Ambulatory EMR Rollout at Sharp HealthCare

Bill Spooner, SVP & CIO, Sharp HealthCare, San Diego. This regional integrated delivery system is implementing a full EMR in its 270-physician, multi-site Sharp Rees-Stealy Medical Group.  Bill discusses the extensive two-year evaluation and the decision which balanced potential physician adoption, care management, clinical integration, return on investment, and other issues.  Bill explains the decision, which favored a best-of-breed clinical systems strategy rather than fitting its hospital-centered EMR into the ambulatory practice.  He describes Sharp Rees-Stealy’s implementation approach, issues and solutions and the key expected benefits which justified the project to Sharp’s Board.