Posted By Arnav Mathur On December 14, 2021
How to Migrate data to a new EHR Successfully
Knowing how to migrate data to a new EHR successfully can save you a lot of worry. Switching EHRs can often be a strenuous and sometimes troublesome process. What can sometimes be even more stressful is migrating all your clients’ important data to your new vendor. While migrating data to a new EHR can be a worrying process, especially if you do not know what to do or what to expect, it does not have to be. Here is what you need to know to be successful as you migrate data to a new EHR.
Data Migration Strategy:
To migrate data to a new EHR successfully, having a well planned out strategy for the migration is key. Data migration is tough, so figuring out the best way to do it is crucial to cut errors. One part of a good strategy for migrating data could be to scan images first, because there is less room for error on those, and then move on to the actual records and whichever kind of data is left. Something that must be considered is how the information will be used in the new system. That plays a part in how to plan as well. You want the data to be arranged in such a manner that the more important data comes up in the system before the less important files. Something else to consider is that the more simple the strategy is, the better the migration will be.
Data Migration Considerations:
Data Sharing
One very important component to migrate data to a new EHR is managing the expectations of patients. Through your EHR system, patients must be given full access to their health records data due to the Cures Act. They also need to be able to understand their data (meaning they should understand what it consists of). Keep this in mind when choosing a vendor and getting your health records set up in your new EHR system.
Data Integrity
Another component to migrate data to a new EHR successfully is the integrity & quality of the data. Sometimes healthcare providers have poor standards when it comes to managing data, and that leads to duplication, fracturing, or deletion of data.
Data Security
Something else that is important is ensuring that your data migrates somewhere that’s secure. Not having sharable health data, quality health data, or secure health data could all be detrimental to the health and care of your patients.
Data Transfer
Another partial component to the quality of data transfer is the amount of data. There is a common misconception that if all the data is transferred at once, it’s better simply because it’s faster. That is not the case. With a large bulk of data moving at once, there is more room for error, whether it’s human error or automated. One small error in data migration can ruin the whole process, and damage a patient’s medical record. That is why moving the data slowly, but in an appropriate manner is quite important to migrate data to a new EHR successfully.
If you would like more information about data migration or the EHR available from Patagonia Health, contact us today.
