GE Healthcare
The Westchester Medical Group
The Westchester Medical Group, a multi-specialty, physician-owned medical group based in White Plains, NY is one of the most automated and efficient practices in the nation.
In 2001, Westchester Medical Group outlined requirements for a significant transformation, and in 2002, a cross-functional team at Westchester identified Centricity Practice Management and EMR as the best fit for the practice’s requirements. Centricity was live at Westchester Medical Group in September 2002, six weeks after the start of the implementation.
Benefits of the solution
Upon implementing GE Healthcare’s Centricity® Practice Management (PM) and Electronic Medical Record (EMR) solutions, Westchester Medical Group saw an immediate positive return on their investment. They believe they more than paid for the system in the first year just by the reduction in the number of people who handled paper. After “going live” all incoming external documents such as lab tests, x-ray reports, and dictation was stored in an EMR. The effect was a reduction in the number of necessary FTEs handling medical records from 23 to 6.
In implementing technology to achieve efficiency, it was important to preserve physician autonomy as physicians were relieved of some decisions. The GE system helped the Medical Group gain credibility with their physicians by offering a comprehensive solution. The programs did not increase physician workload by one minute. In addition, the average training time at Westchester Medical for complete CPOE (computerized physician order entry) was less than 30 minutes.
In 2004, the practice was awarded the prestigious Certificate of Recognition from the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) Diabetes Physician Recognition Program. The Group notes that Centricity EMR’s structured data entry approach is a crucial enabler of the ability to participate in these quality outcomes initiatives.
Results
- After five years, the Group has gone from five FTE’s per physician to 3.2. At their current size, the Group is saving the equivalent of approximately 180 FTEs. Since the average FTE salary cost is $40,000, that represents over $6 million dollars in savings each year.
- Transcription costs are now less than $20,000 a year, which before, at half their current size, were over $300,000. In current dollars, the group is saving more than $500,000 per year in transcription costs alone.
- Gaining revenue-generating space has also been beneficial. A former medical records department in their main facility – 3,000 square feet – is now a GI department including endoscopy labs.
- In a recent AMGA survey, The Westchester Medical Group finished in the 98th percentile for physician satisfaction.
- In 2004, the practice was awarded the prestigious Certificate of Recognition from the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) Diabetes Physician Recognition Program.
- The group was the first large practice in New York state to achieve Bridges to Excellence.
***Submitted by Jenn Francis, Public Relations, GE Healthcare IT, jennifer.n.francis@ge.com
Published: January 26, 2009
