Health Information Management

When work flow becomes ’worry’ flow

HIM Connection, April 13, 2010

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by Darice M. Grzybowski, MA, RHIA, FAHIMA

What is work flow?
 
One of the most common questions I am asked when doing EHR implementation consulting is, “Can you define what work flow is?”
 
I think part of the reason people ask me that question is because of the emphasis I put on the importance of work flow as part of any basic automation initiative. Good work flow support can make the difference between a successful project and one that fails, because it can make or break staffing-level projections due to being designed well (efficient work flow) or poorly (thus the “worry” flow).
 
But how does one define work flow? Does it mean the same thing to a functional departmental director as it does to a chief information officer? What about work flow from a programming perspective vs. a line employee whose job is based on productivity standards? The definition is different depending on who you are and what your role is.
 
Note: To read more, visit the HCPro Web site. Subscribers to Medical Record Briefings have access to this article in the April issue of their newsletters.



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