PATH EHR Go-Live: Lawton Supports a New Phase of Modernization

I am proud to share a milestone that reflects the strength and leadership of the communities we serve. On September 26, the Lawton Service Unit in Oklahoma became the first Indian Health Service site to go live with our new electronic health record (EHR) solution, PATH EHR.

PATH EHR is designed to keep “patients at the heart” of health care and to modernize how health information is managed and shared across IHS. It is now in use at Lawton Indian Hospital, Anadarko Indian Health Center, and Carnegie Indian Health Center, and it begins the replacement of our Resource and Patient Management System (RPMS), which has supported care for nearly 40 years. This is the first step in putting modern, connected tools directly into the hands of the providers who serve our patients and communities every day.

This moment did not happen by accident. It is the result of years of planning, testing, training, and problem-solving by people who believed this work mattered. In the two weeks since go-live, the early results have been encouraging. Patients continue to receive timely care, the system has run without any widespread outages, and providers are already finding value in their new tools.

Every new solution takes some getting used to, and our teams made sure no one had to learn it alone. Support teams were on hand around the clock during the first weeks, and trainers and experts worked side by side with staff, answering questions and solving problems in real time, always with patient safety first. That support continues today, and it will stay in place as Lawton grows more confident with PATH EHR every day.

To the staff at Lawton, Anadarko, and Carnegie: thank you for taking on the hard work of being first. You spoke up, asked the tough questions, and never lost sight of your patients. Because of you, others can follow with confidence.

To the Oklahoma City Area Office: thank you for your leadership, coordination, and steady support in bringing this pilot to the finish line. And to every member of the PATH team who poured time and energy into this effort: thank you. This is your achievement!

Throughout history, Tribal communities have led the way in caring for one another and building for future generations. Lawton’s work carries that same spirit forward: taking the first step so that others can follow and helping build a stronger health system for the generations to come.

What we learn at Lawton will guide how we bring PATH EHR to more sites. We will learn together, support one another, and carry those lessons forward. Lawton is building the blueprint for modern care across Indian Country.

To learn more about the Health IT Modernization Program and PATH EHR, visit ihs.gov/hit.

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