A few years ago, I was part of a team implementing an electronic medical record (EMR) system at a hospital in Ethiopia. The project was part of a broader healthcare transformation initiative. It was a challenging but valuable learning experience. One thing I learned is that introducing technology into healthcare involves much more than adopting a new system. It requires understanding the organization, preparing people for change, and having a realistic plan.
Looking back on that experience, here are five questions I think healthcare organizations should consider before introducing new technology.
1. Is our organization ready?
Before introducing new technology, organizations need to assess their readiness. Do we have the necessary infrastructure, hardware, and technical capacity? Is the technology compatible with our existing systems and organizational needs? Do we have the resources to support and maintain it over time?
A readiness assessment helps identify potential gaps before implementation begins. Not everything needs to be perfect, but understanding our capabilities and limitations allows us to plan more effectively.
2. Do we understand our current workflows?
Technology doesn’t automatically fix an inefficient process. If different departments follow different procedures, introducing one digital system can become complicated.
Before implementation, organizations should examine their existing clinical and operational workflows, identify areas that need improvement, and determine what processes should be standardized. Sometimes, improving the workflow is just as important as introducing the technology itself. The AHRQ Workflow Assessment for Health IT Toolkit offers practical resources for understanding and improving clinical and administrative workflows during technology implementation.
3. Have we prepared the people who will use it?
One lesson I learned is that staff resistance isn’t always about being unwilling to change. Sometimes, the change itself creates additional work.
For example, asking healthcare workers to maintain paper documentation while also entering the same information into a new system can increase their workload, especially when they are already managing a busy patient schedule.
That’s why staff engagement, training, communication, and realistic workload expectations matter. People are more likely to support a change when they understand it and have the support to make it work.
4. Do we have the right team and leadership support?
Implementing healthcare technology requires collaboration across different departments. Clinical staff, administrators, technical experts, and organizational leaders all have important roles.
The implementation team needs the right expertise, resources, and decision-making authority to address challenges. Leadership also needs to understand the complexity of the project and provide ongoing support. Giving a team responsibility without enough authority can make implementation much harder.
5. Do we have a realistic timeline and a flexible plan?
Introducing technology can change an organization’s workflows, responsibilities, and even its culture. These changes take time.
A phased implementation roadmap can help organizations set realistic goals, identify risks, and monitor progress. But planning doesn’t mean predicting every problem. Unexpected challenges will arise, so teams need to remain flexible, learn from feedback, and adjust their approach when necessary. The Health IT Playbook provides practical guidance for organizations implementing and improving health technology.
Final Thoughts
My experience taught me that implementing technology isn’t just about choosing the right system. It’s about understanding the organization, involving the right people, and giving change the time and support it needs.
We don’t have to wait until everything is perfect before starting. But we should understand where we are, know where we want to go, and be prepared to adapt along the way.
What do you think healthcare organizations should consider before introducing new technology? Have you experienced a technology change that worked well or created challenges? Let me know in the comments.
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