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What electronic health record implementation issues are unique to rural settings?

There are many barriers unique to electronic health record (EHR) implementation in rural health care settings,1-2 including:

  • Prohibitive cost of many EHR systems/limited access to capital and infrastructure
  • Access to EHR vendor information and technical assistance
  • Suitability of EHR products for rural health care settings
  • Difficulty connecting to or obtaining broadband service
  • Limited health information technology (IT) workforce
  • Difficulty in obtaining community buy-in
  • Limited opportunities for collaboration with other rural health stakeholders
  • Limited buy-in from rural practice/hospital/health center staff with multiple roles and busy schedules

These challenges can be overcome. For information on how you can overcome challenges and mitigate EHR implementation disruptions in rural health care settings, see the table below for related FAQs and rural health information technology (HIT) resources.

Rural EHR Implementation Issue Related Rural HIT Resources
Prohibitive cost of many EHR systems/limited access to capital and infrastructure
Access to EHR vendor information and technical assistance
Suitability of EHR products for rural settings
Difficulty connecting to or obtaining broadband service
Limited information technology (IT) workforce
Difficulty in obtaining community buy-in
Limited opportunities for collaboration with other rural health stakeholders
Limited buy-in from rural practice/hospital/health center staff with multiple roles and busy schedules

Learn more about how real providers successfully implement EHRs in rural settings in these case studies/interviews:

References

  1. Health Resources and Services Administration. “What are the issues that are unique to rural health and health IT?”
  2. Health Resources and Services Administration. “What implementation issues are unique to rural settings and how do we best manage them?”

Implementing EHRs – Conducting Training and Implementing an EHR

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How do I develop a recovery plan in the event of system failures or loss of internet access?
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When planning for system go-live, the Health Resources and Services Administration recommends covering all aspects of the implementation cycle and allocating enough time to become familiar with new...
What support do I need during go-live?
Your local Regional Extension Center (REC) can provide support and advice during your electronic health record (EHR) go-live. RECs are equipped with the personnel and resources to support and advise...
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What factors should I consider when planning to manage incoming paper documents?
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What tips and lessons are available for electronic health record implementation training?
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How do I educate patients about health IT?
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What is chart migration? How do I plan for chart migration?
The Basics The process of moving data from your existing paper records to your electronic health record (EHR) is called chart migration. Chart migration is a critical EHR implementation step...