The Basics
A pre-go-live “dress rehearsal” can help your organization ensure you are ready for electronic health record (EHR) implementation go-live, identify unintended consequences, increase confidence, and fix problems in advance of your go-live date.
Conducting a Dress Rehearsal
During the dress rehearsal your organization’s providers and staff should walkthrough an entire simulated patient visit using your EHR. To conduct the dress rehearsal, assign some of your providers and staff to be mock patients and simulate:
- Patient check-in
- Patient rooming
- Vital signs collection
- Provider visit with patient
- Lab orders/collection
- Medication orders/refills
- Immunization orders
- Referral management
- Follow-up orders
- Billing
- Patient check-out
At the end of the dress rehearsal, your organization should debrief and make any necessary adjustments before your EHR implementation go-live.
Your Local Regional Extension Center Can Help
Your local Regional Extension Center (REC) can help you plan for EHR implementation go-live and conduct a pre-go-live dress rehearsal. RECs are located in every region of the country to help health care providers select, implement, and become adept and meaningful users of EHRs. Contact your local REC to find out if you are eligible for free or reduced-price support.
For More Information
For more information about planning for EHR implementation go-live, see the following resources.