“It was obvious to me at the outset that we should institute EMRs from day one,” Dr. Coletta says.
He identifies the following four reasons investing in EMR was the right decision for The Surgery Center of the Main Line.
1. “First and foremost was the fact that I saw paper records as archaic and, given that there was no hospital system in our area with an electronic record, this was an opportunity for us to differentiate ourselves in a very tangible way,” he says.
2. “The second was the efficiency a good EMR would provide especially if it could be linked to our financial systems,” he says.
3. “It seemed to me that, if we ever were in a position to sell the enterprise, a fully integrated EMR along with a knowledgeable staff would clearly increase our market value,” Dr. Coletta says.
4. “I knew that we had the 15 busiest surgeons in the region working at the center and if we wanted to keep our records current, the EMR provided the most efficient means to do that,” he says.
While it wasn’t easy to bring all of the surgeons on-board with the idea, the decision has certainly paid off for the organization.
“At first the partners objected to the added expense, but once I convinced them, we made the investment and have never regretted it,” Dr. Coletta says.
— Dr. Anthony Coletta is president of Surgery Center of the Main Line in Bryn Mawr, Pa. Visit The Surgery Center of the Main Line.
