Client: Rural Critical Access Hospital, Wyoming
Focus: Clinical Informatics Optimization & Staff Training

Challenge

When Cheryl joined the organization two years ago, the facility was operating with two separate electronic medical record (EMR) systems. The clinic EMR had been well-developed and functioned effectively, but the hospital EMR was underutilized, poorly optimized, and lacked consistent end-user training. Clinical staff were unaware of many of the tools and safety features available to them, leading to inefficiencies in documentation, incomplete workflows, and revenue cycle gaps.

Approach

Drawing on her background in Clinical Informatics and healthcare operations, Cheryl began with a system-wide assessment of EMR utilization and user engagement.
Her approach included:

• Conducting department-specific workflow reviews to identify gaps and inefficiencies
• Developing and delivering customized end-user training for nurses, providers, and ancillary staff
• Collaborating with department heads to align clinical documentation practices with compliance and quality standards
• Rebuilding key EMR modules to support medication safety, charge capture, and interoperability
• Introducing advanced EMR tools and dashboards that staff were previously unaware of

Results

Over the course of two years, these efforts produced measurable and sustained improvements across multiple domains:

• Revenue Cycle: Increased charge capture accuracy and reduced billing delays
• Patient Safety: Improved medication administration compliance through barcode scanning and workflow optimization
• Clinical Documentation: Enhanced charting accuracy and consistency across departments
• User Engagement: Empowered staff through ongoing education, fostering confidence and ownership in the EMR process
• System Optimization: Expanded functionality and improved system performance without requiring a costly EMR replacement

Ongoing Impact

Today, the hospital continues to expand its EMR capabilities and leverage data to support quality improvement and operational efficiency. Staff confidence and collaboration have strengthened, allowing the organization to fully utilize the tools it already had in place—creating a sustainable foundation for future digital growth.