Hutcheson Medical Center Chooses Comprehensive EHR From Healthcare Management Systems

North Georgia hospital also purchases HMS EDIS and meaningful use consulting services

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Hutcheson Medical Center of Fort Oglethorpe, Ga., has chosen the comprehensive electronic health record (EHR) from Healthcare Management Systems Inc. (HMS) to support its growth plans and help enhance quality of care while preparing for meaningful use attestation. Hospital leadership chose HMS because its EHR provides comprehensive functionality and an integrated platform without planned obsolescence built in like other systems.

“I have previously worked with HMS, and I know they offer a highly functional system that will replace our disparate systems and give Hutcheson Medical Center one common platform, which is what we need to succeed,” said Farrell Hayes, chief financial officer at Hutcheson Medical Center. “We wanted a partner whose product lines would help us attain our goals, including achieving meaningful use and improving quality standards, and we have found that with HMS.”

Located less than 10 miles from the Georgia/Tennessee border, Hutcheson Medical Center has served its north Georgia community for more than 50 years.

“Our hospital is in the middle of a full-scale financial turnaround to better serve our community. It was clear from the beginning that HMS understood our facility’s needs because HMS has been fully committed to the project and helping us achieve our short- and long-term goals,” said Hayes. “HMS is an important cog in our overall turnaround strategy.”

In addition to the core EHR, Hutcheson Medical Center purchased HMS’ emergency department information system, HMS EDIS powered by MEDHOST, and will engage HMS’ EHR Initiatives Group for meaningful use consulting services to help accelerate the Stage 1 attestation process.

“We believe that our systems’ high functionality and ease of use, coupled with our commitment to being a long-term partner that helps Hutcheson Medical Center achieve its goals, created the perfect atmosphere for this new relationship,” said Steve Starkey, president and chief operating officer of HMS. “We look forward to helping Hutcheson Medical Center further enhance the quality of care it provides to its community residents while putting the hospital on the path to meaningful use.”

Healthcare Management Systems Inc. (HMS) is a Nashville-based healthcare company that develops, sells and supports comprehensive and hospital information systems and services designed to increase efficiency while improving . The HMS EHR is 2011/2012 compliant and has been certified by Drummond Group, an ONC-ATCB, in accordance with the applicable certification criteria adopted by the Secretary of Health and Human Services. Founded in 1984, HMS currently serves more than 700 community hospitals; behavioral, rehabilitation and long-term acute-care facilities; and multi-entity healthcare organizations nationwide. For more information, please visit .

HMS is part of HealthTech, a health information technology company that owns HMS, , and . HealthTech’s mission is to acquire and manage technology companies focused on creating value for the healthcare industry. More information is available at .