Best Practices To Adopt In Salesforce EHR Integration in Healthcare

Juggling between EHRs is quite common today – a real struggle for healthcare professionals. According to a report, nearly 75% of US hospitals are managing more than 10 EHRs on a daily basis. That’s a real problem, though!

With massive data scattered in different storage systems, it’s difficult for care providers to access the right patient information at the right time. This fragmentation triggers frustration and administrative burden, impacts patient care, and affects care experiences. So, the best resort that providers can look out for is Salesforce EHR integration.

EHR integration with an intuitive CRM application like Salesforce is an absolute necessity for healthcare providers. EHR integration with Salesforce can help break down data silos, improve patient engagement and streamline workflows. But the integration will work only if it’s done right.

OSP has worked on some interesting Salesforce EHR software integration projects and successfully tried a few best practices. And it worked! Let’s give you some insights into the best practices you can follow when integrating Salesforce EHR solutions.

Salesforce EHR Integration Checklist- Best Practices

1. Design a Comprehensive Integration Strategy

A successful EHR integration with Salesforce starts with a well-thought-out plan. A well-defined plan will safeguard you from data silos, operational inefficiencies, and user frustration. You must keep in mind these aspects-

⦿ Defining your objectives: Align the integration of Salesforce EHR services with your organization’s workflows and patient care priorities.

⦿ Choose your data flow: Select which option you want to go for – real-time or batch processing. You must decide based on your needs. For example- real-time sync for critical patient data and batch processing for less urgent updates.

⦿ Plan for scaling: Determining whether this integration can handle growth is important. Whether adding new EHR systems or expanding to new locations, this integration with salesforce EMR software must handle it all.  

A solid integration strategy ensures seamless data flow, minimal disruption, and long-term scalability.

2. Implement Robust Error-Handling Mechanisms

Even the best-planned integrations will incur problems. The difference between minor and major issues is how you handle the inevitable problems. To effectively handle such issues, you must keep in mind these aspects-

⦿ Logging errors: It’s best to log every error with a timestamp, action, and root cause, making troubleshooting faster.

⦿ Real-time alerts: Notifying your team of issues as they happen.

⦿ Clear procedures: Defining a step-by-step process to resolve errors and recover systems.

Considering these aspects, you can effectively handle errors and boost system reliability, reduce downtime, and maintain data integrity. In fact, healthcare organizations that have implemented advanced error handling have seen a 25% reduction in system downtime.

3. Establish Comprehensive Data Governance Policies

In healthcare, data is not just an asset; it’s the lifeblood of healthcare. So, data quality and security are non-negotiable. Good data governance means your healthcare integration delivers value while remaining compliant.

You must keep in mind these aspects-

⦿ Define ownership: You must assign roles for data stewardship and accountability.

⦿ Standardise data: Use validation, correction, and standardization protocols to ensure consistency.

⦿ Monitor compliance: Audit your integration regularly to meet HIPAA compliant and GDPR standards.

Good data governance means accuracy, compliance, and trust across your organization. In 2023, 45% of healthcare data breaches were attributed to poor data governance.

4. Focus on User Experience and Training

Even the best and most well-thought-out technical integration won’t work if your team doesn’t use it right. That’s why the bridge between technical implementation and practical value lies in user experience and training. That’s why you should keep in mind these aspects-

⦿ Intuitive design: Create human-centered dashboard and workflow applications suitable for healthcare professionals.

⦿ Training: Train employees on the system to make the necessary changes as they adapt.

⦿ Continuous Improvement: User feedback on processes and applications will be put into logic for transformation and integration enhancement over time.

Focusing on user experience boosts adoption rates, lowers resistance to change, and increases productivity. Organizations that direct their investments toward training experience a higher success rate in EHR integration projects.

5. Leverage Healthcare Data Standards for Interoperability

Healthcare Interoperability is part and parcel of the modern healthcare system. Without interoperability, data remains in silos, leaving behind the ability to assist patients with their care. Standard data formats improve interoperability across systems, building a common language for healthcare information exchange. For that, you should keep in mind these aspects-

⦿ Adopt FHIR standards: It ensures seamless data sharing between systems.

⦿ Comply with HL7 integration: HL7 provides specifications developed around standard formats for healthcare data.

⦿ Use standardized terminologies: Use consistent medical terminology to maintain clarity and data accuracy.

Standardized data formats improve interoperability, reduce errors, and improve care coordination. It’s predicted that by 2025, 90% of providers will use FHIR APIs for standard interoperability.

6. Leverage AI and Predictive Analytics

Salesforce EHR integration isn’t just about moving patient data between systems. It’s about getting deeper insights that drive better healthcare decisions. And this is where AI and Predictive Analytics come in, turning raw EHR data into actionable intelligence. Bringing AI-powered analytics into the Salesforce EHR environment lets providers predict patient risk, create personalized care plans, and optimize resource allocation—all in real-time. For this, you must consider-

⦿ Use Salesforce Einstein AI: AI insights can analyze EHR data to detect early warning signs of health risks.

⦿ Integrate Predictive Models: AI can process historical patient data to see trends in disease progression and population health.

⦿ Data Quality: AI models require clean, standardized data. So, the accuracy of data is key to getting reliable predictions.

With AI integration solution, you’ll get proactive care, reduced hospital management readmissions, and proper resource utilization.

Final Thoughts 

With digitization in healthcare, Salesforce EMR integration is a road that will guide you toward growth and technical debt. The well-planned integration will enhance patient care and efficiency and prepare you for the advanced future.

These best practices aren’t just strategies for technical implementation; they build a foundation for better quality patient care, streamlined operational efficiency, and data-driven decisions. So, if you’re planning to take your practice to the next level, this integration might be your way.