Case Study: Pagosa Springs Medical Center achieves HIMSS Stage 6 overnight with Cerner

Pagosa Springs Medical Center goes from HIMSS 0 to HIMSS 6 overnight

Pagosa Springs Medical Center (PSMC) is a critical access hospital in southwestern Colorado serving more than 1,800 square miles and roughly 11,000 patients a year. Facing rapid growth and the operational limits of a paper-based system, PSMC needed an electronic health record to improve continuity of care, streamline registration, support clinical analytics and help recruit physicians with a nationally recognized platform.

PSMC implemented Cerner CommunityWorks overnight on Feb. 17, 2014—moving from paper to a fully integrated EHR and achieving HIMSS Stage 6 immediately. The solution connected hospital, clinic, pharmacists and nursing home systems, launched a patient portal (adopted by over a third of invited patients), streamlined registration and delivered analytics that boosted clinician productivity (one physician’s monthly visits rose from 161 to 280). The system supported significant organizational growth and positioned PSMC to join state and national HIEs.

Pagosa Springs Medical Center

Brad Cochennet

CEO, Pagosa Springs Medical Center