To improve patient care across its organization, the Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation (Saipan, CNMI) announced its selection of MEDITECH Expanse, an Electronic Health Record (EHR) designed to keep patient safety and empowerment at the center of the care experience.
Expanse will provide CHCC with a single patient record that shares information seamlessly across all care facilities and care teams, including health centers on the islands of Tinian and Rota. The option to access these patient records on mobile devices empowers clinicians to document care in real time, leading to more meaningful interactions and increased time spent with patients.
The Expanse EHR will help to guide healthcare decision-making by providing a comprehensive view of a patient’s health history, regardless of when or where a patient may have previously received care. CHCC physicians, nurses, and clinicians will have instant access to patient records, including test results, allergies, and diagnoses, from anywhere on the islands.
"We are proud to partner with Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation to modernize their EHR and support patient-centered care across their island community,” said MEDITECH Executive Director Gina Kerley. “We share their vision to provide accessible, equitable, and valuable healthcare to the communities they serve to elevate the patient experience and improve outcomes across the care continuum."
Expanse provides built-in safety features for accurate medication management and real-time alerts, enabling clinicians to swiftly address any changes in a patient's condition. Additionally, it enables CHCC to better manage care for patients with chronic conditions, like high blood pressure and diabetes, or those at increased risk for illness based on lifestyle or family history.
CHCC’s move forward with Expanse reflects its broader strategic commitment to building a patient-centered healthcare model – one that values the individual needs of every person and strengthens care coordination across its entire network.
“CHCC is not only improving efficiency behind the scenes, but also creating a better and more consistent experience for our patients, whether they receive care at the hospital, a clinic, or one of our outer island health centers,” stated CHCC CMO Dr. John Tudela.
The system’s advanced capabilities – including AI-driven clinical decision support and predictive analytics – will help healthcare teams stay one step ahead by identifying high-risk patients earlier and expediting care plans. These are especially important to support their efforts to reduce wait times, improve early detection, and standardize the quality of care in their community.
“For us, this isn’t just about technology – it’s about taking better care of our people,” said CHCC CEO Esther L. Muña. “We know how important it is for our families to get the right care without delays or confusion. Expanse will help our doctors and nurses see the full picture, so they can spend more time with patients and less time chasing down records.”
Additionally, CHCC is working to improve care for patients with complex, long-term conditions like diabetes and cancer. “With 68% of our local cancer cases linked to tobacco use, we need the enhanced data analytics that Expanse provides to help us to track the effectiveness of our smoking cessation programs, monitor at-risk patient populations, and make better-informed decisions that can support our community’s long-term wellness,” said CHCC HIT Director Bel Busby.
“We’re making it easier for families across Saipan, Tinian, and Rota to get connected and consistent care no matter where they go. Our goal is to make sure every patient feels seen, supported, and safe every step of the way.”
