Home Health Agencies Look to Epic, MEDITECH EHR Implementations for Interoperability

Home health agencies are looking to EHR implementations from vendors like Epic and MEDITECH to improve interoperability and operational efficiencies, according to a KLAS report.

Among health system–owned agencies, Epic delivers the highest customer satisfaction. The report found that health system decision-makers are more satisfied with the Epic EHR than home health professionals. Decision-makers note integration as the main strength of the system, as it allows organizations to consolidate vendors.

Customers also appreciate the EHR vendor’s willingness to take feedback around developing new functionality to meet customers’ needs. Home health professionals would like to see some platform enhancements, such as improved capabilities for documenting on touch screens and better alignment between Remote Client and Hyperspace.

Health system–owned agencies using MEDITECH value their ability to cut costs using the same vendor for home health and the larger health system EHR. However, several customers report wanting more functionality and an improved end-user workflow.

Homecare Homebase is the vendor of choice for large independent agencies. Large health system–owned agencies also frequently select the company.

Despite near-average customer satisfaction, 90 percent of respondents reported that the product is part of their long-term plans. Many agencies said that Homecare Homebase is the only vendor whose health IT meets the needs of agencies their size.

The technology includes robust platform integration, interfacing with third-party solutions, a broad technology suite with financial and clinical functionality, and data analytics.

“Middling customer satisfaction stems from a sense that the vendor’s near monopoly among large independent agencies has stifled innovation, particularly in regard to improving clinician workflows and documentation,” the report authors explained. “While the vendor provides documentation capabilities optimized for use on a touch screen, customers would like to see those capabilities improved.”

Overall, independent agencies that use EHR technology from MatrixCare report higher satisfaction than organizations using other vendors’ products.

Agencies note the system’s ease of use and strong navigation for clinicians. However, customers want additional training to ensure clinicians can optimize the system through personalization.

The KLAS report also examined customer satisfaction with three Netsmart offerings: Homecare, Homecare Advisor, and the go-forward solution, myUnity Enterprise.

Across the tools, customers note that Netsmart struggles to engage with them proactively, which prevents the vendor from identifying system flaws before they become larger challenges.  

Customers of myUnity Enterprise want easier integration with third-party solutions, such as lab and pharmacy platforms. They said that previous commitments from Netsmart regarding integration have gone unfulfilled.

Some Homecare and Homecare Advisor customers are concerned the vendor doesn’t devote enough resources to enhancing their solutions, and some are hesitant to move to myUnity Enterprise due to concerns about a lack of collaboration in delivering key functionality.