Change management in the successful implementation of an electronic health record

Health information technology is changing the way medicine is practiced and provided. The implementation of electronic health records (EHRs) is slowly spreading across the country in hospitals and clinics of all sizes and specialties. The expectations of decreasing costs, increasing the quality of care, and improving error rates have still not been realized in most organizations. The transition from the paper medical record system that has been used for decades to the new electronic system proves to be a difficult, grueling transition process fraught with road blocks, disappointments, and frustration. The use of Kotter's Eight Step Change Model to assist with the implementation process of an electronic health record will provide a framework for a long-term organizational transformation encompassing the use of the technology. Health care organizations will experience an overall higher long-term success rate and greater physician satisfaction when using a change management model throughout the implementation process.