What You Should Know:
- The landscape of pediatric healthcare has shifted in recent years. Grappling with changes in the labor market, many pediatric organizations are seeking out a simplified IT approach that enhances patient care and bolsters efficiency. Some organizations have started to consolidate or have already consolidated their technology stack to fewer vendors, with many leveraging more functionality from their core EHR vendors.
- For this report, KLAS talked to 57 organizations using pediatric EHR/PM systems to gauge their perceptions on the impact of staffing shortages, which technology is best suited to help, and what developments they would like moving forward. A follow-up report will examine the performance of pediatric EHR/PM vendors within this evolving market.
Understanding Provider Perceptions of an Evolving Market
The report being referenced is a perception study. It is designed to help readers understand what is top of mind for users of pediatric EHR/PM solutions, and it examines which vendors and services firms these organizations are currently using or are considering using to help implement, monitor, and improve overall practice challenges.
Key insights from the report are as follows:
- Amid Staffing Shortages, Pediatric Organizations Look to Their Core EHR Vendors for Increased Efficiencies: Staffing shortages have caused significant disruption in pediatric practices, with over two-thirds of them experiencing a moderate to severe impact. While some practices have returned to pre-COVID staffing levels, many others still struggle with higher turnover rates, leading to decreased efficiency and expertise among staff. This has resulted in increased responsibility for the remaining staff, causing lower job satisfaction and potential burnout. Understaffed organizations face difficulties with nonpriority tasks, limited schedules, and billing delays. Rising inflation has led to demands for higher pay from remaining staff, while medical reimbursements have not kept up. The core EHR vendor plays a crucial role in helping pediatric organizations overcome staffing challenges.
- Many Pediatric Organizations Placing Emphasis on Vendor Consolidation: Pediatric organizations typically rely on multiple HIT vendors, averaging three with some using up to six. About a quarter of these organizations have recently expanded by adding specialists, leading to the adoption of additional technology solutions. However, dealing with numerous vendors has resulted in inefficiencies and complexities, prompting many to consider consolidating their systems for smoother operations. Over half of the organizations are seeking their core EHR/PM vendor to streamline workflows and minimize vendor complexities through better functionality and integration. On the other hand, organizations that lack complete trust in their EHR vendors do not have plans to replace their third-party solutions.
- A Wide Range of Third-Party Vendors Making an Impact on Staffing Challenges: Even though vendor consolidation is generally preferred, pediatric organizations still utilize multiple third-party vendors to meet specific needs more effectively or at a lower cost than their primary EHR vendor can provide. Respondents mentioned a variety of vendors offering solutions from front door to back-office systems that help alleviate the effects of staffing shortages. Some of these vendors include Azara Healthcare, ClearTriage, Doxy.me, Full Slate, GoCheck Kids, Intelichart, Microsoft, Nuance, OSIS, Phreesia, Quickbooks, TeleVox, and Yosi Health.