Behavioral health is already complicated without your EHR adding a few scares of its own. From workflows that require one too many clicks to reports that send you searching for answers, the frustrations teams deal with every day can start to feel like the makings of an EHR horror story.
Halloween gives us an excuse to have a little fun with those familiar EHR frustrations. Consider this a seasonal collection for anyone who’s ever exchanged a knowing look with a colleague after a software demo, or wondered whether other organizations put up with the same things.
Tricks vs. Treats: What’s Your System Handing Out?
Halloween is the one night of the year when tricks are acceptable. Your EHR doesn’t get the same pass.
It’s easy to get accustomed to the extra effort a system requires. These pairings contrast familiar frustrations with what your team should be able to expect instead. Flip each card to reveal the treat.
Workflows
Trick“It’s only a few extra clicks.” Repeat all day.
Workflows
TreatWorkflows that actually … work.
Reporting
TrickThe data is hiding in there somewhere. Happy hunting!
Reporting
TreatThe answers you need. No magic tricks required!
Configuration
TrickFully configurable! Some assembly, coding experience, or consulting required.
Configuration
TreatRoutine changes that don’t require a team of specialists every time.
Pricing
TrickSurprise! That’s an add-on.
Pricing
TreatTransparent pricing you can plan around. Save the surprises for the haunted house.
Interoperability
TrickThe system is interoperable. Just not with anything you use.
Interoperability
TreatNo tricks, just the connections you need to help data move where it needs to go.
Support
TrickYour ticket has entered the spirit realm.
Support
TreatReal people who know your organization.
Tales from the EHR Crypt
Every EHR has a story. Some are just a little scarier than others. If you’ve spent enough time working in behavioral health technology, a few of these tales may sound suspiciously familiar. Click each card to reveal the tale.
Legend says they’re still waiting for the screen to load.
They clicked “save.” The document was never seen again.
They entered the same information in three different places. On the third entry, they summoned something.
The workaround was supposed to be temporary. That was seven years ago.
The Scariest Words in Behavioral Health Tech
Sometimes, it’s not what your technology does that sends a chill down your spine. It’s what you hear when you ask about it. A few seemingly harmless phrases can take on a whole new meaning when you’ve been around EHRs long enough.
Drag each handle to the left to see what it really means.
The Haunted EHR: Enter if You Dare
Of course, EHR frustrations rarely stay neatly contained in one place. Follow them far enough and you may find an entire maze of workarounds, hidden features, billing challenges, and other surprises waiting around the corner.
We’ve taken a few liberties with the floor plan, but see which rooms look familiar.
Click a number to step into each room.
You’ve been here before. You’ll be here again.
Where requested enhancements await their resurrection.
Where unresolved claims come back to haunt you.
You entered with a project plan. You left with 14 spreadsheets and no confirmed go-live date.
Powerful capabilities rumored to exist, if only you knew where to look.
Where every problem has a solution. And every solution has a spreadsheet.
Getting in was only the first challenge. Finding what you need is another story.
No More EHR Horror Stories
The jokes are seasonal. The extra work behind them adds up all year.
We can laugh about EHR tricks because plenty of them are painfully relatable. But the underlying frustrations can have a real impact on the people delivering care. Your EHR doesn’t have to be perfect, but it should make their work easier.
If a few of these horror stories hit a little too close to home, it may be time to ask what a better EHR experience could look like. No tricks required.