Implementing Electronic Charting with Ease

The Challenge

At Surgery Partners, we oversee a diverse and growing network of surgery centers—and standardizing our technology stack is key to operational excellence. When evaluating EMR solutions, we needed a platform that could scale across regions, deliver clinical efficiency, and streamline operations without overcomplicating implementation. Aspen Surgery Center—a high-volume, dual-campus facility with 10 ORs and up to 1,600 cases per month—was selected as the pilot site. The center was still reliant on paper records, which burdened staff, limited patient safety measures, and created unnecessary delays across departments. From misplaced operative reports to paper chart retrieval issues, the inefficiencies were widespread—and costly.

The Solution

We selected HST Pathways—specifically billing and inventory solution, electronic charting, scheduling & care communication, and patient estimate solutions—as the unified solution to support our future growth. Aspen Surgery Center became the test site for implementation, chosen for its size and complexity. Despite being our largest center, the implementation process was smooth and collaborative. Super users, physicians, anesthesia teams, and support staff received hands-on training. Even when initial resistance arose—especially from anesthesia staff accustomed to clunky hospital EMR systems—the flexibility and specialty-specific design of HST quickly won them over. The seamless HST integration across charting and operations gave us immediate insight into performance and set the standard for future rollouts.

The Results

The implementation exceeded expectations. Feedback across all teams—clinical, operational, and board leadership—has been overwhelmingly positive. Staff now have streamlined documentation processes, fewer delays, and better communication between departments. Efficiency gains are already apparent, from PACU workflows to anesthesia engagement. One of the most impressive indicators of success: a previously hesitant lead anesthesiologist went from nearly opposing the rollout to championing it—within a single day of guided support. For a facility of Aspen’s size and profile, the fact that go-live was this smooth reinforced our belief in the value of standardizing with HST.

The Future

After Aspen’s success, standardizing on HST is now part of our broader regional strategy. With 11 centers under management in Northern California and Alaska, we’re prioritizing EMR implementations across the portfolio. Three recently acquired centers without EMRs have already been fast-tracked for HST deployment. The results we’ve seen—better block management, streamlined records, and more efficient staffing—are fueling momentum. As we expand, HST provides the consistency, scalability, and operational insight we need to grow smarter. Aspen wasn’t just a successful implementation—it was a proof point that HST is the right long-term partner for Surgery Partners.