Savings will only occur when the organization begins using the technology effectively in the normal course of business. Recognize hidden costs. The project cost is not solely reflected in the check written to the supplier. Cultural change management, human resource assignments, IS support and project management must all come from the hospital. Address cultural acceptance.
Clinicians are the toughest sell.
To successfully convert clinicians requires understanding what they need to do their job. And saving the medical records department five hours won't matter if it adds, even nominally, to the workload of physicians. They just won't use it. However, to eliminate running dual paper and electronic systems and relieve the medical records department from constantly servicing chart requests, workstations need to be rolled out to patient care areas and used by clinicians. This requires total commitment from senior management, clinicians and IS over the term of the project.