo
ldquordquo
ldquoNot everything that can be counted counts and not everything thatcounts can be countedrdquo
- Albert Einstein
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3739
18 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
takes a long time or people to re-engage And in todayrsquos world this
presents real problems or healthcare organizations aced with short-ages in many proessions Tere is a huge risk o alienating and poten-
tially losing needed staff or in causing long delays We can do better
Not so long ago it wasnrsquot conventional wisdom that clinical application
rollouts are not I projects More frequently than not these were consid-
ered technical projects in which the point of celebration was when con-nection from workstation to central processor was reliable and wireless
access actually worked Te classic I People-Process-echnology trian-
gle never got much past echnology to the real hard work on the People-
Process axis Tat has all changed in the 21st century system implemen-
tations that are both successful and valuable have had people and process
on the front burner
When MemorialCare embarked on a 1047297ve-hospital roll-out of an
EMR in 2002 it had several things in its favor
bull Te technology the organization ultimately acquired was robust and
reliable it worked
bull It had 15 yearsrsquo experience with CPOE (computerized providerorder entry) Terefore although unevenly adopted it was not new
territory
bull It had had the experience of a system-wide roll-out and standard-
ization on a general 1047297nance human resources and materials man-
agement system When all was said and done users had not been
suffi ciently involved standardization fell short because involvement
was low business leadership was diffuse and I ownership was too
high It was judged successful overall but the organization continues
to move slowly forward with an underutilized set of applications
With this experience and the insights of others MemorialCare pri-
oritized engagement of physicians nurses pharmacists and other staffWell before 1047297nancial commitment to a new system was obtained Memo-
rialCare hired a ldquoCare Planning Executiverdquo a person whose full-time
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3839
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 19
activities were devoted to the project 1047297rst to help understand the drivers
of a new system scope out the territory to be covered gain the com-mitment of senior leaders as well as governance and outline the case
for change At my insistence the Care Planning Executive a registered
nurse and former hospital chief operating offi cer joined the organization
reporting to the system-wide CEO as a peer and partner of the CIO not
a staff member and a peer to the CEOs of each medical center campus
Tat dedication alone made clear the commitment intentions and over-
all priority of the company
Among several other critical success factorsmdashand the outcome was
a successmdashwas the overall employee engagement program that the Care
Planning Executive established In summary it was an education mar-
keting and training program dedicated to equipping the affected staffwith the knowledge and tools to embrace unavoidable change Staff com-
munication was clear that it wasnrsquot change for changersquos sake but a major
move forward in the paperless way care would be delivered and work-
1047298ows would be streamlined Of course at the time no one could have
foreseen later moves by government to push everyone in this direction
(with the American Recovery and Reconstruction Act of 2009) Because
of our early efforts wersquore now very well positioned
J Scott Joslyn
CIO
MemorialCareLong Beach California
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3939
About the BookDespite the promise of improving care and other benefits EMR implementations are highly disruptive to the
organization This book prepares you to lead or participate successfully in change managementtechnologyadoption efforts so that meaningful use of EMRs can be achieved The authors provide successful strategies
to plan and implement change The content is based on their decades of combined experience designing
and leading technology adoption programs
Sections of the book deal with establishing a foundation for change building commitment and developing
requisite skill in helping users be successful with technology The book includes numerous lessons learned
tips for success best practices and case studies from organizations that have handled change well
About the AuthorsClaire McCarthy MA is a recognized technology adoption strategist and leader
with 25 years of healthcare industry experience supporting people through softwareimplementations and other large-scale change efforts As Director of Organizational
Effectiveness for Kaiser Permanentersquos enterprise-wide EMR deployment Ms McCarthy
led a national community of practice focused on preparing users to assume new
roles and responsibilities in support of organizational objectives Ms McCarthy
speaks internationally on the topic of technology adoption encouraging healthcare
leaders around the globe to set the stage for benefit realization by investing in the
people side of EMR implementation
Douglas Eastman PhD is an organizational development executive with extensive
experience managing large-scale change initiatives With more than 20 years
of consulting experience Dr Eastmanrsquos focus is to help organizations grow and
manage change by unleashing human potential His specialties are organizationaltransformation technology adoption and optimization process redesign strategic
planning and program and tools development As the Executive Director of Technology
Adoption and Organizational Capability within the Kaiser Permanente IT Care
Delivery Business Information Office Dr Eastman has pioneered several of Kaiserrsquos
implementation readiness toolsmethodologies and post-live optimization strategies
programs adding to the organizationrsquos ability to realize the benefit of its technology
About HIMSS The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) is a comprehensive healthcare-
stakeholder membership organization exclusively focused on providing global leadership for the optimal
use of information technology (IT) and management systems for the betterment of healthcare Founded in
1961 with offices in Chicago Washington DC Brussels Singapore and other locations across the United
States HIMSS represents more than 23000 individual members of which 73 work in patient care delivery
settings HIMSS also includes over 380 corporate members and nearly 30 not-for-profit organizations that
share our mission of transforming healthcare through the effective use of information technology and
management systems HIMSS frames and leads healthcare public policy and industry practices through
its educational professional development and advocacy initiatives designed to promote information and
management systemsrsquo contributions to ensuring quality patient care
ISBN 978-0-9821070-6-5
Order Code 564
230 E Ohio St Suite 500
Chicago IL 60611ndash3270
312-915-9295
www himss org
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3639
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 17
Good News on wo Fronts
1 Tere is a social science Tere is a body o work research andsubsequent publications about the human experience with change
Tere are proven change management strategies tools and tech-
niques Tis isnrsquot olklore hooey or black magic Te transition
process is known and predictable Tere is a change curve that
describes the steps (Chapter 5 Stakeholder Management) And
though there is no silver bullet it isnrsquot rocket science Senior
healthcare executives must take the emerging proession o change
managementtechnology adoption seriously Not understanding it
is no excuse or ignoring it Tat is ar too expensive an option
2 All people go through transition when changemdashgood or badmdash
happens in both their personal and proessional lie You canrsquot
avoid it Te wonderul thing is i you learn about change and
transition at work it will improve your personal lie Tis is one
o the times to ldquotry this at homerdquo Wersquore all humanmdashat work and
at home So treat your people as the humans they are and avoid
some predictable expense and diffi culty Lead your organization
to a successul outcome and speed up the process by treating your
staff as customers 1047297rst
Donrsquot make the mistake o glossing over the critical human aspects
o change Hire experts and 1047297nd the emotionally intelligent people in
your organization who want to participate And remember you can
install technology without your people but you canrsquot ully implement
and achieve return on investment without them Consciously choose
to move fear and resistance to trust and adoption Itrsquos a case o pay
now or pay later I you wait until later it will always cost more ech-
nology Adoption is expensive but not as expensive as trying to gloss
it over and then having to undo the damage When ailure happens it
Quoteldquordquo
ldquoNot everything that can be counted counts and not everything thatcounts can be countedrdquo
- Albert Einstein
Quoteldquordquo
ldquordquo
ldquoNot everything that can be counted counts and not everything thatcounts can be countedrdquo
- Albert Einstein
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3739
18 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
takes a long time or people to re-engage And in todayrsquos world this
presents real problems or healthcare organizations aced with short-ages in many proessions Tere is a huge risk o alienating and poten-
tially losing needed staff or in causing long delays We can do better
Not so long ago it wasnrsquot conventional wisdom that clinical application
rollouts are not I projects More frequently than not these were consid-
ered technical projects in which the point of celebration was when con-nection from workstation to central processor was reliable and wireless
access actually worked Te classic I People-Process-echnology trian-
gle never got much past echnology to the real hard work on the People-
Process axis Tat has all changed in the 21st century system implemen-
tations that are both successful and valuable have had people and process
on the front burner
When MemorialCare embarked on a 1047297ve-hospital roll-out of an
EMR in 2002 it had several things in its favor
bull Te technology the organization ultimately acquired was robust and
reliable it worked
bull It had 15 yearsrsquo experience with CPOE (computerized providerorder entry) Terefore although unevenly adopted it was not new
territory
bull It had had the experience of a system-wide roll-out and standard-
ization on a general 1047297nance human resources and materials man-
agement system When all was said and done users had not been
suffi ciently involved standardization fell short because involvement
was low business leadership was diffuse and I ownership was too
high It was judged successful overall but the organization continues
to move slowly forward with an underutilized set of applications
With this experience and the insights of others MemorialCare pri-
oritized engagement of physicians nurses pharmacists and other staffWell before 1047297nancial commitment to a new system was obtained Memo-
rialCare hired a ldquoCare Planning Executiverdquo a person whose full-time
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3839
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 19
activities were devoted to the project 1047297rst to help understand the drivers
of a new system scope out the territory to be covered gain the com-mitment of senior leaders as well as governance and outline the case
for change At my insistence the Care Planning Executive a registered
nurse and former hospital chief operating offi cer joined the organization
reporting to the system-wide CEO as a peer and partner of the CIO not
a staff member and a peer to the CEOs of each medical center campus
Tat dedication alone made clear the commitment intentions and over-
all priority of the company
Among several other critical success factorsmdashand the outcome was
a successmdashwas the overall employee engagement program that the Care
Planning Executive established In summary it was an education mar-
keting and training program dedicated to equipping the affected staffwith the knowledge and tools to embrace unavoidable change Staff com-
munication was clear that it wasnrsquot change for changersquos sake but a major
move forward in the paperless way care would be delivered and work-
1047298ows would be streamlined Of course at the time no one could have
foreseen later moves by government to push everyone in this direction
(with the American Recovery and Reconstruction Act of 2009) Because
of our early efforts wersquore now very well positioned
J Scott Joslyn
CIO
MemorialCareLong Beach California
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3939
About the BookDespite the promise of improving care and other benefits EMR implementations are highly disruptive to the
organization This book prepares you to lead or participate successfully in change managementtechnologyadoption efforts so that meaningful use of EMRs can be achieved The authors provide successful strategies
to plan and implement change The content is based on their decades of combined experience designing
and leading technology adoption programs
Sections of the book deal with establishing a foundation for change building commitment and developing
requisite skill in helping users be successful with technology The book includes numerous lessons learned
tips for success best practices and case studies from organizations that have handled change well
About the AuthorsClaire McCarthy MA is a recognized technology adoption strategist and leader
with 25 years of healthcare industry experience supporting people through softwareimplementations and other large-scale change efforts As Director of Organizational
Effectiveness for Kaiser Permanentersquos enterprise-wide EMR deployment Ms McCarthy
led a national community of practice focused on preparing users to assume new
roles and responsibilities in support of organizational objectives Ms McCarthy
speaks internationally on the topic of technology adoption encouraging healthcare
leaders around the globe to set the stage for benefit realization by investing in the
people side of EMR implementation
Douglas Eastman PhD is an organizational development executive with extensive
experience managing large-scale change initiatives With more than 20 years
of consulting experience Dr Eastmanrsquos focus is to help organizations grow and
manage change by unleashing human potential His specialties are organizationaltransformation technology adoption and optimization process redesign strategic
planning and program and tools development As the Executive Director of Technology
Adoption and Organizational Capability within the Kaiser Permanente IT Care
Delivery Business Information Office Dr Eastman has pioneered several of Kaiserrsquos
implementation readiness toolsmethodologies and post-live optimization strategies
programs adding to the organizationrsquos ability to realize the benefit of its technology
About HIMSS The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) is a comprehensive healthcare-
stakeholder membership organization exclusively focused on providing global leadership for the optimal
use of information technology (IT) and management systems for the betterment of healthcare Founded in
1961 with offices in Chicago Washington DC Brussels Singapore and other locations across the United
States HIMSS represents more than 23000 individual members of which 73 work in patient care delivery
settings HIMSS also includes over 380 corporate members and nearly 30 not-for-profit organizations that
share our mission of transforming healthcare through the effective use of information technology and
management systems HIMSS frames and leads healthcare public policy and industry practices through
its educational professional development and advocacy initiatives designed to promote information and
management systemsrsquo contributions to ensuring quality patient care
ISBN 978-0-9821070-6-5
Order Code 564
230 E Ohio St Suite 500
Chicago IL 60611ndash3270
312-915-9295
www himss org
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3739
18 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation
takes a long time or people to re-engage And in todayrsquos world this
presents real problems or healthcare organizations aced with short-ages in many proessions Tere is a huge risk o alienating and poten-
tially losing needed staff or in causing long delays We can do better
Not so long ago it wasnrsquot conventional wisdom that clinical application
rollouts are not I projects More frequently than not these were consid-
ered technical projects in which the point of celebration was when con-nection from workstation to central processor was reliable and wireless
access actually worked Te classic I People-Process-echnology trian-
gle never got much past echnology to the real hard work on the People-
Process axis Tat has all changed in the 21st century system implemen-
tations that are both successful and valuable have had people and process
on the front burner
When MemorialCare embarked on a 1047297ve-hospital roll-out of an
EMR in 2002 it had several things in its favor
bull Te technology the organization ultimately acquired was robust and
reliable it worked
bull It had 15 yearsrsquo experience with CPOE (computerized providerorder entry) Terefore although unevenly adopted it was not new
territory
bull It had had the experience of a system-wide roll-out and standard-
ization on a general 1047297nance human resources and materials man-
agement system When all was said and done users had not been
suffi ciently involved standardization fell short because involvement
was low business leadership was diffuse and I ownership was too
high It was judged successful overall but the organization continues
to move slowly forward with an underutilized set of applications
With this experience and the insights of others MemorialCare pri-
oritized engagement of physicians nurses pharmacists and other staffWell before 1047297nancial commitment to a new system was obtained Memo-
rialCare hired a ldquoCare Planning Executiverdquo a person whose full-time
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3839
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 19
activities were devoted to the project 1047297rst to help understand the drivers
of a new system scope out the territory to be covered gain the com-mitment of senior leaders as well as governance and outline the case
for change At my insistence the Care Planning Executive a registered
nurse and former hospital chief operating offi cer joined the organization
reporting to the system-wide CEO as a peer and partner of the CIO not
a staff member and a peer to the CEOs of each medical center campus
Tat dedication alone made clear the commitment intentions and over-
all priority of the company
Among several other critical success factorsmdashand the outcome was
a successmdashwas the overall employee engagement program that the Care
Planning Executive established In summary it was an education mar-
keting and training program dedicated to equipping the affected staffwith the knowledge and tools to embrace unavoidable change Staff com-
munication was clear that it wasnrsquot change for changersquos sake but a major
move forward in the paperless way care would be delivered and work-
1047298ows would be streamlined Of course at the time no one could have
foreseen later moves by government to push everyone in this direction
(with the American Recovery and Reconstruction Act of 2009) Because
of our early efforts wersquore now very well positioned
J Scott Joslyn
CIO
MemorialCareLong Beach California
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3939
About the BookDespite the promise of improving care and other benefits EMR implementations are highly disruptive to the
organization This book prepares you to lead or participate successfully in change managementtechnologyadoption efforts so that meaningful use of EMRs can be achieved The authors provide successful strategies
to plan and implement change The content is based on their decades of combined experience designing
and leading technology adoption programs
Sections of the book deal with establishing a foundation for change building commitment and developing
requisite skill in helping users be successful with technology The book includes numerous lessons learned
tips for success best practices and case studies from organizations that have handled change well
About the AuthorsClaire McCarthy MA is a recognized technology adoption strategist and leader
with 25 years of healthcare industry experience supporting people through softwareimplementations and other large-scale change efforts As Director of Organizational
Effectiveness for Kaiser Permanentersquos enterprise-wide EMR deployment Ms McCarthy
led a national community of practice focused on preparing users to assume new
roles and responsibilities in support of organizational objectives Ms McCarthy
speaks internationally on the topic of technology adoption encouraging healthcare
leaders around the globe to set the stage for benefit realization by investing in the
people side of EMR implementation
Douglas Eastman PhD is an organizational development executive with extensive
experience managing large-scale change initiatives With more than 20 years
of consulting experience Dr Eastmanrsquos focus is to help organizations grow and
manage change by unleashing human potential His specialties are organizationaltransformation technology adoption and optimization process redesign strategic
planning and program and tools development As the Executive Director of Technology
Adoption and Organizational Capability within the Kaiser Permanente IT Care
Delivery Business Information Office Dr Eastman has pioneered several of Kaiserrsquos
implementation readiness toolsmethodologies and post-live optimization strategies
programs adding to the organizationrsquos ability to realize the benefit of its technology
About HIMSS The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) is a comprehensive healthcare-
stakeholder membership organization exclusively focused on providing global leadership for the optimal
use of information technology (IT) and management systems for the betterment of healthcare Founded in
1961 with offices in Chicago Washington DC Brussels Singapore and other locations across the United
States HIMSS represents more than 23000 individual members of which 73 work in patient care delivery
settings HIMSS also includes over 380 corporate members and nearly 30 not-for-profit organizations that
share our mission of transforming healthcare through the effective use of information technology and
management systems HIMSS frames and leads healthcare public policy and industry practices through
its educational professional development and advocacy initiatives designed to promote information and
management systemsrsquo contributions to ensuring quality patient care
ISBN 978-0-9821070-6-5
Order Code 564
230 E Ohio St Suite 500
Chicago IL 60611ndash3270
312-915-9295
www himss org
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3839
C983144983137983152983156983141983154 1 Te Business Case or Change Management 19
activities were devoted to the project 1047297rst to help understand the drivers
of a new system scope out the territory to be covered gain the com-mitment of senior leaders as well as governance and outline the case
for change At my insistence the Care Planning Executive a registered
nurse and former hospital chief operating offi cer joined the organization
reporting to the system-wide CEO as a peer and partner of the CIO not
a staff member and a peer to the CEOs of each medical center campus
Tat dedication alone made clear the commitment intentions and over-
all priority of the company
Among several other critical success factorsmdashand the outcome was
a successmdashwas the overall employee engagement program that the Care
Planning Executive established In summary it was an education mar-
keting and training program dedicated to equipping the affected staffwith the knowledge and tools to embrace unavoidable change Staff com-
munication was clear that it wasnrsquot change for changersquos sake but a major
move forward in the paperless way care would be delivered and work-
1047298ows would be streamlined Of course at the time no one could have
foreseen later moves by government to push everyone in this direction
(with the American Recovery and Reconstruction Act of 2009) Because
of our early efforts wersquore now very well positioned
J Scott Joslyn
CIO
MemorialCareLong Beach California
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3939
About the BookDespite the promise of improving care and other benefits EMR implementations are highly disruptive to the
organization This book prepares you to lead or participate successfully in change managementtechnologyadoption efforts so that meaningful use of EMRs can be achieved The authors provide successful strategies
to plan and implement change The content is based on their decades of combined experience designing
and leading technology adoption programs
Sections of the book deal with establishing a foundation for change building commitment and developing
requisite skill in helping users be successful with technology The book includes numerous lessons learned
tips for success best practices and case studies from organizations that have handled change well
About the AuthorsClaire McCarthy MA is a recognized technology adoption strategist and leader
with 25 years of healthcare industry experience supporting people through softwareimplementations and other large-scale change efforts As Director of Organizational
Effectiveness for Kaiser Permanentersquos enterprise-wide EMR deployment Ms McCarthy
led a national community of practice focused on preparing users to assume new
roles and responsibilities in support of organizational objectives Ms McCarthy
speaks internationally on the topic of technology adoption encouraging healthcare
leaders around the globe to set the stage for benefit realization by investing in the
people side of EMR implementation
Douglas Eastman PhD is an organizational development executive with extensive
experience managing large-scale change initiatives With more than 20 years
of consulting experience Dr Eastmanrsquos focus is to help organizations grow and
manage change by unleashing human potential His specialties are organizationaltransformation technology adoption and optimization process redesign strategic
planning and program and tools development As the Executive Director of Technology
Adoption and Organizational Capability within the Kaiser Permanente IT Care
Delivery Business Information Office Dr Eastman has pioneered several of Kaiserrsquos
implementation readiness toolsmethodologies and post-live optimization strategies
programs adding to the organizationrsquos ability to realize the benefit of its technology
About HIMSS The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) is a comprehensive healthcare-
stakeholder membership organization exclusively focused on providing global leadership for the optimal
use of information technology (IT) and management systems for the betterment of healthcare Founded in
1961 with offices in Chicago Washington DC Brussels Singapore and other locations across the United
States HIMSS represents more than 23000 individual members of which 73 work in patient care delivery
settings HIMSS also includes over 380 corporate members and nearly 30 not-for-profit organizations that
share our mission of transforming healthcare through the effective use of information technology and
management systems HIMSS frames and leads healthcare public policy and industry practices through
its educational professional development and advocacy initiatives designed to promote information and
management systemsrsquo contributions to ensuring quality patient care
ISBN 978-0-9821070-6-5
Order Code 564
230 E Ohio St Suite 500
Chicago IL 60611ndash3270
312-915-9295
www himss org
7252019 Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementationpdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchange-management-strategies-for-an-effective-emr-implementationpdf 3939
About the BookDespite the promise of improving care and other benefits EMR implementations are highly disruptive to the
organization This book prepares you to lead or participate successfully in change managementtechnologyadoption efforts so that meaningful use of EMRs can be achieved The authors provide successful strategies
to plan and implement change The content is based on their decades of combined experience designing
and leading technology adoption programs
Sections of the book deal with establishing a foundation for change building commitment and developing
requisite skill in helping users be successful with technology The book includes numerous lessons learned
tips for success best practices and case studies from organizations that have handled change well
About the AuthorsClaire McCarthy MA is a recognized technology adoption strategist and leader
with 25 years of healthcare industry experience supporting people through softwareimplementations and other large-scale change efforts As Director of Organizational
Effectiveness for Kaiser Permanentersquos enterprise-wide EMR deployment Ms McCarthy
led a national community of practice focused on preparing users to assume new
roles and responsibilities in support of organizational objectives Ms McCarthy
speaks internationally on the topic of technology adoption encouraging healthcare
leaders around the globe to set the stage for benefit realization by investing in the
people side of EMR implementation
Douglas Eastman PhD is an organizational development executive with extensive
experience managing large-scale change initiatives With more than 20 years
of consulting experience Dr Eastmanrsquos focus is to help organizations grow and
manage change by unleashing human potential His specialties are organizationaltransformation technology adoption and optimization process redesign strategic
planning and program and tools development As the Executive Director of Technology
Adoption and Organizational Capability within the Kaiser Permanente IT Care
Delivery Business Information Office Dr Eastman has pioneered several of Kaiserrsquos
implementation readiness toolsmethodologies and post-live optimization strategies
programs adding to the organizationrsquos ability to realize the benefit of its technology
About HIMSS The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) is a comprehensive healthcare-
stakeholder membership organization exclusively focused on providing global leadership for the optimal
use of information technology (IT) and management systems for the betterment of healthcare Founded in
1961 with offices in Chicago Washington DC Brussels Singapore and other locations across the United
States HIMSS represents more than 23000 individual members of which 73 work in patient care delivery
settings HIMSS also includes over 380 corporate members and nearly 30 not-for-profit organizations that
share our mission of transforming healthcare through the effective use of information technology and
management systems HIMSS frames and leads healthcare public policy and industry practices through
its educational professional development and advocacy initiatives designed to promote information and
management systemsrsquo contributions to ensuring quality patient care
ISBN 978-0-9821070-6-5
Order Code 564
230 E Ohio St Suite 500
Chicago IL 60611ndash3270
312-915-9295
www himss org