Introduction

According to the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (2019), the implementation of electronic health records (EHR) reached 86% in physician offices and 80% in hospitals by 2017. This significant transition continues to influence healthcare management financially and operationally in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Effective organizational leadership is crucial in managing such changes efficiently and successfully within the healthcare sector. This paper aims to identify a major healthcare system change, analyze change forces, review pertinent information and insights crucial to the change process, discuss insights from H. James Dallas, and explain Kotter’s leadership skills.

Major Healthcare System Change Example and Change Forces

In 2009, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) endorsed the American Reinvestment & Recovery Act (ARRA) under President Obama’s administration (CDC, 2017). This act introduced the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act, which mandated the implementation of Meaningful Use, aimed at utilizing EHRs to enhance healthcare information exchange (CDC, 2017). Despite the origins of electronic medical records (EMR) dating back to the 1960s, widespread adoption by physician offices and hospitals occurred much later, facilitating improvements in health information data collection. EHRs, as digital repositories of patient health information, offer enhanced security compared to traditional paper-based records, enabling seamless exchange of information between healthcare organizations (Financesonline.com). The enactment of EHRs was driven by political, economic, and technological advancements, with President Obama’s vision focusing on national health information sharing, job creation in the Health Information Technology sector, and enhancement of clinical care quality (ONC, 2019). Despite initial resistance, the adoption of EHRs has doubled since 2009, reflecting the significance of this change in healthcare management (ONC, 2019).

Information and Insights Important to the Change Process

Effective change management involves three critical processes: learning, motivation, and collaboration (Healey, 2018). In the context of EHR implementation, adequate planning, transparency, and comprehensive training are essential for successful adoption. Leaders must ensure transparent communication to elucidate the rationale behind the change and provide sufficient training and hands-on experience to facilitate staff proficiency with the new system (Healey, 2018).

Important H. James Dallas Insights

Organizational culture plays a pivotal role in successful change implementation, with senior leaders serving as catalysts for fostering a culture of trust and respect (Dallas, 2015). Leaders who engage with frontline staff and invest time in building relationships can significantly enhance employee engagement and buy-in during change initiatives such as EHR implementation (Dallas, 2015).

Kotter’s Leadership Skills

Kotter’s 8-Step Model of Change outlines key factors for successful organizational transformation, including creating a sense of urgency, enabling action by removing barriers, and sustaining acceleration (Kotter International, n.d.). Leaders must prioritize communication, eliminate impediments to change, and maintain momentum throughout the EHR implementation process to ensure sustained success (Kotter International, n.d.).

Conclusion

In conclusion, effective change management in healthcare organizations requires a comprehensive understanding of the importance of stakeholder engagement, transparent communication, and leadership skills. By prioritizing employee involvement, transparent communication, and effective leadership strategies, healthcare administrators can navigate through change initiatives such as EHR implementation successfully.

References

CDC. (2017, January 18). Introduction. Retrieved March 7, 2019, from https://www.cdc.gov/ehrmeaningfuluse/introduction.html

Dallas, H. J. (2015). Mastering the challenges of leading change: Inspire the people and succeed where others fail. Retrieved from https://ebookcentral-proquest-com.library.capella.edu

Financesonline.com. (n.d.). What is the difference between EHR and EMR? Retrieved March 7, 2019, from https://financesonline.com/difference-ehr-emr/

BUS FPX 3026 Assessment 6 Identifying Forces Causing Change and Skills for Managing Change

Healey, B. J. (2018). Principles of Healthcare Leadership. [Capella]. Retrieved from https://capella.vitalsource.com/#/books/9781567938951/

Kotter International. (n.d.). 8-step process of change. Retrieved from https://www.kotterinternational.com/8-steps-process-for-leading-change/

Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC). (2019) ‘Officebased Physician Electronic Health Record Adoption,’ Health IT Quick-Stat #50. dashboard.healthit.gov/quickstats/pages/physician-ehr-adoption-trends.php

BUS FPX 3026 Assessment 6 Identifying Forces Causing Change and Skills for Managing Change