Columbia University Engages Greencastle for EHR Project Management Services and Physician-Adoption Consulting.

Greencastle to drive Columbia Faculty Practice Organization's electronic health record (EHR) system roll-out, integration

MALVERN, Penn. -- Greencastle Consulting, a project management and consulting services firm focused on clinical transformation through healthcare information technology, today announced a management and consulting agreement with Columbia University Medical Center's physician group, the Faculty Practice Organization (FPO) of the College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York.

As announced in September, the Columbia FPO has selected TouchWorks EHR (electronic health record) software from Allscripts LLC. In addition to its 1,200 member physicians, the technology will eventually serve 1,000 community physicians through a Columbia-sponsored arrangement still under development.

Under the agreement, Greencastle will manage the EHR roll-out, ensure physician adoption of the technology, and guide the process of system integration.

"EHRs are just now getting to the point where they're able to transform healthcare," said Michael Duncan, chief executive officer of the Columbia FPO. "But this is a complicated technology. Our size makes the implementation even more challenging. We needed Greencastle's project management expertise to stay on course and help make sure we end up with a product that the vast majority of physicians actually use -- and are glad using."

The Columbia FPO will be transitioning to the electronic system from paper-based records. Greencastle will also manage the integration of TouchWorks EHR with Columbia's existing GE Healthcare practice management system and the Eclipsys inpatient EHR at New York-Presbyterian Hospital.

"It's a privilege to work with such a prestigious organization, especially on a project with so much potential to improve clinical processes," said Mark Stabile, a senior partner at Greencastle.

This agreement follows a readiness assessment Greencastle performed for the Columbia FPO in the summer. "We knew we were not ready," said Duncan. "But we didn't know in which specific areas or what we needed to do. Based on focus groups, online surveys, and other work, Greencastle presented 15 concrete dimensions that needed attention. That information helped us get to the point where we know roll-out will go smoothly."

After a preparation phase, the Columbia FPO will spend 2008 working with test systems in place at four sites. In early 2009, those test sites will go live, followed by a 24-month, department-by-department implementation period.

About the Faculty Practice Organization of Columbia University

In 1998, the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Columbia University Medical Center established the Columbia Faculty Practice Organization (FPO) as a vehicle through which physicians could work together across clinical departments and specialties.

Columbia University Medical Center provides international leadership in basic, pre-clinical and clinical research, in medical and health sciences education, and in-patient care. The medical center trains future leaders and includes the dedicated work of many physicians, scientists, nurses, dentists, and public health professionals at the College of Physicians & Surgeons, the Mailman School of Public Health, the College of Dental Medicine, the School of Nursing, the biomedical departments of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, and allied research centers and institutions. For more information about Columbia University Medical Center, visit www.cumc.columbia.edu.

About Greencastle Consulting

Greencastle Consulting delivers change leadership and execution experience for healthcare-IT-driven clinical transformation. From readiness assessment through roll out, Greencastle guides organizations in visualizing objectives, generating impact as planned and maximizing the value of investments. Through advanced techniques, process improvement, leveraging human capital, group dynamics and training, Greencastle's services can multiply the effectiveness of your existing clinical, business and technological resources. Founded in 1997, Greencastle serves healthcare exclusively. Greencastle consultants apply management methodologies that lead to greater workflow efficiency and ensure the outcomes of technology-based quality initiatives. Learn more at www.GreencastleConsulting.com.