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Florida FQHC Streamlines Collections Using eClinicalWorks EHR Services

A federally qualified health center (FQHC) has increased payment collections through revenue cycle management tools connected to its eClinicalWorks EHR platform.

Hannah Nelson
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Published: 20 Oct 2023

Heart of Florida Health Center, a federally qualified health center (FQHC), has seen a 21 percent increase in payment collections with eClinicalWorks EHR and healow Payment Services.

The health center in Marion County, Florida provides primary care in family, internal, pediatric medicines, maternity, and gynecology care.

“Before we implemented healow Payment Services, we had difficulty collecting timely payments, adding stress to our administrative and revenue teams,” Maria Torres, chief operations officer for Heart of Florida Health Center, said in a public statement.

“We wanted to ensure that patients could easily pay on time and that our revenue cycle team could operate efficiently, to minimize time spent on payment follow-ups,” Torres added.

With healow Payment Services, the FQHC has 13 modalities to collect payments. Additionally, healow CHECK-IN prompts patients to complete payments during the check-in process.

Illinois Hospital Selects Oracle Health Community Works EHR

Sarah D. Culbertson Memorial Hospital in Rushville, Illinois will implement an Oracle Health Community Works EHR system next month, according to reporting from My Journal Courier.

The EHR system, tailored for critical access and community hospitals, supports clinical, financial, and operational workflows.

Once the new platform is in place, the hospital said patients can expect an "enhanced registration and check-in process." Additionally, patients will have access to a single portal to view lab results, review visits, and message their providers.

The hospital will begin rolling out the system on November 6. Appointments may take longer for a few months following the system's implementation as patient information is transferred, officials said.

Wisconsin Hospital Set to Implement Epic EHR Through Proposed Affiliation

St. Luke’s, based in Duluth, Minnesota, and Aspirus Health, based in Wausau, Wisconsin, have signed a definitive agreement to create a comprehensive healthcare system, which will include Aspirus Health implementing an Epic EHR.

The proposed affiliation aims to boost rural healthcare access and advance quality of care for residents of northeastern Minnesota, northern and central Wisconsin, and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

Under the terms of the definitive agreement, Aspirus will implement Epic and other standard systems to drive integration and efficiency within 24 months of closing. Aspirus will also invest at least $300 million over eight years to fund St. Luke’s strategic projects.

“I’m grateful for the support we’ve received as we’ve continued through this affiliation process with our like-minded partner St. Luke’s,” Matt Heywood, Aspirus President and CEO, said in a press release.

“Together, we will continue to evolve the way we care for our patients, especially those in rural areas, who will have the opportunity to access the same high level of care as patients in other parts of the country,” Heywood added. “We look forward to working with regulators on the approval of the affiliation.”

The combined organization would operate 19 hospitals and 130 outpatient locations with nearly 14,000 team members. The system will operate headquarters in Wausau, Wisconsin, and maintain a corporate office in Duluth, Minnesota. 

The healthcare organizations hope to complete the affiliation in spring 2024, pending regulatory approvals.

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