Module 2- Information Systems in the Workplace or WE NEED AN INFORMATICS NURSE SPECIALIST

At the onset of  enticing the physician owners to buy-in to the concept of Electronic Medical Records, the administrative team did their initial homework. They had several physician owners on the committee to investigate the options. We had a meeting where the selected vendors presented their 'product'. Unfortunately the concept was like a foreign language in 2003. I personally had minimal experience with EMR so anything seemed plausible.
Once the EMR was selected (NEXTGEN) the administration developed a strategy for implementing. Since the physician at my clinic was one of the more "technology-savvy" our clinic got to launch the program.  Immediately there were so many clinical errors that the providers became quite frustrated. Everything from spelling to organizing templates.....it had not been scrutinized by a INS....
Having utilized the Informatics Center at the College of Nursing, I suggested to the administrator that they needed to add an informatics nurse specialist to help the "nerds" apply the clinical process. Unfortunately, and to the tune of lots of $$$$$$$ they choose the 'nerds' over the 'nurse'.
I feel very strongly that a informatics nurse specialist should be involved with EMR in most settings. The clinic had the other members IE. from coders to department managers but the error in thinking is that physicians understand the process of clinical care..... this is to the detriment of patient care. I wish that I had been more vocal in this suggestion. And, now that I am learning more about the selection process I realize that I could of recommended that I be a part of the committee.
Evaluations are ongoing. NEXTGEN is always updating and every time they "improve" we have to update and that means $$$$$.
Bottom line:  A informatics nurse specialist would of saved our clinic time and money.

Module 1- N6600

By now readers will know that I am a nurse and  what trajectory my career has taken. I provide primary care to a busy family practice clinic in Ogden. I love being a part of the health care decisions that my patients make. I have found my NP practice very challenging and rewarding.  In addition to my practice I am completing the MSN to DNP program at the University of Utah this semester. It has been a tremendously fast-paced, knowledge driven program and I hope I can finish it with the same enthusiasm that I started one year ago! Finally, there will be a few in this class that I have the opportunity to teach in one of their specialty courses. This rounds out my very busy schedule at this time.
Our clinic has a very active Informational Technology department. We are using Electronic Medical Records and have been since 2004. We are connected to both hospitals via internet and are able to access ER records, labs and xrays. What a tremendous aid in treating patients. Our clinic accesses Up-to Date service that allows us to instantaneously search for medical problems and focus on treatment that has evidence-based information for us. Patients can access our clinic website. All providers and employees can access the clinic intranet and find electronic information from insurance to OSHA regulations, policy etc. All providers must carry tablets into exam rooms which allow us to directly access their files.
I feel that technology has produced time-saving technics that directly impact in a very positive way how we provide care to our patients.
As we all struggle to understand the intricacies of Blackboard, I am trying to learn how to interface with technology in the class that I am instructing. This process is much slower as it requires interactions at every level. I am a novice at designing the classroom but hope to tackle it with success as the semester continues.