Improving Stability and Alignment with MEDITECH Expanse
Case Study
Meet MEDITECH Expanse, a modern electronic health record (EHR) system created for today’s evolving healthcare landscape. Expanse is more than just an EHR; it’s a comprehensive platform that integrates patient data, streamlines clinical workflows, and enhances communication between healthcare professionals with mobile-ready features designed with clinicians and patients in mind. Let’s explore the capabilities and innovations that make Expanse unique.
Expanse revolutionizes the game with its seamless, fluid architecture, compelling you to reimagine your workflows and reevaluate your partnerships.
Jeff Webber, Managing Director, Enterprise Systems, Tegria
The era of the EHR as a digital filing cabinet for patient records is long over. Today’s healthcare organizations need nimble, flexible, innovative solutions, STAT. MEDITECH designed Expanse to be more mobile-friendly and user-centric to align with the realities of modern care, from physicians on the go to patients who prefer to text with their providers. To leverage the power and potential of cloud computing, Expanse is a web-enabled system offering scalability, real-time data access, and enhanced security features. By combining advanced capabilities with future-forward applications, EHR systems like Expanse are propelling healthcare forward.
Are you wondering if MEDITECH Expanse is the right fit for your healthcare setting? Perhaps you’d like to know how to get the most out of this advanced healthcare hub. Either way, you’re in the right place. This article will guide you through Expanse’s features and benefits with examples, advice, and potential pitfalls. By the end, you’ll be equipped for success with this superpowered platform.
MEDITECH has been a pioneer in the EHR landscape for decades. The MEDITECH MAGIC platform rolled out in 1979 as a DOS-based proprietary language and operating system that provided hospitals with a stable, cost-effective EHR. As Expanse replaces MAGIC, you might be curious about how they compare.
How does Expanse compare to MAGIC?
Expanse is a web-enabled, fully integrated EHR system that embraces modern digital tools for patients, clinicians, and care teams. As MEDITECH’s newest EHR platform, Expanse offers a web-based EHR with an intuitive user experience, omnichannel capabilities, advanced analytics, and enhanced interoperability, making it flexible, friendly, and future-focused.
Expanse is known for intuitive, modern mobile applications for clinicians and patients. Mobile applications like Expanse Now allow doctors to move seamlessly between work environments. A robust patient portal, Health Records on iPhone®, and web-based messaging help keep patients engaged.
Surgeons and nurses have different toolkits and need different EHR functionalities. Expanse understands that a one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work in healthcare and offers tailored tools for various professionals, from physicians and nurses to therapists, social workers, and administrative staff.
As an integrated, mobile-ready system, Expanse can reduce the need for additional hardware and “bolt-on” third-party solutions. Cloud-native applications and a web-based interface can reduce the need for on-premises hardware, which can reduce the total cost of ownership (TCO) over time.
Expanse offers a fully integrated platform across acute and ambulatory care, creating a seamless patient journey and a unique user experience. Robust applications and customized dashboards help sync workflows and operations across your system.
Every patient has a story. MEDITECH Expanse provides the tools to make each one a success.
Expanse Now App: Real-time mobile data for clinicians.
Expanse Genomics: Personalized care, down to patients’ DNA.
Telehealth Home Connect: Remote patient monitoring solution.
Virtual Care: Fully integrated tools to keep patients and care teams in sync.
MEDITECH Expanse helps patients participate actively in their health journey.
From surgical suites to maternity wards, MEDITECH Expanse has a toolkit for every specialist.
Expanse supports safe data exchange for improved care coordination and case management.
Expanse helps staff visualize business impacts, analyze data, and monitor performance.
Expanse’s strict access controls and web-based data recovery help minimize risk and downtime.
Expanse users can expect modern, flexible, cloud-native tools that keep getting better.
Moving to Expanse gives you two options: READY Implementation, a traditional EHR with a lifetime license, or Meditech as a Service (MaaS), a web-based subscription model. Choosing between the two? Let’s look closer at the options for this important decision.
Cost and Time: Upfront costs may seem higher, but don’t forget to consider total cost of ownership over time. READY offers control over fixed and variable costs, as well as a customized implementation timeline.
Hosting and Security: READY Implementation gives you options: private, hybrid, and on-prem hosting with customized security solutions.
Scalability and Support: The sky’s the limit—with the right support and a well-defined growth strategy.
Cost and Time: MaaS offers a recurring fee model instead of a one-time licensing fee and can be quicker to roll out.
Hosting and Security: MaaS is hosted in the public cloud and offers MEDITECH’s advanced security and disaster recovery features.
Scalability and Support: MaaS is built to grow, with support that scales alongside your strategy.
Are you a sprawling healthcare system with intricate workflows? Or a cozy community hospital in need of hassle-free tech? When you choose between READY Implementation and MaaS, consider upfront and long-term costs, your desired level of customization, and your plans for growth.
The Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) is a government agency that will do a free security assessment and evaluation. For smaller hospitals, an EHR implementation is an opportunity to invite CISA in to assess their security posture and make improvements.
Chad Skidmore, Tegria VP, MS Technical Services
From the earliest planning stages through launch day and beyond, executing a smooth implementation requires expert advice. We rounded up a few Expanse experts to uncover the secrets to success.
Do: Start with a magnifying glass
Examine your current operations, spot the gaps, and map out your goals. “Define what success looks like. Why are you making this investment? Understand the why, define it, and then measure it,” said Rob Hoehne, Tegria Managing Director, Enterprise Systems.
Don’t: Shortchange planning
Ever tried baking without reading the recipe? That’s what rushing the assessment feels like. Taking the time for a thorough assessment and planning phase yields a better result with less waste.
Do: Stay nimble
Craft a solid plan, train your team, but be prepared to flex. “Implementation is a long process. The plan is going to change,” said Chad Skidmore, Tegria VP, MS Technical Services.
Don’t: Get caught off-guard
Avoid budget drama by applying the golden rule of home renovation: Reserve at least 10% of the budget for unanticipated costs.
Do: Prioritize education
Good user training amplifies your success; poor training derails it. “Poor user training raises the stress level across the organization, even when the system is doing exactly what it was supposed to do,” said Jeff Webber, Tegria Managing Director, Enterprise Systems.
Don’t: Exclude key departments
Welcoming input from across the organization increases end-user success. Involve physician leaders and your training and education department to keep everyone aligned.
Do: Understand what you’re buying
Clarify scope with hosting vendors. “Look at everything that’s in scope for hosting. Within the MEDITECH space, different hosting providers take different approaches to what’s included,” Skidmore said.
Don’t: Forget about details
Small details, like failing to scrub network access credentials after a data transfer, can lead to big security breaches. Well before going live, clean up the environment and tighten access to servers.
Do: Budget for success
Ensure you appropriately budget for upfront and ongoing staffing costs so that you can take advantage of Expanse’s advanced features and ongoing updates.
Don’t: Fall back to old strategies
You wouldn’t put old shingles on a newly constructed roof. Why employ old strategies to support your new system? Align support with your new system and your big-picture strategy.
The biggest “don’t” of them all: Don’t assume that implementing Expanse will be simple, even when moving from another MEDITECH platform. But if you’re pursuing digital transformation, Expanse can get you there. With the right strategy, MEDITECH Expanse isn’t just software; it’s a catalyst for change, driving healthcare into the future. Whichever path you choose, prepare for an expansive, rewarding ride.
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