Choosing and launching a new EHR system is one of the biggest projects a hospital can undertake. It affects how care teams work together, how patients experience care, and how an organization performs overall.
At Ovation Healthcare, we often remind leaders that an EHR project is much more than a technology upgrade; it’s an opportunity to rethink how people, processes, and data come together to improve outcomes.
Why Hospitals Decide to Change Systems
There are many reasons a hospital might decide it’s time for a new EHR. Sometimes the goal is to improve usability or meet regulatory standards. Other times, the motivation comes from wanting a more integrated system that supports data sharing and interoperability.
Common reasons include:
- Improving workflow efficiency and reducing administrative tasks
- Enhancing patient and clinician experience with more intuitive tools
- Meeting interoperability and reporting requirements
- Supporting strategic growth and better use of analytics
For smaller or rural hospitals, selecting the right EHR can be especially challenging. Solutions like MEDITECH Expanse, Cerner CommunityWorks, and Epic Community Connect are popular options, but success depends on finding the system that best matches an organization’s size, budget, and long-term goals.
Leadership Makes All the Difference
Every successful EHR journey starts with committed leadership. It takes collaboration between executives, clinicians, and IT teams to set the vision, manage expectations, and maintain momentum.
Here are a few ways leaders can set their teams up for success:
- Build a diverse selection team: Include voices from across the organization including clinical, financial, and operational.
- Focus on what matters most: Use prioritization tools (like the MoSCoW method) to distinguish must-have vs. nice-to-have features.
- Promote transparency and engagement: Keep communication open to build trust and buy-in throughout the process.
When leaders champion the change, it’s easier for the entire organization to align around the shared goal of improving care through technology.
Laying the Groundwork for Selection and Implementation
EHR selection is a process, not a single decision. Ovation Healthcare helps hospitals follow a structured, practical approach that minimizes risk and maximizes long-term value.
Key steps include:
- Define your goals: What does success look like for your hospital?
- Evaluate vendors carefully: Compare capabilities, support options, and total cost, not just software features.
- Plan for infrastructure needs: Consider data migration, hardware updates, and integration requirements early.
- Map out implementation: Decide whether a phased rollout or full go-live makes sense for your resources and readiness.
This kind of thoughtful planning ensures that the EHR supports, not disrupts, care delivery from day one.
After Go-Live: Keeping the Momentum
Many teams think of go-live as the end of the project, but in reality, it’s just the start of ongoing optimization. Hospitals that plan for continuous improvement get much more out of their EHR investments.
Some best practices for the post-implementation phase include:
- Gathering provider feedback to refine workflows and reduce frustration
- Using data insights to improve patient outcomes and operational performance
- Expanding digital engagement through patient portals, telehealth, and secure communication tools
- Maintaining strong governance to keep systems aligned with future needs
Regular training, open communication, and small, continuous improvements help organizations sustain momentum long after the initial launch.
Partnering with Ovation Healthcare
An EHR journey can feel overwhelming, but with the right guidance, it doesn’t have to be. Ovation Healthcare works with hospitals and health systems to simplify every step of the process, from early evaluation to long-term optimization.
We help leaders choose the right system, prepare their teams, and achieve meaningful results that last.
Learn more:
Explore our EHR Optimization Services or reach out at info@ovationhc.com to see how Ovation Healthcare can support your EHR selection and implementation success.
