American HealthTech rolls out development partner program

American HealthTech (AHT), a subsidiary of CPSI and a provider of electronic health records (EHR) for the post-acute and senior living markets, has rolled out its client development partner program.

As part of the program, AHT will work closely with customers to develop, refine and market-test solutions ahead of commercial launch.

“Market testing is not just about behind-the-scenes R&D, it's about making sure our solutions are developed in a way that meets the ever-changing needs of our customers; and there’s no better way to determine that than by working with our providers who live with the challenges of healthcare reform every day,” said Teresa Chase, president of AHT.

“Our client development partnerships help us understand what customers really want and need, allowing us to tailor our product offering to meet demand while also giving our customers a real competitive edge by solving their problems faster, with the right solutions."

At AHT, the client partnership helps refine product design and features before committing to development costs. Regular testing and market research drives innovation over time, making it a vital part of new solutions development. At every stage of the process, providers – users of the solutions – will help AHT identify key issues and avoid expensive mistakes.

For the providers, the development partnerships help to evaluate new ideas within a real-world environment. Providers are the end users, so having their input throughout the entire process is key to their success in meeting the new demands of healthcare reform, quality measures and new payer models, according to CPSI.

Shannon Lucas, director of field accounting at Preferred Care Partners Management Group, said: “Market testing helps both the provider and AHT identify the key factors that matter most – showing us what areas we need to focus on to meet the challenges most effectively. The client development partnership program is really an innovative process, and we enjoy having this level of input into our key supplier’s development process. It’s very unique and refreshing.”