Salem (Ill.) Township Hospital President John Kessler told board members Sept. 27 the facility's athenahealth EHR system is fully operational, according to WJBD Radio.
Mr. Kessler acknowledged hospital staff will continue to work with athenahealth to address bugs in the system. However, he specified the EHR will provide long-term benefits, such as providing patients access to billing and medical information through an online portal.
"Long-term what patients will see different is the process for the back end will be much smoother and much more timely," Mr. Kessler said, according to WJBD Radio. "I know in the past they have seen bills come six months to a year later."