Successful Strategies for Adopting Electronic Medical Records Systems at Hospitals

Some healthcare leaders lack strategies to successfully implement electronic medical record (EMR) systems to improve patient care efficiency and effectiveness. Grounded in the technology acceptance model, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore strategies healthcare leaders use to implement EMR systems. The participants comprised five healthcare leaders who implemented EMRs in U.S. hospitals. Data were collected using semistructured interviews, government websites, and relevant documents and analyzed using Yin’s five-step data analysis method. Three themes emerged: (a) adequate training, (b) workflow analysis, and (c) technical support. A key recommendation is for management to provide customized training to the healthcare employees based on employees’ verified roles and responsibilities within the EMR system. The implications for positive social change include the potential to provide physicians a platform for sharing patient data for customizing and improving patient care at reduced costs