Case Study: Carolinas HealthCare System achieves 20% reduction in EHR time per patient with Cerner ED LaunchPoint and Dynamic Documentation

Carolinas HealthCare System ED providers reduce time in EHR with improved charting efficiency

Carolinas HealthCare System in Charlotte, NC, sought to reduce the time emergency department (ED) providers spent documenting in its electronic health record across 20 diverse EDs (academic, rural, trauma, urban). Leaders aimed to improve access to ED‑relevant information and streamline workflows so clinicians could spend more time with patients despite growing volume.

After a yearlong pilot, the system implemented Cerner’s ED LaunchPoint™ and Dynamic Documentation™, supported by a 15‑minute web training and close pilot monitoring. The collaboration with Cerner led to a 20% reduction in EHR time per patient and a 15% drop in chart openings by June 2017, yielding roughly 1.5 minutes saved per patient even as patient volume rose 6.4% across more than 375 ED providers.

Carolinas HealthCare System

Matthew Sullivan

ED Physician, Associate Chief Medical Informatics Officer