The assessment phase is the first step to all other EHR implementation steps, and involves determining if the practice is ready to make the change from paper records to electronic health records (EHRs), or to upgrade their current system to a new certified version.
More importantly, the assessment phase will determine if providers are;

• Accomplishing their career goals in the most efficient way.
• Providing the best possible care to our patients, or simply going through the motions.
• Maximizing their time in and out of the office.
• What would it be like to leave the office yet stay connected to my practice?

Assess Your Current Practice
The assessment phase will look at the current state of the practice:

• Are administrative processes organized, efficient, and well documented?
• Are clinical workflows efficient, clearly mapped out, and understood by all staff?
• Are data collection and reporting processes well established and documented?
• Are staff members computer literate and comfortable with information technology?
• Does the practice have access to high-speed internet connectivity?
• Does the practice have access to the financial capital required to purchase new or additional hardware?
• Are there clinical priorities or needs that should be addressed?
• Does the practice have specialty specific requirements?

Envision the Future
The next EHR implementation step is to envision the future state of the practice. What would the practice leadership like to see different in the future? More specifically:

• What will be different for the patients?
• What will be different for the providers?
• What will be different for the staff?

Set Goals
Goals and needs will be documented to help guide decision-making throughout the implementation process. And they may need to be re-assessed throughout the EHR implementation steps to ensure a smooth transition for the practice and all staff.
We recommend that you set goals in areas that are important and meaningful to your practice. These may be clinical goals, revenue goals, or goals around work environment. Goals in all three areas will help assure balanced processes after the implementation. Goals that are important to you will help you and your staff through the change process. We recommend you follow the “SMART” goals process. This process includes setting objectives and goals that meet the following criteria:

Specific – Achieving the goal would make a difference for our patients and our practice
Measurable – We can quantify the current level and the target goal
Attainable – Although the goal may be a stretch, we can achieve it
Relevant – This is worth the effort
Time bound – There are deadlines and opportunities to celebrate success!

These goals become the guide posts for an EHR implementation project, and achieving these goals will motivate providers and practice staff to make necessary changes and attain new skills.
Critical outcomes of the assessment process include:

A designated leadership team for the EHR implementation process (clinical and practice management staff, or for small practices, the entire team). Having strong and positive advocate(s) for change can be one of the strongest tools to guide the transition.
A unified vision, where each member of the practice team understands how they will be affected by the change and understands the roadmap to success.
Measureable, quantifiable, realistic goals, which are the key to the assessment phase.
Source:
http://www.healthit.gov/providers-professionals/ehr-implementation-steps/step-1-assess-your-practice-readiness#resource_table

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