On my first day at Practice Fusion, my internal monologue sounded something like this: “This is so awesome. A revolution is afoot… we’re making history here, people!”
That day, I took part in Practice Fusion’s EHR introductory seminars hosted by a familiar face: the company’s video-training and support guru, Derek Ward. The passion for Practice Fusion’s mission was evident in Derek’s delivery, despite having run countless ramp-up sessions in the weeks and months prior for our fast-growing team. As I walked around the SoMa office that week, I noticed everyone was equally as enthused about coming to work and effecting real change for our most critical healthcare sector, primary care.
Three short weeks later, I’m still giddy with excitement at my good fortune in landing this techie-PR-person’s dream job. In a world where mobile games like Angry Birds make headlines in tech and business press, I feel overwhelmingly grateful that Practice Fusion’s story is so far from frivolous.
Now, I like to think I know a good story when I hear it, but at Practice Fusion the media team is spoiled for choice with news angles to choose from. Nevermind that we have a ground-breaking web-based EHR, freeing doctors all over the country from the onerous financial burden associated with legacy systems, or that we were just voted the No.1 EHR in the country, or that we deliver the best-in-class technology for free with free support, or that more doctors sign up with us in a day than they do in 6 months with other EHRs. What’s most compelling about the Practice Fusion user community are the stories of individual physicians, on the frontlines of healthcare. Those grassroots small practices are picking up new tools for the first time to help modernize our national healthcare system, deliver better patient outcomes and say no to the prohibitive costs of traditional EHRs. In many cases, the challenges of financing EHR deployment has held practices back and kept doctors in the US stuck with pen and paper for too long. These are the stories we most love to tell.
This phenomenon crystalized for me last week during a visit with a particularly technologically challenged doctor of mine. Although a master in his field and a respected specialist of the highest order, the good doctor spent the first 15 minutes of my appointment scrambling to find my paper medical record, rifling through his files and retracing his steps, before I casually mentioned my new position at Practice Fusion to him in earnest. It’s important to note, this doctor had previously asserted he did not use email and had denounced computers entirely in the examination room.
To my great surprise and delight, he announced he had just registered his account with us, bought an iPad and was on the verge of his own personal revolution with technology. His brother, a physician in Boston, he told me, had turned him onto us. In this moment, the true value of Practice Fusion’s technology was clear. There are thousands of doctors just like mine, with almost no history of technology adoption to speak of, embracing our EHR and ushering in a new standard of care. Though I didn’t share this with my doctor at the time, between the rest of us, he saved a patient that day – from choosing a new doctor.
What Practice Fusion has embarked upon is nothing short of remarkable. While the push for electronic medical records began as far back as 30 years ago, until now, medical providers have struggled to find tools that fit perfectly into their workflow, improve the standard of care, the patient experience, and leave their practices’ finances intact. With a permanently changed legislative environment to navigate, doctors now more than ever need the guidance and support that Practice Fusion delivers. I can’t imagine a better time to have joined the good fight and I look forward to telling your stories in the months ahead.
Lilly Hanscom
Media Relations Specialist
Practice Fusion EHR
Lilly, our Media Relations Specialist, is the newest addition to the Public Relations team. Prior to joining Practice Fusion she worked for a number of San Francisco-based start-up companies. Her work has been featured in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Forbes Magazine and Tech Crunch.
