New KLAS Epic Systems Study Ranks Encore Health Resources First in Team Implementation Leadership and Advisory Services

Business Wire

Thursday, June 21st 2012

KLAS Enterprises, LLC has named Encore Health Resources the top-rated consulting firm serving Epic clients in the category of Team Implementation Leadership & Advisory in a new study released today. The May 2012 study, entitled Navigating the Sea of Epic Consulting Firms^©1, awarded Encore the top category ranking after evaluating 45 firms with Epic engagements and ranking the top 26 in four categories. Just one year ago, KLAS named Encore one of the top two overall performers in the health IT advisory services segment.¹ Last December, KLAS also awarded Encore a coveted 2011 “Best in KLAS®” in a tie for outstanding service performance in Planning and Assessment. Encore is a leading provider of healthcare information technology (HIT) services and solutions.

KLAS’ study focuses on the swelling demand for Epic-savvy HIT consultants in the wake of Epic’s surging electronic medical records business. In May, Forbes estimated that, by next year, 127 million patients or nearly 40% of the U.S. population will have its medical information stored in an Epic digital record.²

Wrote KLAS of Encore, “Multiple customers gave Encore some of the most glowing reviews of any firm in this study, including one CIO who said, ‘I believe that Encore is the premier consulting firm for healthcare IT in today’s market.’ Customers highlighted strong communication with executives and professional consultants that met or exceeded expectations.”

In the Team Implementation Leadership & Advisory category, Encore took top honors over two other consulting firms. All three companies in the category were evaluated for their large ranges of advisory services, including the abilities to help with IT strategy and road maps, post live optimization, and total cost of ownership. The firms are known for engaging in multiple projects in the same organization and for providing significant amounts of smaller-scale, project-based implementation support, often as a result of their successful advisory work.

“The remarkable feedback from our clients, as reported by KLAS, reflects the exceptional dedication to quality that Encore’s consultants carry with them on each and every project,” said Dana Sellers, Chief Executive Officer of Encore Health Resources. “Regardless of the vendor system, our team’s commitment to 100% referenceability means we’ll always act in the best interests of every client, helping them implement on time and within budget – all with an intense focus on providing the quality and financial information healthcare organizations require to improve patient care and make effective business decisions.”

Besides winning the category, Encore earned highest survey marks for Epic contracting experience, services delivered as sold, money’s worth, and overall satisfaction. In three other select-indicator classifications, Encore earned a full 100% score in the areas of “Avoids Nickel-and-Diming,” “Would You Buy Again?” and “Keeps Promises.”

“Encore is the best implementation company I have worked with,” one client surveyed told KLAS. “I was not surprised when they won the Best in KLAS award. We are definitely going to continue our relationship with Encore.”

KLAS said the data for its study came from 333 surveys from 130 organizations covering 26 consulting firms that had three or more Epic consulting engagements and an additional 19 firms that had at least one Epic project completed between January 1, 2010 and May 1, 2012.

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