Lassen Medical

» Electronic Health Records Help Improve Patient Care.

Finding quality, cost-effective healthcare is a challenge that most Americans face these days. The challenge can be especially daunting for Medicare and Medicaid recipients in underserved areas of rural America. As a rural health clinic (RHC) in Northern California’s Tehama County, Lassen Medical Group is on the frontline of this struggle. Lassen has enlisted electronic health record (EHR) technology as part of its strategy to meet the healthcare needs of the local population.

Lassen Medical Group started as a small family practice partnership in Tehama County in 1956. Today the medical group has grown to two sites in Red Bluff and Cottonwood, comprising 30 providers that represent the specialties of family practice, internal medicine, pediatrics, and dermatology.

In 2006, Lassen took a bold step into the cutting edge of modern healthcare with its purchase and implementation of eClinicalWorks’ (eCW) EHR system. The group is now using EHRs to document patient visits, handle prescriptions through electronic prescribing (e-prescribing), and electronically manage orders and results for labs and diagnostic imaging. EHR implementation has significantly contributed to organizational efficiency and quality of patient care at Lassen.

“The implementation of an EHR at Lassen Medical has been instrumental in our efforts to standardize the group to perform ‘best practices,’ which is clearly better for the patient. This has assisted in streamlining care in a more efficient and less costly manner. It has been great for the patients and the staff who have championed the program. The patients are amazed that we have direct access to their records any time of the day or night, and as a result are able to better coordinate their care with other providers. We are now able to avoid duplicate studies and minimize any medication issues."
- Dr. Richard Wickenheiser, President, Lassen Medical Group

This year, Lassen will provide its clinicians with secure access to eCW through connectivity at the local hospital. The group is also considering establishment of a patient portal, and continues to customize and streamline processes and patient care using healthcare information technology.

"We are reaching our goal of better care at a lower cost. In the day of escalating prices and overall costs in our economy, we are reversing the trend in medical care."
- Dr. Richard Wickenheiser, President, Lassen Medical Group