Breaking EHR Barriers: Enabling Scalable, Self-Controlled Operations

The critical access hospital faced a significant challenge in achieving sustainable operational improvements due to limitations within its existing Electronic Health Record (EHR) system. While initial performance initiatives showed positive shifts in key metrics, the restricted EHR platform prevented the development of custom workflows and required costly dependencies on the current vendor for basic functionality. The need was clear: to find a flexible EHR solution that allowed the hospital to operate independently, improve efficiency, and reduce vendor-related expenses.

To address this, our Health Information Technology (HIT) team conducted a current-state analysis to identify operational gaps and conducted a thorough vendor vetting process, ultimately selecting Meditech as the optimal vendor. We represented the critical access hospital in negotiations, securing concessions and terms to create a robust, performance-based contract to establish a solid foundation for their partnership with Meditech.

This approach empowered the hospital to clearly define gaps within their current EHR system and optimize their operations for a scalable, self-managed EHR environment. Key areas of improvement included addressing patient safety concerns, securing PHI, enhancing RCM/cash management reporting, improving revenue collection efficiency, and reducing the need for manual workarounds.

Additionally, we identified an early termination option with the hospital’s existing EHR vendor, creating a financial pathway to transition without incurring prolonged dual-system costs. To support a smooth implementation, we helped establish a dedicated hospital-side project team, integrating both internal and external resources in alignment with Meditech’s deployment model.