(Emporia, KS) — Newman Regional Health (NRH) has partnered with Coffey Health System (CHS) to provide implementation, hosting, and management of healthcare information services, also known as electronic health records (EHR).  The finalized agreement was announced by Newman Regional Health CEO, Bob Wright on Friday, March 11, 2022. 

This collaboration leverages NRH’s multimillion dollar investment in information technology software, equipment, and system development to benefit both health systems.  NRH implemented Expanse, MEDITECH’s interoperable web-based EHR in January 2018. 

Cathy Pimple, Chief Administrative Officer for Newman Regional Health says, “The move to MEDITECH Expanse has provided many benefits to NRH and to the community we serve.  Expanse has enabled us to connect patient information through different care settings, providing our care teams with information needed to ensure safe, effective, and efficient care.   Both leadership teams are excited to put into operation this solution for CHS.  CHS has always demonstrated quality health care and excellence.  This infrastructure will support their mission into the future.”

The implementation with CHS will take place over the next nine months.  The initial term of the agreement is five (5) years, with automatic one (1) year renewals thereafter upon mutual consent of both health systems.  The agreement provides a financial savings, yet both health systems will remain independent of operations. 

“Rural healthcare depends on innovation and collaboration,” says CHS Chief Executive Officer Joben Reith.  “This opportunity allows both Newman Regional Health and Coffey Health System to maximize our investments in EHR technology while both systems remain autonomous.  Through this cost-saving, we can focus more efforts on patient care services without compromising patient privacy or changing any aspect of patient care.”

# # #

About Newman Regional Health: Newman Regional Health is a not-for-profit 25-bed Critical Access Hospital owned by the citizens of Lyon County, Kansas.  Recognized as a Level 4 Trauma Center, Newman Regional Health provides inpatient acute and medical rehabilitation services along with a full range of emergency and outpatient care to patients of all ages in Lyon County and surrounding areas in East Central Kansas.  Newman Regional Health offers 24/7 care with a newly renovated, state-of-the-art 19-bed emergency room and 10-bed Clinical Decision Unit.  With a mission to improve health in the community by providing high quality care and a vision to be a valued, trusted partner and regional provider of exemplary services, Newman Regional Health receives recognition as a top Critical Access Hospital each year.