Whiteville, N.C.-based Columbus Regional Healthcare System announced it will deploy the cloud-based model of the Cerner Millennium EHR along with Cerner’s revenue cycle management technology and patient portal.

The announcement about signing up the 154-bed CRHS follows a spate of new hospitals Cerner landed recently, including Missouri Health, Menninger Clinic and Rankin County Hospital District -- not to mention the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs officially signing its modernization contract on May 18. 

Kalorama Information reported earlier this month that Cerner has the largest EHR marketshare among leading vendors. KLAS Research also said this month that the electronic health record market is in flux, and pointed to smaller hospitals, many of which are “hungry for new technology,” among the reasons. 

CRHS, for its part, will deploy the technology across both its acute and ambulatory facilities to support clinicians as they work to streamline operations to improve patient care.

“With Cerner’s integrated EHR and commitment to interoperability, CRHS will provide patients with high-quality health services and a streamlined healthcare experience now and into the future,” CRHS interim CEO John Young said in a statement.

Cerner’s cloud-based platform will provide CRHS staff with a broader view of their patients’ health history that includes clinical and financial data. As part of the deal with Cerner, the hospital will also implement an online patient portal, giving patients access to their health records, the ability to contact their doctors and to schedule appointments.

Moving to Cerner Millennium is also expected to improve interoperability and communication between CRHS and its parent hospital network Atrium Health (formerly Carolinas HealthCare), as they will be on one integrated platform, the companies said.

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Email the writer: bernie.monegain@himssmedia.com