Unfortunately, EHR implementations do not always go well. When practices select the wrong vendor, it may be difficult to work the new system into their workflow. However, practices currently considering implementation can learn from the mistakes of their peers.

The Pediatric Orthopaedic Office of Georgia recently selected the EHR vendor SRSsoft, and officials said their decision was primarily motivated by the reviews of other practices that have had little success with other systems.

"One of the primary reasons we chose the SRS EHR was that it was so consistently and highly recommended by physicians and practice managers across the board. Particularly compelling were the enthusiastic endorsements by those who had failed with other EHRs before implementing SRS," said Michelle Gulley, the Office's CEO and POA.

Choosing an EHR vendor can feel like an overwhelming proposition, given the large number of options, all of which have different functionalities. However, practices should realize that they are not alone in the process. There are many resources available that may make the decision easier. Learning from the experiences of other practices is just one option.