What are Healthcare IT (HIT) Assessments
An assessment is an exercise that examines a specific area of your IT operations or healthcare technology stack, results in an evaluation of the data collected, and serves as a tool for decision-making and planning.
If you’ve worked in healthcare IT operations long enough, you’ve seen situations where an organization never arrived at the outcomes or the advanced functionality that sold them on a project in the first place. Worst are the situations that introduced risk into their environments or their ability to operate efficiently. But there’s good news – these situations can often be avoided and corrected with the help of a strategic HIT assessment.
Clinical applications and IT infrastructure are complex and intertwined. So, the first step in making strategic decisions regarding your future health IT relies on understanding the current state of your systems and processes along with the many factors affecting the performance of your EHR and technology stack.
What is Included in a Healthcare IT Assessment
Assessments will gather comprehensive data and metrics through a variety of approaches. Our healthcare IT consultants will conduct thorough interviews with clinicians and key stakeholders, as well as observe your current processes and IT systems.
Discover what assessment is best for your organization:
Revenue Cycle Management Technology Adoption Model (RCMTAM) Assessment
Why should your organization invest time and resources in healthcare IT assessments? Here are the key benefits:
“I regularly have conversations with CereCore about some performance we can improve or some access that they need. They jump on our team's chat, so things are fluid. We just need help with certain services because the firm can do so much for us, but we just don't have enough people or knowledge. CereCore helps us with things and helps us through upgrades. It is a good partnership. They will help with breaks and fixes, and they will work with upgrades, optimize things, and tell us best practices. We had a conversation about something we wanted to do. They came back with a presentation saying that our idea was good but that if we did it our suggested way, it would be against best practice. Then they suggested a shift to the best practice. That is what I love about CereCore. They will tell us that we can do something but that they think something else is better and why. The other thing I love is their knowledge because these types of applications are so robust, and the firm has amazing architects. I can talk with them. They are just good, down-to-earth people. CereCore does great work.” — Director, October 2024
Turning technical healthcare IT assessments into actionable strategy is simpler than you think. Assessment results will provide you with an executive summary and detailed findings. However, the real value is how healthcare leaders are using these assessments to facilitate budget conversations with boards of directors and key stakeholders.
Your IT assessment isn’t just a snapshot of where you are – it’s your roadmap to where you need to go. Unsure which assessment is best for your healthcare organization? Connect with our experienced healthcare IT consultants. We’ll help you choose the right assessment to guide your path forward and drive meaningful technological transformation.
“CereCore has a complement of services and a depth of experience that lends credibility in helping us with other areas. So even though we approached them about the service desk, the reason why we continued to offer them the opportunity for other engagements is because they can do a lot of other things. So, they are great from that perspective, and they have a way of making me aware of what they have without trying to shove solutions down my throat. They are guiding us in ways that are helping us mature our own platform.” — CIO, December 2024
The key to effective EHR optimization and cost containment is budgeting for ongoing system enhancements, not just the initial implementation.
Why EHR Optimization Is Worth The Effort And Budget:
EHR optimization is a continuous journey, not a one-time project. By budgeting appropriately and instilling the right processes with the help from a healthcare IT consultant, healthcare organizations can maximize their EHR investment and improve outcomes.
Technical Debt
Did you know, according to a Forbes study the average organization wastes 23-42% of their development time on technical debt? This hidden burden can pose serious consequences, but there is a solution.An IT Infrastructure Assessment can help you develop a roadmap for strategic infrastructure and application modernization. By acknowledging and addressing technical debt, you can free up valuable time and budget to invest in other IT solutions that will drive your organization forward.
To get started, download our eBook Technical Debt and the Patient. Discover a framework for self-assessment and practical strategies to mitigate the cost and risk of technical debt.
Achieving Technology ROI
Our blog, How Commitment to ROI can Improve a Health System’s Bottom Line, outlines the importance of taking a strategic, healthcare-specific approach to optimizing and maximizing the ROI on technology investments. A key part of this process is conducting comprehensive HIT assessments.
Whether modernizing legacy systems, optimizing EHR functionality, or exploring new digital solutions, these assessments provide the data-driven insights needed to make informed decisions. A dedicated HIT partner can help guide your organization from strategic assessments to comprehensive IT services that give you the bandwidth to realize the full potential of your technology portfolio. This helps to ensure that your technology investments are truly driving value for your organization and the patients you serve.
Healthcare organizations are navigating a complex digital landscape, facing both opportunities and challenges in their transition to new technologies. IT infrastructure and application assessments can be invaluable in this transformation.
These healthcare IT assessments can help develop a roadmap for modernizing infrastructure and applications and shed light on emerging digital health trends. With the right assessments and a forward-thinking approach, healthcare leaders can bridge the gap between existing infrastructure and digital innovation, discover 5 key insights and a to-don’t list approach to position your organization for sustainable growth.
The complexity of healthcare IT systems demands a structured approach to evaluation and improvement. Assessments provide the framework needed to make informed decisions, reduce risks, and optimize operations. By investing in comprehensive assessments, healthcare organizations can better understand their current state, identify opportunities for improvement, and create roadmaps for success that align with their strategic objectives.
Sometimes you need an outsider's perspective. Working with a specialized health IT partner brings critical expertise to this process, offering a comprehensive approach to system assessments.
Healthcare IT partners bring deep domain knowledge, understanding the technological challenges and operational intricacies. They can conduct thorough evaluations that go beyond surface-level analysis, diving deep into system interoperability, data security, workflow efficiency, and compliance requirements. Their external perspective allows for unbiased evaluation, identifying blind spots that internal teams might overlook.
Remember: The cost of not knowing often far exceeds the investment in finding out. In healthcare IT, where patient care and organizational efficiency hang in the balance, assessments aren't just worth the effort – they're essential for success.
Let us know how we can support your initiatives and take some of the heavy lifting from healthcare IT.
