QuadraMed and Need Ideas!

[BrandyBSN]

I recently changed jobs temporarily, and am now working in information systems. Our hospital bought QuadraMed to use, and after travelling to Virginia for training, I am heading the application team for patient charting and plan of care. I am currently working on setting our hospital assessment documentation as "lists" for electronic charting.

The main problem I am having right now, is staff "buy-in". There is a ton of negativity towards computers, and many older nurses are threatening to have a mass exodus.

How did your hospitals approach the negativity and apprehension of the current floor staff?

Our GO-Live is set for July 15th. I have dictionary review starting next tuesday.

Any ideas for making it better for staff?

Also, if anyone has experience with QuadraMed, please let me know!

Thanks So Much!

BrandyBSN

[rninformatics, DNP, RN]

Resistance to change is common whether it be a new policy/procedure or a new computer system. The social and culture changes that must precede the use of information systems are often grossly underestimated.

You wrote that you are "heading" the application team. In addition to a goal directed and focused leader the team must include clinicians who are viewed by the staff as opinion leaders. Those who will use the actual system (after go-live) MUST be involved in its configuration/building, training and evaluation.

All involved with the implementation and administration need to communicate the benefits that the new system will provide to the organization, the patients and the staff.

Application team members and administration must be champions of the system in word and deed - taking ownership of this project verbally and using every opportunity to talk with and communicate to staff about what the change will entail and how it will affect practice.

Bring a few of those "older nurses" you wrote of on board. Let them know their opinions as experienced clinicians are valued, encourage their constructive criticism, and involve them in working together to find solutions for the issues that they identify. This will go a long way to showing others the proactive nature of the implementation and will bring others on board to further champion the system and the hospital wide efforts it will take to go live.

Staff and management must send a loud and clear message that this "change" is going to happen.

Now having said all that, DONT underestimate the importance of education and communication. Make sure that everyone that is going to use the new system is kept well informed throughout each phase of implementation. People frequently fear what they do not know. So keep all stakeholders in the loop.

Make sure that your build and training teams are composed of clinicians who will actually be using the system - I can't say this enough!

Plan for and double your estimates of how long and how many resources you will need to train staff. Don't forget to provide computer basics to those who have never used a mouse or keyboard and provide that training prior to training for the actual application being installed. Provide staff with and encourage plenty of opportunities to practice on the test system.

I'd also encourage you to post your query to nursing L

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I recently changed jobs temporarily, and am now working in information systems. Our hospital bought QuadraMed to use, and after travelling to Virginia for training, I am heading the application team for patient charting and plan of care. I am currently working on setting our hospital assessment documentation as "lists" for electronic charting.

The main problem I am having right now, is staff "buy-in". There is a ton of negativity towards computers, and many older nurses are threatening to have a mass exodus.

How did your hospitals approach the negativity and apprehension of the current floor staff?

Our GO-Live is set for July 15th. I have dictionary review starting next tuesday.

Any ideas for making it better for staff?

Also, if anyone has experience with QuadraMed, please let me know!

Thanks So Much!

BrandyBSN

[BrandyBSN]

Our application implementation team is composed of 9 RNs, one from each area of the hospital, one Resp. Therapist, a nurse who currently works in data processing, and one software application educator. They are referred to as "HATs" Hospital Application Team members.

I am the "ACE", or Application Content Expert. I am transplanted into this role, as the first "ACE" we had quit prior to going to training in Virginia. Because I had previously worked as a hardware technician for my university I was offered the job.

We have started training the end-user staff. Class size is limited to 10 students, and there are both myself, and the software applications educator that are conducting the training. We have spent extensive time on the curriculum, and standardized examples and teaching plans. Those that are familiar with computers do very well, but those that are not are having a very hard time. We have found that a large percentage of the nurses in our facility can not perform basic keyboarding skills, or operate a mouse.

We are now in the process of offering an "intro to computers" course. However, often those that sign up -- do not show up for class, which is extremely frustrating. We have no "power" to force nurses to come.

Currently I am trying to set up a vendor fair, and am awaiting confirmation from the invites I have mailed out. Ergotron and Dell are our two top picks for carts and computers. We are also testing some tablet PCs, but are finding the Pens tend run away, and data entry is not easy with the program.

Dictionary review starts tomorrow. Hopefully I will have some good ideas at the end of the week.

Thanks!

[rninformatics, DNP, RN]

We have started training the end-user staff. Those that are familiar with computers do very well, but those that are not are having a very hard time. We have found that a large percentage of the nurses in our facility can not perform basic keyboarding skills, or operate a mouse.

Yes, learned that lesson with my first implementation.

We are now in the process of offering an "intro to computers" course. However, often those that sign up -- do not show up for class, which is extremely frustrating. We have no "power" to force nurses to come.

You need to get nursing administration involved with this issue. You and the implementation team have more than enough on your plates without you attempting to be the "attendance police". Make sure you keep documentation related to class attendance - CYA

Good Luck!