Canton, Mass — La Paz Regional Hospital has gone live with a new electronic health record (EHR) system, consolidating its hospital and four clinics onto a single digital platform using MEDITECH Expanse. The rollout is part of the hospital’s effort to improve care coordination, streamline operations, and enhance patient engagement across its network in western Arizona.
The cloud-based system, delivered through MEDITECH-as-a-Service (MaaS), replaces four separate EHRs that previously operated across the organization. Hospital leaders say the shift to a centralized system has already made chart review faster, improved communication between departments, and reduced duplicate testing.
“We had four different systems that didn’t talk to each other,” said CEO Zafer Genc. “Now we’re unified under one EHR, and it’s helping us deliver better care for the entire county.”
The new setup gives clinicians access to a complete picture of a patient’s medical history, regardless of where they were treated within the system. It also integrates data from other healthcare organizations, allowing doctors to make more informed decisions—especially for patients with chronic or complex conditions.
From a financial and operational standpoint, hospital officials say the system has made a noticeable difference. “This was a strategic investment,” said CFO Christine Barrington. “It’s already improved access to data and continuity of care.”
Clinical staff report faster documentation and less time spent navigating charts. “Our chart review process is about 20% of what it used to be,” said Alvin Rodgers, Director of Rehab Services. “I can now see doctor and nurse notes in one screen.”
Patients, too, are seeing benefits. The MyHealth portal and MHealth app let them view records, message care teams, and manage appointments, while automated text reminders improve communication.
The system includes mobile tools that allow staff to place orders and document care on the go, which helps reduce administrative burden and minimize clinician burnout. MEDITECH’s embedded clinical decision support tools also enhance safety by alerting staff to critical changes in a patient’s condition.
With the addition of analytics tools, La Paz staff now have access to real-time financial and clinical data from a single dashboard, helping departments from billing to operations work more efficiently.
“This go-live marks a major step in building a more connected, patient-focused healthcare system for our region,” said Carol Labadini, Vice President at MEDITECH.
