Everyone heralds the implementation of IT in physician practices as a positive. It saves time, money and, in some cases, the patient’s well-being. But for most physicians, the introduction of automation also carries a risk. When practices operate as silos, separated from each other by architectures and applications, not being able to electronically share patient-specific information with medical colleagues treating the same patient can add workarounds, negating the time and money saved.

There’s a new model of care on the horizon. When several physicians who treat the same patient can share pertinent information about that patient over a common Web-based network, it’s a win-win. Not only does the patient receive timelier and more comprehensive medical care, but also the physicians involved can save time and money–and both are valuable assets for most small and medium-sized practices.

Anthony Alfieri, D.O., a cardiologist in Wilmington, Del., was so intrigued with the “community care model” that he started a company dedicated to building a network of practices that use a common electronic medical record (EMR) and practice management (PM) system–in this case, systems licensed from Kansas City, Mo.-based Cerner Corp.