Time needed to be proficient with an EHR system varies

March 25, 2012

Learning an EHR-system is a process-and one that won't necessarily come quickly. Find out what kind of timeframe your practice will need to get tech savvy.

A: Ah, the qualifier there is "most practices." It can take a varying amount of time to feel proficient. For some practices, it takes 6 weeks; for others 6 months; and for some a full year.

It is not unusual to sign a contract and have to wait on the vendor's implementation schedule, and that can easily eat up 3 months (or, in worse cases, more).

Don't cut your (or your staff's) training short and your transition time will be smoother.

Answers to readers' questions were provided by Rosemarie Nelson, MGMA Healthcare Consulting Group, Jamesville, New York. She is an editorial consultant for Medical Economics. Send your tech questions to medec@advanstar.comAlso engage at http://www.twitter.com/MedEconomics and http://www.facebook.com/MedicalEconomics.