EMR to the rescue. An ambulatory care pilot project shows that data sharing equals cost shaving.

PROBLEM: Inefficiencies in managing office practices and costs.

SOLUTION: Installation of an EMR in ambulatory practices to integrate clinical data from patient visits and use it to improve efficiencies "downstream".

RESULTS: Marked reduction in costs of ambulatory practice management and major improvements in revenue capture, improved patient satisfaction.

KEYS TO SUCCESS: Analysis of workflow, documentation of progress with benchmarking.